ASEAN Defence Ministers to debate security issues

VietNamNet Bridge – The Association of Southeast Asian Nations from May 6-8 will hold its seventh Defence Ministerial Meeting, the highest defence mechanism within the organisation, in Brunei’s capital city of Bandar Seri Begawan,

Saigon after 38 years of liberation

VietNamNet Bridge – On the occasion of the liberation of Saigon, 30/4/1975, three photo exhibitions are held at the Lam Son Park, Chi Lang Park and Dong Khoi Road, HCM City, displaying 220 photos featuring HCM City in the past 18 years.

Lienviet Postbank advance at Asian volleyball competition

VietNamNet Bridge – Lienviet Postbank pocketed a ticket to the semi-final round of the Asian Women's Volleyball Club Championship in Dak Lak Province.

ECB cuts benchmark refinancing rate to record low

The European Central Bank (ECB) on Thursday cut the benchmark refinancing rate by 25 basis points to a record low of 0.5 percent.

The ambitions cherished and the goals targeted by Vietnamese businesses

Vietinbank, which ranks the 1,764th in the Forbes Global 2000 hopes it can get in-grade promotion, while other Vietnamese businesses hope their names would enter the list one day.

Party Central Committee convenes

VietNamNet Bridge – The Communist Party of Viet Nam's Central Committee (CPVCC) began its seventh conference in Ha Noi yesterday, May 2, presided over by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

Further step to streamline administrative procedures

VietNamNet Bridge – The Government discussed the draft project on streamlining administrative procedures, citizenship papers and database relevant to population management in the 2013-2020,

Gov’t keen on socio-economic targets for 2013

VietNamNet Bridge – PM Nguyen Tan Dung has tasked inferior levels to be consistent with the socio-economic development targets for 2013, at the Government’s regular meeting on Friday.

Munich orchestra to perform

VietNamNet Bridge – The acclaimed Munich Symphony Orchestra will perform concerts at the Viet Nam National Academy of Music this weekend and at the Ha Noi Opera House next Thursday and Friday

Hanoi street football league to make debut this Sunday

VietNamNet Bridge – The capital's first-ever street football tournament will kick off on Sunday in Ha Noi.

GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 3/5

PM sends congratulations to Italian counterpart; Congratulations to new Dutch king; Greetings on Poland’s Constitution Day; US, Vietnam cooperate in promoting Lower Mekong Initiative

Universities run like hares to compile textbooks by 2015

Schools have been told to compile documents and have enough textbooks for teaching and learning by 2015. However, a lot of schools complain that the task is beyond their means.

U.S. initial jobless claims drop to five-year low

The number of Americans initially applying for unemployment aid fell sharply to a five-year low last week, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

Taxi driver fined VND20 million for overcharging foreign tourists

VietNamNet Bridge – A representative of the Hanoi-based Trung Viet Taxi firm has apologized to and returned the money to an Australian couple who had to pay nearly VND1 million ($47) for a 7km journey in Hanoi.

Vietnamese big guys vie with one another to distribute “eaten Apple”

FPT, VinaPhone and Viettel have all said they would be the authorized distributors of iPhone products.

Long holidays bring the opportunities to overcharge tourists

VietNamNet Bridge – Travelers cannot make the most of the tourism season, but they can only taste the bitterness when they are overcharged at tourist sites.

Vietnam equitizes ports, trying to call for private investment

Vietnam plans to equitize some first class ports including Hai Phong, Da Nang, Quang Ninh, Saigon and Quy Nhon, a part of the program to call for private investment into the infrastructure development.

The odd tale of a tailed man

 VietNamNet Bridge - Since the day he was born, Mr. Vang Seo Chung, resided in Ta Lu Than village, Ha Giang province has lived for over 40 years with a half meter tail.

Part 2: Vietnam gets ready to receive Korean third investment wave

South Koreans have been flocking to Vietnam to invest in the real estate, retail, logistics, consumer goods and electronics projects, the business fields that they have great advantages.

Breast milk protein may reverse antibiotic resistance

A protein in breast milk may help reverse antibiotic resistance and offer a new path against superbugs that cause pneumonia and staph infections, US researchers reported.

Travelers leave, rubbish stays

After the holidays, tourism sites have been flooded with rubbish left by travelers who ignore public sanitation rules.

Polish Royal String Quartet to grace Viet Nam

VietNamNet Bridge – The famed Polish Royal String Quartet (RSQ) will perform their debut concert in Ha Noi on May 7, showcasing several compositions from world-famous composers.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 3/5

Fish breeding may disappear from Hanoi village; Ministry proposes minimum wage increase delay; Rental property market challenged by recession; Financial restructuring fails to show results

Hundreds of foreign tourists visit Hoang Sa exhibition

VietNamNet Bridge – On the opening day, April 29, the exhibition "Vietnam's Hoang Sa - The historical evidences" at the Da Nang City Museum welcomed hundreds of foreign visitors.

12-year-old girl gives birth to a 3.6kg son

VietNamNet Bridge – A little girl named Doan Thi Hong V. (born 2001) in Phuoc Son Commune, Ninh Phuoc district, Ninh Thuan province on April 27 gave birth to a son in the stupefaction of many people.