IT firms reap fruits in foreign markets, taste bitterness in home market

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese IT firms can win the international bids to provide services to big clients in the world under the valuable contracts, but they find it difficult to get jobs in the home market.

Vietnam may set barriers to prevent waste imports

 VietNamNet Bridge – The National Assembly is considering installing barriers and putting strict control over the imports before Vietnam turns into the waste ground for developed countries.

Private – public partnership model doesn’t fit hospitals

 VietNamNet Bridge – Investors have money, patients have demand for healthcare services. However, private hospitals cannot exist, while patients still cannot enjoy high quality services.

VN war novel goes French

 VietNamNet Bridge – O Dat Ke Thu, written by amateur writer Le Lan Anh, is the first Vietnamese novel to be published by L'Hamarttan, one of France's leading publishing houses.

Earning $1 billion, but fruit exporters can’t get good night’s sleep

 VietNamNet Bridge – The fruit export turnover keeps increasing steadily despite the global economic recession. However, this is not enough to make Vietnamese exporters happy.

Water dwellings inspire canal towns

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese water dwellings have become a great source of inspiration for a Danish architect who plans to build small canal towns in his country.

Mozilla plans '$25 smartphone' for emerging markets

 Mozilla has shown off a prototype for a $25 (£15) smartphone that is aimed at the developing world.

Art & Entertainment News Headlines 25/2

 Young Vietnamese talent honoured in France; Italy dedicates new library to Vietnam; Photo contest focuses on rural life; Indian Festival brings food and dance to Vietnam; Gong lessons introduced at Central Highland schools

Social News Headlines 25/2

 Mekong Delta strives to cut poverty rate; HCM City water supplier needs $215m to reach all residents; Bird flu inspections strengthened at border gates; PM takes measures to stop wildlife trafficking

This summer to be very hot, says experts

 VietNamNet Bridge - According to weather forecast agencies, this year the temperature may be a record high in the summer and the North will no longer have severe cold spells.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 25/2

 Firm accused of tax evasion, titanium smuggling; MoF increases petrol, diesel prices; Work starts on $66.6m wood production line; Consumer confidence marks two-year high: market survey; EU tops list of Viet Nam trade partners

Travel news in brief

 STB announces new director for Vietnam; Vietjet Tours Offers promotions in March, April; Hilton Danang project resurrects after foreign capital injection; No letup in travels to bird flu-hit regional destinations

Foreign investors leave the auto market

 VietNamNet Bridge - A series of large investors such as Toyota, Madaz and Ford have abandoned auto projects in Vietnam, or do not intend to invest more because of concerns about the underdeveloped support industries.

Sports News Headlines 24/2

 Elite swimmers train abroad; Youngsters make good start in U16 tennis tournament; Real Madrid Foundation to hold football training camp; Amateur cyclists get set for Binh Duong race

Korean music star welcomed in Vietnam

 VietNamNet Bridge – Baek Ji Young, a famous South Korean pop ballad singer, has arrived in Vietnam to participate in a Vietnamese music contest entitled “Lotte VK Pop Super Star”.

DNA prostate test 'will predict deadliest cancer risk'

 DNA testing can predict which men face the highest risk of deadly prostate cancer, scientists say.

Social News Headlines 24/2

 Paying US visa fees via post office; 3rd person dies from rabies in Thanh Hoa; VN at risk of avian flu attacks; Gov't helps with flood-proof housing; No Vietnamese deaths reported in Ukraine violence

Lai Chau’s bridge collapse kills eight, injures over 30 people

 VietNamNet Bridge - A suspension bridge in Chu Va 6 hamlet, Son Binh commune, Tam Duong District in Lai Chau province collapsed this morning, February 24, killing at least eight people and injuring 33 others.

Asian Futsal draw favours Vietnam

 VietNamNet Bridge – Hosts Viet Nam have a good draw at the Asian Football Confederation Futsal (indoor football) Championships to be held on April 30-May 10.

Transactions hit record high

 It was a historic week for the stock market of Viet Nam as trading volume and value on both national exchanges reached a record high on Thursday.

Viettel group has new general director

 Major-General Nguyen Manh Hung, deputy general director of the army-run Viettel group, has been appointed by the Ministry of Defense as the General Director of Viettel to replace Lieutenant General Hoang Anh Xuan. 

Differently-abled to get direct seats in universities

 VietNamNet Bridge – Students with severe disabilities will be allowed to enter universities and colleges without taking examinations, according to a recent joint circular on educational policies.

Transport Ministry to recruit high-ranking officials through contests

 VietNamNet Bridge - Transport Minister Dinh La Thang confirmed that after selecting the chief of the Road Transport Department through examinations, the ministry will continue this model to eradicate corruption.

The first buffalo fighting festival in Hanoi

 VietNamNet Bridge – On February 23, thousands of people flocked to the Phuc Tho district stadium to watch the first ever buffalo fighting competition in Hanoi.

Hundreds of people surround government office, threatening to kill dog thieves

Knowing that two dog thieves were in custody at the communal office, hundreds of people flocked to besiege the office, threatening to kill the thieves. The police had to use a special vehicle to take the thieves out of the blockade.