Consumers turn their backs on Chinese produce

Local traders have been mislabeling Chinese  fruits and vegetables as consumers turn away from cheap, low-quality goods from China.

Domestic airlines don’t intend to allow making phone calls on flights

VinaPhone, one of the three biggest mobile network operators in Vietnam, has been providing mobile call services on some foreign airlines for one month. Meanwhile, domestic airlines still do not intend to allow to provide the service on flights. 

Society shoots daggers at people touching turtles’ heads at Van Mieu temple

Vietnamese students and examinees always try to touch the heads of the turtles at Van Mieu (the Temple of Literature) for good luck during their exams. The behavior has been facing the violent criticism from the public.

Scrambling for Chinese travelers, Vietnamese travel firms killing themselves

VietNamNet Bridge – Every year, Quang Ninh province receives 90,000 Chinese travelers who go to Vietnam by land. However, Vietnamese travel firms do not earn much money from the Chinese market due to their uncooperative attitude.

The cemetery for the rich

VietNamNet Bridge – Building at the cost of $120 million by a foreign investor, the 100ha cemetery in Truong Tho commune Hoa Thanh district of Tay Ninh province, is called the cemetery for the rich.

Singaporean real estate investors present in all market segments

Singaporean real estate investors have been present and reaping fruits in Vietnam over the last many years. Their money has been poured into all the segments of the property market.

U.S. FDA approves new medication to treat rare type of leukemia

 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Thursday approved Marqibo to treat adults with a rare type of leukemia called Philadelphia chromosome negative acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Google to pay hefty fine for violating Apple users' privacy

 Google has agreed to pay a record 22.5-million-U.S.-dollar civil penalty to settle charges that it bypassed Apple users' privacy settings to track their online activities, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced on Thursday.

Making dry longan – Hung Yen’s specialty

 VietNamNet Bridge – In late June and early July (lunar calendar), farmers in Hung Yen begin to harvest longan and prepare for processing dry longan, a famous specialty.

Tour prices seen stable in upcoming national holiday

 VietNamNet Bridge – Many travel firms in HCMC have launched tours on Vietnam’s National Day, September 2, with prices staying stable or a little bit lower than on normal days.

‘Autumn Melody 2012’ concert in HCMC

 VietNamNet Bridge – The annual ‘Autumn Melody 2012’ concert will take place at the Opera House in Ho Chi Minh City from August 17-19.

ART & ENTERTAINMENT IN BRIEF 10/8

 Biggest gong found in central highlands; Fashion industry celebrates Designers House; Stage show gives visitors history lesson; Colour-changing stalactite discovered

Muaban24 prosecuted for e-commerce fraud

 VietNamNet Bridge – Police in Ha Noi have prosecuted four top managers of Muaban24 Online Trade and Training Company for using computers, telecommunications networks and the internet and digital devices for fraudulent activity.

TRAVEL IN BRIEF 10/8

 Expo attracts firms from 30 countries; Accor opens Novotel in HCM City; Best Western inks Lao Cai hotel deal; Delta greets 12.8 million visitors

Home of Vietnam’s last king opened for tourists

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Center for Preservation of Hue Relics has opened Khai Tuong Lau (An Dinh palace), where Vietnam’s last king Bao Dai and his family lived from 1945 to 1955, for tourists.

AO victims' descendants need more support

 VietNamNet Bridge – Ho Quang Thai has never been able to stray far from his parents even though he is 18-years-old as he is paralysed. He is an ‘indirect' victim of Agent Orange/dioxin, a deadly toxin that was used by the US during the war.

Northern beauties enter Miss Vietnam finals

 VietNamNet Bridge – Twenty young women from nine cities and provinces in the northern region will compete in the finals of the Miss Vietnam Beauty Pageant 2012 from August 14- 25 in Da Nang City.

Livestock, aquaculture to get support to overcome difficulties

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

S Korea help upgrade Viet Nam-Korea IT College in Da Nang

 VietNamNet Bridge – The South Korean Government will help upgrade the Viet Nam-Korea Friendship Information Technology College in Da Nang City through an Official Development Assistance grant aid project of US$6.4 million.

American Grammy-winning DJ to perform in Vietnam

 VietNamNet Bridge – Three American DJs - Shaheed Muhammad, Shortkut and Maseo – will perform in HCM City during their Southeast Asian tour. Maseo is a member of the legendary De La Soul hiphop troupe.

British Council conference discusses employability

 VietNamNet Bridge – How is employability defined in the contemporary global context? Why should higher education address employability issues?

Third season of Vietnam's Next Top Model to air

 VietNamNet Bridge – The third season of reality show Vietnam's Next Top Model will be broadcast on Viet Nam Television's VTV3 channel at 8pm every Sunday from August 19.

U.S. space agency to begin new mission for study on Earth's radiation belts

 The American space agency NASA announced Thursday that it would send two spacecraft into the harsh environment of the earth's radiation belts from the Space Coast in the U.S. state of Florida on Aug. 23.

SOCIETY IN BRIEF 10/8

Vietnam-Cambodia youth friendship camp opens; Rising cases of license renewals due to losses; Two held for kidnapping boy for ransom; Vietnam amongst in world’s top 20 internet users

Share delisting movement helps eliminate “rubbish” stocks from market

A lot of companies have delisted shares, leaving a lot of investors stuck with the unwilling stocks. However, the movement, to some extent, is helpful to the stock market, because it helps eliminate rubbish stocks.