Secrets of 12,000-year-old remains

The unique way of decorating the dead (putting sea snails into the eye sockets) that was discovered by archaeologists of the Vietnam Institute of Archaeology in Phia Vai cave in Tuyen Quang, has revealed the burial secrets of primitive people.

VN aims to join global carbon market

 VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam is preparing to further enhance its green credentials and competitiveness on the world stage by joining the global carbon market after 2020.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 25/11

Lack of bio fuel demand puts cassava farmers in quandary; Real estate inventory causing huge losses; HCM City builds property indices;

Firms cynically exploit commendations to target pre-schoolers

 VietNamNet Bridge – Firms are targeting pre-school kids as part of their marketing campaigns by sponsoring traditional commendation certificates for good behaviour.

Ministry unfazed by foreign telecom firms’ exit

 VietNamNet Bridge – Given that a number of telecom firms have pulled out of the Vietnamese market and that a foreign organization has remarked the local telecom market is losing its appeal,

Mobile phone promos to be tightly controlled

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Department of Telecommunications under the Ministry of Information and Communications has issued a circular to tighten the control of mobile phone promotional activities.

Effort on to reduce motorbike fuel exhaust fumes

A project to reduce fumes from motorbike fuel exhausts has been prepared by the Vietnam Registry Department and is expected to be submitted to the Prime Minister by the Ministry of Transport by the end of this year.

High-rise building boom adds to traffic congestion

 VietNamNet Bridge – The large number of high-rise buildings being built in HCM City's centre has worsened traffic congestion, one of the country's most serious problems, urban planning experts have said.

Vietnam suffers “shortness of breath” in FTA race

By joining free trade agreements (FTAs), Vietnam strives for the market expansion and the full global trade integration. However, it has been facing a lot of challenges in the race.

Beloved book still enchants after 70 years

 VietNamNet Bridge – Many illustrative paintings depicting scenes from the beloved children's tale De Men Phieu Luu Ky (Adventures of a Cricket), written by To Hoai, are currently on display at the Ha Noi Writers Association

Big players to be weeded out from gold market

VietNamNet Bridge – Commercial banks have been trying to withdraw from the “gold game.” Once a big demand source is eliminated, the gold market is believed to be more “peaceful.”

Ministry to improve toilets in Delta homes, schools

 VietNamNet Bridge – Fourth grader Nguyen Thi Thanh Truc cannot be happier that a new toilet has been built in her school, located in Vinh Long Province's Vung Liem District.

Jewel orchid leaves collection for export to China prohibited

Jewel orchids (Anoechilus Roxburghii) have been exploited spontaneously for export to China. Meanwhile, this is an endangered precious plant variety, which must not be exploited for commercial purposes.

Blind fish species discovered in Vietnam

VietNamNet Bridge – The Fauna and Flora International (FFI) has discovered a new species of loach on a small island in Ha Long Bay, Vietnam.

iPhone 5 to be distributed officially in Vietnam, hi-tech fans get excited

The Vietnamese Apple fans’ community now holds its breath waiting for the day iPhone 5s to be distributed officially in Vietnam, just some days before the Christmas.

Hep C sufferers have nowhere to turn

 VietNamNet Bridge – Pham Thi Minh, a Hanoian office worker in her thirties, was shocked when she was diagnosed with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) after undergoing a medical examination before trying for her second child.

Anti-parasite drugs have potential for treating TB: Canadian study

 Drugs used to treat parasitic diseases are showing surprising potential as a therapy for tuberculosis (TB), a Canadian study has suggested.

Checking teachers’ foreign language capability, and what’s next?

The Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) has decided to verify the qualification of general school English teachers in a plan to ensure that the teaching staff can meet the required standards.

Different colours of Vietnamese Tea

 VietNamNet Bridge – The way of making and drinking Lotus or Jasmine tea is the treasured custom of Vietnamese people. Every cup of natural flower-scented tea captures a fraction of Vietnam’s rich and vibrant culture.

High transport service fee sinks Vietnam’s tourism

Carrying passengers from here to there proves to be the most costly, time consuming and risky process when operating tours in Vietnam.

Unusual animals continuously discovered in Vietnam

VietNamNet Bridge – A fish with a snake body and crocodile head, an oyster with 16 pearls, a snakehead weighing 6kg, a vegetarian pig that can guard a house like a dog are the strange animals that have recently appeared in Vietnam.

The girl without hands dreams of being an IT expert

Born without hands at birth, Tham can write, draw, sew, type... by her feet. Her painting won the second prize in a painting contest while her notebooks are on display at the Vietnam Women's Museum.

Vietnamese companies rush to make re-registration to export products to US

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese exporters have been taking hectic preparations to get adapted to the US new law on food safety, showing their determination to boost exports to the market.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 24/11

Forestry land to be used for agriculture; Incompetent construction contractors to be named and shamed; Official blames cross ownership for banking risks; SMEs see a decline in investment, financial access

Ca Mau Cape National Park to be recognized as Ramsar site

 VietNamNet Bridge – Ca Mau Cape National Park in Ca Mau Province in the southernmost tip of Vietnam will be recognized as a Ramsar site on December 13, the fifth such site in Vietnam,