Vietnam tops tally at SEA karatedo champs; Long An signs on three new players; HCM City women retain national tennis crown; Cyclists prepare for the start of HCM City Television Cup; Golfers teed up to celebrate festival at seniors tournament

 V-League organisers met yesterday to discuss changes to this season's fixture list following Ninh Binh's withdrawal from the competition.

 200,000 Vietnamese suffer from stroke annually; Perpetrator in Can Tho shooting incident a police officer; Child malnutrition treatment named top priority; US bombs defused in Yen Bai Province; Gyalwang Drukpa book launched in HCM City

 The Government has allowed employees of state organisations to have five straight days off on the Reunification Day (April 30) and International Labour Day (May 1) holidays, thus giving hopes that travel firms could do good business this time.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Non-professional services, poor tours and weak co-operation among provinces are the main reasons that tourism has not developed well in the Cuu Long (Mekong Delta) region,

 VietNamNet Bridge – International institutions are remaining doubtful about the ability of the Vietnam Asset Management Company (VAMC) to settle bad debts.

 A concert featuring international artists will open tonight at Ha Noi's National Convention Centre.

 VietNamNet Bridge – On Tuesday evening, Royal Night, the highlight event of the Hue Festival 2014, was held in several places in the Imperial City of Hue. In the Truong Sanh Palace, a royal wedding of the Nguyen Dynasty’s princess was held.

 The Hanoi People’s Court on April 16 afternoon decided to postpone the trial of Nguyen Duc Kien, former Vice Chairman of the founding council of the Asia Commercial Bank, because one of his alleged eight accomplices was absent due to poor health.

 US Senator begins Vietnam visit; Vietnam, Mongolia promote cooperation; NA calls for faster army promotions; Vietnam, Sudan bolster cooperation; Deputy PM Ninh continues UK visit

PM Nguyen Tan Dung on April 16 met with new ambassadors from the United Arab Emirates and Myanmar who paid a courtesy visit before starting their term in Vietnam.

 Vietnam attaches special importance to developing its comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia, affirmed President Truong Tan Sang while receiving Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Hanoi on April 16.

 VietNamNet Bridge – No drop of rain has been felt in Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan Provinces over the last five months. People have been struggling to survive the drought, while plants have been fading under the scorching sun.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese parents have been in a high dudgeon in reaction to a surprisingly high number of reports of deaths of children at nursery schools.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam is placing high hopes on its bid to supply rice to the Philippines. However, it has been warned that Thailand, which has announced that it will clear its stocks at any cost, will be a formidable rival.

The Ministry of Science and Technology and Lam Dong Province have not been able to reach a consensus on the construction of a nuclear science and technology center in Da Lat City. The Prime Minister will make a decision on this project.

 VietNamNet Bridge - The Animal Health Department has reported that Vietnam is free from bird flu, with no new outbreaks detected in the last two weeks. However, foot-and-mouth disease has appeared in some locations.

 VietNamNet Bridge – If deferring to current law, no business in Vietnam can satisfy the requirements for salvaging retired ships for scrap.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Transport has announced a jury - the first-ever of its kind in Vietnam - to conduct examinations that will lead to the choice of a new chief of the Vietnam Road Administration.

 VietNamNet Bridge - Leading Vietnamese chefs displayed their refined cooking techniques and the use of unique ingredients featuring royal delicacies, bringing alive the traditions and flavors of the Nguyen Dynasty at the Hue Royal Palace on Tuesday.

 VietNamNet Bridge - According to Japanese media, the police have released a stewardess of the national air carrier Vietnam Airlines who was accused of smuggling.

Responding to the rumor that authorities are suppressing information about the outbreak of measles, the Health Ministry insists that there have been only 25 deaths due to measles and that the agency has not hid information about the epidemic.

 VietNamNet Bridge - At least seven people died after a coach carrying 13 passengers, including two French, crashed into a tank truck on Trung Luong Expressway in the southern province of Tien Giang this morning.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Binh Hung Island off mainland Khanh Hoa Province is where adventure lovers should explore owing to its stunning beaches, splendid coast sceneries and culture of local fishermen.

 VietNamNet Bridge –Viet Nam is a promising market for foreign retailers and will have more competition on the local retail market next year which is the deadline of opening the domestic retail market.