Hanoi to ban vehicles in busy Hoan Kiem streets

 VietNamNet Bridge – Hanoi will ban all vehicles from entering six streets in Hoan Kiem District every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening, the municipal Department of Transport has announced.

Investment law examined

 VietNamNet Bridge – The National Assembly Standing Committee yesterday (April 22) took a close look at draft revisions and amendments to the 2005 Investment Law.

The beauty of four “masterpiece” bridges in Da Nang

 VietNamNet Bridge – One of Da Nang’s most outstanding features – and no doubt the first one that strikes many a visitor to this fair city – is its set of awesome, beautiful, and often “eccentric” bridges.

Quang Ngai wants to set up Dung Quat special economic zone

 VietNamNet Bridge – The authorities of the central province of Quang Ngai have expressed their wish to establish the Dung Quat special economic zone or the Dung Quat City.

Giant yellow duck comes to Vietnam

 VietNamNet Bridge - Rubber Duck, a 25m high toy duck, will arrive in Ho Chi Minh City on April 27.

Waking the Dragon

 VietNamNet Bridge – Quang Ninh is blessed with rugged mountains, an incredible coastline and Ha Long Bay. The province is a source of great national pride, yet, like a sleeping dragon, it needs to be awoken.

Mekong River nations urged to drop 11 hydropower projects

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Save the Mekong Coalition has written to the government leaders of the nations in the Mekong River basin to cancel 11 hydropower projects in the Lower Mekong mainstream,

The special jobs that only exist in Vietnam

 VietNamNet Bridge – Catching grasshoppers, pulling out white hair or trimming pets’ nails are the special jobs in Vietnam which can bring high income yet don’t require investment capital.

Researchers identify why alcoholism causes muscle weakness

 U.S. researchers said Monday that muscle weakness from long-term alcoholism may be due to an inability of mitochondria, the powerhouses of cells, to self- repair.

Soldiers practice for the 60th Dien Bien Phu Victory parade

 VietNamNet Bridge - Officers and soldiers of Military Zone 2 are preparing for the upcoming parade to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the country’s victory over French forces at Dien Bien Phu on May 7.

Deputy PM agrees to stop licensing housing projects

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Construction’s proposal to stop licensing housing projects, despite strong opposition from the real estate sector, has gotten the nod from the Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai.

Social News Headlines 23/4

 Family of Vietnamese in ferry tragedy arrives in RoK; Students hospitalised due to food poisoning; 61 detained fishermen to return home from Indonesia; Ageing population poses challenges to Vietnam

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 23/4

 US$5.6 bln for Long Thanh airport, phase 1; Japanese businesses eye agriculture partnership in Mekong Delta; PGBank, Vietinbank may not merge; Vingroup prepares to issue additional shares

Ministry seeks to suspend licensing new commercial housing projects

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Construction has written to the Prime Minister proposing a suspension of the licensing of fresh commercial housing and urban area development projects this year in what is seen as a desperate effort

Thanh Hoa top V-League first leg

 VietNamNet Bridge – A win over Quang Ninh Coal in the 13th round match on Friday made Thanh Hoa champion of the V-League's first leg.

MOET denies stratospheric price tag for education renovation

 VietNamNet Bridge – Minister of Education and Training Pham Vu Luan says that reports of a VND34 trillion ($1.6 billion) price tag for its proposed education renovation program are unfounded.

The unique animals of U Minh Thuong

 VietNamNet Bridge - On August 12, 2013, U Minh Thuong National Park (Kien Giang Province) was awarded an ASEAN Heritage Park certificate.

Nguyen Dynasty’s ceremonial dresses displayed at private museum

 VietNamNet Bridge - The first private museum in Hue City is now exhibiting ceremonial dresses of the Nguyen Dynasty (1802 - 1945). The garments are owned by researcher Tran Dinh Son.

Hanoi’s urban railway project cost rises $300 million

 VietNamNet Bridge - Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai has asked for clarification of which individuals and organizations are responsible for the increase in the price tag of the Cat Linh-Ha Dong urban railway project.

OVs to have 5 more years to register nationality

VietNamNet Bridge – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has approved the Ministry of Justice’s proposal of amending the 2008 Law on Vietnamese Nationality towards extending the deadline for overseas Vietnamese to register for local citizenship

Vietnamese gymnast wins gold at Incheon competition

 Vietnamese gymnast Phan Thi Ha Thanh has won a gold medal at the Korea World Top 2014 competition which took place in Incheon, the Republic of Korea, from April 16-21.

Art & Entertainment News Headlines 22/4

 Haydn masterpiece to be sung in HCM City; French artist keen on Vietnamese culture; Hungarian folk dances in Hanoi; Uruguayan guitar duo perform in Hanoi; Sketches reveal misery of war

Duong Chi Dung stands trial again in Hanoi

A court of appeal began in Hanoi on April 22 against Duong Chi Dung, former chairman of the Vietnam National Shipping Lines (Vinalines), who was charged with embezzlement and violation of State regulations on economic management.

Political News Headlines 22/4

 ASEAN Culture and Art Ministers close sixth meeting; Deputy PM: Cao Bang needs to boost border trade; Hanoi strengthens cooperation with Moscow; Hanoi, Moscow enhance bilateral ties

NA examines revised Enterprise Law

 VietNamNet Bridge – Members of the National Assembly Standing Committee yesterday agreed that it was necessary to revise the Enterprise Law in order to enforce the Constitution, especially taking into consideration the relationship