State agencies fight over tour guide card granting fees

The war between the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) and local departments of culture, sports and tourism on the card fee sharing proportion has become more violent.

FPT Software listed among top 100 service suppliers

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam’s FPT Software company has been listed among the top 100 global service suppliers, reported the Hanoi Moi newspaper.

Half of Vietnamese women unsatisfied with sex life

Up to 54% of women who participated in a recent survey on sex said they were not interested in sex while the rate is 31% for men. However, most of them said they did nothing to deal with this. Only 6% consulted doctors.

NASA completes "brain transplant" on Curiosity rover

 NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, announced Tuesday that it has completed "brain transplant" on Mars rover Curiosity.

US warns against 'divide and conquer' in East Sea

 The United States on Tuesday, August 14, warned against any attempt to "divide and conquer" in the tense East Sea, and voiced hope that Beijing and Southeast Asian nations would reach an accord this year.

Vietnamese student wins Asian-Pacific competition

 Dinh Quang Tuyen, a chemical engineering student from the Hanoi University of Technology was announced as the winner of the 2012 Asia Pacific UniSim Design Student Challenge at the Honeywell Users Group Asia-Pacific Symposium.

Many securities companies died, but none declared bankruptcy

VietNamNet Bridge – It is expected that the number of securities companies would be cut down by 2/3 after the restructuring process. However, to date, no securities company has declared the bankruptcy.

Hanoi plans mass sing-along

 VietNamNet Bridge – A record number of people will sing and dance together in the name of peace and love at My Dinh Stadium Square on October 7 for a programme called Hay Cung Hat Vang (Let's Sing Along).

Famous UK films to be screened in VN

 Vietnamese movie lovers in major cities of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Hue and Danang will have a chance to enjoy famous films during a UK film festival 2012 from Aug. 29 – Sept. 11.

SOCIETY IN BRIEF 15/8

 JICA helps Da Nang improve infrastructure; Register officers examine 1,000 boats each per year; Disadvantaged kids benefit from subsidy; Border guards nab heroin trafficker

Yongxing Island: China’s Diego Garcia in the East Sea?

 VietNamNet Bridge would like to introduce an article by Sarabjeet Singh Parmar, Research Fellow at the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi, which was published on the Eurasia Review Journal this month.

The ground war

VietNamNet would like to introduce a series of articles about the presidential election in the US, by G. Calvin Mackenzie, the Goldfarb Family Distinguished Professor of Government at Colby College  and currently a Fulbright scholar in Vietnam.

Hoang My selects evening gowns for Miss World final night

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnamese representative has prepared three evening gowns for the final night of the 2012 Miss World pageant, August 18. These gowns are designed by HCM City’s designer Le Thanh Hoai.

Chinese workers’ tenement in fire

 VietNamNet Bridge – At 10am of August 14, a fire occurred at the apartment block of 300 Chinese workers at the Hai Phong 2 Thermo-power Plant project in the northern port city of Hai Phong.

Apple's market share growth pauses as users waiting for new iPhone

 Apple's share growth in the smartphone market nearly paused in the second quarter of 2012 as consumers postponed their upgrade in anticipation of the upcoming launch of the company's new iPhone, a research firm said Tuesday.

Fine art exhibitions open in HCMC and Mekong Delta

An exhibition featuring 146 artworks of oil paintings, silk paintings and sculptures on a variety of subjects by 118 artists opened at the Fine Arts Museum in Ho Chi Minh City last week. 

Vietnam Idol ‘storm' to lash TV screens this week

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnam Idol 2012 storm will make landfall at 8pm this Friday with the airing of its first episode.

Tuan Anh rides to second stage victory in An Giang Cup

 VietNamNet Bridge – Do Tuan Anh of Domesco Pharmacy Dong Thap claimed victory in the second stage of the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta cycling tournament – An Giang Plant Protection Cup yesterday, Aug 14.

What’s behind the figures about growth, inflation rates and bad debts?

International observers highly appreciate the inflation decrease in Vietnam, but keeps cautious with their predictions about the growth prospect and repeatedly express their worries about the bank bad debts.

Vietnam Railway Corporation to lower ticket prices for September

 Train fares will temporarily go down by at least 10 per cent, said the Viet Nam Railway Corporation.

Typhoon Kai Tak to enter East Sea tonight

 VietNamNet Bridge – Tropical storm Kai Tak, which has formed off the east coast of the Philippine’s Luzon Island, will move to the northeastern area of the East Sea and may strengthen.

Wearing 7-kg lettuce dress, woman calls for animal protection

 A young woman in the Central Highlands city of Da Lat has recently attracted the attention of local residents as well as visitors to the city’s Hoa Binh area to her special dress, which is made from lettuce.

British government bids for post-Olympic tourism boost

 The British government on Tuesday said it hopes the London 2012 Olympics would give a boost to tourism to the country, particularly from China.

International triathletes prepare for summer fun on the beach

 VietNamNet Bridge – More than 100 athletes will compete in the annual 2012 GoPro Hero Da Nang Triathlon at My Khe Beach on September 29.

Minh to face tough opposition in defence of Viet Nam Open title

 VietNamNet Bridge – Badminton player Nguyen Tien Minh will defend his title at the Viet Nam Open-Yonex Sunrise Cup which starts on August 20 in HCM City.