More foreign tourists robbed in HCM City

More foreign visitors have been robbed in HCMC in recent times, sparking concerns over tourists’ safety among tour operators.

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.

Notre Dame Cathedral is a serene rendezvous

When mentioning churches, people might think about priests offering Mass, chorus singing, elderly people praying and children learning Bible lessons.

SMEs ask for loans to be rescheduled

The Viet Nam Association of Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises (VinaSME) has called on the Government to reschedule old debt to create favourable conditions for their members to access new loans to recover production and business.

When will Vietnam’s mathematics go beyond the “ivory tower?”

All the modern industries and services can only develop on the basis of mathematics, and all economies need mathematicians. Meanwhile, the number of mathematicians in Vietnam remains modest.

One-UN plan will support Vietnam’s policy reform

Pratibha Mehta has just come to Vietnam for a few weeks to assume her new position as the UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam. On this occasion, she organized a talk last week with reporters about UN’s support for Vietnam in the coming time.

New Year 2012 welcomed in Vietnam

VietNamNet Bridge – Hundreds of thousands of people flocked to Hoan Kiem Lake, where hosted the street flower and the Countdown Party to welcome the New Year 2012. In HCM City, locals also enjoyed firework shows and the Countdown Party.

Compact camera market getting narrower

Compact cameras have become less favorable in Vietnam, while they now have big redoubtable rivals – mobile phones and professional photography equipments.

Ports in Mekong Delta have abundant loading capacity

While the seaports in HCM City and Ba Ria-Vung Tau have been always overloaded, the ports in the west of the southern region can only operate at 25-50 percent of the designed capacity.

Tet spirit in flower village

VietNamNet Bridge – Many kinds of flowers are blossoming at Hanoi’s Nhat Tan village. Young people flock to the village every afternoon to take pictures with flowers.

Let out stress with Kitto

PhD. Joanna Kitto, a British psychoanalyst, has helped a large number of Vietnamese civil servants eliminate stress caused by the pressure of work with a new, simple and highly applicable psychological therapy.

The important marks in the national economy in 2011

VietNamNet Bridge - 2011 is the year of great challenges. The government has to apply drastic measures to fight the inflation, while businesses have to struggle to keep normal production and boost sales.

Rangers under scrutiny

VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) plans to check on forest rangers throughout the nation, especially in the central and Central Highland areas.

Hanoi sees sharp rise in unemployment

Up to 16,100 workers in Hanoi have registered for unemployment benefits in the first 11 months of the year, up almost 4 fold from last year.   

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 1/1

Exports hit record-high $94.8b; Electrical supply to increase by 11%; Credit card payment encouraged; Vinamilk turnover hits US$1 billion; Malaysia’s largest housing group pours investment into Vietnam; Dutch builder plans six shopping malls  

Extra freight trains to ease truck traffic to Hai Phong

The Ministry of Transport has given the nod to a project by Viet Nam Railways to boost the carrying capacity of freight trains travelling to and from Hai Phong Port.

VFA announces floor rice prices, determining to restore order on market

The Vietnam Food Association VFA has announced the new floor rice export prices, the move which is believed to help stop some rice exporters who break the commitments and export at low prices.

Tourism sector targets staff training

Staff training in the tourism sector is a long-term key task of the Viet Nam Tourism Association, according to this organisation.

Bonus figures catch eyes

The top New Year bonus of $33,000 held by a foreign-invested enterprise (FIE), down 2.08% against last year’s figure. Meanwhile, the average and lowest levels at FIEs were set at $185 and $29, respectively.

Call to end bedlam at traditional festivals

VietNamNet Bridge – Traditional festivals will be organised more carefully to improve safety and orderliness, participants at a recent workshop on the management of public celebrations heard.

Korean movie stars do charity in Vietnam

VietNamNet Bridge – Coming to Vietnam to advertise their TV series entitled “My Princess,” Song Seung Hun and Kim Tae Hee will sell costumes and items that they used in the film to raise fund for needy children.

Getting adapted to climate changes: both the state and people take actions

State management agencies, local authorities and people all have geared up to get adapted to the climate changes. However, they need to take long term strategies instead of following temporary measures.

Fewer than 50 tigers still left in the wild

VietNamNet Bridge – The number of wild tigers in Viet Nam has shrunk from 100 a decade ago to fewer than 50, said Le Xuan Canh, director of the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources.

Vietnamese urban children get “westernized”

Educators have expressed their worries about the so called “westernization tendency” of Vietnamese children in urban areas, which may lead them to forget about their original point.

"Bambi," "Forrest Gump" among films to be preserved in U.S. film registry

The 1942 Walt Disney's timeless classic "Bambi" and the 1994 hit "Forrest Gump" are among 25 films named to be preserved as cultural, artistic and historical treasures in the U.S. National Film Registry,