VietNamNet Bridge – On the 8th day of the first lunar month, people flocked to a unique market in Vu Ban district in the northern province of Nam Dinh to wish for a prosperous and lucky new year.

Vietnam becomes biggest foreign investor in Laos; Shops and cafes exploit Tet to cash in; Vietnam prepares to raise sovereign credit rating; Vietnamese coffee firm readies for international competition

‘Phuong Hoang Vu’ or Royal Phoenix Cake is a centuries old royal dish from the ancient Imperial Capital of Hue during the Nguyen Dynasty, the recipe of which had been lost to the world for nearly a century.

Seventeen marine meteorological stations will be upgraded and others built to meet the 2020 target of 35 ones, under a natural resources and environment observation network masterplan.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam still remains a magnet for foreign investors despite shrinking inflows of foreign direct investment (FDI) it faced during hard economic time.

Miniature books and their delicate appearance have bewitched painter Nguyen Thanh Dam. He himself made some tiny, beautiful work of arts and also collected them from far and wide.

 VietNamNet Bridge –  “The Pink Choice”, a series of works by Vietnamese photographer Maika Elan (born Nguyen Thanh Hai), has won first prize at the 2013 World Press Photo Contest.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Lunar New Year (Tết) holiday can be a reality check for longer term foreign residents in Vietnam like me.

VietNamNet Bridge - Calling foreign visitors to use Vietnamese products, Pham Trieu Chinh, with the outfit made of coconut leaves, attracted the attention of many people.

 VietNamNet Bridge – A National Traffic Safety Board preliminary report states more than 290 traffic accidents occurred during the first six days of the traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday,

 In a week's time the Academy Awards ceremony will for the first time have 5.1 surround sound effect, said Dolby Laboratories, the new owner of the Oscars venue.

VietNamNet Bridge - This is the first time scientists have discovered an ancient rock dump of the Ho Dynasty, with relatively intact rock cannonballs.

On February 15, on the Hoai River in Hoi An, foreign visitors and local people participated in traditional boat racing to celebrate the New Year. Thousands of people stood on both sides of the river to cheer the racers.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam has not only participated actively in promoting ASEAN as a member nation has but also played a leading role in ASEAN’s cooperation process.

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese spend $1.5 billion dollars to receive training at foreign universities, $2 billion to have healthcare abroad and $3.5 billion on outbound tours.

Seven people, including three children, were killed and one was injured after a truck crashed into three motorcycles in the Central Highland province of Lam Dong on February 16.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam have retained their No1 position in Southeast Asia, ranking 134th despite their recent loss to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the Asian Cup qualifiers.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam and San Marino signed an agreement to avoid double taxation in Rome, Italy on February 14.

 VietNamNet Bridge – FIDE Grand Prix 2012 champion Shakhriyar Mamedyarov outplayed top Vietnamese talent Le Quang Liem at the on-going Aeroflot Open final in Moscow on February 16.

After Tet, peach branches and trees are piled up along the road, on rubbish trucks or even burned on the road. According to the street sweepers, the clean-up of used peach branches will finish until the end of February.

Pre-Tet and Tet days prove to be the busiest days for students, because they have to move heaven and earth to arrange money to invite teachers to Tet parties.

As one of the country's few flute soloist, Nguyen Dieu Hong has been a key member the Viet Nam Symphony Orchestra, performing at more than 60 concerts a year.  

VietNamNet Bridge - Civets, deer, roebucks and porcupines are butchered and hung for sale along the way to the Huong (Perfurme) Pagoda.

On February 17, 8 boats carrying the icons of dragon, unicorn, turtle and phoenix joined the final race in the waters of Ly Son Island in Quang Ngai province, to the cheers of thousands of local residents and visitors.

Vietnam – an emerging tourist destination; Hanoi business incubator developed; Can Tho targets becoming largest Mekong Delta trade centre; Energy prices to follow market trends