Rookie karate team to head to Incheon

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnamese karate team, the only one to win a gold medal in three successive Asian Games (ASIAD) tournaments in recent years, could return home empty-handed this year.

Delta sees wave of snake attacks

 VietNamNet Bridge – Snake attacks have plagued the Mekong Delta's Can Tho City and Hau Giang Commune for nearly a month.

Tradition triumphs at fashion awards

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vu Thao, the creator of fashion label Kilometre 109, won the Young Creative Entrepreneur Fashion/Design Award (YCE) yesterday (Sept 9) in Ha Noi.

HCM City focuses on student mental health

 VietNamNet Bridge – At the beginning of this academic year, the 10th and 12th graders at Marie Curie High School in HCM City's District 3 were asked to fill out a questionnaire to identify any psychological problems

More geo-parks to be acknowledged by UNESCO by 2030

 VietNamNet Bridge – A number of geological parks will be recognised as national or global geo-parks by 2030 under the project “geological heritage conservation and geo-park network development in Vietnam”

Phu Quy islands offer tranquil getaway off the tourist track

 VietNamNet Bridge – Located 103km from Phan Thiet City in the central province of Binh Thuan, the Phu Quy island district has become a destination for visitors who love exploring the wild.

Proposal seeks UNESCO heritage status for Bai choi singing

 VietNamNet Bridge – Bai choi singing in the central provinces of Binh Dinh, Phu Yen and Quang Nam was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage in late August,

Apple Watch unveiled alongside new larger iPhones

 Apple has unveiled a smartwatch - the Apple Watch - its first new product line since the first iPad and the death of its co-founder Steve Jobs.

Foreign exchange control of FDI activities

 VietNamNet Bridge – The State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV)'s Circular 19/2014/TT-NHNN (11 August 2014) guides foreign exchange control of foreign direct investment activities in Viet Nam such as contribution of investment capital,

VN braces for open labour market

 VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam will experience fierce competition for high-quality human resources when the ASEAN opens labour market begins next year.

Social News 11/9

 Drug authority revokes Robinson Pharma’s operation license; Ho Chi Minh City to build six bus rapid transit lines; Mekong opens first obstetrics hospital; Vietnam to launch 2030 Country Report in 2015; Vietnam steps up measures on child labour

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 11/9

Vietnam sees slight rise in rice exports in August; Second turbine at Vinh Tan power plant generates power; Automobile sales increase for 17 consecutive months

EVENTS SCHEDULED FOR SEPTEMBER 10-20 (daily updated)

 Updated information about cultural events in big cities of Vietnam.

A new “Zone 9” for youth in Hanoi

 VietNamNet Bridge - A new entertainment and arts zone for Hanoi’s youth named X98, in Hoang Cau Street, is nearly finished. It is similar in structure with Zone 9.

First tourism seaplane service launched

 Hai Au Aviation on September 9 launches the first tourism seaplane service in Tuan Chau, Ha Long, offerring tourists in Viet Nam the opportunity to experience sight-seeing flights beween Ha Noi and Ha Long Bay and scenic flights in Ha Long.

PM urges ministry to finish test plan

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Prime Minister has asked the Minister of Education and Training to finalise and distribute directions for the organisation of next year's national high school exam.

Ministry to merge high school graduation, uni admission tests

 The Ministry of Education and Training has decided to combine the annual national high school exam and the university entrance exam from next year. At present, they are held separately.

Vietnam to play Japan in Asian women's volleyball quarters

 Viet Nam to play Japan in Asian women's volleyball quarters; Hung, Cuong sign contracts with V-League's Quang Nam; Men’s and women’s doubles champions crowned;

Art & Entertainment News 9/9

 'Super Crab' wins award; Exhibition puts Tri An Lake in the spotlight; NZ logo design contest launched; Danang announces newly-excavated antiques

Thai billionaire plans to expand business after buying Metro Cash&Carry VN

Berli Jucker Plc (BJC), the Thai firm that acquired Metro Cash & Carry Vietnam, plans to invest an additional one billion baht ($31.2 million) from now to 2018 to expand its retail network in Vietnam.

Ebola outbreak 'threatens Liberia's national existence'

 Liberia is facing a "serious threat" to its national existence as the deadly Ebola virus "spreads like wildfire" there, its defence minister says.

Within six months, nearly 350 people attempted suicide in An Giang

 VietNamNet Bridge – Facing sadness and deadlock in life, nearly 350 people sought to commit suicide in the first half of the year in the southern province of An Giang.

Japan edge VN for Group B lead

  Japan yesterday came from behind to beat Viet Nam, 3-2, to emerge as the top team in Group B of the ASEAN Football Federation U19 Nutifood Cup.

Fayçal Salhi to perform in Ha Noi

 The French quartet Fayçal Salhi will perform a repertoire of world music and jazz on Thursday night at L'Espace.

Australian travellers detained for ‘terrorist' joke

 Two Australian passengers on a Vietnam Airlines flight from Melbourne to HCM City on Tuesday were detained for making an idle terrorist threat.