Vietnam has overtaken Brazil to become the largest coffee exporter in the world, according to the International Coffee Organisation (ICO).

VietNamNet Bridge – Well-known pianist Nguyen Bich Tra, who is working in the UK, will have a talk with music fans in HCM City on August 18. 

 VietNamNet Bridge – A cooperation programme between aviation companies and tour operators to stimulate domestic tourism has yet to pay off as the number of holiday-makers did not increase as much as expected.

 Nguyen Thi Thanh Phuc set a new record for Vietnam in the women’s 20km walk at the London 2012 Olympics on August 12, even though she did not end up with a medal.

The application for leaving school written by a 10th grader has become the hot topic on education forums. It is believed to truly reflect the current situation of the Vietnamese education.

On August 10, the Bac Kan-based Hoa Tu Long Industry Company officially put the medical waste incinerator (YT30) into operation. This is the first high-tech incinerator made in Vietnam.

“Hundreds of streets and tens of thousands of peddlers” are the words used to describe the trade activities in the capital city. Here the pavements prove to be the most bustling markets than any other supermarkets.

After introducing draft regulations on measures to control traffic jams in big cities, which were said to be unfeasible, the Ministry of Transport has introduced another draft project.

With the current gold management policy, the domestic gold prices prove to be unpredictable. Removing the quota scheme, allowing gold trade on account is the solution proposed by experts.

 VietNamNet Bridge – When people lay their hands on the table, within three minutes, the table begin cracking and turning in a counter-clockwise direction.

Quotas set for salt, sugar, eggs; Delta advised to invest in hi-tech, human resources; ‘Get moving on transport' Deputy PM says; Plan to lift industrial production, quality

Information technology firms complain that the 10 percent value added tax (VAT) imposed on the digital service exports has put big difficulties for their operation.

 VietNamNet Bridge – In this part, Prof. Carl Thayer explained the impacts of internal political factors of the countries that claim sovereignty on the tension in the East Sea.

 The death toll of Saturday's strong twin quakes in northwest Iran has risen to some 300, the semi- official Fars news agency cited an official as saying on Sunday.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Returning to Vietnam to “seek failure” at the advice of his Japanese teacher six years ago, architect Vo Trong Nghia faced great difficulties at the beginning--to harvest stunning successes later.

 VietNamNet Bridge – “In HCM City, I always see men gather in groups in coffee shops, restaurants or pavement beer shops to drink before or after the office hours. Vietnamese men are too lazy,” commented Alex, an Australian.

 International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge declared the 30th Olympic Games close on Sunday night.

 VietNamNet Bridge – An amateur cast will perform contemporary hit songs in a Broadway musical-inspired revue in Ha Noi tonight entited L'Avenue.

According to many critics the Vietnamese film industry lacks real talent because of too much focus on the physical attributes and celebrity of actors and even singers.

Only some 61 foreigners have received their value-added tax (VAT) refunds at Ho Chi Minh City’s Tan Son Nhat Airport as of August 6, 2012, said the airport customs agency.

More and more abandoned businesses have been found in big cities or key industrial production centers of the country. Meanwhile, state management agencies cannot eliminate the businesses and revoke investment licenses.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Many motorbikes that were manufactured in the 70s and look like scrap iron are still in circulation in Hanoi.

Albeit reporting impressive 26.6 per cent revenue and 22.9 per cent profit hike in 2011’s financial year, FPT just posted VND1.465 trillion ($546 million) revenue in the first six months of 2012.

Despite many people tightening their belts in the currently tough economic climate, Vietnam’s rich are still splashing out on luxury food. 

Viet Nam should clarify which products the support industry should focus on developing.