Solar plane set for inaugural flight

 A solar-powered plane that will be taken on a round-the-world journey in 2015 is set to make its inaugural flight on Monday.

Farmers told to stop selling Chinese superworms for fish, bird feed

 VietNamNet Bridge – Scientists have warned farmers that the Chinese superworm (Zaphobasmorio), an omnivorous insect not included on the list of domestic animals permitted to be bred in Vietnam, should not be used as fish and bird feed.

Truong Sa submarine could not dive in the test at sea

 VietNamNet Bridge – “The experiment was not successful. It could not fulfill the things we planned,” Nguyen Quoc Hoa, the inventor of Truong Sa submarine, after the test at sea on May 30.

Vietnam to re-negotiate rice contract with Philippines

The Vietnam Food Association and the Ministry of Industry and Trade have told the Northern and Southern Food Corporations to re-negotiate their contracts with the National Food Agency of the Philippines to export 800,000 tons of rice.

Northern Nigeria bomb blast 'kills football spectators'

 At least 14 people have been killed in a bomb attack on a bar that was screening a televised football match in north-eastern Nigeria, police say.

Lean pork paste proved to emit light

Information that lean pork paste was giving off light proved to be true and was witnessed by many people, said Truong Hoang Kien, deputy director of the Quang Ninh Food Safety and Hygiene Department.

China looking to use force to change status quo in East Sea: Abe

 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has expressed concern over China's possible use of force in the disputed East Sea.

In pictures: Mini-submarine Truong Sa tested at sea

VietNamNet Bridge – The mini-submarine named Truong Sa of a businessman in Thai binh Province was tested at sea on May 30, after the successful trials in a tank and a lake. However the test had to stop because the propeller was broken.

10 movies to be released in Vietnam this June

 VietNamNet Bridge - "Edge of Tomorrow", "How to Train Your Dragon 2" and "Transformers: Age of Extinction" are the three most awaited blockbusters by the audiences this month.

Many countries want to boost defence cooperation with Vietnam

 Many countries expressed their desire to bolster defence cooperation with Vietnam during bilateral meetings on the sidelines of Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore from May 30 to June 1.

China maintains fleet presence around illegal oil rig

 Vietnam’s law enforcement forces on June 1 detected that China’s oil rig Haiyang Shiyou-981, illegally stationed in Vietnamese waters, may not be fixed in a stable position.

Vietnam’s stance on East Sea issue welcomed: Defense Minister

 Delegates to the 13th Shangri-La Dialogue have welcomed Vietnam’s stance on settling the East Sea issue by peaceful means in line with international law, said Defence Minister, General Phung Quang Thanh.

Saigon Central Post Office - an attractive destination

 VietNamNet Bridge – Located in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City’s District 1, the Central Post Office is one of the city’s oldest buildings, an attractive destination for local and foreign visitors.

Economic growth faces obstacles

 VietNamNet Bridge – In a conversation with Dai Doan Ket (Great National Unity) newspaper, National Assembly Deputy Cao Si Kiem pointed out some of the constraints hindering the country's development.

China’s East Sea ambition in a Russian scholar’s eye

 Professor Vladimir Kolotov, a Vietnam Studies scholar, says China’s illegal deployment of its drilling rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 in Vietnam’s waters is just a first step in a long-term strategy to realise its East Sea expansion ambition.

China’s sovereignty claims fade in the light of international law

With its dubious historic claims, China tried but failed to convince the world of its sovereignty over Vietnam’s Hoang Sa Archipelago. China is resorting to more unacceptable and hardball tactics. This article will shed light on China’s quibble.

VN Facebook users snub negative posts

 Facebook users in Viet Nam are likely to "unfriend" people putting up lots of meaningless status updates, a survey released last week by market research firm Epinion has found.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 2/6

Binh Duong remains attractive destination for FDI; BOT highway projects attract investors; Da Nang port to launch IPO in June; King Riches breaks ground on second facility;

VND30 trillion of bad debt awaits VAMC

 VietNamNet Bridge – Credit institutions have registered to sell more than VND30 trillion in bad debt to Vietnam Asset Management Company (VAMC), according to the State Bank of Vietnam.

National cohesion needed to reduce dependence on China

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese businesses should commit to lessening their reliance on imports from China, said National Assembly (NA) deputy Tran Xuan Hoa, Vietnam National Coal- Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin) former Chairman.

Old map shows Hoang Sa, Truong Sa belong to Vietnam

 VietNamNet Bridge – A map showing Vietnam’s sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagoes has recently been discovered by a resident in the central province of Thanh Hoa.

Defence Minister Thanh meets US, UK, French partners

 Vietnam Defence Minister General Phung Quang Thanh on May 31 held separate bilateral meetings with his counterparts from the US, UK and France on the sidelines of the 13th Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

U.S. Secretary of Defense may visit Vietnam later this year

 VietNamNet Bridge - Minister of Defense Phung Quang Thanh said that his American counterpart Chuck Hagel would visit Vietnam in November in response to his visit to Hawaii earlier this year.

Da Nang officials fed up with long-delayed luxury hotel projects

 VietNamNet Bridge – Real estate developers from Hanoi and HCM City once flocked to Da Nang to seek opportunities in the market that promised to glitter like gold, especially in the luxury-hotel segment.

Shooting the right people at the right time

 VietNamNet Bridge – Hoang Kim Dang has shot his way into the nation's history books with iconic photographs of leading lights like General Vo Nguyen Giap and writer Nguyen Tuan.