2013 – a successful year of Vietnam’s diplomacy

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam has left a diplomatic imprint on the international community in 2013, elevating the country’s role and position globally.

First Kilo submarine arrives in Vietnam

 VietNamNet Bridge – Heavy lift vessel Rolldock Sea, carrying the first Kilo submarine Russia is building for Vietnam, arrived at the Cam Ranh Port in central Khanh Hoa Province, after a one-and-a half month voyage from St Petersburg.

Go for it... ideas for day trips from capital city

 VietNamNet Bridge – If Hanoi and its lavish array of attractions still cannot satisfy your adventurous spirit or you are simply getting fed up with this noisy crowded city and want some fresh air, just pack up and move out of the inner city

SEA Games win seals Vietnamese women's title haul

 VietNamNet Bridge – World champions Chau Tuyet Van, Nguyen Thi Thu Ngan and Nguyen Thi Le Kim completed their gold medal collection after grabbing their first Southeast Asian (SEA) Games title in Myanmar.

2013 – the year of transfer pricing and the “Samsung phenomenon”

VietNamNet Bridge –  2013 is a year worth remembering with the discovery of a series of transfer pricing cases and the presence of the big guy—Samsung, with the committed investment capital of $4 billion.

Odd jobs in Vietnam

 VietNamNet Bridge – Anything that you cannot do, you can hire others to do it for you. You can hire a bride, a groom and even one to pray for you.

Art & Entertainment Headlines January 1

 Notre Dame opera to open in HCM City; Royal ceremony revived in Hue; Hang Trong book claims top prize; Vietnamese puppetry shows feature Andersen tales; Famous paintings recognized as national treasure

FDI inflows set to increase in 2014

 VietNamNet Bridge – The recovery of foreign direct investment will continue playing a critical role in bolstering Vietnam’s economic growth in 2014.

Most Vietnamese students don’t have knowledge about their training majors

Only five percent of students have good learning about the training majors they choose, while 20 percent have “general knowledge” and 75 percent don’t know anything about the careers, a survey in HCM City has found.

Social Headlines January 1

 RoK recruits Vietnamese guest workers again; Ship siezed for holding undocumented iron; Search for capsize victims continues; Three Vietnamese rescued from Malaysia massage parlours

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 1/1

 Anti-dumping measures on cold-rolled stainless steel; Industrial production grows by 7.4% in 2013; Credit growth reaches 11 percent; Expressway toll collection auctioned in HCM City; Leading mobile retailer prospers in 2013

Natural forests to close next year on conservation fears

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Government next year will close all natural forests to prevent them from being over-exploited and exhausted, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung at a recent government online meeting.

EVENTS SCHEDULED FOR JAN. 1-15 (daily updated)

 Updated information about cultural events in big cities of Vietnam.

Local swimmer Anh Vien makes a splash in US

 Following her success at the 27th SEA Games in Myanmar,double gold medalist Nguyen Thi Anh Vien,is scheduled to attend an intensive training course in the US in January in preparation for next year’s games.

Cultural activities celeberate New Year 2014

 A series of special art performances celebrating New Year 2014 will be taken place throughout the country.

Life of mountain people changed because of the record cold

 VietNamNet Bridge – The life of ethnic minority people in the mountainous area of Thanh Hoa province has been severely affected by the prolonged record cold spell.

HCM City holds top slot in e-commerce index

 VietNamNet Bridge – Ho Chi Minh City remains its top slot in the Vietnam E-commerce Index 2013 which was announced by the Vietnam E-commerce Association (VECOM) in a ceremony in Hanoi on December 30.

Political Headlines December 31

 Vietnam condemns Volgograd terror blasts; VN, China FMs exchange New Year greetings; Russia – a strategic partner of Vietnam; Vietnam marks victory over genocidal regime in Cambodia

Local chess player among top three at 2013 world champs

 VietNamNet Bridge – Chess champion Tran Tuan Minh from Hanoi secured third place at the U16 event of the 2013 World Championships, which concluded in Al Ain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), on December 29.

Chief organizer of V-League 2014 named

 VietNamNet Bridge - More than two months after V-League former chief organizer – Mr. Tran Duy Ly resigned, the leading national football league of Vietnam has had the new chief – Mr. Pham Ngoc Vien.

Tickets for U19 int'l football tournament sold out quickly

 VietNamNet Bridge – The tickets for the opening game of the U19 International Football Tournament in HCM City were sold out in one and 20 minutes, showing Vietnamese fans’ unprecedented enthusiasm.

Saigonese to welcome New Year in flood tide

According to forecasts of the Southern Region Hydro-meteorological Station, in the early days of 2014, the Saigon River downstream area will suffer from flooding, which will be in excess of the alarm level 3.

Woman catches $7,500 giant carp from Mekong River

 VietNamNet Bridge – A woman in the southern province of Tra Vinh on Monday, December 30, caught a giant carp of nearly 120kg, 1.2m long in the Tien River.

Cat Ba archipelago launches wifi service

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Cat Ba archipelago, located in the northern port city of Hai Phong, launched wifi service as from December 28, meeting Internet access needs of local residents and tourists.

Russian firms ink joint energy deals

 VietNamNet Bridge – Several energy projects are expected to be implemented by Vietnamese and Russian firms in the coming year.