The Prime Minister has asked State commercial banks to reduce interest rates on loans for farmers in the livestock and fisheries sector while also giving them more time to pay back debts.

A patient from the central province of Phu Yen recently died at the HCM City Tropical Hospital for having parasites in his head, Dr. Dinh Nguyen Huy Man, head of the hospital’s testing ward, told VietNamNet on August 21.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam's depleting forests, put to the sword by illegal logging, encroachment, mining and hydropower projects as well as bad management, have been struggling of late with yet another threat – the agriculture sector,

 HCMC association promotes Vietnam-Japan friendship; An Giang police seize smuggled cigarettes; Lawyer injured in acid attack, says cop did it; HCM City targets school zone traffic jams

 VietNamNet Bridge – Nguyen Thi Ai Tran, from the southern province of Ca Mau, is only three years old but she looks like a 60-year-old woman.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Twenty girls were selected for the 2012 Miss Vietnam finale in the qualifier round of the northern region last week.

Senior fashion designer Minh Hanh is the only one Vietnamese designer who is invited to attend the international garment and textile festival of the “Les Métamorphoses” exhibition at French museum of Bargoin from September 12 to 16.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Five Vietnamese xiangqi (Chinese chess) players are competing with rivals from 143 countries around the world at the second World Mind Sports Games in France.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Singer Ho Ngoc Ha has been invited to join the jury of the Asian-scaled “Centaur Dance Showdown” competition in Singapore.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Old motorbikes will be checked once a year to ensure they are not producing excessive levels of exhaust fumes, according to a proposal by the Viet Nam Register.

 National Song and Dance Fest opens in Dak Lak; Border areas salute Lao ties; Japanese toy exhibition attracts Hanoi viewers; Japanese toy exhibition attracts Hanoi viewers

 Everyone loves to recall pleasant memories, especially elderly people who like telling old stories about their past love, their victories, their hardship as well as their dreams for their children and grandchildren.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The central city of Da Nang will become the first city to appoint chiefs of departments based on exams.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Photographer Vu Anh Tuan’s 70 pictures featuring Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago are now exhibited at 93 Dinh Tien Hoang, Hanoi. These pictures were shot during Tuan’s April visit to the islands.

 Many young artists on the Voice of Vietnam have selected English songs to perform, showing what some musicians consider a lack of national identity among both singers and audiences.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Authorities are failing to control the quality and safety of food served by street vendors or kitchens that cook for industrial zone workers in HCM City.

  The Ministry of Finance has rejected the proposals of Vietnam Airlines and Jetstar Pacific Airlines to suspend the collection of VAT and environment taxes on jet fuel if the oil price rises to US$118 a barrel or more.

 Ancient and priceless documents belonging to the Nguyen Dynasty, dating back hundreds of years and written on ‘Do’ paper, will be on display in Hanoi from August 15 to December 31 this year.

 A painting exhibition titled ‘Mind Scenery’ featuring art works of Korean artist, Mi Jung Park, will open at the New Space Arts Foundation in Hue City on August 12.

HCM City Association on Marine Science, Technology and Economy Friday issued a declaration supporting the Vietnam’s Law of the Sea and protesting over China’s actions causing tension in the East Sea.

 The Department of Education in the northern province of Bac Giang has issued a decision to take disciplinary action against 42 staff and teachers involved in the exam cheating case two months ago at the Doi Ngo Private High School.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The V-League title is still up for grabs after the top two teams T&T Ha Noi and SHB Da Nang lost yesterday, Aug 12, in their penultimate games.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The plan to move ministries and central agencies out of Hanoi’s center was kicked off several years ago. So far, eight ministries have had new offices while 11 others are waiting for their turn.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The largest ready-to-wear fashion show of the year will be held by the Dep (Beauty) Magazine in HCM City on August 30.

VietNamNet Bridge – It’s more and more difficult to export laborers to other countries, because the importers tend to set higher requirements on Vietnamese laborers’ qualification.