US singer Stevie Wonder joined Brazil's Gilberto Gil late Tuesday for a massive free Christmas concert on Rio's Copacabana beach attended by half a million people.

The decision by the State Bank of Vietnam to slash the ceiling deposit interest rate by one more percent is believed to make no upheaval to the monetary market. The local currency would still be attractive in the eyes of Vietnamese.

Stretch of tax, not charging the personal vehicle fees yet, significantly reducing car registration fees, pumping capital into banks and rescuing the real estate market are the solutions to save the economy, announced by the Government yesterday.

A new bat named after its devilish appearance, a "walking" catfish, and a frog that sings like a bird are among the 36 species newly identified by scientists in Viet Nam, and among 126 species in the Greater Mekong region in 2011.

Big bankers and businessmen have prepared their staff for a sad piece of news, saying that there would not be Tet bonuses this year, or the Tet bonuses would be modest.

Fifty four percent of parents have admitted that they “give money under the table” so as to be able to enroll their children in "star schools", a survey conducted by the HCM City Open University has found.

Deputy General Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Hoang Thi Diep said that this agency wants to have many good clips to advertise in major markets, but due to limited funds, it does not have good products as desire.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Many agree that women should wear ao dai (traditional long dress) to official events. However, the question of whether men should also wear garments modeled after ao dai remains controversial.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Over 100 households farming in Son Tra District's Man Quang Bay suffered a devastating blow to their seafood harvest when a dozen hectares of oyster farms were wiped out suspectedly due to water pollution.

VietNamNet Bridge – HCM City heads the country in economic growth, but the quality of life of its residents has not developed correspondingly, participants said at a seminar held on Thursday.

Senior managers of Ethanol Plant absconding, leave huge debts;  Mekong Delta flower business blooms; Slight December CPI increase in major cities; Big banks and groups to be audited next year; New ATM fees to burden cardholders

Many listed companies had failed to hit their business targets this year due to economic woes, while the stock market had seen many more leave the market due to prolonged losses,

VietNamNet Bridge – The highest bonus for the Lunar New Year or Tet holiday in Hanoi this year is VND74.5 million ($3,500), down sharply from last year and much lower when compared to that of businesses in Ho Chi Minh City.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Rock Storm 2012, the year's most eagerly awaited event for rock music fans, opened in the northern city of Hai Phong on Sunday before moving on to six other cities.

 Vietnamese community in Sri Lanka holds first congress; More than 1,000 expired cosmetic products seized; Three die in Quang Binh boat accident; Works gets started on Ba Ria bypass 

 US firearm sales have sky-rocketed since the Newtown school massacre, as debate over gun control rages and enthusiasts fear certain assault weapons and high-capacity magazines could be banned.

VietNamNet Bridge – Twenty-seven speakers, over 250 enterprises and more than 200 high-level representatives of the Government and business leaders have signed up to attend the CEO World Forum 2013.

VietNamNet Bridge – The children's book Let Me Tell You Truong Sa's Story by military writer Nguyen Xuan Thuy was among several works to win a Golden Prize at the Viet Nam Publishers Association's Best Book Awards.  

 New book published on HCM City's culinary delights; Korean calligraphy on Ho Chi Minh’s poems exhibited; Architect of the Year to be chosen via online voting

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese teenager Ly Hoang Nam defeated Diego Pedraza of Columbia 6-3, 6-4 in the first round of the Abierto Juvenil Mexicano tennis boys' singles event in Mexico early yesterday morning, Dec 24.  

VietNamNet Bridge - Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat has asked relevant agencies to tighten food inspection to reduce the rate of vegetable with pesticide residue.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Australian runner Pat Farmer and his Vietnamese partner, Mai Nguyen Dinh Huy, arrived at Hoai River Square in Hoi An City last night, Dec 24, completing the 16th stage of the Pole to Pole marathon.

 President sends birthday congrats to Japanese Emperor; Indochinese countries promote cooperation; Late Algerian official posthumously honoured

VietNamNet Bridge - "Mui Co Chay” (Scent of Burnt Grass) of Vietnam is not on the shortlist of the nominees for the Best Foreign Film category of the Oscar Awards 2013.

VietNamNet Bridge - A Malaysian cargo ship, with five sailors on board, was broken in half in the waters of Thua Thien - Hue province yesterday, December 24.