Hue’s Xa Tac ancient worshiping ceremony

VietNamNet Bridge – At 11pm of March 8, the Xa Tac worshiping ceremony was organized in the ancient capital city of Hue, Thua Thien-Hue province, to pray for good weather, peace and prosperity for Vietnam.

Fishing boats catch dozens of sharks

VietNamNet Bridge – Shark hunting boats in the central province of Quang Ngai have caught tens of sharks in recent days, earning hundreds of thousands of US dollars.

Vietnam to sell 49 percent of Dung Quat oil refinery

State-run Petrovietnam oil and gas group (PVN) plans to sell a 49 percent stake in its Dung Quat oil refinery to three foreign partners.

Artist creates images with cock feathers

VietNamNet Bridge – In a crowded quarter of Hoi An market, Dinh Thong has taken the concept of art to a new level by sticking cock feathers into portraits, landscapes and abstracts.

ART & ENTERTAINMENT IN BRIEF 12/3

Toyota art contest attracts kids; Local movie to be released in France; Nail job inspired film to be screened in Vietnam; Semi-finalists go for Vietnamese songs in Got Talent; Hanoi restaurant goes high-brow with opera    

Three Vietnamese people burnt to death in Malaysia

The firefighting forces found bodies of a Vietnamese woman and her two children at a fire in Seri Kembangan, Salangor, Malaysia, the Malaysian newspaper Bernama reported on March 3.

Rally ends on back of fresh inflation fears

The stock market entered a downward correction last week that ended a two-month winning streak, as the Ministry of Finance announced a 10-per-cent increase in petrol prices on Wednesday that sparked new fears about inflation.

Tourism market shows positive signs

Vietnam welcomed about 681,850 foreign visitors in February, up 8.2 per cent compared to January, bringing the total number of international tourists in the first two months to more than 1.31 million, a year-on-year increase of 27.1 per cent.

40 countries attend FAO conference in Hanoi

Ministers, high-ranking officials and representatives from civil society organizations from 40 countries and territories gathered in Hanoi on March 12 for the 31st UN Food and Agriculture Organization regional conference for Asia and the Pacific.

Capital contribution model for farmers fails completely

Most of the farmers do not want to make capital contributions by agricultural land as suggested, because they fear that they would lose the land forever.

Obama calls Afghan president over killing of civilians

U.S. President Barack Obama on Sunday called Afghan President Hamid Karzai to express his "shock and sadness" at the reported killing and wounding of Afghan civilians.

Viet Nam embassy takes part in Canada tourism expo

VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnamese embassy in Canada and Ha Noi-based Ky Nguyen Tourism and Trading Company are participating in the 18th Canada Tourism Expo, which opened at the Ottawa Conference Centre on Saturday.

Experts urge ‘green' investments

VietNamNet Bridge – Enterprises' reluctance to invest in green technology and poor enforcement of environmental laws are hampering Viet Nam's sustainable development, experts said.

Sarkozy defends policies as election nears

French incumbent president Nicolas Sarkozy on Sunday defended his economic and social policies over the past five years in yet another fresh attempt to overturn weak poll scores.

Water puppeteers to perform in Cuba this month

VietNamNet Bridge – The Thang Long Water Puppetry troupe will perform at the Havana puppet festival from March 23-25, at the invitation of the Cuban Ministry of Culture.

Robotics competition inspires Canadian students

2012 will be a strong year for the robotic sector, the Robotic Industries Association says.

Vietnamese singer wins two prizes at ASEAN singing festival

VietNamNet Bridge – Singer Duc Tuan won the “Outstanding Performer” and “The Most Favourite” prizes at the ASEAN Golden Voice Festival, which closed in HCM City on March 9.

Hoang Thuy in top 15 of Model of the World (photo)

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam’s representative Hoang Thuy entered the top 15 of the Top Model of the World 2012. She also took the Best Catwalk title in the final night on March 10 in Dortmund, Germany.

Cubans join Terry Fox marathon to champion anti-cancer career

Thousands of runners Saturday participated in the annual Terry Fox marathon throughout Cuba to commemorate the death of the Canadian young man and raise money for cancer research.

In pictures: 14-year-old Aikido instructor

VietNamNet Bridge – Schoolgirl Tran Minh Anh began practicing Aikido at the age of 10. After four years, she is now an assistant for Aikido instructors at the Hanoi Aikido Club.

Petrol price increase depresses businesses

The recent petrol price increase, which would trigger a new price hike wave, has dazed businessmen, who have been seriously ill already from a lot of difficulties.

SOCIETY IN BRIEF 12/3

Australia promotes rights of homosexuals; Netherlands funds city’s waste water treatment; 4 arrested for appropriating bank loans; Kien Giang islanders run out of clean water

Taekwondo youth champs set to kick off in March

VietNamNet Bridge – A national taekwondo tournament for young martial artists will take place from March 17-21 in the central province of Quang Nam.

Doubts raised about water-run power generator

The information about the invention of a water-run power generator has stirred up the public. However, Vietnamese scientists are regarding Dr Nguyen Chanh Khe, the inventor, with suspicion.

GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 12/3

National Women's Congress set to open in capital today; Party Commission delegates pay visit to the Philippines; Vietnam, Cambodia share ASEAN experiences