Southeast Asia's largest iron mine to double investment

The investor of Thach Khe iron ore mine, the biggest of its kind in Southeast Asian region, has decided to double investment in the project to ensure it is completed on schedule.

Vietnam needs over 15 million new jobs by 2020

Vietnam’s population is predicted to reach over 96.2 million in 2020, with more 63 million in working age, or 9.5 million higher than the current figure.

Michelle Williams, Madonna among early winners at Golden Globes

Michelle Williams, who starred in "My Week With Marilyn," and Madonna are the early winners at the 69th Golden Globe Awards held Sunday evening at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Los Angeles.

Sarkozy to announce candidacy for 2012 presidential election in March

French President Nicolas Sarkozy would present in March his candidacy to extend 5-year-mandate at the Elysee Palace, French Interior Minister Claude Gueant said Tuesday.

Iran arrests suspects in assassination of nuclear official

Iranian Majlis (parliament) Speaker Ali Larijani said Monday that the Islamic republic has arrested several suspects over the assassination of its nuclear official, the Arabic Language Al-Alam TV reported.

Foreign developer cries foul as dispute heats up

A raging dispute over apartment management fees at Keangnam Palace climaxed last week when the developer faced heat from Hanoi authorities for cutting its services and facilities.

Tourists seek cheaper travel options

The costs of domestic tourism rose dramatically last year, causing more Vietnamese to book tours in neighbouring countries and having an impact on inbound arrivals, according to the HCM City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Japan's core machinery orders climb 14.8 pct in November

Japan's core machinery orders rose a seasonally-adjusted 14.8 percent in November from a month earlier last year to 788.9 billion yen (10.25 billion U.S. dollars), marking the first increase in three months,

Near Tet, farmers still work in the fields in cold

VietNamNet Bridge – Farmers in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue still plough, sow seeds and transplant rice seedlings for the fifth-month crop in very cold weather. Many people have to wear raincoats or drink hot tea to keep their bodies warm.

China's economic growth decelerates to 9.2 pct in 2011

China's economy expanded by 9.2 percent in 2011 from a year earlier and 8.9 percent year-on-year in the fourth quarter, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Tuesday.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 18/1

S&P revises Vietcombank’s outlook to stable; Firms issue shares under face value; Vietnam raises 1.88 trillion dong in its first auction in 2012; Local products target overseas supermarkets; Firms struggle to pay workers Tet bonuses      

The first Tet holiday without huge tumors of three patients

VietNamNet Bridge – One who used to carry a nearly 90kg tumor, one whose face was covered by a tumor and one with thousands of tumors on her body are recovering well after their surgeries.

ART & ENTERTAINMENT IN BRIEF 17/1

Parkson hosts Tet lion dance contest; Tet flower markets open in HCM City; My Tam and Karik top music video award; Photo exhibition focuses on sea and island tourism; MoU signed on setting up Laos Records Book Centre; 

150 doctors perform four organ transplantation operations the same time

VietNamNet Bridge – Doctors of Hanoi’s Vietnam-Germany Hospital on January 15 successfully conducted four organ transplantation surgeries at the same time, using organs donated by a man of nearly 30.

Death toll of Italian cruise liner up to 6, 16 still missing

The death toll from the wreck of an Italian cruise liner rose to six on Monday as another body was found, Italy's ANSA news agency said.

Ministry to build more Cuu Long pre-schools

VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Education and Training plans to ask the Government to allocate land and funds from the State budget to develop preschool education in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta.

Activities to mark 62 years of Sino-Vietnam diplomatic ties

The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organizations met on January 16 to celebrate the 62nd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and China (January 18, 1950).

Vietnamese crewmen recover from injuries

Four Vietnamese crewmen who suffered from severe burns after their fishing vessel Jeong Woo 2 caught fire offshore New Zealand waters on January 1, have underwent surgeries and are now in stable health conditions.

ASEAN officials, businesses discuss FTAs

VietNamNet Bridge – Officials and business representatives from 10 ASEAN member countries gathered in Siem Reap, Cambodia on Jan. 16 to discuss opportunities and challenges from free trade agreements (FTAs)

Countryside spirit in HCM City’s most modern residential rea

A green rice-field, a blossom maize field, a water-melon field, dishcloth gourd trellis, a country wharf with a bamboo bridge, ferry-boats… are the image of Vietnamese countryside which appear at the Spring Flower Festival held in Phu My Hung.

Ministry monitors retail prices

The Ministry of Finance's Price Management Department has announced that it would continue to control the prices of necessary goods this year in a bid to ensure market stability.

Vietnam still seeks a way-out for state-owned groups

The government seems to be very determined to fine-tune state-owned economic groups, when it hold a significant meeting in December 2011 that focused on these “great businesses” that was presided over by the PM and two Deputy PMs.

Vietnam manufactures its first warship

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam already boasts a thriving merchant ship construction sector, and has also built some coastal paramilitary craft in recent years. Now, the country is emerging as a warship builder.

Consulting fortune-tellers, a year-end ‘fashion’

VietNamNet Bridge – At the end of the lunar year, people rush to see fortune-tellers to know about what will happen in the New Year and to seek suitable people as the first New Year’s caller.