Southeast Asian countries have failed to snatch a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympic Games, with all posting lower results than what they did at Beijing four years ago.

 Despite local authorities’ efforts to stop them, street vendors have recently continued to increase in numbers and rip off tourists around Hanoi’s Old Quarter, worsening the beauty of the tourism area in visitors’ eyes.

 VietNamNet Bridge – 59-year-old Nguyen Van Giac, the world’s oldest heart recipient at the time of his transplant, passed away from a stroke yesterday, Hanoi-based Viet Duc Hospital reported.

 Venezuela attaches importance to relations with Vietnam; President extends condolences to Iran over earthquakes; Laos grants VFF leaders honourable Orders; Nation increase co-operation with Laos on ethnic affairs

 VietNamNet Bridge – HCM City authorities plan to crack down on violators of parking-lot fees, according to inspectors from HCM City's Finance Department.

Globally known brands are taking steps to restructure their exclusive distribution partners in Vietnam, a part of their plans to become the number one in their fields in the Vietnamese market.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Although the Government has invested a great deal in science, technology and education, an outdated financial system has limited development of these sectors.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam must take measures to reduce instances where workers stay on illegally in South Korea when their contracts expire to a considerable extent by late 2013,

 VietNamNet Bridge – A fire engulfed the entire furniture of Trasathkong or Tac Gong Buddhist Temple in My Xuyen district of the southern province of Soc Trang on August 13.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong yesterday, Aug 13, opened a national conference on efforts to implement Resolution 4 covering self-criticism of party members and leaders at all levels.

 The eurozone was at "a decisive juncture" and the debt crisis had both underlined the need and created the conditions for Europe to rebuild and reinforce its economic and monetary union, a senior European Commission official said Monday.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The 10th session of the 13th National Assembly Standing Committee opened in Hanoi on August 13 under the chair of NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Six-member Cuban band Corazon Latino will bring "new energy" to the Saigon Saigon Bar at the Caravelle Hotel from 9pm every day except Tuesday.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Viet Nam Writers' Association will launch a translation centre next month to help promote Vietnamese literature abroad, according to the association's chairman Huu Thinh.

The Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC) is considering promulgating the standards for software association, requesting software developers to cooperate to make the plan on exchanging e-documents among state agencies realistic.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Hundreds of tonnes of hazardous waste are discharged into the environment daily in HCM City because of a shortage of treatment facilities as well as lax management, according to city authorities.

 VietNamNet Bridge – A biennial competition that shows off the talent and skills of the DJs in the country – the Viet Nam Digital DJ Battle 2012 – will take place at the Windsor Plaza Hotel from August 15 to September 8.

 The International Labor Organization (ILO) warned on Friday that cutting wages in a bid to boost competitiveness and cut unemployment may turn out to hurt economic growth.

 VietNamNet Bridge – After three years of touring Europe, My Village circus show returned to Hanoi on August 10, to charm hundreds of audience people.

VietNamNet Bridge – Having private aircraft, possessing islands, traveling in a Rolls & Royce, owning yachts and attracting the media like the portraits of the showbiz world – this is the common portrait of the Vietnamese millionaires.

Despite the economic recession, securities companies still could earn big money in the first six months of 2012, thanks to the upward trend of the market and the stable income from brokerage fees.

 Those who are visiting Quy Nhon City in the central province of Binh Dinh must make plans to come to the nearby Eo Gio for a number of reasons.

 VietNamNet Bridge – More than 1,000 milky flowers trees in the coastal city of Nha Trang will be chopped down in September, to be replaced by flamboyant, a local official said.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment is calling for the issuance of land use rights and home ownership certificates to be sped up nationwide and the process of granting certificates to be completed by next year.

Raw meat sold in 8 hrs rule comes under scrutiny; Less capital means more Chinese-sourced power; Dung Quat suspension causes huge fuel shortage; HCM City to build export support centre