Businesses feel uneasy after the National Assembly agreed to increase the maternity leave period from four months to six months, because this may cause problems to the labor force and affect the productivity.

VietNamNet Bridge – The toll that trucks of over 18 tons and container trucks of over 40 feet (group 5), have to pay for running on HCM City’s Trung Luong expressway will be cut by 25-30 percent. The current toll is VND320,000 ($16).

Despite the great efforts by airlines and travel firms to stimulate the demand, the number of travelers who have booked tours so far remains modest.

A majority of National Assembly (NA) deputies on Wednesday agreed to the Law on Trade Unions, which requires enterprises to set aside 2% from their wage funds to pay social insurance for workers.

The Czech Republic failed to turn back the clock and repeat their 1996 glory on Thursday night when Cristiano Ronaldo headed Portugal to a convincing 1-0 quarterfinal victory at the European Championship.

The 2011 awards for Information Technology (IT) Applications in State Agencies were granted to ten of the 57 registered units yesterday at a ceremony in Hanoi held by the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC).

An overloaded truck carrying 30 tons of broken rice collapsed the Bailley Bridge in Tan Thanh hamlet of Tan Bien District in Tay Ninh Province on June 20 as it was crossing over it.

A former female student aged 23, Tran Ha Duy, who has been charged with drug trafficking, had her life sentence increased to the death penalty at an appeal hearing in Ho Chi Minh City on June 20.

Vang Pheo Hamlet located in Muong So Commune, Phong Tho District, Lai Chau Province is the home of the White Thai ethnic group.

Europe's leading airline Air France-KLM announced on Thursday its plan to lay off 5,122 employees out of 49,301 staff of Air France by 2013, but not in a compulsory way.

VietNamNet Bridge – The National Assembly concluded its month-long third session yesterday, June 21, after lawmakers discussed and passed 13 laws and a number of resolutions.

The bank loan interest rate reductions have made automobile manufacturers, who have been in distress because of slow sales, become as happy as a sandboy.

Though science and technology development is considered the priority national policy, the budget allocating to science research works is even lower than the estimates for sports, culture and other fields.

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam’s Law of the Sea was adopted by 495 out of 496 National Assembly (NA) deputies on June 21, accounting for 99.8 percent of the vote.

Carlo Rubbia, who shared the 1984 Nobel Prize in physics, says global warming is a much bigger problem than most people realize.

VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Health is studying a hospital transfer regulation to reduce the number of patients seeking primary health care services in major city hospitals, severely overloading them.

More efforts are required to boost Viet Nam's hotel industry following signs of a slowdown in the high-end market, Grant Thornton has warned.

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam has delisted from the most 30 attractive retail markets in the world in the latest report released by A.T Kearney. However, it remains the market with great potentials in the eyes of retailers.

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter ( LRO) spacecraft has returned data that indicate ice may make up as much as 22 percent of the surface material in a crater located on the moon's south pole, the U.S. space agency NASA announced Wednesday.

By 2013, the General Environment Directorate plans to announce the criteria for eco-labeling (green labeling) laptops, laser printers friendly to the environment.

The high percentage of students passing the high school final exams announced by the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) has raised the doubts about the necessity of the exams.

VietNamNet Bridge – The northern port city of Hai Phong will be the center where key activities of the national tourism years 2013 in the Red Rive Delta are held.

VAMA wants car registration fees cut to 10% over poor sales; Phong Phu to issue VND110 billion shares; Vietnam among top 29 fastest growing economies; Southern region seen facing power shortfall in 2013-15

VietNamNet Bridge – A mine exploded at Hoang Tin gold store on Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Hanoi this morning, June 21, injuring over ten people.

VietNamNet Bridge – Confounding and downright bizarre street names, many of them new and located in resident areas, are adding to the chaos of streets in HCM City, making it difficult for residents and others to find addresses.