BUSINESS IN BRIEF 23/1

Hanoi begins building two flyovers; Trade deficit drops in early 2012; PM urges accelerating enterprise restructuring; Hanoi’s CPI rises only 0.96 percent in January; VN Airlines' Jetstar bid okayed; Motorbike sales steady for holiday  

Xong dat or first-footing during the Dragon Year

Among the many taboos and rituals connected with the Lunar New Year in Vietnam is xong dat, or “first-footing” as the Scots call it.

Young football players compete for Aspire Academy

Young Vietnamese footballers Nguyen Minh Hung and Nguyen Phong Hung Duy arrived in Qatar on January 20 to join the final competition for a place at the Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence. 

Fishermen to celebrate Tet at sea

Many fishermen will be unable to celebrate Lunar New Year next week on land with their families because the new fishing season has just started.

Truong Sa Island, main theme of Spring Flower Festival 2012

Central city, town seek to entertain visitors with Tet galas; Canadian expat publishes 2nd book in Vietnamese; 'Vietnamese We' wows Paris; Truong Sa Island, main theme of Spring Flower Festival 2012      

Gingrich wins U.S. Republicans' South Carolina primary

U.S. Republican presidential candidate and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich on Saturday won a sounding victory in his party's South Carolina primary, bagging about 40 percent of the vote.

SOCIETY IN BRIEF 22/1

Workers’ income up 19.6 percent in 2011; No avian flu reported in Hanoi since VAHIP; Nearly 45,000 accidents in 2011; Vietnamese crewman discharged from hospital; Overseas Vietnamese contemplate about Tet    

Artists celebrate their love of Hue

Four exhibitions by young and veteran artists of Hue are attracting many visitors in the run-up to the Lunar New Year or Tet holiday, which will begin tomorrow.

Mekong Delta farmers revel in a bountiful Tet

Farmers in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta are preparing to enjoy a happy Tet (Lunar New Year), riding on bumper harvests and good farm produce prices.

Somalia pirates chop off arm: Vietnam hostage

At least two Vietnamese fishermen have called home to seek help as they and others are being held captive by Somalia pirates who demand US$3 million in ransom. The pirates have chopped off one arm of the captain.

First foreign visitors in the lunar New Year

The travel company Vitours will welcome 32 Australian visitors on a two-week trans-Vietnam tour and the Vietravel company will welcome nearly 50 Chinese and Japanese tourists during the first days of Lunar New Year.

Chess GM to compete in Gibraltar

Top Vietnamese chess Grandmaster Le Quang Liem will participate in the 2012 Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival from January 24-February 2. 

Lunar New Year’s Eve Feast

A banquet offered on Lunar New Year’s Eve is of paramount importance in the Vietnamese people’s spiritual life because it is not only for the ancestors but provides an opportunity for family reunion.

Swedish woman deeply attached to Vietnam

What has always encouraged a Swedish woman to learn about Vietnam is how could such a small country defeat a powerful nation.

GOVERNMENT NEWS IN BRIEF

President pays Tet visits to localities; Prime Minister visits public security forces; Vietnam, Italy exempt diplomatic visas; Vietnam protests China over fishing ban on East Sea; Vietnam, Bhutan establish diplomatic ties

Many M&A deals ‘impressive' in 2011

The global financial crisis has put pressures on the Vietnamese economy with problems of inflation and interest rates and many small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as well as larger firms have met financial and human resource difficulties.

Companies labour to fill growing worker gaps

Many manufacturers in Vietnam are scratching their heads over worker  shortages.

Song Ray Waterfall challenges rock scrambling lovers

Song Ray, a spectacular waterfall in Son Duc Commune, Son Binh District, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, is a must-see destination for visitors to the area, especially those loving to conquer slippery rocks.

Seniors strut their stuff to get in shape

VietNamNet Bridge – The elderly are getting a new lease on life thanks to the health benefits of bopping to the beat of disco music.

New norms defined for public parking

VietNamNet Bridge – Ha Noi authorities have defined a series of norms to follow for the re-arrangement of the public parking system to ensure it is suitable with the city's socio-economic development and facilitates traffic order.

Local garment makers conquer market

Many local fashion brands have taken back market share in the low and medium-cost segments that have formerly been dominated by Chinese-made products.

2012 Crafoord prizes in mathematics, astronomy announced in Stockholm

Sweden's 2012 Crafoord prizes in mathematics and astronomy, each category worth 4 million Swedish krona (580,000 U.S. dollars), were announced by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences on Thursday.

Death toll of Italy's cruise liner wreck rises to 12

The death toll of the Italian cruise liner wreck rose to 12 on Saturday after the body of a woman was found in the ship that ran aground off the country's western coast a week ago, local media said.

Vietnam’s martial arts gain popularity in France

Martial arts, promoted by 51-year-old instructor Dang Van Sung, have gained ground in France where a lot of people like to get fit.

The fishing village that vows to protect the sea

Cuong, Chim, Phuong, Phi and many other residents of Van Hung Commune of Khanh Hoa province have been trying to protect coral reefs – the “lung of the sea”, because, as Cuong said, they want to reserve the sea for the next generations.