Prices for special fruit fall as Delta festival opens; Fines fail to deter securities violations; Shipping potential remains untapped; State Bank to halt all gold lending; Vietnam to open trade office in Italian province; FDI disbursement up 2%

VietNamNet Bridge – Luxembourg supports the EU's recognition of Vietnam’s market-based economy, says Deputy Prime Minister cum Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn.

The implementation of online bidding systems on the trial basis has been facing big barriers, which makes it difficult to apply the preeminent mechanism on a large scale.

VietNamNet Bridge – A group of overseas students who are studying in Singapore and America is casting actors for their non-profit art project titled “Goc Pho Danh Vong” (The Corner of Fame) in Hanoi.

People often say that you are happiest in life when you can do the things you are most passionate about. Balloon clown Ho Sy Thieu admits that he fits the bill as he gets a tremendous amount of joy performing his unique art for his beloved kids.

Draft Decree on pavement open to submissions; Vietnam scholars win U.S. scientific research awards; Auto service workers aid Red Cross efforts; $55 mil casino winning trial postponed

In traditional Chinese medicine, shaved or ground rhino horn has been used for centuries to cure a long list of ailments: fever, rheumatism, gout, snakebites, hallucinations, typhoid, headaches, carbuncles, vomiting, and food poisoning. 

VietNamNet Bridge – The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Court on June 26 sentenced to death a 23-year-old Thai citizen charged with illegal drug trafficking.

VietNamNet Bridge – By mid-June 2012, there were over 5.7 million of vehicles in HCM City, including nearly 508,000 cars and nearly 5.2 million motorbikes.

UN Secretary-general Ban Ki- moon said here on Tuesday that the problems of illicit drugs and crime have gone beyond national boundaries and into the international sphere.

VietNamNet Bridge – The Electricity of Vietnam Group (EVN) has pledged to completely fix cracks on the dam of Song Tranh 2 hydro power plant and to assume responsibility for the dam safety.

VietNamNet Bridge – Several gambling rings focusing on the Euro football championship have been busted in HCM City and over 50 people arrested, police say.

The Tourism Law only focuses on managing inbound tourism, while keeping loosened control over outbound tourism.

VietNamNet Bridge – More than 2,500 women, children and caregivers living with or affected by HIV have received support from a project run by the Netherlands-Viet Nam Medical Committee.

The Vietnam National Academy of Music has for the first time kicked off the Hanoi Open Guitar contest to look for the best talent from around the nation.

Instead of issuing shares to existing shareholders, businesses plan to sell shares to the outsiders. Are they really thirsty for capital?

VietNamNet Bridge – Young talents from the Viet Nam National Academy of Music will perform works by Liszt, Tchaikovsky, Paganini and Beethoven in a concert at the French cultural centre L'Espace on July 5.

The application of information and communication technology (ICT) in Viet Nam is faced with difficulties although considered vital for the country's development.

VietNamNet Bridge – Cambodia saw a large increase in the number of Vietnamese tourists visiting the country in the first five months of this year, to about 305,000.

VietNamNet Bridge – Tran Thi Tinh (31) hailing from Lai Vung district, the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap last Monday gave birth to four baby girls in Ho Chi Minh City’s Tu Du hospital.

VietNamNet Bridge – Many universities lack well-qualified teachers to ensure the quality of higher education, according to the Ministry of Education and Training's latest inspection.

President Barack Obama on Monday gave approval for the U.S. Export-Import Bank to extend a $125.9 million loan to a state-owned company in Vietnam to buy a U.S.-made telecommunications and television satellite, the White House said.

VietNamNet Bridge – Researchers, scholars and scientists from India and Viet Nam will do their best in clearing up the ancient relationship between the two countries via a two-day conference on the Cham Civilisation.

VietNamNet Bridge – Nguyen Thi Mai Hung won the girls' U18 rapid chess event with six points at the Asian Youth Chess Championship in Sri Lanka on Monday.

VietNamNet Bridge – Ho Chi Minh City has launched an ambitious project to increase English language skills for students in schools and vocational centers during the academic year 2012-2013 at an estimated investment of about VND408 bil.