In Vietnam, functional foods advertised as panacea

The market for functional foods is in chaos. These products are advertised as wonderful remedies that can cure all kinds of diseases, even cancer. The price is also “sky high”. Many people have become victims of false advertisement.

French expert discovers Vietnam's ancient epic poem

VietNamNet Bridge – Unpublished colour illustrations of Luc Van Tien, an epic poem by Nguyen Dinh Chieu written in nom in the 1850s, are on display until April 6 as part of a new exhibition

My Son tourism village opens

VietNamNet Bridge – The central province of Quang Nam officially opened the My Son community tourism village near the World Heritage Site of the same name on March 14.

Vietnam may have National Commission on Human Rights

Making comment on the draft amendments to the Constitution, social organizations proposed to establish the National Commission on Human Rights, as a constitutional institution next to the Constitutional Council and the State Audit Agency.

Mobile subscribers crazy from spam

Since the lunar New Year, many people have become victims of mobile phone spam with sexual contents. This is not the first time mobile subscribers complaining with their service providers about spam.

Gender stereotypes hold women back

Gender inequality remains a huge problem in the field of employment in Viet Nam, with a pay divide between men and women growing and experts warning that there is continued discrimination against women in recruitment and benefit policies.

Dong Nai people struggle to fight illegal sand exploitation

 VietNamNet Bridge – Many people in Dong Nai Province have been spending sleepless nights protecting their gardens from erosion as a result of illegal sand exploitation.  

Artists' war history a national treasure

Artists who spent a major part of their life drawing wars, comrades, underground meetings of party cells, resistance heroes and the daily lives of soldiers and volunteer youngsters have left a legacy for the nation.

Rise in infertility in Vietnam

 VietNamNet Bridge – A latest survey showed that the rate of childless couples in the country has gone up by 8 percent or a total of one million Vietnamese couples.

Selling cars in lots – the good solution in economic recession

The first rays of hope have been flashed on the automobile market, but the demand remains weak in the economic downturn. Therefore, selling cars in lots remains the top choice for automobile manufacturers.

The bad debt panorama: hundreds of millions USD may be lost

International experts have warned that the bad debts, worth hundreds of trillions of dong would still be the big challenge for the Vietnam’s national economy for at least several years.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 17/3

Cashew exports likely to fall; Mekong Expo 2013 to open in Can Tho; ADB, EIB fund HCMC’s metro line; Vietnam, Austria strengthen business links; Ukraine inspects Vietnamese seafood processors

Economic governance declines, reforms urged

VietNamNet Bridge – Analysis provided by the 2012 provincial competitive index (PCI) has revealed a sharp decline in economic governance across the country, leading to calls for local authorities to hasten reform. 

Wage reforms make sense

The draft law on minimum wage is being penned by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and slated for completion to submit to the government and the National Assembly for approval in May.

Extraordinary embroidery

 After arriving in the commune, visitors will see many handmade embroidery shops and be amazed at the intricate products on display within.

Boston Youth Choir to come to Vietnam

VietNamNet Bridge – The well-known Boston Children's Choir will perform in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City at the end of June.

Venture funds have superfluous capital, but lack projects

Venture funds have still been seeking opportunities to enrich their investment portfolios.

Street magicians do tricks for fun

VietNamNet Bridge – On sunny Sunday afternoons near Hoan Kiem Lake, West Lake and Thong Nhat Park in Ha Noi, you may come across groups of young people lost in flying coins, strings or magic cards,

Free messaging apps boom in Vietnam

The figures announced by Viber, Line, Kakao Talk or Zalo about their numbers of users are unreliable. Experts say these are just the numbers of downloads, not the active users.

Rice export right market gets bustling

Big enterprises can still earn money without doing anything, by selling the rights to export rice to the unlicensed enterprises. The rice export right market gets more bustling.

The smelly streets in Hanoi

The pavement markets, where Hanoians like going to on the way from work to home instead of traditional markets or supermarkets, have created the special streets with specific smells.

Women paid 13% less than men

 VietNamNet Bridge – The income gap between men and women in Vietnam is on the rise, although the rate of women working is still high compared to global levels.

Market of reference books for pre-school children in chaos

Just within two days, the Ministry of Education and Training released two dispatches ordering to recall two reference books for pre-school children.

Hanoi’s old streets with iron roofs and cages

Mossy tiled roofs are gradually being replaced with metal roofs, while more metal cages have appeared on the balconies or the roofs of the old houses, making Hanoi’s ancient streets more oppressive, unkempt.

Travel firms don’t cooperate to overcome difficulties, but try to sink others

Travel firms complain that their business have never been so bad. Not only facing the sharp fall in the number of travelers, they have also struggle to escape the tricks played by rivals.