The bodies of 20 Malaysian victims of Flight MH17 that crashed in Ukraine in July have arrived in Kuala Lumpur, as the nation holds a day of mourning.

For many Vietnamese bankers, Japanese banks are their biggest rivals in the home market. However, analysts have warned that once the ASEAN Economic Community begins next year, ASEAN banks, not Japanese, will be the most formidable rivals.

Heavy rain has hampered rescue operations in Japan's Hiroshima prefecture where a deadly landslide killed at least 39 people.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Improving the skills of tour guides is the first and foremost step in developing Vietnam’s tourism industry sustainably, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh has said.

VietNamNet Bridge – It was almost midday in early August, but a group of tourists adamantly showed up at a garden in Da Lat City, Central Highlands Lam Dong Province – all enthusiastic about having a hot date with strawberries.

 A national photo contest with the theme Swedish Innovations through Vietnamese Lenses was officially launched yesterday to mark the 45th anniversary of Sweden-Vietnam diplomatic relations.

 A Vietnamese guest worker from Liberia – the worst affected by virus Ebola was willing to be quarantined at the Tropical Diseases Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City on August 20, with symptoms of fever and sore throat found before he arrived in Vietnam.

 VietNamNet Bridge - On average, each Vietnamese person bears about $921 debt, higher than the projected figure for entire 2014 and over VND500,000 ($25) up in just five months.

 VietNamNet Bridge – HCM City authorities are planning to build a system of reservoirs that will help regulate water levels and decrease flooding by 30 percent.

 VietNamNet Bridge - Low-cost carriers dominate the aviation industry in Southeast Asia, such as in Malaysia and Singapore, but the playing field is still not level for budget airlines in Vietnam.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Miss India 2013 Ruhani Sharma wore evening gowns by Vietnamese well-known designer Van Thanh Cong at the Asia fashion week on August 18.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Many Vietnamese people think of infusion pumping whenever they have a fever or feel tired without knowing the risks of this technique.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Finance Ministry wants the two largest gold factories – Bong Mieu and Phuoc Son in the central province of Quang Nam - to resume operation. However, local tax authorities have not agreed.

 VietNamNet Bridge – On Thursday morning, the first commercial seaplanes in Vietnam landed at Hanoi’s Noi Bai airport and were greeted by a water spraying ritual for good luck.

 The coastal city of Danang will host the upcoming 5th ASEAN Maritime forum and the 3rd expanded ASEAN Maritime Forum transpiring from August 26-28.

 VietNamNet Bridge - With many historical, cultural sites and fascinating tourist areas, the 10-square-kilometer Ly Son Island in the central province of Quang Ngai is really an amazing tourist attraction.

 Indian Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj’s August 25-26 visit to Hanoi will give fresh impetus to our bilateral relations, said Vietnamese Ambassador to India Nguyen Thanh Tan.

 Vietnam vehemently opposes China’s inhuman actions against Vietnamese fishing vessels operating legally in Vietnam’s waters.

The Party Central Committee’s Commission for Organisation held a national meeting on August 21  to roll out guidelines on personnel work at Party congresses at all levels in preparation for the upcoming 12th National Party Congress.

 President of the European Commission José Manuel Durão Barroso will pay a two-day visit to Vietnam on August 25-26 at the invitation of Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

 A new assessment from Europe's CryoSat spacecraft shows Greenland to be losing about 375 cu km of ice each year.

VietNamNet Bridge – The face of Vietnam’s telecommunications sector is to change with major restructuring set to attract a host of foreign investors and allow the local telco market to finally deliver on its rich promise,

 VietNamNet Bridge – With only three weeks to go before the Mid-Autumn Festival, markets are full of people buying mooncakes and colourful lanterns made by local artisans and manufacturers.

VietNamNet columnist Viet Lam spoke with Prof. James Dale Bindenagel, former US Ambassador to Germany, and Dr. Nguyen Hong Son, Deputy Director of the Institute for the East Sea Studies, about China’s rise and Vietnam’s choices.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Finance (MoF) has submitted a range of tax solutions to the Government in order to remove difficulties and help promote development of enterprises.