Super typhoon Bopha may affect Da Nang, Vung Tau

VietNamNet Bridge - With strong winds up to 118-133 km/h, super typhoon Bopha will potentially affect the waters from Da Nang to Ba Ria-Vung Tau in the next 24 hours.

Philippines rescuers scramble as 82 dead in typhoon

 The death toll from a powerful typhoon that ravaged the southern Philippines rose to 82 Wednesday, as rescuers battled to reach areas cut off in flash floods and mudslides.

GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 5/12

  President greets former Soviet Union veterans; Hai Phong urged to remove business obstacles; President Sang welcomes Vietnam-Japan cooperation; NA Chairman meets Vietnamese expatriates in Thailand

Restructured state owned conglomerates still insist on pouring money into banks

While a lot of institutional investors have got stuck with their investments in the banking sector, state owned conglomerates, which are undergoing the restructuring process, still want to “kick against the pricks.”

Vietnam opposes China’s sovereignty violations

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam has protested China’s recent violations of its sovereignty and asked the neighbour to respect its sovereignty.

BlackBerries still on the shelves, but selling slowly

In the past, BlackBerry was the brand everyone would think of when considering to buy smart phones. However, things are different now.

Banks rush to sell mortgaged assets to claim back money

VietNamNet Bridge – Machines, equipment, goods, real estate have all been advertised for sale by commercial banks to claim back their lent money. However, this proves to be a hard job.

What businesses strive for green and clean products, or profits?

Vietnamese businesses, which have a small production scale and earn modest money, are not ready to spend money on advanced technologies which allow to make clean products.

Parents keep doubtful about English joint training programs

The Hanoi education department initiated program on teaching English to first graders started in 2008. To date, 400 schools have joined the program.

Tragedy for mummies in Vietnam

VietNamNet Bridge – With just a coffin made of rare wood, a few hundreds of liters of attar and the anaerobic techniques, the dead look like sleeping people for a thousand year.

Horrors of “manual” abortion

VietNamNet Bridge - Abortion, the end of the development process of a being-formed human body should have been one of the safest medical procedures, but there are still “manual” abortion procedures in the modern time today.

Central Vietnam lacks trained tourist guides, hospitality staff

 VietNamNet Bridge – Central Vietnam has great potential for developing into an attractive tourist destination with its vast beautiful beaches and a number of world heritage sites.

Voyager discovers 'magnetic highway'

 NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft has encountered a "magnetic highway" at the edge of the solar system, a surprising discovery 35 years after its launch, the experts behind the pioneering craft said Monday.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 5/11

Unregistered import firms may be closed; SMEs urged to update products; Firms fail to exploit internet marketing; Coffee growers fight FDI business; Tax on jet-plane fuel cut from 12 to 7 per cent

Foreign contractors under the microscope

 VietNamNet Bridge – Foreign contractors will face stricter scrutiny in the coming times as authorities aim to limit delays in a range of projects.

Series of projects abandoned in Dung Quat Economic Zone

VietNamNet Bridge – There are a lot of unfinished works which are covered by thick grass in the Dung Quat Economic Zone in the central province of Quang Ngai.

JK Rowling's novel for adults to be adapted for TV

 The first book for "grown-ups" by Harry Potter author JK Rowling is to be adapted into a television series, the BBC announced Monday.

SOCIETY IN BRIEF 4/12

 More local students receive Australian scholarships; Marathon man funds clean water project; Samples tested negative to H5N1; Hanoi supports needy people during upcoming Tet

Tan Rai bauxite plant to release first product in mid-December

VietNamNet Bridge – After four times of delays, the Tan Rai bauxite plant will have its first batch of product on December 14-15.

Three beauty queens in different styles

Miss Vietnam 2012 Thu Thao, Miss Vietnam 2010 Ngoc Han and Miss Vietnam 2006 Mai Phuong Thuy show their beauty in the designs, which will be introduced at the Vietnam Spring Summer 2013 Fashion Week.

Vietnam loses 3% of GDP for not using workers with disabilities

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam has up to 15% of the population who are the people with disabilities and they do not have stable jobs and income.

ART & ENTERTAINMENT IN BRIEF 4/12

  Korean Film Festival 2012 in Hanoi and Danang; Pianist Trang Trinh to enthrall Hanoi audience; Vietnamese blooms in flower contest; K-Pop Festival attracts 50,000 fans in Hanoi

Foreign bankers discuss Vietnam’s non-performing loans

VietNamNet Bridge - Given that the bad debt situation in Vietnam is not considered as a "tragedy," foreign experts suggested the Vietnamese government to take rapid and drastic solutions to deal with it.

Italian and Vietnamese perform jazz concert

 VietNamNet Bridge – Italian and Vietnamese musicians will share the stage at the Ha Noi Opera House to perform an array of jazz pieces on December 10.

Reasons to head out to Vietnam

Known with many famous tourist sites with natural beauties, tranquil villages, ancient pagodas, beautiful lakes, Vietnam has been a popular tourist destination in the world. Not convinced as yet?