Vegetable fields amid Hanoi’s model residential area

VietNamNet Bridge – Instead of planting flower or ornamental trees, people in Linh Dam urban area take advantage of every inch of land to grow vegetables.

Importers complain bankers charge them high for dollars

A lot of import companies have once again complained that they have to pay the additional fee of 4-5 percent when buying dollars from banks, which makes the actual dollar prices equal to the black market’s prices.

Other species in Vietnam may disappear like Javan rhino

VietNamNet Bridge – If they are not quickly protected, many wildlife species in Vietnam will be extinct, scientists warned.

Clinton lays out three-track strategy on Afghanistan, Pakistan

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Thursday laid out the so-called three-track strategy of fight, talk and build in dealing with issues on Afghanistan and Pakistan.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 29/10

Mekong delta farmers rush to panic harvest sugarcane; Reeling steel industry can recover; Vietnamese goods win consumer trust; Over 120,000 tonnes of cassava exported to China; Export turnover bounces back; No fuel price cut, traders losing

Vietnam, Philippines issue joint communiqué

President Truong Tan Sang and President Benigno S. Aquino III of the Philippines have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the two countries’ relations in a comprehensive manner.

German gov't spyware stirs massive public concerns

A Trojan used by several German states to monitor Internet phone calls contains functionalities beyond the legal interception, stirring massive public concerns over the country's Internet surveillance.

Turkey says quake death toll increases to 570

The death toll following Sunday's powerful earthquake that struck the province of Van in eastern Turkey stands at 570 as of Friday morning, the Prime Ministry's Disaster and Emergency Management Directorate (AFAD) said.

EVENTS FROM OCTOBER 29 TO NOVEMBER 4

Toyota Classics Concert 2011; Exhibition and Grand Finale of “Hope Box Happening”; Piano Recital of Trang Trinh; Painting Exhibition “Pause”; Painting Exhibition “Pause”; Art Exhibition “Nowhere”; Exhibition “It’s All the Same Everywhere”

ART & ENTERTAINMENT IN BRIEF 28/10

Photo exhibition highlights Algeria-Vietnam friendship; Epic Vietnamese poem for stage; Folk music proposed to be on school curricula; Photo exhibition marks centenary of Australian journalist  

GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 28/10

Vietnam, Laos strengthen special relations; Vietnam, the Philippines boost cooperation in rice research; Vietnam attends UNESCO General Assembly meeting; Vietnam eyes stronger ties with Indonesia; Foreign military visit Hanoi high command

SOCIETY IN BRIEF 28/10

AusAID, WB support Vietnam’s human resource development; Prosecutor’s husband busted for drugs, prostitution; Overseas Vietnamese pedophilia suspect arrested; Danang wins environmentally sustainable city award  

Misses Vietnam call vote for Ha Long Bay

VietNamNet Bridge – Misses Vietnam 2008 and 2010--Thuy Dung and Ngoc Han will perform on the catwalk and call for people to vote for Ha Long Bay as a new world natural wonder in a live television program on October 29.

Vietnam in a hurry to restructure state’s investment

Vietnam is taking drastic measures to restructure the state’s investment which has been swelling out and causing bad consequences to the national economy.

Vietnam asks to change time for Vietnam-Brunei match

VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has asked the organizing board of Southeast Asian Games 2011, to organize the football match between Vietnam and Brunei from 8am to 4pm, November 11.

National Assembly worries of inflation, interest rate

VietNamNet Bridge – Businesses, the major driving forces for economic development was among the hottest topics at the National Assembly’s economic-social discussion panel on October 27.

SOCIETY IN BRIEF 29/10

High tide floods several residential areas in HCMC; Most HFMD infected children don’t attend schools; Hanoi, northern provinces promote tourism links; Funding earmarked for domestic violence victims; AusAid to support worker training

Model Look honors Asian fashion industry

VietNamNet Bridge - This year’s Model Look welcomes 80 models who sported the latest collections of designers Hoang Hai, Minh Tu, Tien Loi and Anh Thu.

Stock market gloomy, stock companies still profitable

Securities companies have surprised everyone when reporting satisfactory profits for the third quarter of 2011. Prior to that, analysts thought they would incur heavy losses this year, while many of them would be on the verge of bankruptcy.

Ha Giang: Goat fighting competition

VietNamNet Bridge – After a successful goat fighting competition in Peop village in September, the authorities of Hoang Su Phi district in the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang has held another competition in Thong Nguyen commune.

Wall Street rallies on European summit hopes

Wall Street rose on Wednesday, with the blue-chip Dow and the broader S&P 500 up in four of last five sessions, as investors were expecting a comprehensive resolution to euro zone's debt problems on the EU summit.

Unreasonable programming threatens Mui Ne tourism brand

Experts have warned that the chaotic construction in Mui Ne, the result of the unreasonable development programming which lacks a long term vision, may ruin the Mui Ne tourism brand which has become famous in Vietnam and all over the world.

Heavier punishment still cannot stop price posting in dollars

A lot of hotels, restaurants and travel firms were found yesterday as still posting prices and service fees in dollars.

EVN Telecom falls into Viettel’s hands, but more affairs expected

Born in 1995, EVN Telecom has been taking a heavy loss after 16 years of operation. However, the small telco still seems to be valuable.

University lecturers rush to attend illicit training courses for doctorates

Not only lecturers of local universities and junior colleges, but lecturers of prestigious schools also rush to attend illicit training courses to obtain doctorates – the things needed for them to keep their jobs at universities.