U22 Vietnam’s first defeat at BTV Cup

 VietNamNet Bridge – The U22 Vietnamese football team had an unsuccessful start losing 1-4 to host Becamex Binh Duong in its first match at the 2012 Binh Duong Television (BTV) Cup on November 18.

Children to receive genital reconstruction

 VietNamNet Bridge – Italian doctor Roberto De Castro from Bologna has begun examining 50 children who suffer from genital malformations in the central region.

Top three of Vietnam’s Next Top Model selected

VietNamNet Bridge – My Van, Mai Giang and Thien Trang will compete in the final night of the Vietnam’s Next Top Model on November 25.

European music sweeps into Ha Noi, HCM City this week

 VietNamNet Bridge – Duo d'Accord from Germany will present a piano concert to open the annual European Music Festival in Viet Nam in Ha Noi on Thursday.

Teen titan in final round at Worlds

 VietNamNet Bridge – Teen chess master Nguyen Anh Khoi triumphed at the World Youth Chess Championships with one round to go in Maribor City, Slovakia, early yesterday, Nov 18.

In Britain, an EU exit is no longer taboo

 Euroscepticism in Britain has been exacerbated by the eurozone crisis and a British exit from the European Union is now being openly discussed -- unless London's calls for reforms are taken seriously.

Phu Quoc fish sauce producers cry about anchovy shortage

The anchovy price has tripled as Chinese businessmen have been collecting anchovy in big quantities, leaving Phu Quoc fish sauce producers in thirst for materials.

Traffic policemen allowed to be disguised on duty

VietNamNet Bridge - From December 22, traffic police officers are allowed to be disguised on duty, according to a newly issued circular by the Ministry of Public Security.

GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 19/11

  Vietnam, EU end third negotiations for voluntary partnership agreement; Solomon wishes to boost multi-faceted cooperation with VN; Top lawmaker salutes solidarity; PM holds talks with Cambodian counterpart

ASEAN needs a common voice, says PM

 VietNamNet Bridge – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung called on ASEAN member states to make greater efforts to shape a common voice in major issues of regional and international concern.

Khue Van Cac chosen as Hanoi’s symbol

VietNamNet Bridge - In the draft Capital Law, Khue Van Cac (pavilion of the constellation of literature) in Van Mieu - Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature) is chosen as the symbol of the capital city.

Da Nang to have 85m flower snake this Tet holiday

VietNamNet Bridge – In the Lunar New Year 2013, for the first time the central city of Da Nang will have a flower street, with a total coverage of over 11,000 m2. The road’s highlight will be a gigantic flower-made cobra.

Oc Eo-Ba The relic to seek UNESCO recognition

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has assigned the Vietnam Institute for Culture and Arts to make a dossier on Oc Eo-Ba The relic and submit to UNESCO to seek recognition as the world cultural heritage site.

3D Cinema halls for children-a waste of money

 VietNamNet Bridge – With Ho Chi Minh City announcing plans to build 3D cinema halls at Children’s Houses in the various districts, the public is questioning the necessity to build such cinemas at this time.

Hanoi: rubbish from craft villages encroach on rice fields

About 5300 tons of solid waste is discharged in Hanoi every day; half of which is household garbage from rural areas.

It’s tough to leave misty Sapa

For over a century people from all over the world have experienced the magnificent and misty mountains, splendid rice terraced fields, endless flower hills, vaporous layers of clouds and snow which makes Sapa the landscape of dreams.

Japan remains a tough market for Vietnamese software firms

It is really good news for Vietnamese software firms that Japan tends to increase the number of outsource orders to other countries. However, this remains the “pie which is difficult to swallow” for Vietnamese information technology firms.

Banks pump more capital, but seafood companies still die

The outstanding loans provided to the aquaculture and seafood processing sector increased by 11 percent in the first nine months of the year. However, the fisheries industry is still thirsty for capital.

Education department refuses the “products” of education system

The Vinh Phuc provincial Education and Training Department has refused to recruit the graduates from the Hung Vuong University, Tay Bac University, the non-pedagogical training courses of the Hanoi University of Education.

Vietnam to make IP pirates walk the plank

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam is making efforts to crack down on copyrights infringements, but such piracy still persists.

Hard-up hotels must check out new growth strategies

 VietNamNet Bridge – Hospitality businesses must be alert to new opportunities during tough economic times by changing their business strategies and researching the market,

Increasing cases of power theft raise public concern

As many as 2,355 cases of power theft in northern provinces and cities were reported so far this year, alarming authorities who take responsibility for ensuring the safety of citizens and public property,

Hanoi to remove small cemeteries

VietNamNet Bridge – Cemeteries of villages, single tombs and family tomb complexes will be moved to concentrated cemeteries. Hanoi will expand and build 20 large-scale cemeteries from now to 2030.

Street markets struggle to remain competitive

VietNamNet Bridge – It is only 11 in the morning, but Nguyen Thi Kieu is done for the day. She has closed her fish stall in Hung Vuong Market, located in HCM City's Binh Thanh District, much earlier than usual.

Japan shifts software outsourcing orders to Vietnam

VietNamNet Bridge – Japanese information technology (IT) enterprises are shifting more software outsourcing contracts to Vietnam, especially after the Japan-China tension has heightened over territorial disputes.