Vietnam actively promotes tourism in 2014

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) has planned a series of activities at home and abroad to promote Vietnamese tourism in 2014.

National census to be held in April

 VietNamNet Bridge – The General Statistics Office (GSO) will hold a mid-decade population and housing census throughout the nation beginning in April.

Young readers drawn to foreign novels

 VietNamNet Bridge – Bach Viet Publishing House in HCM City has bought the rights to translate and publish American author Dan Brown's Inferno, which was recently released in bookstores under the Vietnamese title Hoa Nguc.

Circular clarifies working conditions and permit requirements for foreigners

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) issued a circular (No. 03/2014/TT-BLDTBXH dated 20 January 2014) containing implementation guidelines for a Government Decree (No. 102/2013/ND-CP)

EVN to replant 9,660 hectares of forest in hydropower projects

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) will have to replant around 9,660 hectares of forest to compensate for the areas of forest it has chopped down to make room for its hydropower plants.

Night cruises, rock fishing provide scenic escape along Da Nang coast

 VietNamNet Bridge – Cruising along the Han River at night or fishing on the rocks of Ngoc Islet off Hai Van Pass are becoming popular forms of summer entertainment in Da Nang.

The biggest natural bird sanctuary in Nghe An

 VietNamNet Bridge – For more than 50 years, the three generations of a family in the central province of Nghe An have been taking care and protecting a natural bird sanctuary with tens of thousands of birds.

Will 72,000 redundant bachelors, masters continue studying for doctorate?

Vietnamese students have been caught in a vicious circle: they try to obtain university education at any costs, but become redundant after the graduation. Therefore, they have to continue studying for master degree to become redundant once again.

POR8 stuns Vietnamese shrimp exporters

The nation’s high anti-dumping tax on the shrimps from Vietnam at 25.76 percent has been decided by the US Department of Commerce in the eighth period of review (POR8). But Vietnamese hope they still have the chances to petition for lower tax rates.

Telco opts for back-to-basics TV shows

 VietNamNet Bridge – A focus on training and low-cost tactics are the way ViettelTV, under the military-run telecom giant Viettel, will make inroads into Vietnam’s potential pay TV market.

Madonna to direct film of Rebecca Walker's novel Ade: A Love Story

Madonna is to direct her third film, an adaptation of Rebecca Walker's debut novel Ade: A Love Story.

Banks offer property market credit

VietNamNet Bridge – A credit package worth VND120 trillion (US$5.7 billion) would help develop the local property market, said Phan Thanh Mai, general director of the Viet Nam Bank for Construction.  

Art & Entertainment News Headlines 28/3

 VN-Cuba strike book deal; Poems tell a tale of war; Hungarian jazz artists enthrall Hanoi audience; Electronic night with Superpoze; Pink Floyd tribute for Rock City; DJ Vadim to stir up CAMA ATK; Hard Rock Cafe showcases UK vocalist

Social News Headlines 28/3

 Nick Vujicic back to Vietnam; Police detain nurse involved in newborn deaths case; Traffic accidents decline in first 3 months; Ha Noi taxis to have special colour code; HCM City to host Mekong River Commission summit

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 28/3

Sea freight charges to rise next month; Corruption makes for expensive projects; Rice exports reach 1.31 million tonnes in Q1; Russian aviation firm launches office in Vietnam; ODA disbursement on the rise in Q1

EU accelerates FTA negotiations with Vietnam

VietNamNet Bridge – The European Union is speeding up negotiations of a free trade agreement (FTA) with Vietnam due to be signed in late 2014. 

Australian tourist dies in road crash in Mui Ne

 VietNamNet Bridge – An Australian tourist identified by authorities as 56 year-old Wilcon Kayleen was tragically killed in a traffic accident in Mui Ne on March 26.

Hue opens Golden Tourism Week

VietNamNet Bridge – A variety of promotions have been launched for the first period of Golden Tourism Week in the former imperial city of Hue, which runs from March 26 to April 1.

Delta music genre confronts a paradox

 VietNamNet Bridge – Music researchers are worried about the profusion of new tai tu (amateur) music clubs in HCM City and southern provinces after the music was recognised by UNESCO as an intangible world heritage.

Tourism Coordinating Office to be set up in Mekong Delta

 The Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Sports will set up a Tourism Coordinating Office for the Mekong Delta, said Vice Minister Ho Anh Tuan.

Sports News Headlines 27/3

 U19 Viet Nam loses to U21 Lierse S.K.; Minh advances to second round of Hanoi Challenge; Chess masters gather for national competition

Is Shenzhen the new Silicon Valley?

 Three of the five largest mobile handset companies in the world are from one country and it's not the US.

Political News Headlines 27/3

 Viet Nam strengthens ties with New Zealand; Prime Minister touches down in Cuba on start of official trip; VN, Spain agree to develop relations; VN, Japan communists boost ties

Phuoc wins all 15 gold medals at national swimming champs

 VietNamNet Bridge – Da Nang City’s swimmer Hoang Quy Phuoc won all 15 gold medals of the National Swimming Championships 2014, which ended early this week.

Man City FC’s captain wants to open football academy in Vietnam

VietNamNet Bridge – Newly-elected Chair of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) – Mr. Le Hung Dung, said player Vincent Kompany of Manchester City FC wanted to open a football academy in Vietnam.