Holiday season drives prices up; VAMC eats up bad debts from credit institutions; SBV to continue gold auctions; New house tax to fund infrastructure; Exports need quality breakthroughs; New shipbuilding firm to begin operations

 British luxury car maker Rolls Royce appointed Regal Motor Cars as its first dealer in Viet Nam, giving the company a foothold in one of the region's emerging auto markets.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The main rubbish dump of the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho was closed on January 1, due to the serious pollution it has caused to surrounding areas.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Tran Tuan An, an outstanding Vietnamese guitar student from North Park University, Chicago, USA, will perform a one-night show at the French Cultural Centre (L'Espace), Ha Noi, next Saturday.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Former Deputy Minister of Health Doctor Le Van Truyen, spoke with the Lao Dong (Labour) newspaper about why Vietnamese people are still hesitant to use domestically produced pharmaceuticals.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Hundreds of Vietnamese students will be sent abroad for training in nuclear power courses as a preparation for the operation of Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Plants 1 & 2, set to be operational by 2020.  

 VietNamNet Bridge – The improved transparency in the stock market has helped regain investors’ trust in 2013, and the trend will continue this year, said Chairman of the State Securities Commission Vu Bang.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Coming to the Mekong Delta, after cruising along canals, shopping on the floating market and cycling around orchards, tourists should enjoy many rustic specialties, of which cong cake is suggested as a must-try dish.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese football has witnessed a 2013 filled with both joy and sadness.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Having powerful financial capability and enjoying privileges as state owned enterprises, they still want more power, more capital and more privileges.

As the largest fair in Lung Pu commune, Meo Vac district, Ha Giang province, in Vietnam’s northern mountainous region, H’mong people come here to buy candies and clothes in preparation for the new year.

VietNamNet Bridge – It is no exaggeration to say that Vietnam is a country of villages; the country and villages are inextricably intertwined. Everything about the Vietnamese people, both in the past and at present, has its origin from the village.

 VietNamNet Bridge – A recent survey of 200 street food vendors chosen at random in HCMC found that 6.5% of respondents are college and university degree holders and high-school graduates account for 20.5%.

 VietNamNet Bridge – PM Nguyen Tan Dung made a number of significant business trips abroad in 2013 during which he sent out remarkable, clear messages that sought stronger connections between Viet Nam and other nations and strengthened peace,

VietNamNet Bridge – Tam Dao is the name of an area which houses the three mountains of Thach Ban, Thien Thi and Mang Chi in Vinh Phuc, Thai Nguyen and Tuyen Ban provinces which were formed 230 million years ago following a volcano eruption.

VietNamNet Bridge - "Brides War 2," "The Hobbit 2" or "Tarzan 3D" are the special movies that will be screened at local cinemas during the lunar New Year.

 U.S. and Chinese scientists said Thursday they have discovered an effective strategy that could prevent the human immune system from rejecting the grafts derived from human embryonic stem cells,

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Reunification Palace, Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica and the Nha Rong Wharf are renowned for both their unique architecture and historic significance. Below are the most famous architectures in the city.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The National Assembly concluded a busy year which included the ratification of a revised Constitution, the Land Law and the Law on Public Procurement. It is expected the new laws will help develop a more liberal economy.

 Three Vietnamese volleyballers play for Thailand; Vien leaves for training in the US; Tuan fired on New Year's Day; Vinh to shoot in Kuwait

 Party says no Tet gifts for senior officers; Land from tardy projects used to build public schools; Cold snap sickens elders, children; Major challenges dog education reforms; Hundreds of elite graduates to help poor communes

 Gov’t intensifies crackdown on trade fraud; Restrictions on foreign currency tightened; No gov't back up for foreign loans; Manufacturing output rises at fastest pace, says HSBC; Vietnam attracts nearly US$22 bln in FDI

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnamese chess player had the best record in table one and helped the chess team of the Webster University win the championship of the prestigious annual tournament, which closed on January 1.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam would work towards building a trademark and also focus on trade promotion for the Vietnamese rice product exports, experts said.

 Disputes over territorial sovereignty of the seas between China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (RoK) became more tense on November 23 after Beijing unilaterally declared an air defence identification zone (ADIZ),