Ukraine's President Yanukovych in talks pledge after clashes

 Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych has agreed to negotiate with pro-EU protesters and opposition leaders after violent clashes in the capital Kiev.

NA Vice Chairwoman commends new charter

 VietNamNet Bridge – The 2013 Constitution breaks new ground in several aspects while stressing that economic growth should be combined with social progress, equity and environmental protection, a leading legislator says.

Hanoi businessman wins Big Brother’s VND2 bil house

VietNamNet Bridge – Hanoi-based businessman Hoang Son Viet, 28, won the first season of the 65-day reality show Big Brother which finished up on VTV6 last week in HCM City.

Would gaurs to have the same fate as rhinos?

Being a ferocious species, nearly having no natural enemies, and considered as the symbol of strength, gaurs (Bos gaurus) are still in high danger of getting extinct because they have been the aiming points of the poachers.

Excellent IT student becomes hackmaster

 VietNamNet Bridge – Nguyen Van Hoa has given all the money he earned from selling stolen credit card information to his father, and used it to buy land plots in Binh Duong and HCM City.

Network operators raise telecom charges on higher number repository fees

 VietNamNet Bridge – Telecom groups have warned that clients would have to pay more for telecom services as the Ministry of Finance has set up higher fees for using the telecom number repository.

PetroVietnam tops 2013 VNR 500, eligible for Fortune 500 member

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam, for the first time in its history, has one enterprise meeting the requirements to be listed in the Fortune Global 500, the list of the global 500 biggest conglomerates worldwide.

The special Tet gifts offered by the bosses with initiatives

 VietNamNet Bridge – Chili sauce, toilet paper, seasoning powder, shorts or cinema tickets have been given to workers as the rewards for their hard works for the companies in 2013.

Quang Ninh to crack down on illegal bear bile farms

 VietNamNet Bridge – Northern Quang Ninh Province's People's Committee has officially ordered an immediate crackdown on illegal tours to bear farms in Ha Long City – an area well known for its illegal bear bile business.

Teen guitar sensation Sungha Jung makes Vietnam debut

 VietNamNet Bridge – Korean guitarist Sungha Jung will perform in Vietnam for the first time with gigs in Hanoi on Saturday and HCMC on Sunday.

Police uncover over 44,000 criminal cases in 2013

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnamese police uncovered over 44,000 criminal cases with more than 2,600 gangs last year via a spate of raids, heard a conference in Hanoi on January 16.

PM heads national IT application committee

 VietNamNet Bridge – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has signed a decision on the establishment of the National Committee for Information Technology Application chaired by PM himself.

My Son home-stay gives visitors taste of rural living

 VietNamNet Bridge – Nguyen Duc Nha, 53, has introduced tourists to farming and rural lifestyles in My Son – a very new service being offered near the My Son Sanctuary, a World Heritage Site.

Super storms, heavy flooding attack Vietnam

 VietNamNet Bridge – Last year, 14 storms and five tropical depressions affected Vietnam, reaching the highest number of storms and tropical depressions on the East Sea in history.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 20/1

 Ministry maintains fuel prices; BIDV lends Vinatex $600m; Leather and footwear firms set to increase exports; Debt collection efforts needed; Foreign investors dominate retail; Imported flower prices inch up at Tet

Economic restructuring promoted

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Government has committed to undertaking economic restructuring in 2014, focusing on investment, credit organizations, the financial market, SOEs, agriculture and rural areas, industry and service.

Odd houses on Vietnam’s most expensive road

 VietNamNet Bridge - Hoang Cau - O Cho Dua Road in Hanoi has been open to traffic. However, along the most expensive road in Vietnam are many houses in odd shapes.

Ha Noi artist tries to preserve Old Quarter

 VietNamNet Bridge – As the capital's old structures are replaced by modern buildings, one artist has resorted to an unusual means of preservation: wrapping clay models of the ancient houses in layers of amber.

Vietnam budget airlines dream of international flights

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese budget airlines have been making every effort to mobilize more capital and expand their fleets in their plans to provide international flights.

VWS likely to pilot import of recyclable scrap

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam Waste Solutions Inc. can be able to import recyclable scrap on a pilot basis after Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Nguyen Minh Quang signaled the green light while he was touring the firm’s facility

Bonus cuts threaten to spoil Tet celebrations

 VietNamNet Bridge – Tet, or the Lunar New Year, is a significant event that most Vietnamese people look forward to, not just because of the long holiday break, but also because of the customary Tet bonus.

Cuc Phuong offers a break from city buzz

VietNamNet Bridge – Cuc Phuong National Park, the first national park in the country, is a relaxing place for tourists to enjoy a few days exploring tropical rainforest and a wonderful place to escape to and provides the perfect backdrop

Vietnam to revise laws to cope with runaway foreign investors

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam will revamp the Investment and Enterprise laws to make them more liberal for honest investors but tougher for those either failing to fulfill their investment commitments on schedule

Bach Tuyet, a precious gem of Cai luong

 People’s Artist Bach Tuyet is well-known for her sweet singing voice in the Cai luong (reformed opera) circle in Southern Vietnam and has been called Cai Luong Chi Bao (a precious gem of Cai luong ).

Disasters have been exposed

In recent years, the gradually-reducing rainfall has caused a water shortage in Mekong Delta. The dry season is longer, enhancing alkalinity in soil and causing difficulty in aquaculture or farming. Disasters from climate change have been revealed.