Wall Street turns higher despite lackluster economic data

 U.S. stocks reversed earlier losses to trade into green territory on Monday despite disappointing economic data and McDonald's earnings report.

Girl wins boys' chess crown

 VietNamNet Bridge – Female Nguyen Thi Mai Hung won the National Junior Chess Tournament's blitz category for U20 boys yesterday, July 22.

Ha Long Bay entrance fees to increase from 2014

The People’s Council of Quang Ninh Province has passed a resolution to increase the entrance fees to Ha Long Bay in order to have funding for renovation, conservation and promotion of the value of this heritage site.

Pangolins headed for dinner table

 VietNamNet Bridge – Authorities in the northern province of Quang Ninh have caught red-handed two men trying to smuggle 137 rare and protected pangolins into China in two vehicles.

Japanese market’s door locked to Vietnamese rice

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam once exported 30,300 tons of rice to Japan in 2012. However, the door to the market has still been closed to Vietnamese exporters. Not one ton more has been exported since then.

Jackson's mother slams promoters, as grilled in court

 Michael Jackson's 83-year-old mother lashed out at the promoters of his doomed last tour, accusing them of letting her son "waste away" before his 2009 death.

GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 23/7

 President Sang gives tips on Party building; Sympathy to China quake victims; Vietnam welcomes RoK investors, says NA Chairman

Rescuers battle to find China quake survivors

 Rescuers battled through dusty rubble Tuesday to try to reach victims of two shallow earthquakes in China that killed at least 89 people.

US, Commonwealth hail birth of Britain's royal baby

 Commonwealth monarchies and the United States led the international congratulations to Britain's Prince William and his wife Kate on the birth of their first baby, a boy destined to become king.

Italy, Vietnam hold first strategic dialogue

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam and Italy discussed measures to boost comprehensive cooperation in various areas during their first strategic dialogue in Hanoi on July 22.

Cong Vinh to play for Consadole Sapporo until November 2013

 VietNamNet Bridge – Yesterday Song Lam Nghe An and Consadole Sapporo introduced the contract under which SLNA will lend striker Cong Vinh to the Japanese FC for four months, from August through November.

Vietcombank CEO appointed as State Bank Deputy Governor

 VietNamNet Bridge - The decision to appoint Mr. Nguyen Phuoc Thanh as the deputy governor of the State Bank of Vietnam was announced by the Government yesterday, July 22.

More hydropower projects in Central Highlands proposed to cancel

 VietNamNet Bridge - Many hydroelectric power projects in the Central Highlands are believed to cause adverse effects on the environment while the management is too loose.

Hanoi tries to improve tourism service quality

 VietNamNet Bridge – Hanoi will set up an agency to help provide tourists with an all-inclusive support service to help deal with various problems, including harassment, beginning August 1.

Vietnamese athletes primed for Colombia Games

 VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam has ten competitors appearing at the 2013 World Games, held in Cali City, Colombia from July 25 to August 4, the organising board has announced.

The rich spend money on luxurious goods despite crisis

 VietNamNet Bridge – While most Vietnamese try to fasten their belt in the context of the economic recession, the rich still spend money like water on luxurious goods.

Vietnamese author sues Apple for copyright infringement

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese singer and actress, Le Kieu Nhu, has filed suit against Apple for selling her novel on its App Store without seeking her consent.

Fake cosmetics don't paint pretty picture

 VietNamNet Bridge – More and more women are presenting themselves at doctor's surgeries and health centres after having used fake cosmetics.

Facebook and the other side of the coin

 VietNamNet Bridge – Facebook has become a favorite by the people all over the world, but it has been disliked by Vietnamese parents, who believe that Facebook has corrupted their children.

Competent agencies powerless in fruit preservation chemical management

 VietNamNet Bridge – While analysts have rung the alarm bell over the abuse of agents to preserve fruits, the Plant Protection Agency affirmed it has not licensed any products.

Online game firms live outside the law

 VietNamNet Bridge – Online games have been living quietly in the dark, because they cannot advertise their products under any form, and because they have not been granted operating licenses.

Vinashinlines does not have money to bring sailors home, says official

"The crew is still provided with expenses for food and subsistence allowance from the VND200 billion loan of the Government, but wages and other things will be paid after the ships are solved," said the Deputy Minister of Transport.

Super-big pumpkins in Da Lat

 VietNamNet Bridge – We paid a visit to the glasshouse of Mr. Le Huu Phan, 50, in Ward 9, Da Lat city, Lam Dong province, when he had just harvested 28 pumpkins weighing from 30 to 50 kilos.

Hoa Binh lures tourists with its unique character

VietNamNet Bridge – For a long time, Hoa Binh Province has been considered the cradle for ancient Muong people with many significant cultural features, more than 200 historical relics and landscapes,

Deficit higher than expected

VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam's State budget deficit was estimated to hit VND92.39 trillion in the first half of this year, equal to 57 per cent of the annual plan set by the National Assembly,