State owned economic groups have been requested by the government to withdraw their investments from non-core business fields to focus on their main sectors. However, the process of withdrawing capital has been going very slowly.

The euro area debt crisis has spread to healthy economies, said EU Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn in Helsinki on Thursday.

Ancient wells in Quang Tri attract visitors; Hanoi to stop licensing high-rise construction; Another Hanoi taxi firm suspended for violations; Young gang nabbed for robbing foreigners

The production capacity of tile factories in Vietnam has far exceeded the demand. Meanwhile, domestic producers have to compete with contraband imports from China, which has made their situation even worse.

Artist's abstract works on show; Belgium Jazz duo to perform in Vietnam; SSIS PTA Charity Bazaar set for Saturday in HCM City; Trondheim Soloists to hit opera house; Piano concert to mark 55th anniversary of Vietnam Academy of Music    

VietNamNet Bridge – A dynamic multimedia art exhibition opened yesterday, Nov 24, in Ha Noi kicking off a series of cultural events held by the Danish embassy to celebrate 40 years of diplomatic relations with Viet Nam.

VietNamNet Bridge – It is suspected that the result of Vietnam’s Next Top Model 2011, the second season, has been out before the final night when the image of the top four contestants has appeared on the Internet.

Egypt's former Prime Minister Kamal el-Ganzouri has initially accepted the request by the ruling military council to form a new government after the resignation of Essam Sharaf, a military source told Xinhua reporter late Thursday.

VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam and Israel once again reaffirmed their determination to develop a strong relationship as National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung met with Israeli President Shimon Peres in Ha Noi yesterday.

VietNamNet Bridge – Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Samuel Santos Lopez started his three-day visit to Viet Nam yesterday, Nov 24, by signing a political co-operation agreement with his Vietnamese counterpart, Pham Binh Minh, in Ha Noi.

VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam hailed the consensus of ASEAN and China in continuing the full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) towards the building of a Code of Conduct (COC).

Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov has announced that Russia and Vietnam are likely to sign an agreement on the establishment of a free trade area (FTA) next year.

The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has decided to exclude four groups of subjects out of the non-production sectors, which is considered as a move to loosen the lending regulations.

Prime Minister of the Republic of Belarus Mikhail Myasnikovich will pay an official visit to Vietnam from November 28 to December 1.

Several footballers of the national U-23 team have been suspected of match-fixing their game with Laos in group B at the 26th SEA Games. Vietnam defeated Laos 3-1 in the game and topped the group.

VietNamNet Bridge – A national festival celebrating cheo (traditional opera) will open tomorrow night in the northern province of Thai Binh, which is considered to be the birthplace of the art form.

From his spartan farm house, Nguyen Huu Dua explains in Vietnamese of the time when received a midnight visit from the organisers of a concert at Hanoi's famous opera house.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received visiting Albanian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Edmond Haxhinasto in Hanoi on Nov. 24.

Vietnam and France agreed to boost cooperation in national defense on the basis of the friendship relations between the two countries.

Minister of Finance Vuong Dinh Hue said that the production cost of power may rise 4.6% in 2012. However, the selling price will not include the entire losses of the Electricity of Vietnam.

VietNamNet Bridge – Ngo Van Du, Chair of the Central Inspection Committee said on November 24, that Deputy Minister Cao Minh Quang’s case would be considered publically and in a transparent and objective manner.

VietNamNet Bridge – Nearly 500 hectares of the West Lake’s surface water has been filled with dirty water and garbage. The water and air environment pollution of the West Lake has become alarming.

A lot of travel firms have offered super-cheap tours in order to encourage the demand, despite the input cost increases.

VietNamNet Bridge – Two companies in the southeastern province of Dong Nai, AB Mauri Ltd. Co and Kim Phong Commercial Production Investment JSC, have been suspended from operations for polluting the environment,

VietNamNet Bridge – Answering National Assembly deputies’ questions on restructuring banks, Governor Nguyen Van Binh of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) compared this task with “throwing rats but not breaking the vase”.