A Vietnamese delegation led by Politburo member Le Hong Anh paid tribute to Kim Jong-il, top leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) at the DPRK Embassy in Hanoi on Dec. 20.

VietNamNet Bridge – The fact that the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam BIDV announced the interest rate reductions for some subjects of lenders, has sparked a hope that the market interest rates begin decreasing.

Aiming to cut down the number of gridlocks of over 30 minutes long by ten percent in 2012, HCM City will experimentally restrict the circulation of personal vehicles and spend over VND450 billion ($25 million) to restore traffic order.

Yamaha Christmas Concert to perform in Hanoi; Vietnamese, Chinese youths join friendship exchanges; Human fate portrayed by Nguyen Lieu’s conical hats; Tet Flower Street features beauty of villages, islands

VinaPhone and Viettel have launched iPhone 4S products into the market which have the prices lower than the current market prices by several million dongs. However, the market is still expensive.

Fuel wholesalers would all be profitable if they had followed regulations and stuck to offering a commission of only VND600 per litre to dealers, said Deputy Minister of Finance (MoF) Vu Thi Mai.

“What Thompson, Andreotta and I did that day is not heroic or brave. It is a normal thing. We only tried to save women, children and innocent villagers,” said Lawrence M. Colburn, the only living member in pilot Hugh Thompson’s team.

The northern mountainous area of Ha Giang has become an attractive tourist destination for its natural beauty and a wide variety of unique foods.

Many students fail to find appropriate jobs after graduating, though they have “red degree”. Some of them decide to take the university entrance exam once again; the others try to learn a trade in order to get temporary jobs.

VietNamNet Bridge – Seafood exporters have been suffering heavily due to the unstable materials supply.

VietNamNet Bridge – HCM City authorities should closely monitor sales of food and food additives and food processing to ensure safety and hygiene during the upcoming festive season, the Minister of Health has said.

VietNamNet Bridge – Three naval ships on December 15, left Cam Ranh military port in the central province of Khanh Hoa to carry hundreds of tons of goods and New Year gifts to soldiers and people on Spratly Islands.

VietNamNet Bridge – The authorities of the central province of Quang Ngai has uncovered a local resident who keeps a rare white-chested bear at home.

Viet Nam will have just 692 State-owned enterprises in four years' time, down from more than 2,000 now, since steps are being taken to speed up their equitisation, a senior official has said.

VietNamNet Bridge – Police and Vehicle Registration Agency are arguing on who is responsible for investigating recent fires of vehicles on street.

VietNamNet Bridge – Singers, actors, models and beauty queens throughout the country will take photos for a charity photo book to raise funds for purchasing Tet gifts for 100 needy families in northern Vietnam.

VietNamNet Bridge – Highly-regarded composer Duc Tri will join hands with senior artists to organize the “Year-end Concert” at the HCM City Theatre to welcome the New Year.

VietNamNet Bridge – On Monday authorities in the central province of Quang Ngai confiscated a black Asian bear kept illegally from Pham Xuan Thanh, from Son Bua Commune, Son Tay District,

VietNamNet Bridge – An exhibition displaying hundreds of documents, objects and photos of late President Ho Chi Minh with the Vietnamese people's armed forces opened on Friday at the Ho Chi Minh Museum in HCM City.

The Viet Nam insurance market is expected to continue its 2011 growth rate, with an estimated 19-21 per cent year-on-year increase in 2012, according to an industry official.

Drain work to halt during New Year; 3 dead, 6 missing in coal ship sinking; US provides eye care for 8,800 in Kon Tum; Vietnam to lead Asia in transport infrastructure growth

VietNamNet Bridge – Weather forecasting must improve in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta so the region can better cope with floods and high tides, experts have said.

The HCM City Department of Information and Communications has cut off connections for 35,000 prepaid mobile phone subscribers in the city because the service providers failed to collect the needed personal information

The payroll tax cuts and jobless benefits break for the Americans should be extended for one year, not for a short-term two months, U.S. House Speaker John Boehner said on Monday.

VietNamNet Bridge – The demand for temporary workers for the coming Tet (Lunar New Year) festival in HCM City has picked up over the last fortnight, giving students an opportunity to earn some money and gain valuable experience.