The first exhibition in supermarket held in Hanoi

Painter and curator Le Thiet Cuong, 51, assumes the role of selecting artworks by 10 young artists to introduce to the public. Cuong has selected a trade center in Hanoi to organize this exhibition.

Nearly 90 officials embezzle money of veterans

Up to 89 officers in the mountainous district of Son Ha in the central province of Quang Ngai have been detected of committing embezzlement of over VND4.7 billion of the welfares for veterans and war invalids who are ethnic minority people.

Death toll in sunk boat off Italy could top 200

 The death toll from the sinking of a migrant boat off an Italian island carrying about 500 people could well top 200, according to local media reports.

Farm producers wish to remove VAT

 VietNamNet Bridge – Coffee and sugar producers have proposed to remove the VAT to help reduce troubles with enterprises and clear the tax frauds.

Danish Ambassador, Running Man to join Mountain Marathon

 Danish Ambassador to Vietnam John Nielsen and internet celebrity Arsenal fan “Running Man” Vu Xuan Tien will both compete in the 21km Vietnam Mountain Marathon through Sa Pa’s picturesque mountain landscape.

Khmer dedicate festival to the ancestors

 VietNamNet Bridge – Khmer ethnic people on Oct 3 began celebrating Sene Dolta, the traditional festival held to worship ancestors, one of their most important events of the year.

Local IT products prioritized to be used in state-funded projects

 VietNamNet Bridge – Relevant ministries have got puzzled when listing Vietnam-made information technology (IT) products that the state funded projects will prioritize to use.

Vietnam hopes US Government quickly back

Vietnam hopes that the US Government’s current shutdown is only temporary and would not affect the two countries’ relations, a Foreign Ministry spokesman has said.

Death toll in Nigeria plane crash hits 15

 Fifteen people lost their lives on Thursday in a plane crash in Lagos, Nigeria, according to the latest information released by authorities in the West African country.

GDP inching up strenuously

In early 2011, the 11th Communist Party Congress decided that Vietnam needs to obtain the average GDP growth rate of 7-7.5 percent in five years 2011-2015. However, even the modest 5.4 percent growth rate in 2013 is thought to be unattainable.

Terraced rice fields appealing to tourists

 VietNamNet Bridge – Beautiful landscapes of terraced rice fields with ripened paddy grains in the northern mountainous region have attracted a large number of tourists, tour operators said.

Hanoi police breaks online prostitution ring

 VietNamNet Bridge – Hanoi police have dismantled an online prostitution ring and arrested “online pimp” Nguyen Huy Viet, 26, residing in Giang Van Minh Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi.

Suspect killed after car chase, shots fired at U.S. Capitol

 A female suspect who triggered lengthy car chase by the police from the White House to Capitol Hill on Thursday afternoon was struck by gunfire and pronounced dead, local police chief confirmed.

Gold mining kills Nang River

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Nang River, which was green, romantic and peaceful, has turned muddy because of the gold mining activities.

VN paves way for cloud computing

 VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam will need to develop policies for state agencies to enable the nation's shift to cloud computing,

Vinh Moc Tunnel – a tourist magnet

VietNamNet Bridge – When someone mentions Quang Tri Province, people may think about war memories, remnants and scars of time. However, Quang Tri has a proud history, of which the Vinh Moc Tunnel system is a huge attraction for tourists.

ADB maintains 5.2% GDP forecast for Vietnam in 2013

VietNamNet Bridge – The Asian Development Bank has maintained its 5.2% GDP growth forecast for Vietnam in 2013 and said gradual progress in settling non-performing loans will prompt its economy to grow by 5.5% in 2014.

Run-down apartment blocks face destruction

 VietNamNet Bridge – The HCM City Department of Construction plans to tear down 70 dilapidated apartment buildings over the next two years.

Phu Quoc lacks hotels for Russians

 Although travel firms plan to take Russian tourists in droves to Phu Quoc Island on chartered flights, the plan may not be realized as the island is lacking hotels meeting three-star standards or higher for tourists.

HCM City to assess English skills with TOEFL

 VietNamNet Bridge – The HCM City Education and Training Department has decided that from the 2013-2014 academic year, students’ English skills will be assessed in accordance with international standards.

Decree aids struggling rice exporters

 VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam will limit the number of rice exporters to 150 starting in 2015, according to a new Ministry of Industry and Trade decree.

Bird watching tours in Vietnam

 VietNamNet Bridge – The required tools for such tours are binoculars. This kind of tour has a major attraction that many people in the world could not resist. They do not mind to cross thousands of kilometers to Vietnam for bird watching.

Same-sex marriage fine to be taken off in Vietnam

 Vietnam will abolish the fine imposed on same-sex marriage from November 11 2013.

Vietnam wins big prizes at APEC Photo Contest 2013

Vietnam has won third prize and had three other photos chosen into the 10 finalists of the APEC Photo Contest 2013.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 4/10

 Measures for GDP growth in Q4; Vietnam’s economy looks bright in 2014: Economist; Exports set to surpass target; Cooking gas prices finally subside in HCM City