Five new Old Quarter tours launched

VietNamNet Bridge – Tourists will have more opportunities to explore Ha Noi's Old Quarter in a more environmentally friendly way with the launch of five new tours that use electric cars.

ART & ENTERTAINMENT IN BRIEF 12/1

Concert to welcome Tet 2012 to be held in Hanoi; Another Hollywood film dubbed into Vietnamese; 2011: successful year of Vietnam’s heritages; Mekong artists hold exhibit to celebrate Lunar New Year; Award-winning French pianist to play in Hanoi  

Central province entreats help from Health Ministry

VietNamNet Bridge – The authorities of Quang Ngai province on January 11 asked the Ministry of Health’s urgent intervention to control a strange skin disease which is quickly spreading in the province.

Music Interchange kicked off in HCM City

“Music Interchange” - a collaborative project between the Australian National University and the HCM City Conservatory of Music kicks off today, January 12, at the HCMC Conservatory’s Concert Hall .

Death toll in Rio storms reaches 18

The death toll in storm-hit Rio de Janeiro state in southeast Brazil has reached 18, local authorities said Wednesday.

Clinton denies U.S. role in assassination of Iranian nuclear staff

U.S. State Secretary Hillary Clinton on Wednesday denied that the United States was involved in the assassination of an Iranian nuclear staff and urged Iran to end its provocative behavior, including threatening to close the Straits of Hormuz.

Yan Can Cook: “I want Pho before I die”

Instead of being a juryman for the annual competition among the most famous Chinese restaurants in the US on January 8, Yan Can Cook appeared at the opening ceremony of a restaurant of his friend in HCM City.

Seafood market in 2012: high demand, short supply mean opportunities for VN

Big institutions in the world all have predicted that the seafood demand would be very high in 2012. Therefore, Vietnam’s plan to increase the seafood revenue to 6.5 billion dollars from 6 billion in 2011 is within reach.

VTC proposes to TV rights cooperation with AVG

Only one day after the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism decided to inspect the 20-year broadcast rights contract between AVG Group and the VFF, digital TV broadcaster VTC put forward a proposal of cooperation with AVG.

SOCIETY IN BRIEF 12/1

New bridge to curb train-car accidents; Police bust ring faking Tet train tickets; Vietnam Golden Heart Fund makes debut in Hanoi; Soc Trang party inspection official held for gambling

Tighter check to be kept on Tet festivals

VietNamNet Bridge – The Ha Noi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism will keep a check on public order, tidiness, hygiene and overcharging at 21 festival venues during the Lunar New Year (Tet) festival, starting on January 22.

Tanker drivers suspended for theft

VietNamNet Bridge – Three oil tanker drivers working for two Petrolimex subsidiaries in HCM City have been suspended for allegedly stealing petrol while transporting it.

Korean movie star presents scholarships to HCM City's students

VietNamNet Bridge – In shirt and jeans, Song Seung Hun presented scholarships to ten outstanding students of the Korean studies faculty of the HCM City University for Social Sciences and Humanity on January 10.

VN knuckles down on climate-change

VietNamNet Bridge – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung yesterday, Jan 11, chaired the first working session of the National Committee on Climate Change, two days after its official establishment.

Phuoc Hung fails to win a ticket to Olympics

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese gymnast Pham Phuoc Hung on January 11, finished his competition at the second qualifier round of the Olympic 2012 in London but he did not win the right to attend the Olympic.

Car users shocked with new parking fees

VietNamNet Bridge – Ten days since Hanoi raised parking fees, many car owners have groaned for paying hundred of thousands VND of fee a day.

Deputy PM welcomes more FDI

VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam welcomed the participation of foreign enterprises in the country's reform agenda, said Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai.

VN workers may return to Libya

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese workers will soon return to Libya, according to the Ministry of Labour, Invalid and Social Affairs.

Hanoi’s man is allergic to everything

VietNamNet Bridge – At the age of 33, Nguyen Phu Son in Hoang Mai district, Hanoi--has to confine himself in his bedroom both day and night because of his diabolic disease: being allergic to dirt and clothes.

The way out for Da Lat flowers: export or die

Ten years ago, five percent of the total Da Lat flowers was exported to different countries in the world. In 2011, the proportion remained the same.

Foreign player cap set to boost domestic opportunity

VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam plans to limit foreign volleyball players from competing in the country from 2013.

Minister asks ASEAN to beef-up co-operation

VietNamNet Bridge – Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh has affirmed Viet Nam's close coordination with Cambodia for the common success of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Tien Minh cruises into Malaysia Open second round

Vietnam’s top badminton player Nguyen Tien Minh on January 11 defeated Wang Zhangming from China, passing the first qualifying round of Malaysia Open 2012.

Five to eight banks to be merged in 2012

Five to eight more banks will be involved in merger in 2012 as part of the process of restructuring credit institutions, said Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) Nguyen Van Binh.

Prime Minister receives US Congressman

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received visiting member of US House of Representatives Robert Filner in Hanoi on January 11.