Visiting Hue in the rain

 The rain often makes you nostalgic with either the blues or happy memories. Rain makes the scenery more romantic and green, especially in sites of ancient works and historical plots like Hue City.

All sex workers in HCM City to be released

All prostitutes who are being managed at the HCM City Social Labor Education Center will be released in accordance with the Law on Handling of Administrative Violations. The authorities worry of an outbreak of prostitution in Saigon.

Admiring over 3,000 ancient woodblocks

VietNamNet Bridge – The ancient woodblocks of the Vinh Nghiem Pagoda in Bac Giang province received the UNESCO’s world heritage certificate on October 6.

Investment funds wavering between coming back and staying on

Despite the current big difficulties, some foreign investment funds still have decided not to leave Vietnam. This is really the good news for Vietnamese stock market.

Pussy Riot appeal resumes under Putin shadow

A Moscow court hears the appeal Wednesday of feminist punks Pussy Riot against their two-year prison camp sentence for staging a protest stunt in Russia's main cathedral,

Touching love story of the “extraordinary man”

“I “hugged" her with my eyes! We sat together to feel our love and talked with each other until midnight. The stars were brighter. The atmosphere was extraordinarily quiet. Later, she sat on my lap, I put my feet around her to hug her tightly...”

Special day to encourage reading

 VietNamNet Bridge – There are plans to set up an official National Reading Day in Viet Nam to encourage the once strong Vietnamese fondness for reading.

Ha Noi to crack down on illegally-parked taxis

 VietNamNet Bridge – Ha Noi Police Department has started to crack down on taxis that illegally park outside crowded places, such as schools, hospitals, restaurants and hotels, causing traffic jams.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 11/10

 South develops support industry; Quang Ngai lures investment; Massive Chinese steel imports cause more pressure for domestic firms; Construction ministry bans export of eight minerals; Japan manufacturers say unable to find local suppliers

Quang Nam: Over 4.5 tons of gold mined

  VietNamNet Bridge - More than 4.5 tons of gold and 1.6 tons of silver have been exploited from two gold mines in the central province of Quang Nam - Bong Mieu in Phu Ninh district and Dak Sa in Phuoc Son district.

SOCIETY IN BRIEF 10/10

 VN’s first online financial library launched; Over VND27.5 trillion for sustainable poverty reduction; Int’l seminar discusses maritime and island issues; Vietnam hosts int’l conference on estuaries, coasts

One killed, two injured in brick kiln explosion

VietNamNet Bridge – The brick-making machine was stuck, Mr. Hung poked it with a stick. A big explosion occurred, killing Hung and injuring two others. The authorities said that the explosion might have been caused by a shrapnel bomb.

ART & ENTERTAINMENT IN BRIEF 10/10

  Exhibition of Mexican, Vietnamese children’s paintings; Exhibition celebrates women's strength; Ha Noi marks battle's 40th anniversary; Vietnamese enters song festival for Asia-Pacific

Pleasing steel mills, MOF plans to raise import tariffs

The Ministry of Finance MOF is considering raising the import tariffs on some steel products, following the repeated complaints from domestic steel manufacturers about the massive low quality imports.

US air passenger held after smoke grenade, weapons seized

 A 28-year-old man on a plane from Japan was arrested in Los Angeles after he was found wearing body armor and flame-proof pants, and transporting a small arsenal of weapons, officials said Tuesday.

Album honours Truong Sa soldiers

 VietNamNet Bridge – More than 200 singers and musicians will perform eight songs on a new album to highlight the service of Vietnamese soldiers stationed on the Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands.

Two charged with hunting langur

 VietNamNet Bridge – Police in the southern province of Dong Nai yesterday, Oct 9, arrested Phan Van Thuan Anh and Huynh Van Cu for illegally hunting langurs in Cat Tien National Park.

Four records set at 2012 VN Athletics Championships

 VietNamNet Bridge – Four national records were set at the 2012 Vietnam National Athletics Championships which closed on October 9 at My Dinh national stadium in Hanoi.

National Orchestra to perform Mahler’s Symphony No.7

The Symphony No.7 by famous Austrian composer Gustav Mahler will be played by the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra (VNSO) under the baton of Japanese conductor Honna Tesuji on October 12-13.

With monopoly, someone can fish in troubled waters, others put in bad fix

One would easily make a profit of billions of dong if he obtains the license from the State Bank of Vietnam to convert non-SJC into SJC gold. The monopoly in bullion gold production would bring fat profits to some “insiders.”

Lan claims second gold

VietNamNet Bridge – Thanh Hoa Province's Quach Thi Lan on Monday stepped to the podium for the second time at the National Athletics Championships in Ha Noi.  

Committee delays submission of draft law on public investment

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Draft Law on Public Investment and Public Spending will not be up for discussion at the fourth session of the 13th National Assembly, scheduled to begin later this month.

“Extraordinary man” Nguyen Ngoc Ky and his studies

  VietNamNet Bridge - The name of Nguyen Ngoc Ky has become a typical example of overcoming difficulties in Vietnam in the 60-70s. Ky can be compared to the world well-known British physicist Stephan Hawking.

Singapore researchers say they find approach to fight chikungunya virus

Researchers from Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine in National University of Singapore (NUS) have found a new way to fight against chikungunya virus, which once broke out to a record cases of 1,000 during 2008-2010 here,

Storm and floods cause VND34 billion in losses

VietNamNet Bridge – The recent storm and floods in the central region have destroyed more than 550 houses, 260 hectares of rice and 2,300 hectares of subsidiary crops, resulting in total damages of around VND34 billion.