The year's outstanding football events

VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam News takes a look at what got the domestic footballing world talking in 2011

S. Korea's Lee says window of opportunity open in inter-Korean relations

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said Monday that the country leaves a "window of opportunity" open for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) as the situation on the Korean peninsula enters a "new turning point"

MOET announced 12 most outstanding events of 2011

VietNamNet Bridge – The 12 outstanding events in 2011 cited by the Ministry of Education and Training shows that educators have been making every effort to improve the education quality from pre-school to higher education.

Environment protection law puts packaging manufacturers on tenterhooks

The Law on Environment Protection has officially taken effect since January 1, 2012, but state management agencies remain puzzled in promulgating the legal documents to guide the implementation of the law.

The list of 100 richest stock millionaires made public

The first and the second positions in the list of 100 richest stock millionaires, as anticipated, belong to Pham Nhat Vuong and Doan Nguyen Duc.

EVN Telecom in clutter while waiting to be handed over to Viettel

EVN Telecom’s clients say they have not been served well these days, since EVN Telecom prepares to be transferred to Viettel and it needs to get adapted to the “new life.”

Gold price gap stimulates illegal imports

Gold smuggling has been increasing since the domestic prices are much higher than the world’s prices.

Search for lost ship continues

The Vietnam Maritime Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) has asked Vinalines Shipping to hire ships from the Philippines to search for the missing Vinalines Queen.

Changes that begin on January 1, 2012

VietNamNet Bridge – The first merged bank began operational, tax rates on hundreds of products are adjusted, automobile registration fees rise in Hanoi, HCM City and six laws take effect are among changes that started as of January 1.

Competitive edge needs sharpening

Vietnam’s industrial competitiveness is improved but the country is still too reliant on labour intensive sectors.

Obama signs bill on banking sanctions against Iran

U.S. President Barack Obama signed on Saturday a wide-ranging defense funding bill in Honolulu, Hawaii, calling for new sanctions against financial institutions doing business with Iran's state banking institutions.

Gymnast Thanh voted best athlete of the year

With 1,425 points, the Haiphong born gymnast Phan Thi Ha Thanh was awarded the “best athlete of the year” by the vote of nearly 200 domestic sport reporters and experts.

Everything old is new again

A one-year pilot project to revamp Ta Hien Street in Ha Noi's Old Quarter has been completed.

Southern region starts looking for hi-tech, green solutions

ndustrial parks and export processing zones in the southern region, are turning their attention to attracting hi-tech and supporting industry projects that are environmentally friendly.

Vietnam welcomes first foreign visitors of 2012

VietNamNet Bridge – On the first day of 2012, many foreign visitors arrived in Vietnam by air and sea.

Stock market in the spotlight

The Vietnamese stock market marked its 11th anniversary this year with both good and bad news.

Disabled teacher has the “sound heart”

People who live near the mountainous commune of Canh Hien in Binh Dinh Province are not surprised when they see a skinny man walking on his wooden crutches on the uneven country-road.

English couple and their passion for Vietnamese caves

An English couple has joined 14 expeditions to Vietnamese caves over the past 20 years and contributed to UNESCO’s recognition of Phong Nha-Ke Bang as a World Natural Heritage Site.

FDI spending equals 2010 despite problems

The disbursement of foreign direct investment (FDI) this year reached last year's figures of US$11 billion despite challenges caused by tough economic conditions, the Foreign Investment Agency (FIA) reported yesterday.

Lovesick man kneels for hours to prove love

A young man was spotted resting on his knees for five hours in front of a mattress shop in Nha Trang city’s To Vinh Dien street last Saturday, piquing the curiosity of people in the neighborhood.

TV program raises record $314.3 mln for poor

A total of US$314.3 million was donated by localities, organizations and individuals for the poor at a live TV program held by the Vietnam Fatherland Front and Vietnam Television in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City on the eve of the year 2012.

Tuoi Tre's journalist Hoang Khuong arrested

Police in Ho Chi Minh City Monday noon arrested Tuoi Tre newspaper’s journalist Hoang Khuong on charges he indirectly gave bribes to a police officer. Mr. Khuong is a prize-winning journalist famous for exposé articles into police corruption.

Memorial symbolises Vietnam-Cambodia ties

A historical site of the Cambodian resistance movement foundation, where Prime Minister Hun Sen formed and headed the then Unit 125, was inaugurated in the southern province of Dong Nai on January 2.

Motorbike market in 2011: “unhappy ending” come after many years of hope

VietNamNet Bridge – Motorbike manufacturers rush to expand the production because they could imagine before that the demand would be so weak. The prices have been decreasing dramatically, but consumers still keep indifferent.

The good of modern time

VietNamNet Bridge – A 14-year-old boy who self sacrificed himself to rescue his friends, a pregnant railway worker who rescued a baby, a rubbish collector who gave back $2,000… are good examples reported on the local media in 2011.