Sea of clouds viewed from Fansipan

 VietNamNet Bridge – Here are stunning pictures of clouds, taken from the 3,140-metre high Fansipan, which is called the roof of Indochina.

Multilateral diplomacy – important part of VN’s foreign policy: PM

 Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has underscored the need to identify multilateral foreign policy as an indispensable part in Vietnam’s overall external policy and international integration.

VN targets tra fish supply chain to supply EU market

VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam plans to develop a sustainable Pangasius supply chain to increase its exports to the EU, its leading export market, heard a conference held in HCM on Wednesday.

Plan to restructure 11 commercial banks approved

 The State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV) Governor has approved a plan for restructuring of 11 of the 14 joint stock commercial banks in HCM City.

Ministry assesses hydro power plants

 VietNamNet Bridge – Stricter management over hydro power plants would benefit the public, the environment and economic development, said Industry and Trade Minister Vu Huy Hoang.

Man recreates miniature model of historic Hue in HCM City

 VietNamNet Bridge - With a desire to help his parents see Hue every day, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tung has made a miniature Hue in bustling Saigon.

2013 Nobel Prize winner attends int’l workshop in Vietnam

VietNamNet Bridge - Professor Francois Englert, the scientist who discovered the Higgs boson and won the Nobel Prize in 2013, is now in Binh Dinh to participate in an international workshop held by Meet Vietnam organization from August 11 to 17.

Burning of votive papers causes serious forest fire in Binh Dinh

 VietNamNet Bridge – Dozens of hectares of protective forest in the central city of Quy Nhon, Binh Dinh province were burnt down after a man burnt votive items for the dead. The 14-hour fire was reported as the largest in the past 10 years.

Vinashinlines’ multibillion-dong ships sit and rust after bankruptcy decision

Having a book value of VND1 trillion and original investment capital of VND1.6 trillion, the ships of Vinashinlines may eventually be sold at scrap iron prices as complicated bankruptcy procedures have stalled its operations.

Over 600 guest workers in Libya return home safely

 An additional 173 Vietnamese citizens working in Libya came home safely on August 11, bringing the total number of Vietnamese workers returning from the North African country to 626.

Over 6.5kg heroin seized at Noi Bai Int’l Airport

 VietNamNet Bridge - Customs officials at Noi Bai International Airport recently thwarted a passenger’s bid to smuggle more than 6.5kg of heroin hidden in luggage into Vietnam.

Hoang Sa archipelago to be taught in Da Nang schools

 The central city of Da Nang has stepped up the compilation of documents on its Hoang Sa (Paracel) island district for teaching in all local schools from the 2014-2015 academic year.

Thai billionaires seek to dominate Vietnam retail market

 Many leading market analysts believe it evidences Thai billionaires’ ambitions to conquer the Vietnamese retail market.

Lawmakers debate revised investment bill

 The revised Investment Law should help ensure people's right to run businesses that are not prohibited by law, lawmakers said during a discussion yesterday.

A weird and thrilling formation of columnar basalt

 VietNamNet Bridge – In a journey to Phu Yen a few years ago, I missed a chance to visit Da Dia basalt columns, one of the famous tourist attractions in the central coast province. So I decided to make a trip there this summer

Universities need more autonomy to implement education reforms

VietNamNet Bridge – Former deputy chair of the National Assembly Committee for Culture, Education, Youth and Children, Professor Nguyen Minh Thuyet, spoke with Giao Thong newspaper about higher education reform.

Asia-Europe music festival to be held in Vietnam

VietNamNet Bridge – The 2014 Asia – Europe New Music Festival is scheduled to be held in Hanoi and Ha Long City, in Quang Ninh Province from October 8-12, with the participation of nearly 200 composers from 30 countries

Drug-resistant malaria a growing threat

 VietNamNet Bridge – Although Vietnam has seen a downward trend of malaria cases, elimination of the disease faces challenges, including the emergence of a strain that has become more drug-resistant,

Ministry mulls strong measures to prevent spam

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Information and Communications has pledged to take bold steps to crack down on spam messages sent via mobile phones as its past measures have not worked effectively.

Females from farming families struggle to survive in factory jobs

 VietNamNet Bridge – For many rural women, leaving their villages to work in industrial parks seems to be the only and best choice for their lives, but their life often does not become better.

Mooncake markets bustle ahead of festival

VietNamNet Bridge – With a few weeks to go until the traditional Mid Autumn Festival which is held on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, HCM City is already bustling with people buying mooncakes for relatives and friends.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 12/8

 Rice exports to hit 6.3 million tonnes in 2014; Rice exports to hit 6.3 million tonnes in 2014; Revised zoning plan for Dung Quat seaport 2 approved; Companies search for offices in Ha Noi; Russia opens door to Vietnamese seafood

Malware rampant in Viet Nam

VietNamNet Bridge – Computer worm Stuxnet, which exploited a shortcut handling error in Windows, was mostly detected on computers in Viet Nam, reported Russian computer security firm Kaspersky Lab last Tuesday.

Nation targets growth rate of 5.8%

 VietNamNet Bridge – Drastic measures should be taken by ministries, agencies and provinces to meet the 5.8 per cent GDP growth target this year.

Vietnam urged to reduce demand for rhino horns

VietNamNet Bridge – Rhinos are being driven to extinction due to the demand for their horns and Viet Nam is considered the main market for them, experts have said.