Swedish Embassy improves visa services

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Swedish Embassy in Hanoi and VFS Global have agreed to jointly improve services available to those applying for a visa to the country, due to an increasing demand from the Vietnamese for traveling to Europe.

Transport Ministry to inspect faulty roads nationwide

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Minister of Transport, Dinh La Thang, has set up a team to examine why many sections of new roads and highways have subsided so quickly after being opened.

Authorities seek to woo tourists

   Tourism authorities in the country have been told to roll up their sleeves in preparing tourism promotions now to attract tourists, especially those from key visitor-generating markets.

New bank fee on cash deposits and withdrawals could backfire, experts say

 VietNamNet Bridge – Cardholders have been warned that they will have to pay fees when they deposit or withdraw cash from banks, according to a circular on cash service fees being drafted by the State Bank of Vietnam.

Dong Nai rioter sentenced to eight months for theft

 VietNamNet Bridge – The People's Court in Nhon Trach District in the southern province of Dong Nai yesterday sentenced Ha Van Thanh, a worker at the Formosa Company in Nhon Trach 3 industrial park, to eight months jail for stealing property.

Culture Ministry imposes fines on online music sites

 VietNamNet Bridge - The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has decided to levy a VND8 million ($400) fine on several websites for posting songs with vulgar lyrics which go against the habits, customs and cultural traditions of Vietnam.

Photos: Thousands of litchi trucks cause congestion on highway

 VietNamNet Bridge - On Wednesday morning, Highway 31 in Bac Giang province became seriously congested when thousands of trucks carrying litchi were headed to Luc Ngan Market.

Vinalines Deputy General Director suspended

 VietNamNet Bridge - Deputy General Director of the Vietnam Shipping Lines Corporation (Vinalines), Mr. Vu Khac Tu, has been suspended from work for 15 days to to explain his role in the corruption case of three officials of the Quang Ninh Port.

VNPT to hold 20% of Mobifone’s capital after equitization

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Information & Communications is expected to complete the equitization plan for Mobifone – one of the three largest mobile networks in Vietnam – and submit it to the Government in the fourth quarter.

New chair for Ba Ria-Vung Tau, new foreign deputy minister appointed

 VietNamNet Bridge - On Wednesday morning the People’s Council of Ba Ria-Vung Tau held an extraordinary session to elect a new chair to replace chair Tran Minh Sanh who suffered a stroke.

Vietnam budget airlines expand, as others incur losses

 VietNamNet Bridge – Regional budget airlines are incurring losses in Vietnam, but Vietnamese airlines continue their plans to expand their fleets.

Hanoi’s major water supply pipe breaks for the seventh time

 VietNamNet Bridge – The pipe carrying safe water from Da River to Hanoi’s city center broke again on Tuesday night for the seventh time, affecting hundreds of thousands of Hanoians. However, repair was completed within one day.

Chile, Argentina slam Chinese oil rig placement in Vietnam’s waters

 VietNamNet Bridge – Ambassador to Chile Ha Thi Ngoc Ha on June 11 informed Chilean congressmen of the latest developments in the East Sea, several weeks after China illegally towed its oil rig Haiyang Shiyou – 981 to Vietnam’s waters.

What do Vietnamese students do on their holiday?

 VietNamNet Bridge – Some students go to the countryside. Others attend music and arts classes. Others have a “working holiday” when they spend time attending private tutoring classes to prepare for exams.

State Bank ponders new charges

 VietNamNet Bridge – Cash deposits and withdrawals at credit institutions will be charged a fee if the central bank's new draft rule on cash transactions gets approved.

Consular Office of Seychelles inaugurated in Vietnam

 The Republic of Seychelles opened its consular office in Hanoi on June 18 and appointed Le Thanh Thao, director of Asia Sun Travel, as its honorary consular.

HCM City to close part of multi-million dollar waste treatment plant

 VietNamNet Bridge – The city authorities will close part of the $48.8 million Phuoc Hiep solid waste treatment complex in Cu Chi District because of pollution.

Three Chinese aircraft operate over oil rig site

 One June 18, three Chinese aircraft flew above the site where Chinese oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 is standing illegally in Vietnamese waters, the Vietnam Fisheries Surveillance Force reported.

Party chief affirms consistent policy on China relations

 The Party, State and people of Vietnam pursue a consistent policy of treasuring the friendship and cooperation with China , Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has said.

Prime Minister meets Chinese State Councillor in Hanoi

 Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung on June 18 hosted a reception for visiting Chinese State Councillor Yang Jiechi who is in Hanoi for a meeting between the Chairs of the Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation between the two countries.

Traditional music as tourism bait

 VietNamNet Bridge – A proposal to use UNESCO-recognised Don ca tai tu music to attract tourists has given rise to conflicting opinions, with some veteran musicians warning that commercialisation could devalue a cultural heritage.

Illegal betting booms with World Cup

 VietNamNet Bridge – When the FIFA World Cup 2014 opened, illegal betting has mushroomed. Coffee shops and foreign betting websites are the "business centers" for gamblers.

Local scientist makes citronella mosquito cream

 VietNamNet Bridge – Truong Ngoc Bao Tran from the HCM City Technology University plans to use citronella essential oil to make a mosquito repellant cream.

Microwave helmet 'can spot a stroke'

 Scientists say they have devised a helmet that can quickly determine whether a patient has had a stroke.

Nguyen Dynasty rescued French vessels in East Sea

 VietNamNet Bridge – Prior to 1909, Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes were administrative units of the Nguyen Dynasty, and were strictly organized and managed by the central government.