Downpours wreak havoc across China

Rainstorms since the weekend have ravaged many parts of China, including the capital city of Beijing where the heaviest rain in 60 years caused 37 deaths.

Six-point principles affirms ASEAN's central role in regional issues

Following Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa’s shuttle diplomatic efforts, particularly his direct consultation with the foreign ministers of Vietnam, the Philippines and Cambodia last week,

HCM City: parents running a race to enroll children in general schools

Lacking schools has always been the biggest headache for the leaders in HCM City, the city with a high number of immigrant workers.

Humans and gayals battle to scramble for land to live

The absurdity that wild bulls live together with people in the afforestation yard would not have happened, if competent agencies had thoroughly considered pluses and minuses in the economic development and the wildlife conservation.

Australia's Thiess wins 2.3 bln AUD mining contract

Top Australian contractor Leighton Holding's mining services arm Thiess announced Monday it had been awarded a contract worth 2.3 billion AU dollars for extending mining operations at Jellinbah Group's Lake Vermont coal mine

The “telecom cake” no longer sweet for investors

The telecom market was once considered a very lucrative market for investors. However, since the market has become saturated, it is no longer fertile soil for them.

Making footwear materials domestically remains a thorny problem

VietNamNet Bridge – Making materials domestically instead of importing materials for domestic footwear production has always been a hot topic on economic forums.

HCM City’s $2 billion metro in the future

VietNamNet Bridge - Construction of HCM City’s Metro Line 1, the first in the country, will begin on August 28.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 24/7

Facebook booms in Viet Nam; Franchising falls by a third; Foreign ports suspend fewer local ships; Exporters learn to avoid dumping actions; Construction material sector on verge of bankruptcy; Unemployment is looming large

A Cat Ba rare monkey reported “missing”

VietNamNet Bridge – The manager of a project to preserve Cat Ba langur on Cat Ba Island, in Hai Phong city, has reported the missing of a langur.

Water-skiing on Saigon River

Although costly, water-skiing on Saigon River has become a favourite pastime among a number of young people in HCM City.

Typhoon Vicente to land Quang Ninh, Hai Phong tomorrow

VietNamNet Bridge – Vicente, the fourth storm in the East Sea this year, is heading to the northern coast of Vietnam very quickly. It is forecast to enter Quang Ninh and Haiphong on the afternoon of July 24.

Free hugs in HCM City

“We need four hugs a day to exist, eight hugs to maintain our lives and 12 hugs to grow up…” is the impressive call of the Free Hugs Vietnam, which attracted the attention of many people on main roads in center HCM City on July 21.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 23/7

Fuel prices up again after straight drops; Vietnam ranked 3rd in top non-BRIC emerging markets; SMEs’ competitiveness remains low; VN gaming industry to earn $220.9 million in 2012; US aims to be No1 investor in Vietnam

Investor mood helps lift shares

Investor psychology improved over the course of last week, helping lift trading values and volumes on both of the nation's stock exchanges.

Cement industry to form trade group

The Ministry of Construction has sought clearance to set up a clinker and cement exporters association hoping that among other benefits, it would improve co-operation within the industry and ensure there is no undercutting.

ART & ENTERTAINMENT IN BRIEF 23/7

Art exchange honours war veterans; Phan Thuan An honored for protecting national sovereignty;  Danish gymnastics troupe to tour nation; Master painter Nguyen Phan Chanh 120th birthday honoured

Urgent measures needed to protect elephants

The Prime Minister has approved an urgent action plan through 2020 to save the elephant population, which are on the brink of extinction in Vietnam.

First Vietnam-made satellite launched into orbit

The unmanned Japanese spacecraft HTV-3 left the Tanegashima Space Centre on July 21, bringing five small satellites, including Vietnam’s F-1, into orbit.

SOCIETY IN BRIEF 23/7

Driver arrested after running into restaurant; A restaurant for poor people in Hanoi; HCM City aims to improve land management; Cabby accused of fleecing foreigner 60 times

As easy as making money from websites for mobile phones

VietNamNet Bridge – No need to have deep informatics knowledge and no need to have big initial investment capital, one still can earn tens of millions of dong by providing content on the websites for mobile phones.

Flogging students with rattan switch - a new teaching method?

VietNamNet Bridge – A video clip showing a teacher in Thai Nguyen province torturing students has been forwarded among the Internet users’ community, which has stirred up the public.

Waste in Ha Long Bay

VietNamNet Bridge – Being recognized as a new world natural wonder in April 2012, the Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh province is being harmed by daily and industrial waste.

“Echo” – Memoirs of war in lacquer exhibition

VietNamNet Bridge - 21 lacquer paintings depicting old cultural features, guns and bullets, and environmental issues by Vo Xuan Huy are on display in HCM City.

Famous singers suspended from stage

VietNamNet Bridge – Two lecturers of the National Music Institute, who are also famous singers,  have been temporarily banned from the stage after they quit a special show to celebrate Vietnam-Laos friendship on July 18 in Vientiane, Laos.