French navy intercepts ship carrying 20 tonnes of cannabis

 The French navy said Thursday it had made a record cannabis seizure in the Mediterranean sea after intercepting a ship carrying 20 tonnes of cannabis worth up to 50 million euros.

OTT firms impatient for cooperating with network operators

 VietNamNet Bridge – OTT service providers like Zalo, LINE Messenger have all expressed their goodwill of cooperating with mobile network operators to exploit the telecom market.

Highway 1 Cafe - headquarters of travelers

 VietNamNet Bridge - Not so special in design or beverages, this coffee shop is opened for the purpose of sharing information and experience of travel enthusiasts.

International dance show to set sail

 VietNamNet Bridge – Audiences will be given a rare treat with the best performers from Europe and Asia combining for contemporary dance performances to be held in Ha Noi from September 25.

The fate of hundreds of thousands of businesses unknown

 VietNamNet Bridge - One third of the picture of Vietnamese businesses is now in the dark because there is no information, false information or information has not been updated.

VN rice exporters worried of Thai competition

VietNamNet Bridge – Thailand's decision to sharply reduce the price of 100B rice – which is equivalent to Viet Nam's 5 per cent broken rice - from US$430 per tonne to $380 to pare its inventory has affected global prices, including in Viet Nam,

MOET says curriculum for first graders not heavy

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Education and Training has denied the opinion that the current curriculum for first graders is overloaded, which forces parents to teach their children how to write before the school age.

Chinese investors flock to Vietnam to wait for TPP

 VietNamNet Bridge – Three years ago, Chinese businessmen, when asked if they would make investment in Vietnam, all said “no.” However, they have changed their mind.

Sugary drinks possible cause of gout: New Zealand study

 Sufferers of gout might soon be advised to add sugary drinks to the list of foods that can cause the painful and crippling affliction to flare up, according to a New Zealand study released Thursday.

36 officials charged with corruption in 2013

A report by the Government Inspectorate of Vietnam has suggested that 36 officials were charged with corruption during the first eight months of this year.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 13/9

 Japanese investors pour another US$166 mil into HCM City; Vietnam, US businesses cooperate in developing cotton industry; Border trade aims for US$30 billion in 2020

Traders sabotage food to earn profits

 VietNamNet Bridge – Traders have used various tricks such as mixing chemicals and even stone and soil into food to increase profits.

VN-RoK Institute of Science and Technology to be built in 2014

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnam-RoK Institute of Science and Technology (V - KIST) will be built next year in the Hoa Lac Hi-tech Park in Hanoi by ODA capital, including $35 million in non-refundable aid.

Health insurance may be compulsory

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese lawmakers yesterday agreed that health insurance should be made compulsory to ensure there was more participation. They were attending the 21st session of the National Assembly Standing Committee.

Most successful businessmen started up in Russia

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam is witnessing the movement of Viet Kieu returning to the homeland to develop their life’s works. Many of them are from Russia.

Mekong basin countries target double-digit tourism growth

VietNamNet Bridge – Five Southeast Asian countries, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Viet Nam, are targeting a double-digit growth rate of international visitors annually by 2015 under the theme "Five Countries – One Destination",

Japanese tour offered at Temple of Literature

 A Japanese tour of Van Mieu (Temple of Literature) – a symbol of Ha Noi's culture and history – will be held by the Friends of Viet Nam Heritage (FVH) next Monday.

US drops anti-dumping tax on Viet Nam shrimp imports

VietNamNet Bridge – The US Department of Commerce has dropped a 4.7 per cent anti-dumping tax on Vietnamese shrimps. The tax had been in place since 2004. The new zero rate will be applied for two years until a new review is made.

Vietnamese photographer wins international award

 Vietnamese photographer Le Duy Hoang won third prize at the Hamdan International Photography Award (HIPA) for his black-and-white photography.

Tien Minh prepares for Japan challenge

 Viet Nam's top badminton star, Nguyen Tien Minh, will compete in the 2013 Japan Yonex Open, to be held in Tokyo from September 17.

Hunk expelled from Saudi Arabia arrives in HCM City

 VietNamNet Bridge – Omar Borkan Al Gala, one of three men expelled from Saudi Arabia in April for "being too handsome", arrived in HCM City yesterday morning, surrounded by hundreds of Vietnamese fans at Tan Son Nhat Airport.

Petroleum enterprises “pair off” with finance ministry

 VietNamNet Bridge – Petroleum enterprises, which are in the state of “willing speech but unwilling heart”, have decided to claim back hundreds of billions of dong worth of tax they paid before.

Former accountant sentenced two years in jail for embezzling $200

When the sixth trial sentenced Ngo Thi Thi, who is the former chief accountant of the Mountainous and Ethnic Minority Affairs Committee of Quang Nam Province, to two years in jail for embezzling VND4 million ($200), many people burst out laughing.

Saigon health inspectors detect “doctor” healing with amulets

Detecting the "patients" in a room by inspectors of the HCM City Health Department, a “doctor” who healed by amulets in Binh Thanh district fiercely shouted and cast out the inspectors from his home.

Making souls for Autumn Festival masks (photo)

 VietNamNet Bridge - Mrs. Huong Lan says that she sticks to cardboard mask making trade because she wants to preserve traditional culture. If for money, she would have transferred to other jobs.