Four Vietnamese hotels in the world top 500

 VietNamNet Bridge - According to experienced travelers around the world, four hotels in Vietnam are worthy to be named on the list of the best 500 hotels in the world.

Lao Cai suffers huge damage by snow and hoarfrost

 VietNamNet Bridge - While snow has not completely melted, Lao Cai province continues to suffer from spells of hoarfrost, causing severe damage to the region, estimated at VND35 billion ($1.7 million).

Hanoi authorities determined to close Zone 9 before January 15

 VietNamNet Bridge - The Hanoi People's Committee has decided to shut down Zone 9 - a favorite amusement zone for young people, artists and expats in Hanoi - before 15/1/2014, by administrative measures or even by force.

Dai Nam Zoo’s elephant kills a mahout

 VietNamNet Bridge – A 2-ton elephant unexpectedly captured a mahout by its trunk and threw him into a water tank. The incident occurred in the afternoon of December 23 at the private Zoo of Dai Nam in Binh Duong Province.

Coach Hoang Van Phuc wants to resign

 VietNamNet Bridge - Coach Hoang Van Phuc of the U23 national football team has submitted his resignation to the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) after his team’s failure at the 27th SEA Games.

Hanoi welcomes the 2.5 millionth international visitor

 VietNamNet Bridge – In the afternoon of December 20, Japanese tourist - Mr. Hajime Mori received a campaign medal for the 25 millionth international visitor to Hanoi in 2013.

Hue opens Tourism and Festival Information Center

A Tourism and Festival Information Center has been inaugurated in the ancient capital of Hue in Thua Thien-Hue Province by the Hue Festival Management Board.

Official appreciates Vietnam’s achievement at SEA Games

 Lam Quang Thanh, head of the Vietnamese sports delegation at the 27th SEA Games, which wrapped up in Myanmar on December 22, has spoken highly of the team’s achievement at the event.

Art & Entertainment Headlines December 24

 Hard Rock Cafe reschedules Rubylux show; Tet TV show gathers 60 celebrity singers, composers, actors; Special Golden Prizes awarded national TV fest; Army Day exhibition honours VN soldiers

Multi-billion dollar projects raise big worries

 VietNamNet Bridge – Local authorities all try to attract as many multi-billion dollar projects as possible, while they don’t care if the projects break the national development programs or bring benefits to the local economies.

Delta native wins Fashion Star

 VietNamNet Bridge – HCM City-based designer Quang Trong Quang Nhat has become the first winner of the Vietnamese version of Fashion Star TV reality show.

Vietnam targets 5.8 percent GDP growth for 2014

 VietNamNet Bridge – The government has proposed major solutions for realising major socio-economic targets for 2014, aiming to achieve a GDP growth rate of 5.8% and keeping inflation at 7%.

Political Headlines December 24

 President: Court sector keeps up with judicial reform; PM exhorts trade counsellors to facilitate export growth; South Korea supports Viet Nam youth leadership project  

NA Standing Committee’s 23rd session begins

 VietNamNet Bridge – The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee started its 23rd meeting in Hanoi on December 23 to review the outcomes of the NA’s sixth session and consider initial preparations for the next.

Nissan Vietnam forced to pay hundreds of billions of tax arrears

 VietNamNet Bridge – Nissan Vietnam has been told to re-export the sets of car parts it imported in 2009-2012 or pay the import tax for the sets of car parts as for complete built units (CBU).

Lucrative comedies to fill screens for Tet

 VietNamNet Bridge – As the Lunar New Year approaches, studios plan to churn out lighthearted comedies, which are cheap to make and consistently turn a profit, rather than more challenging dramas or other kinds of features.

Why Christmas rituals make food tastier

 Pulling crackers, clinking glasses, or setting puddings on fire – mere traditions or more important? Tom Stafford explains that rituals may date back to early human history, and can even change the flavour of food.

Losing customers, mobile network operators down 3G fees again

Mobile network operators, which, ignoring users’ complaints in deciding on raising 3G service fees two months ago, have cut down the fee again in an effort to retain 3G subscribers.

Da Lat says it with flowers, once again

 VietNamNet Bridge – In Viet Nam, even with its nationwide tradition of horticulture, if you play a word-place association game and mention "flowers", you know what the place is going to be.

An Bang beach, one of world's best

 VietNamNet Bridge – Nguyen Dap has turned his fishing job into a successful tourism service on a coastal village, 3km away from the country's renowned Hoi An City.

Vietnam tries “community forestry” model to protect forests

 VietNamNet Bridge – To date, 280,000 hectares of the total 15.3 million hectares of forests have been allocated to local people for forestry production and 513,000 hectares have been allocated for management and protection.

Red alarm bell rung over nursery school teachers’ qualification

 VietNamNet Bridge – The surveys conducted by the Pre-school Education Faculty of the Hanoi University of Education all showed big problems in the training of teachers for nursery schools.

Moc Bai EZ dying because of changeable policies

 VietNamNet Bridge – The unreasonable non-tariff policies, the inconsistency in tax policies and investment incentives have all driven the Moc Bai Economic Zone (EZ) to death.

Russian writer lends helping hand to the blind

 VietNamNet Bridge – Mikhail Samarsky is something of a wunderkind. Now 17, he began writing when he was only 12 years old, beginning with two books on the visually impaired that have been translated into Vietnamese.

Domestic helpers earn higher pay than bachelors

 VietNamNet Bridge – At present, the salary of domestic helpers is about VND3 million ($150) per month, while newly graduated bachelors receive only about VND2 million ($100).