VietNamNet Bridge - The answer to the domination of foreign comic books in the Vietnamese market for the past over 10 years is mainly because Vietnam does not have a comic book industry.

Ha Noi's budget revenues pass $7bn; Securities commission slams price manipulation practices; Central city lays out new land use fees; Investors buy $72.12 million bonds from Da Nang; Westernbank to merge with PVFC

 VietNamNet Bridge – For the first time in a decade, the number of fatalities from traffic accidents has dropped to under 10,000 in 2012, it was reported at a conference on January 3 to review the 2012 Year of Traffic Safety.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The domination of Vietnam’s bottled water market by foreign brands such as La Vie and Aquafina is detailed in new marketing studies that also hint of more development potential.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Channel 9 of the Ho Chi Minh City Television, HTV9, will broadcast the first episode of reality show Martin Yan – Taste of Vietnam hosted by renowned Chinese-American chef Martin Yan on January 4.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Top Vietnamese chess player Le Quang Liem continued to scale the world chess rankings, moving up one place to 39th in January, according to the latest announcement of the World Chess Federation (FIDE).

 The first film based on the life of legendary Apple co-founder Steve Jobs will be released in April, according to independent distributor Open Road Films.

VietNamNet Bridge – A source from the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) said that Le Cong Vinh, Vietnam’s leading striker, will not be convened to the first gathering of the national squad in 2013 in Hanoi on January 23.

VietNamNet Bridge – Dong Nai is known for its eco tourist sites like O island, Mai waterfall and numerous fruit gardens. Now, tourists have another choice for their weekend getaway from the city with a new destination

 Highly decorated British actress Helen Mirren was honored with the 2,488th star on the renowned Hollywood Walk of Fame on Thurday.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The first cold spell of the year would blanket the northern region early Thursday morning, warned the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

Nearly half of the members on the list of top 50 stock millionairesses have been managing big enterprises in the stock market.

 The United States criticized a planned visit to North Korea by Google chairman Eric Schmidt, calling it ill-timed in the wake of Pyongyang's widely condemned rocket launch last month.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese students have got two silvers at the second World Physics Olympiad (WoPhO) held at the Hotel Aryaduta Lippo Village, Tangerang, Indonesia from December 28, 2012 to January 3rd, 2013.

 With nearly 100 new members, the US Congress convened fresh from the year-end "fiscal cliff" fiasco, as lawmakers cast a wary eye towards the tough budget battles ahead.

Amid the spiritual sea and sky of the country, hundreds of soldiers stood in memory of the soldiers who rest in peace forever on the Truong Sa Archipelago (Spratly Islands) in the battle on March 14, 1988, on Gac Ma Island.

VietNamNet Bridge - Overcrowding in hospitals, classroom shortages persist in many areas, including Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. The country needs millions or billions of US dollars to build these facilities.

VietNamNet Bridge – On January 2, flames exploded violently from the Dai Tin Commercial JS Bank’s billboard then spread to the nearby Sony Center on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, Ward 5, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City.

Director General and former Director General of the Vietnam Social Insurance had to serve a warning and were reprimanded, while former Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development was asked to learn from experience.

On January 2, the People's Court of District 1, HCM City continued the trial on the claim made by Ly Sam, a Vietnamese American, for $55.5 million of gambling winnings against HCM City-based Lien Dai Duong Company.

Whether Vietnam can settle bad debts or not will decide how the Vietnam’s national economy performs in 2013. Meanwhile, it’s still unclear where the money to settle the bad debts comes from.

The National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting warned yesterday, Jan 3, of a tropical depression in the East Sea which may hit the waters and islands between the provinces of Da Nang and Kien Giang this morning.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Famous American rocker Adam Lambert will perform tonight, Jan 4, in HCM City with two other singers from South Korea and Portugal in a show that set to thrill his local fans.

The Deputy PM has praised the country's efforts to deal with its traffic problems at a tele-conference between local and national authorities, praising provincial leaders for their efforts in making 2012 - the Year of Traffic Safety - a success.

Official statistics show that Vietnamese spend billions of dollars a year to fund overseas training courses for their children.