Six women traffickers sentenced to prison

 VietNamNet Bridge – The People’s Court of southern Tay Ninh Province sentenced six members of a women trafficking ring to 3-10 years in prison at a trial on March 6.

Citizens urged to contribute to revised Constitution

NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung has requested Party Committees at all levels to make it easier for every citizen to contribute their opinions on the draft amendments to the 1992 Constitution.

US delays decision in shrimp subsidy case

VietNamNet Bridge – The International Trade Administration under the US Department of Commerce (DOC) has announced that it will delay until May 28 a preliminary decision on whether to impose countervailing duties

Authorities act against restaurant for discrimination

VietNamNet Bridge – Authorities in Phan Thiet Town in the central province of Binh Thuan said they will impose a very harsh penalty on the Cat Vang Restaurant here, for refusing to serve Vietnamese holidaymakers.

Children's book withdrawn from market for containing Chinese flag

 VietNamNet Bridge – A domestic publishing house was compelled to recall a book meant for children of six years old because it contained the image of Chinese flag.

Chess championship draws more than 100 players to HCM City

 VietNamNet Bridge – More than 100 local and foreign chess players will be participating in the third HD Bank International Open Chess Tournament from March 19-24 in HCM City.

GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 7/3

Vietnam, Denmark cooperate in education, diabetes treatment; Nam Dinh urged to utilise resources for growth; Cuba, Vietnam hold political consultation

At world's top IT fair, firms mull death of email

 At the CeBIT in Germany, the world's biggest high-tech fair, some firms say they are looking at doing away with email to increase productivity.

After Starbucks, McDonald’s will come

High ranking executives of the US McDonald’s came to Vietnam in 2012, a signal showing that the giant was eyeing the Vietnamese market.

Should “brutal rituals” be abandoned?

VietNamNet Bridge - Violent images in traditional festivals such as chopping pigs or killing buffalos to sacrifice to gods has created negative views on traditional festivals.

Metro station near lake causes concern

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Ha Noi People’s Committee last week gave a green light to a metro station near Hoan Kiem Lake, inciting a heated discussion on the potential impacts on one of the most sacred areas of the city.

Small telcos want bigger pieces of the cake

Vietnamese telecom groups have succeeded in raising the charges on international incoming calls from US2.6 cents to US6.1 cents. However, they have disagreed about the market share allocation.

Educator says 30 percent of math knowledge given at general schools useless

Thirty percent of the math knowledge students receive at general schools proves to be useless for the students who do not continue following math studies at universities.

Venture funds still cannot play in full swing in Vietnam

A lot of venture investment funds have been set up in Vietnam. However, due to many reasons, the venture funds still cannot make adventurous investments as per their nature.

Ministry continues imposing vehicle registration fines

 VietNamNet Bridge – Any individual or organisation that does not have their names included in the registration procedures of vehicles they own will be subject to fines from July 1,

Ca Mau comes to life downtown

‘Ca Mau’s water land’ by Ly Cao Tan, Le Cong Uan and Pham Thai Hoang is opening at HCMC Association of Fine Arts, displaying works on landscapes and people of the Mekong Delta Province of Ca Mau.

Miracle drug made of a special lizard?

Than lan trinh nu (Leiolepis ngovantri sp. nov. Grismer & Grismer), a newly discovered reptile species, is believed to be the material to make a miracle drug good to gentlemen.

Tobacco, temporary imports and tax targeted

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Government is drafting a decree on sanctioning administration violations of copyright and related rights.

Seven villagers struck by mystery sickness

 VietNamNet Bridge – The mysterious disease that afflicted hundreds of people in Quang Ngai Province seven months ago has returned, with seven residents of the province’s Ba To District

Bai Tu Long Bay: A national treasure

 VietNamNet Bridge – Located in the northern province of Quang Ninh, Bai Tu Long National Park comprises 40 islands, either earth or limestone, scattering across three communes, Ha Long, Van Yen

Cinnamon harvest in Quang Ngai

VietNamNet Bridge - April is the peak time for thousands of people in the mountain districts of Tay Tra and Tra Bong in the central province of Quang Ngai to busily harvest, process and sell cinnamon.

Foreign investors keep pouring money into consumer goods sector

Despite the economic recession and the gloomy stock market, the shares of consumer goods enterprises have always been attractive in the eyes of foreign investors.

Island and marine sovereignty in the Constitution

"Vietnam’s sovereignty over the sea and the islands, especially the Truong Sa and Hoang Sa archipelagos must be powerfully shown in the Constitution," said Mr. Tran Ngoc Dinh, from the Hanoi Law University.

Made-in-Vietnam in the fight to find a place

VietNamNet Bridge - Most of the anti-dumping lawsuits targeting the labor and environmental resources intensive industries. These are the "holes" vulnerable to trade defense measures for piercing.

Comet to make close flyby of Mars in 2014: NASA

 Comet 2013 A1 (Siding Spring) will make a very close approach to Mars in October 2014, U.S. space agency NASA announced Tuesday in a statement.