Beauty queen serves as a cautionary tale for deception

 VietNamNet Bridge - On Wednesday, Vinpearl JSC, the organizer of the Miss Vietnam World 2010 pageant, officially decided on the form of penalty to be imposed on Miss Luu Thi Diem Huong for providing false information on her marriage status.

No penalty for Vietnam’s withdrawal as host of 18th Asian Games

 VietNamNet Bridge – On Wednesday evening, the Olympic Committee of Asia (OCA) approved Vietnam’s withdrawal from hosting the 2019 Asian Games. The committee will urgently seek another host, with a target of deciding by September this year.

Tourists misunderstand our entrance fee, says Hoi An official

Hoi An is doing its utmost to quell the public furor over the recent enforcement of entrance fees for the ancient town. Hoi An town’s Party Secretary Nguyen Su argues that some tourists misunderstand the purpose of the town’s entrance fee.

Political News Headlines 25/4

 PM welcomes Brunei envoy; Steering committee for int’l integration set up; Defence Minister meets Chinese wartime supporters; Deputy defence minister bids farewell to Myanmar attaché

Viet Nam, WB sign $390m pacts to fight poverty

VietNamNet Bridge – The State Bank of Viet Nam and the World Bank yesterday signed credit agreements worth US$390 million for three projects to develop community infrastructure, improve agriculture and livelihoods in the country's poorest areas,

“Liberated” MobiFone set to challenge rivals

 VietNamNet Bridge – The local mobile market will become more competitive with the independent operation of MobiFone, which will shortly be detached from its current owner the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group.

Renowned singers to mark Dien Bien Phu Victory

 VietNamNet Bridge – Twenty voices of three generations of Vietnamese revolutionary music performers will take to the stage tomorrow (April 26) to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Dien Bien Phu Victory.

Dong Nai’s man - the best pepper grower in the world

 VietNamNet Bridge – Although he cultivates pepper on only 2.8 hectares, with an average output of 8-12 tons per hectare, Mr. Tran Huu Thang has been awarded the title "The world's best pepper grower" by the World Pepper Association.

Tai Tu Music Festival to kick off

VietNamNet Bridge – Cultural activities to welcome local and international visitors in Bac Lieu Province began yesterday in preparation for the first National Tai Tu Music Festival's opening ceremony tonight at Cultural Square in Bac Lieu City.

Viet Nam draw into ‘group of death' for AFC U19 Champs

 VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam has drawn into the group of death for the Asian Football Confederation U19 Championships following an announcement yesterday (April 24) in Yangon, Myanmar.

Road transport getting more expensive, railway and waterway inconvenient

 VietNamNet Bridge – As road transport grows more costly, businesses are wringing their hands because of the lack of alternatives. The movement of goods by railways and waterways, they say, still offer no viable competition to land transport.

Police rescue 14-year old girl kidnapped by gang

 VietNamNet Bridge – A 14-year-old girl kidnapped for a ransom of VND1 billion (US$47,500) was safely rescued on Wednesday by police in the southern city of Can Tho.

NA deputies seek greater clarity around new identification cards

VietNamNet Bridge – Lawmakers yesterday stressed the need for further elaboration of principles related to managing information relating to the new citizens' identity card so as to ensure privacy and protection of the holders' rights and benefits.

The village with 30 old French villas

 VietNamNet Bridge - Despite the stain of time, the 70-80 year old houses in the village of Nha Xa, Duy Tien District, Ha Nam Proince, are still prominent among the new buildings.

Bank M&As encouraged by SBV, discouraged by experts

 VietNamNet Bridge – While the State Bank of Vietnam believes that the merger of small and weak banks into larger and stronger ones will help speed up the bank restructuring process, experts don’t think this is a perfect solution.

Should kindergartens teach English?

VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Education and Training issued an official document in February-end urging kindergartens to desist from teaching foreign languages to children and not popularise the related curriculum.

High fees valid protection for world's biggest cave

 VietNamNet Bridge –Last week Viet Nam News asked readers whether they had any plans to explore the world's largest cave, Son Doong, in central Quang Binh Province, and for suggestions on how to balance exploration with preservation.

Dien Bien Phu feature lights up screens

 VietNamNet Bridge – The movie Song Cung Lich Su (Living with History) was released in Ha Noi on Sunday.

Televisions to advertise digital compatible logo

 VietNamNet Bridge – Effective May 1, all televisions sold in Viet Nam must bear the "Digital Compatible" logo in order to help buyers recognise the standards and authorities to better control the market.

Unreasonable education system makes the youth squander their time

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese youth are wasting years of their lives in university lecture halls. In most cases, say experts, university graduates find themselves accepting jobs which do not require such lengthy educations.

National action plan aims to further green growth

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Planning and Investment on Friday announced a national action plan on "green growth" that focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and increasing the use of clean and renewable energy.

Wildlife education added to syllabus

 VietNamNet Bridge – The last Javan rhino in Viet Nam was found dead at the Cat Tien National Park in April 2010: It had been shot by poachers for its horn, Le Thi Thuy Dung, a biology teacher at a HCM City school, tells her class.

Ear implant may help regrow auditory nerves: study

 Electrical pulses delivered from cochlear implants, which have been commercially available since the 1970s, can be used to regrow auditory nerves in people with severe hearing loss, Australian researchers said Wednesday.

Hanoi debuts six more pedestrian-friendly streets

 VietNamNet Bridge – Hoan Kiem District has inaugurated an additional six walking streets, including Hang Buom, Hang Giay, Luong Ngoc Quyen, Ma May, Dao Duy Tu and Ta Hien.

E-commerce sector rapidly expanding

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese e-commerce sales are expected to hit more than US$4 billion in 2015, thanks to growing internet users, reports the Viet Nam E-commerce and Information Technology Agency (VECITA).