Organic food favorability brings great opportunities to Vietnam’s rice

A lot of Vietnamese enterprises have been trying to develop organic food which is in high demand in the world market. However, it is still impossible to organize the production in large scale because of the required heavy investments.

Ca tru club preserves traditional music

 VietNamNet Bridge – An old man passionately plays a three-string lute, while another man beats castanets and a young woman sings classical songs.

The most expensive trees for Tet

 VietNamNet Bridge – Gardeners throughout the country have introduced unique peach and ornamental trees worth tens of thousands of US dollars for this Tet. Below are the most expensive trees.

Officials warn of forest fires

 VietNamNet Bridge – Local authorities must communicate better about forest fire prevention and fighting regulations to minimise practices that could cause forest fires during the dry season.

A winter’s day in Dalat

 VietNamNet Bridge – This was my second visit to the city of love or the city of flowers, Dalat, in the Central Highlands of Lam Dong after a vacation with my mom twenty years ago.

2014 – a difficult year for businesses

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese businesses should reengineer and streamline their operations in 2014 to maximize efficiencies said President of Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) Vu Tien Loc.

Government Office to work harder in 2014

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Government Office will increase co-operation with ministries, agencies and localities to carry out the Government Resolution on tasks and solutions for the 2014 socio-economic development plan and budget estimate.

Art & Entertainment Headlines January 26

 Hue re-enacts imperial neu pole raising; Research on Vietnamese pottery win French award; Hanoi honours traditional craft artisans; Flower festival in Ha Long to welcome Tet; Festival serves up traditional cakes

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 26/1

 Tan Tao back on VN30-Index; HCMC hotel rates to stay the same; SBV can now import unrefined gold duty-free; Exports down 11.5% in January; CPI rises slightly on low purchasing power

Social Headlines January 26

 Human traffickers arrested at Tan Son Nhat airport; Police confiscate contraband cigarettes; Traffic fines soar to $138,000 in 2013; PM urges avian flu prevention; Health minister hears patient complaints about hospital staff

Spring colors in the ornamental kumquat village

 VietNamNet Bridge – Located about 12 km from Hanoi sits Van Giang, which is famous for its ornamental kumquat trees. Every spring the local people enter a busy season.

BIDV seeks foreign strategic investors

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Bank for Investment and Development of Viet Nam has set a goal to win foreign strategic partners later this year or no later than the first half of 2015, according to the bank's chairman Tran Bac Ha.

Thailand protesters 'promise not to obstruct voting'

 Thai protest leader Suthep Thaugsuban has promised that his supporters will not obstruct advance voting for next week's general election.

Vietnamese students shine at int’l invention exhibition

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese students won a gold, three silvers and a bronze at the International Youth Invention Exhibition (IYIE) 2014 that took place in Taiwan (China) from January 21-22.

In photos: 5-star public toilets in Saigon center

 VietNamNet Bridge - This morning, three toilets of 4-5 star standards opened at the Tao Dan Park, 23/9 Park and Le Van Tam Park in District 1, HCM City.

5,500 tons of rice granted to six provinces as New Year food aid

 VietNamNet Bridge - Nearly 5,500 tons of rice from the national reserve will be provided to six provinces as food aid during the lunar New Year (Tet holiday) and the between-crop period 2014.

Prime Minister appoints new Deputy Ministers

 VietNamNet Bridge - According to the decision signed on January 22 by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Mr. Truong Minh Tuan has become the Deputy Minister of Information and Communications from the signing day.

Vietnamese businessman successfully tests his submarine

 VietNamNet Bridge - Mr. Nguyen Quoc Hoa, the boss of a print company in Thai Binh province, has stated to have successfully test his submarine, named Truong Sa (Spratly Islands).

Year-end rendezvous of antiques enthusiasts

 VietNamNet Bridge – The antique fair opens once a year, from 23rd to 30th of the 12th lunar month (January 23-30 this year) at the intersection of five streets in the Hanoi's Old Quarter.

The ancient village in the heart of Hue City

 VietNamNet Bridge - Situated in the center of Hue City, Thuy Bieu is a peaceful village with vast gardens of plum mangoes and nha ruong houses of hundreds of years old.

Vietnamese designer introduces Ao Dai 3D in USA

 The latest Vietnamese ao dai (Vietnamese gown) collection designed by Quynh Paris will be the centrepiece of a fashion show in California, the US, today.

Non-explosive firecrackers cause explosion of debate

 VietNamNet Bridge – The authorities may permit residents to use "non-explosive fireworks" during the coming Tet (Lunar New Year).

Political Headlines January 25

 Pre-Tet meeting held with foreign military attachés; Deputy PM meets EU, Swiss officials; Deputy PM’s speech at WEF forum; Vietnam shares agricultural vision at Davos

Technology training majors “hotter” than economics

 VietNamNet Bridge – Instead of rushing to enroll in economics schools, students nowadays tend to choose technologies for their university studies.

China attempts to control Vietnam’s mineral industries

 VietNamNet Bridge – Government agencies and experts have warned that Chinese enterprises buy mining licenses to serve their plan to control the Vietnamese mineral industries.