SOCIETY IN BRIEF 6/1

High blood pressure sufferers go untreated; Second child dies of skin disease from unknown cause; President urges trade unions to protect workers

Vietnam’s economy in 2011: the impressive figures

The Vietnam Economic Forum VEF of VietNamNet reviews the 10 most impressive figures associated with the most important events that had big impacts on the national economy in 2011.

TRAVEL IN BRIEF 6/1

Cruise ship tourists arrive in Hue; Carrier offers cheap fare; Kien Giang park attracts anglers; Hue monuments free for Tet; More Viet kieu to return home

Vietnamese water puppetry staged in France

VietNamNet Bridge – Thousands of French people had a chance to enjoy the unique Vietnamese water puppetry when the Viet Nam Water Puppetry Theatre (VNWPT) toured France recently.

Federation to impose limit on foreign players

VietNamNet Bridge – The Viet Nam Football Federation (VFF) will limit the number of foreign players in the national football league from 2013 to help boost opportunities for local football talent,

GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 6/1

 NA Chairman visits hydropower plant; Vietnam, Singapore boost all-round cooperation; President praises army cadets; Meeting marks 40th anniversary of Vietnam-India ties

Tyra Banks wants to wear Vietnamese ao dai

World supermodel Tyra Banks said she wants to appear at the final stage of Vietnam’s Next Top Model in an Ao Dai (Vietnamese traditional long dress). 

Support fund for injured athletes launched

VietNamNet Bridge – Fifty Vietnamese athletes who have suffered from injuries received financial support of VND900 million (US$45,000) from the Fund for Vietnamese Athletes, which was launched yesterday, Jan 5.

Effort needed to fight corruption

VietNamNet Bridge – The HCM City Party Committee and municipal administration need to enhance their leadership role in fighting corruption, a top official said on Wednesday.

Gold settles higher for fourth day

Gold futures on the COMEX Division of the New York Mercantile Exchange further hiked on Thursday, extending the metal's rally into the fourth trading day, as a weaker euro spurred buying of gold.

The hi-tech products which expect to be “hottest” in Vietnam in 2012

Ultrabook laptop, quad core chip tablet PC, the PCs using Windows 8 operation system, smart phones using Android 4.0 operation system are believed to be the most wanted hi-tech products in Vietnam in 2012.

Calligrapher to break record

VietNamNet Bridge – A unique poetry book made by calligrapher Tran Quoc An is expected to be recognised by the Guinness Book of Viet Nam.

Two powerful ministries’ undercurrent debate not terminated

The year 2011 has ended, but the fierce debate between the two powerful Ministries of Industry and Trade, and Finance has not finished yet. Every ministry still insists on its viewpoint on the petroleum pricing.

Recruitment demand in HCM City stable for now

VietNamNet Bridge – Recruitment demand among companies and enterprises in HCM City is not likely to increase in the first two months of this year compared to the same period last year,

Six cops shot in forced removal case in Hai Phong

A man and his family members in Hai Phong City, who acted against a forced removal decision yesterday, shot and injured six police officers who were executing the decision to withdraw 40 hectares of land from the family for an airport project.

HCM City sets up tourism police force

VietNamNet Bridge – HCM City will appoint Tourism Police to look after the security of travellers in the region, according to the HCM City People's Committee on Wednesday.

Travel firms to face higher deposit

Travel agencies providing international tourism services this year may have to pay a deposit twice the current VND250 million, according to a draft decree to be enacted by the Government soon.

Prosecutors demanding Egyptian ex-President death penalty

The Cairo Criminal Court continued the trial of former President Hosni Mubarak and ten others on Thursday, with prosecutors demanding Mubarak being sentenced with death penalty for killing of protestors.

Miss Jewelry denies getting her crown by cash

VietNamNet Bridge – Thanh Truc, Miss Jewelry 2011, stated to sue anyone who says that she paid tens of thousands of USD to buy the crown without showing any proof.

Hau Giang: Teachers asked to raise fund for Tet fireworks

VietNamNet Bridge – Teachers in Chau Thanh A district in the southern province of Hau Giang are “shocked” because the local education and training department asked them to contribute one day of salary for the year-end firework show.

Personal information of millions of Vietnamese offered for sale

VietNamNet Bridge – The Communication Security Agency is working on the first-ever case in Vietnam, in which three people are accused of illegally trading personal information.

Eximbank threatens to stop funding Super League

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam Football Federation’s (VFF) Vice Chair cum Chair of Eximbank Le Hung Dung said that this bank may withdraw from the Super League if the TV right dispute is not solved.

Saigon’s sharper gang extorts millions of USD

VietNamNet Bridge – Posing themselves as businessmen, a gang of sharpers in HCM City traveled around Vietnam to seek victims who are rich men. The gang staged to extort money from victims, totaling hundreds of billion VND or millions of USD.

U.S. to strengthen military presence in Asia-Pacific despite fiscal constraints: Obama

U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday vowed to strengthen U.S. military presence in the Asia-Pacific region despite fiscal constraints.

Vietnam, Singapore hold sixth political consultation

Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh and Singaporean Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs Bilahari Kausikan co-chaired the sixth political consultation in Singapore on Thursday.