Disabled “IT knight” passes away

VietNamNet Bridge - The handicapped information technology expert Nguyen Cong Hung, 31, died on December 31, on a business trip from HCM City to Vinh Long Province.

Market forecast to rebound in 2013

 VietNamNet Bridge – If the Government effectively implements its business rescue plan this year, the securities market will prosper, say market insiders.

Photos show lives, loves of gay community

 VietNamNet Bridge – A new photo exhibition offers a closer look into the daily lives and feelings of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Viet Nam who continue to suffer from discrimination.

League hires Japanese expert

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Viet Nam Professional Football Co (VPF) has invited Kazuyoshi Tanabe to be their deputy director in the 2013 season.

People flock to Hanoi after New Year holidays

VietNamNet Bridge - After three days of the New Year holiday, from the afternoon of January 1, 2013, people flocked to Hanoi and HCM City, resulting in traffic congestion in the city.

U.S. Senate "fiscal cliff" bill adds 4 trillion USD deficit: CBO

The Congressional Budget Office said the Senate-passed bill to avert the "fiscal cliff" would add roughly 4 trillion dollars to federal deficit over a decade, largely because it would extend low tax rates for most Americans. 

Vietnam's largest lantern festival

VietNamNet Bridge – On December 29, over 40,000 Buddhists attended the lantern festival at Hoang Phap temple, in Hoc Mon district, Ho Chi Minh City. This festival has been recognized as the country’s largest Buddhist festival.

SOCIETY IN BRIEF 2/1

 Midwife system faces major obstacles in rural provinces; VND1 bln to assist Hoang Sa archipelago fishermen; School-based health clinics lack basic sanitation facilities

Propaganda defendants lose appeal

The HCM City People's Court sustained the original custodial sentences given to Nguyen Van Hai and Ta Phong Tan for "conducting propaganda against the State of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam" at an appeal court held on Friday, Dec 28.

Ivory Coast mourns after 60 dead in New Year stampede

The Ivory Coast on Wednesday began three days of national mourning after a stampede among crowds gathered for celebratory New Year's Eve fireworks in Abidjan left at least 60 dead and dozens injured. 

Artists may be banned from stage for scanty dress

For the first time, the sanction of banning artists from performances has been included in the draft decree on sanctioning of administrative violations in cultural activities, physical education, sports and tourism.

Gold-painted ceramics

VietNamNet Bridge – The price ranges from a few million dong to several hundreds of million dong or even a billion dong, but these products are still sold well because decoration patterns are drawn with 24K gold.

Britain urges bold G8 action on global economy

 British Prime Minister David Cameron called on his fellow G8 leaders on Wednesday to start work now on agreeing "bold steps" to help boost global economic growth, ahead of a summit he will host in June.

PM Dung's message focuses on challenges

On the occasion of the new year, PM Nguyen Tan Dung, who is also a Politburo member, has written an article voicing the nation's resolve to overcome weaknesses and challenges, curb inflation and promote growth and sustainable development.

GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 2/1

Vietnam-Japan growing ties - inevitable process; Breakthrough needed in theoretical work; Vietnam-Laos friendship further highlighted; NA Chairman meets Bac Kan ethnic minority voters

External activities contribute to national development

 VietNamNet Bridge – External activities in 2013 will continue to play a part in maintaining a peaceful and stable environment for national development, said Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh.

Record 40,000 Dutch in New Year North Sea dip

A record 40,000 people braved icy temperatures on the Netherlands's North Sea coast Tuesday to take a cold plunge, setting a new record for the traditional New Year's Day dip, organisers said. 

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 2/1

Mekong Delta farmers eager for Gov’t to stockpile rice; Agro-aqua-forestry exports increase in 2012; Banks to charge on-us transaction fee from next March; Major solutions to defuse sluggish real estate market

Making the To Lich River’s polluted water drinkable, why not?

A group of scientists from the Hanoi University of Natural Resources has invented a technology allowing filtering polluted water to get drinkable water. However, people still keep doubts about the startling information.

Search for 13 missing fishermen continues

This morning, Jan 1, the civil and military rescue team continued to the search for 13 missing fishermen in the sinking of the ship QB 93 714 TS of fisherman Nguyen Quoc Phong.

Localities confused on how to collect road maintenance fee from motorbikes

Several provinces have reported that they are confused on how to organize the collection of road maintenance fee from motorbikes, even though the Ministry of Transport has said that the fee will officially be collected from January 1, 2013.

Tighter regulations to control gold market

Seventeen banks and 14 companies will be granted licences to trade gold bars from next year, when the country implements tightened regulations to better manage the gold market.

Taxes and fees raise violent controversy in 2012

While the government weighed and measured out every dong of the bailouts to businesses, ministries tried everything they could to impose higher charges and fees on enterprises, which were nearly at the point of death.

The 100 richest stock millionaires in 2012

President of Vingroup, Pham Nhat Vuong, has become the 2012’s richest Vietnamese stock millionaire after the last securities trading session on December 28.

Forgotten IPhO prize for Vietnamese student?

Wikipedia showed a result that Vietnamese student Tran Nhat Quang won the special prize for the best candidate from very far countries at the 1984 International Physics Olympiad.