Local wood and handicraft processors have a huge demand for wood materials, but 80% of the timber used to make wood products is now imported.

  VietNamNet Bridge - Suzy Walsham (Australia) - the winner of the vertical climbing competition at the Empire State Building in New York for three consecutive years - will go to Hanoi.

 Vietnam’s spending on information technology (IT) is growing at an average rate of 17% per year, almost hitting US$3 billion in 2011 and forecast to reach US$3.5 billion in 2012 if the tempo is maintained.

The serious diseases suffered by Vietnamese businesses over the last decade still have not been treated well.

 People’s Artist Kim Cuong, the well-known veteran drama actress has released a picture book featuring photos taken from popular dramas on the occasion of Vu Lan Festival.             

Though flood levels are much lower this year in the Mekong Delta, they are rising by 5-10cms a day and will continue to surge for the next few days.

Coffee exports fetch $ 2.66 bln in first eight months; Motorbike, auto fees proposal faces opposition; Economic slump pushes property trading floors out of work; Vietnam still attractive for software outsourcing 

The Ministry of Finance’s draft decree on the management over prize-electronic games services says casinos would be open only to the individuals with foreign passports.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has asked provinces which have not set up hygienic slaughter house projects to speed up their work.

 Events to commemorate the August Revolution and National Day have been held in many countries around the world, including  Canada, Mexico and Laos.   

Travel firms all complain that 2012 is a very difficult year for them. However, despite the decline, the firms still have been trying to scale up their business.

 The advantages of 3G services in Viet Nam are good quality, cheap prices and support services for equipment with flexible packages, compared to foreign markets.

Some educators have expressed their worry that day boarding students, who are served in everything, from meals to beds, would not be able to grown up into independent people.

 The 2012 Cham Cultural Festival on the theme, ‘Cham Culture – Preservation, Promotion and Integration’, will take place in the central province of Ninh Thuan from October 14-16.

  VietNamNet Bridge – Inspired by colorful flags at Vietnam’s traditional festivals, Hanoi’s well-known fashion designer Duc Hung made a special collection of ao dai for his show in the US on September 15.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Weak bridges over the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta River are not only causing difficulties for the transportation of goods but are also hindering the development of the region's economy.

 Smaller players are looking for a bigger bite of the aviation market. Air Mekong envisaged bringing modern Airbus A320 aircraft into service soon to earn a bigger slice of the aviation market pie.

 A Scottish team of biologists, nanoengineers and surgeons has come up with a new technique which could mean hip replacements that last a lifetime.

 VietNamNet Bridge – It's a bonus for tourists going to Phu Quoc Island to experience spectacular sunsets and what better way to do it than on a fishing tour?

Vietnam, the country which once relied completely on urea imports, has turned into the country suffering the overproduction, which has forced it to think of exporting the products.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Transport Ministry recently approved a nationwide project to tighten the registration of road and water vehicles in an effort to reduce accidents.

The forests on Phu Quoc Island, including the forests within ecotourism projects, have been destroyed severely just because local people expect to get the compensation from the State.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Co Tu people in the central province of Quang Nam consider life and death as the same, so tombs of the death are decorated with lively wood statues and utensils of the living.

  VietNamNet Bridge – With only $700 in her pocket, Khanh Huyen traveled to 25 countries in Asia and Africa. In two years of travelling, the Hanoi girls learned how to cook many dishes, row, hike, act in films and write.

 Dairies battle for market share; Mini-marts sprout up in HCM City; Downturn shrinks ICT event;  Ethical firms to be honoured;  Tra fish exports likely to rise in third quarter;  Thai retailer eyes Viet Nam market