When the forests have no more trees

VietNamNet Bridge – Imposing wooden charnel houses are one of the unique architectural traditions of the Central Highlands. However, as the forests in the region grow increasingly depleted, these structures may soon be relegated to the past.

SBV says dollar price increases "artificially"

 VietNamNet Bridge – Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam - Nguyen Van Binh, has attributed the dollar price increases recently to the banks’ “unfair play.”

Trying to export more catfish, VN firms do harm to themselves

 VietNamNet Bridge – The prices of catfish exports to the US increased for a very short time before dropping dramatically now. This has been attributed to the unreasonable export strategy.

State will still recall land for economic projects

VietNamNet Bridge – The State will continue to recall land for economic development projects despite many opinions urging elimination of this regulation in the draft revised Land Law being discussed by National Assembly deputies.

Target on ODA disbursement ‘is within reach'

VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam is on track to fulfil its target of attracting US$32-34 billion in Official Development Assistance and preferential loans during the 2011-15 period, along with capital disbursement of $14-16 billion.

Tourism assoc keen to open Japan office

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnam Tourism Association (VTA) is calling for members and sponsors to jointly carry out a project to open a representative office for the local tourism industry in Japan.

Cell phone exports forecast to hit US$20 billion

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Industry and Trade forecasts cell phone and component exports may exceed US$20 billion this year, setting a new record for export turnover of an industry.

What VN has after 24 years as a “rice exporting power”?

 VietNamNet Bridge - Why is the call for help of farmers not as loud as others in this difficult time? Is it because "the Agriculture Minister is too gentle!" as commented by Congressman Tran Hoang Ngan.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 20/3

 LED technology lures foreign investment; Vietnam private equity outlook bounces back; A big challenge for livestock industry; Restructuring better solution for Vinalines, Vinashin: Deputy PM

Vietnam to join UN watercourse convention

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam should participate in the 1997 UN Convention on the Law of Non-navigational Use of International Watercourses, said experts.

EU pledges nearly US$1 bln in aid for Vietnam

 VietNamNet Bridge – The European Union has committed EUR743 million (US$965 million) in official development assistance for Vietnam in 2013, making it the country’s largest aid donor.

Da Nang airport’s employee returns VND250 million

When an aircraft of Vietnam Airlines landed, the captain of a flight serving team picked up a wallet with about VND250 million inside. He returned the money to the passenger who lost the wallet.

Breach of competition law seen in drug market

 VietNamNet Bridge – Signs of violation of the Competition Law have emerged in the pharmaceutical market of Vietnam, said Nguyen Phuong Nam, deputy director general of the Vietnam Competition Authority under the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Khanh Hoa: Two die of asphyxia in a well

 VietNamNet Bridge – Two people died and two others fainted because of poison gas in a well in Dien Khanh district of Khanh Hoa province on June 18.

Can Tho: Barges crash into 44 houses

 VietNamNet Bridge – After the anchor wires of two barges were broken, the barges drifted uncontrollably and crashed into 44 houses along the Cai San River in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho.

Agency questioned after travelers left stranded in Thailand

VietNamNet Bridge – After 701 Vietnamese travelers were left stranded in Thailand, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on June 18 conducted an enquiry on Travel Life Company, who had been responsible for the tour.

Linh wins national motor event

 VietNamNet Bridge – Nguyen Viet Linh won the fifth National Motor Racing Tournament, which ended in the southern province of Binh Phuoc on Sunday.

Arsenal stoke anticipation for Asia tour with video

 VietNamNet Bridge - One of England’s most renowned football clubs, Arsenal FC, have produced a video promoting their forthcoming summer tour to Vietnam, Japan and Indonesia.

Eating red meat over time poses higher Type 2 diabetes risk

 Eating red meat over time is associated with a higher chance of developing Type 2 diabetes, according to a study in JAMA Internal Medicine on Monday.

100 people turned into human statues in Nha Trang

 VietNamNet Bridge - The rare event of Vietnam’s body painting turned 100 young people into human statues for the parade of the 2013 Nha Trang Sea Festival.

Opening win over Malaysia provides confidence boost

VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam scored a huge win over Malaysia in their opening game at the Asian Football Confederation's Southeast Asian region's U14 girls football competition, seeing off their rivals 7-1

SOCIETY IN BRIEF 19/6

 Four salvage workers die on ship; Over 32,000 local Vietnamese working abroad; First Korean-language newspaper hits shelves; Kids with genital defects get surgery

Thanh Hoa police officially use net guns to catch motorbike racers (video)

 VietNamNet Bridge – The traffic police of Thanh Hoa province have officially used net releasing guns to stop motorcycle racers on the street.

Nissan-Honda battle benefit Vietnamese

The two big Japanese automobile manufacturers -- Nissan and Honda, accidentally chose June 11 as the day to introduce their new low cost sedan models Nissan Sunny and Honda City.

Giant catfish caught in Tien River in Mekong Delta

 VietNamNet Bridge – A fisherman in Dong Thap Province in the Mekong Delta caught a giant catfish weighing 63 kilograms in the Tien River on June 15.