Vietnam tries “community forestry” model to protect forests

 VietNamNet Bridge – To date, 280,000 hectares of the total 15.3 million hectares of forests have been allocated to local people for forestry production and 513,000 hectares have been allocated for management and protection.

Red alarm bell rung over nursery school teachers’ qualification

 VietNamNet Bridge – The surveys conducted by the Pre-school Education Faculty of the Hanoi University of Education all showed big problems in the training of teachers for nursery schools.

Moc Bai EZ dying because of changeable policies

 VietNamNet Bridge – The unreasonable non-tariff policies, the inconsistency in tax policies and investment incentives have all driven the Moc Bai Economic Zone (EZ) to death.

Russian writer lends helping hand to the blind

 VietNamNet Bridge – Mikhail Samarsky is something of a wunderkind. Now 17, he began writing when he was only 12 years old, beginning with two books on the visually impaired that have been translated into Vietnamese.

Domestic helpers earn higher pay than bachelors

 VietNamNet Bridge – At present, the salary of domestic helpers is about VND3 million ($150) per month, while newly graduated bachelors receive only about VND2 million ($100).

18 noteworthy skywatching events in 2014

 VietNamNet Bridge - The people in Vietnam will observe a total of 18 exotic astronomical phenomena in 2014, according to the Vietnam Young Astronomers’ Association (VACA), as follow:

Social Headlines December 24

 Universities urged to raise calibre of part-time courses; Vietnam to increase labour export quota in 2014; Odorous garbage clogs local roads; UNICEF praises Vietnam’s primary education for all

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 24/12

 Viglacera's IPO to take place in February; Thaco to produce diesel engines; Central Province eyes 75 capital projects; Japanese firm NIDEC to expand VN venture; Gov't delays slow housing projects

Hospitality school student wins model contest

 VietNamNet Bridge – Freelance model Mau Thi Thanh Thuy has won Viet Nam's Next Top Model 2013, beating Le Van Kien, Cha Mi and Tuan Viet in the final round.

SEA Games wrap up in Myanmar

 VietNamNet Bridge – The 27th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games closed yesterday (Dec 22) in Nay Pyi Taw, marking the end of a prestigious tournament for which athletes spent two years in training.

FIFA World Cup trophy to visit Vietnam

 FIFA World Cup trophy to visit Viet Nam; Vietnamese athletes shine at World Kurash Championships; Vietnam takes silver at SportAccord World Mind Games

Art & Entertainment Headlines December 23

 Vietnamese awarded at Miss ASEAN contest; Traditional Japanese culture on display in Hanoi; Hanoi hosts Fashion Week Spring Summer 2013; Beethoven Symphony No. 9 concert prepares for debut

Social Headlines December 23

 Cold spell continues in northern areas; Man killed in road accident; Two miners die at stone mine rockslide; Former taxi drivers put in jail for fraud; Health Ministry cracks down on food safety; Ha Noi launches new online bus map

Ha Giang stallions come alive in oil paintings

 VietNamNet Bridge – Veteran painter Do Duc will again display his love for the rugged region of Ha Giang through his artworks, which are on display at his latest show opening on Friday.

Vietnam, World Bank sign emission reductions pact

VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam will launch a carbon-finance programme that will help green the country's national electricity grid in a commercially sustainable manner.

Hanoians deck the halls to welcome Christmas

 VietNamNet Bridge – With Christmas right around the corner, many families in Ha Noi are rushing to welcome the festive season.

Five outstanding athletes of Vietnam at 27th SEA Games

 VietNamNet Bridge - They are the ones who created memorable moments for Vietnam at the 27th SEA Games, with gold medals and excellent records.

McDonald's to open first restaurant in Saigon in early 2014

 VietNamNet Bridge - The first store of McDonald's in Vietnam is located at the Dien Bien Phu - Nguyen Binh Khiem rotation, District 1, the gateway to the East of HCM City.

Tens of judges flee when “death hole” appears at court

In the afternoon of December 20, tens of judges who were attending trials had to run away from the court when a 10sq.m hole suddenly appeared in front of the HCM City People's Administrative Court.

Da Nang in carnival night

 VietNamNet Bridge – In the evening of December 21, thousands of young people flocked to the East Sea Park in the central city of Da Nang to participate in the first Carnival Night.

In pictures: Ethnic minority people in record cold

The Phu La ethnic minority people in Nam Sang village, Nam Sai commune - one of the poorest communes in the district of Sapa, Lao Cai province are suffering from the terrible cold, which repeats after decades.

Quang Ngai welcomes “Barefoot Queen” home with solemn procession

The authorities of Quang Ngai organized a procession to pick up marathon runner Pham Thi Binh, who won a gold medal at the 27th SEA Games in Myanmar, from the Da Nang airport to her home in Quang Ngai on December 22.

Five people died in saddle shop fire

The fire at a 2-storey house specializing in making motorcycle saddles in Bien Hoa city, Dong Nai province at 7pm, December 22 caused five deaths, including the elderly and children of the same family.

Obama says 2014 will be 'breakthrough' for US economy

 Citing stronger growth figures, US President Barack Obama says 2014 will be a 'breakthrough year' for the US economy.

MARD’s coffee coordination committee make firms tremble with fear

 VietNamNet Bridge – The presence of foreigners in the coffee coordination committee, who now work for international coffee groups, has raised the worry that the Vietnamese coffee industry would be swayed by foreigners.