Thousands of people in Nguyen Tieu Festival

VietNamNet Bridge – Thousands of people flocked to the Cultural Centre of District 5 in HCM City on the evening of February 6, to participate in the Nguyen Tieu Festival 2012. The street parade was the focus of the festival.

Quang Ninh to have $4 billion casino

VietNamNet Bridge – The northern coastal province is calling for capital for two key projects, which are worth more than $5 billion: the Van Don tourist and casino complex and Van Do international airport.

Culture and Sports Ministry to continue inspecting football broadcasting right

It has not yet been able to reveal the outcomes of the inspection of the broadcasting contract between VFF and AVG  after the deadline of 15 working days, said by the inspectorate of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Hue struggles to restore garden homes

VietNamNet Bridge – Despite local authorities' efforts for the last five years, many nha vuon or garden houses of Hue are facing the ravages of time.

Real streetscapes in India

See a real India by looking at the photos captured by photograghers on the streets of Indian cities.

New rules to govern notary fees

VietNamNet Bridge – Ministries of Finance and Justice have issued a joint circular about the collection, management and use of notarisation fees that will take effect the middle of next month.

South Korean’s Big Bang to perform in HCM City

VietNamNet Bridge – Big Bang, the well-known boyband from South Korea, is preparing for their first-ever show in HCM City on April 14.

40,000 families amid Hanoi live without water for several days

VietNamNet Bridge – The water supply company failed to make the commitment of resuming water supply for 40,000 households in Hanoi’s southwestern districts on February 7.

Teen boy with massive blood tumour

VietNamNet Bridge - As big as a giant pumpkin, non-stop bleeding, this tumour on the leg has caused Truong Phuoc Lap, age 14, unable to move for years.

Businesses expect interest rate reductions, eagerly

Thousands of Vietnamese businesses are eagerly expecting the interest rate reductions. However, they have been warned that the national economy would face bigger difficulties this year, and that banks themselves would also face big challenges.

Le Quang Liem to play chess with 20 fans

VietNamNet Bridge - Grand Master Le Quang Liem will play chess with 20 fans on February 20th. All players from the age of 10 are able to join.

U.S. stocks edge higher on Greece hope

U.S stocks edged higher on Tuesday as investors were expecting a deal for Greece to secure a new bailout.

Fuel prices rise amid easing inflation

China will raise the retail prices for gasoline and diesel by 300 yuan (47.53 U.S. dollars) per tonne starting Feb. 8, in a swift response to international trends as easing domestic inflation gives way for adjustment.

GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 8/2

 Nation to boost audit ties with Myanmar; China attaches importance to relations with Vietnam; President fetes provincial anniversary; Ha Nam urged to tap potential

Viet Nam to compete in world 3-cushion champs

VietNamNet Bridge – Duong Anh Vu and Ma Xuan Cuong will represent Viet Nam at the World Championships 3-Cushion tournament in Germany.

ART & ENTERTAINMENT IN BRIEF 8/2

Long An hosts 18th southern amateur music festival; Japanese venture fund invests in Vietnamese Nhaccuatui.com; Concert marks Vietnam-RoK diplomatic relations; Bac Ninh hosts Kinh Duong Vuong Festival; Harry Potter returns to the big screen

Spanish photographer falls in love with Vietnam

Ramón Fernández, a Spanish photographer, has expressed his love for Vietnam through nearly 40 black and white photos which are on display at an exhibition in Navia city in the Asturias Autonomous Region of Spain.

Medical costs poised to skyrocket this year

VietNamNet Bridge – The price of more than 400 medical services will rise by up to five times later this year. For instance, the cost of a hospital sick bed will rise from US$95 cents to $7.60.

Garment, footwear companies hunt for laborers after Tet

As anticipated, enterprises are seriously lacking workers after Tet, because laborers do not return after the Tet holiday. Production enterprises have been taking special measures to attract laborers.

Las Vegas Sands looks to roll the dice in VN

US tycoon Sheldon Adelson said that his Las Vegas Sands is willing to build luxurious integrated resorts (IR) in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City at a combined investment capital of US$5-6 billion.

Minister gives warning of bird flu

VietNamNet Bridge - Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat on February 6 sent an urgent telegraph to provinces and cities across the country, asking them to take drastic measures against the recurrence of bird flu.

Party chief asks for communication and education improvements

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and permanent member of the Secretariat of the Vietnamese Communist Party Le Hong Anh held a working session on February 7 with key cadres from the Central Commission for Communication and Education.

Vietnam’s retail market down from 1st to 23rd place

Vietnam’s retail market is becoming less attractive, with its global ranking downgrade to 23rd place in the 2011 Global Retail Development Index (GRDI) released by A.T. Kearney.

Tien River heavily contaminated, agency warns

The Tien River, which runs through several provinces in the Mekong Delta, has been severely contaminated, with some pollutants exceeding the limits by up to 1,000 times, seriously affecting the life and health of local people, authorities reported.

Bad debt is biggest threat for banks in 2012

The non-performing loans (NPL) and bad debt ratio have been increasing, which experts believe would badly affect the business results of banks in 2012.