Hanoi, Saigon among world's cheapest cities for budget travelers in 2014

 VietNamNet Bridge – Priceoftravel website has published a list of the cheapest destinations in the world, including Hanoi and HCM City of Vietnam.

Date service offers Valentine's Day hope

 VietNamNet Bridge – Do you need to have someone to warm your heart on Valentine's Day? Pine no more. A newly evolved service is offering a girlfriend or boyfriend for rent has appeared on the horizon and is likely to do a thriving trade.

SPORTS IN BRIEF 14/2

 Davis Cup qualifiers start today in Da Lat; Tennis player Hoang Thien to be trained in Taiwan; Walker Phuc ruled out of Asian competition; Nam prepares for training course in Thailand

Writer Sang dies at age 83 after battle with illness

 VietNamNet Bridge – Writer Nguyen Quang Sang died yesterday (Feb 13) in his home in HCM City at the age of 83 after a long battle with illness, his son, film director Nguyen Quang Dung said.

Seaplane tours to Halong, Phan Thiet in the offing

 Visitors from HCMC and Hanoi City will be able to take seaplane tours to Halong, Phan Thiet, Can Tho, Long Xuyen and Chau Doc daily from June thanks to the services of Thien Minh Group.

Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde comes to VN

 VietNamNet Bridge – The ADGE and TNT Theatre Britain will present the thriller-cum-horror comedy Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde in Ha Noi and HCM City in early March.

Russia, U.S. promise to help push forward Syria peace talks: Brahimi

 Russia and the United States reaffirmed their support to the ongoing second round of Geneva II conference on Syria and assured that they would help to push forward the stalled peace talks,

Vietnam draws new investment law, considers “haggling” with foreign investors

Though Vietnam continues keeping its doors open widely to foreign direct investment (FDI), it will be choosier in licensing projects.

GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 14/2

 VN, Indonesia bolster defence ties; Sympathy over Algeria air crash; Vietnam Year in France to drive two-way bond; Vietnam, Australia’s Northern Territory step up cooperation

Da Nang City threatens to sue MONRE

Da Nang City People’s Committee believes that the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment (MONRE) has seriously violated the Water Natural Resource Law and ignored the benefits of nearly 1.7 million of people in the lowlands.

41 bachelors found “buying” eligibility for attending MA entrance exams

Forty one students in Thanh Hoa province agreed to pay VND1 billion in exchange for the recognition that they can meet the requirements to attend the entrance exams to the Economics University’s master training course.

Public servants to pay for mistakes

 VietNamNet Bridge – Public servants who create unnecessary costs during the administration of projects and legal proceedings - and in the enforcement of judgments can now be forced to re-imburse the State with up to 36 months of their salary.

Binh Ba Island

 Located in Cam Ranh City, Khanh Hoa Province, Binh Ba Island is considered a breakwater to protect Cam Ranh Bay. Visiting the island, tourists are fascinated by the pristine beauty of the beaches and the friendliness and gentleness of the locals.

Seaplane tours to Halong, Phan Thiet in the offing

 VietNamNet Bridge – Visitors from HCMC and Hanoi City will be able to take seaplane tours to Halong, Phan Thiet, Can Tho, Long Xuyen and Chau Doc daily from June thanks to the services of Thien Minh Group.

Researchers create first map of largest solar system moon

 U.S. researchers said Wednesday they have completed the first global geological map of Ganymede, Jupiter's largest moon and the largest in the solar system.

The famous dishes from insects in Vietnam

 VietNamNet Bridge – Through the hands of Vietnamese chefs, the insects with ‘creepy’ looks like stink bugs, grasshoppers, ant eggs, coconut worms and bee larvae become unforgettable delicacies.

Asset market quiet ‘cause there aren’t good-priced items

Though the assets offered for sale are plentiful, only few deals have been made.

First wax museum in Vietnam

 Visitors to Danang’s Ba Na tourist resort have the chance to pose for a photo with life-size wax models of celebrities they admire when touring the wax museum known as the first Madame Tussauds Vietnam.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 14/2

 Rice exports slump as prices rise; Vietnam needs to restructure tra fish sector; Seven new air routes to connect to Can Tho City; Local dairy firms hike prices in foreign brands’ footsteps;

First chartered flight to take Russian tourists to Phu Quoc

 VietNamNet Bridge – The first chartered flight with Russian tourists on board will land at Phu Quoc Island on Valentine’s Day, February 14, marking the start of an influx of Russian holidaymakers into this picturesque tropical island.

Expert says Hong River flow vital for Delta region

 VietNamNet Bridge – Many parts of Hong (Red) and Thai Binh rivers have seen its average water level remarkably reduced - by two metres lower than the previous 20 years.

Measles cases on the rise, 3 dead

 VietNamNet Bridge – More than 240 people have tested positive to measles in 24 provinces since the beginning of the year, including three child fatalities, according to statistics from the Ministry of Health (MoH).

Vietnam thinks of the solutions to popularize FTTH

Though FTTH (fiber to the home) is considered the best service for people to access to Internet, it is still not the choice of the majority of Vietnamese people.

Sculpture project honours Vietnamese icons

 VietNamNet Bridge – Four sculptures of Vietnamese historical figures have been presented to the public as part of efforts to publicise them.

Half-way policies make Vietnam’s supporting industries pale

A lot of mistakes were made in the past, leading the failure of the plans on the development of many key industries. The supporting industries, therefore, cannot grow up.