Creditors ask for money back, EVN gets rattled

VietNamNet Bridge – The Electricity of Vietnam (EVN), the big debtor, has been continuously urged to pay its due debts. However, it is still unclear how EVN will arrange money to pay debts.

Viettel expands operation in Haiti

Vietnam’s military-run telecom group Viettel and Haiti’s Telecom Company on September 8 officially launched a the telecom network of their joint venture Natcom.

Tourism grows in anxiety

The tourism market in the first seven months of the year was a multi-colored painting. Contrary to all predictions, domestic and outbound tours prospered, while inbound tours were unsatisfactory.

River pollution makes striped snappers as expensive as gold

The price of striped snappers, who live only in the Vam Co Dong River has been escalating. The species of fish has become rare because they cannot live in the polluted river.

Pentagon observes 10th anniversary of 9/11 attacks

Both U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta on Sunday vowed to pursue relentlessly al-Qaeda until it is dismantled, as they joined others in observing the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks

SOCIETY IN BRIEF 12/9

Readers donate VND17b to islands; One dead in bridge collapse in An Giang; Gia Lai leaders receive Vatican non-resident representative; Floods claim 4 lives in south

Binh wins national marathon

VietNamNet Bridge – Pham Thi Binh won the National Athletics Championship marathon this morning in HCM City.

German jazz quartet to play

VietNamNet Bridge – German jazz quartet Max.Bab will perform in Viet Nam this month as part of their Southeast Asian tour to eight major cities in the region.

Hanoi traffic police conduct on-the-spot alcohol tests

VietNamNet Bridge - As part of the national traffic safety month, traffic police in Hanoi are testing drivers for alcohol levels on the spot.

40 Vietnamese paintings to be auctioned at Sotherby's

VietNamNet Bridge – Over 40 paintings by Vietnamese painters will be auctioned at the Sotherby's autumn auction of Southeast Asian modern and contemporary art in Hong Kong on October 3.

Top striker may not go abroad

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam’s leading striker, Le Cong Vinh, is negotiating a new contract with Hanoi T&T FC, breaking the rumor that he would play for a foreign FC.

Former NA deputy chairman dies at 75

VietNamNet Bridge – Former Deputy Chairman of the 10th National Assembly, Vu Dinh Cu, died at the age of 75 in Ha Noi last Wednesday.

Saigon’s lantern street

VietNamNet Bridge – Before the full moon festival, the street for lanterns near Cho Lon Market welcomes thousands of visitors every night.

GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 12/9

 Indonesia seen as Vietnam’s important partner; Vietnam, DPRK boost trade union cooperation; PM urges Laos to improve legal framework for projects

30 finalists of Vietnam Supermodel 2011

VietNamNet Bridge – 30 models are competing in the final round of Vietnam Supermodel 2011, in the resort city of Da Lat and HCM City on September 10-20.

13 Vietnamese workers to join world technical skill competition

VietNamNet Bridge – Thirteen Vietnamese workers will compete with over 1,000 contestants from over 50 countries at the world technical skill contest in London from October 5 to 8.

Saving ancient trees from the axe

VietNamNet Bridge – Retired policeman Le Minh Thuong, 74, from central Nghe An Province, has on several occasions refused to sell off his five ancient golden apple trees (diospyros decandrs Lour) for over VND7 billion (US$340,000).

Studying in nearly-collapsed schools

VietNamNet Bridge – The new academic year has just begun, but in Vietnam’s southwestern region, many schools are on the verge of collapse.

Nation pays tribute to former President

VietNamNet Bridge - Leaders of the Party and State, diplomatic corps, international organizations and people in and outside the country paid tribute to former President Vo Chi Cong in Hanoi, HCM City and Quang Ngai (his hometown).

13-year-old pianist wins international piano contests

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam’s Hoang Pham Tra Mi has won the first and second prizes at two international piano contests in France and Austria. 

Beer Festival to come to HCM City in October

VietNamNet Bridge – The festival for beer lovers, called Oktoberfest, the 19th event of its kind, will take place at the Winsor Plaza hotel in Ho Chi Minh City on October 7-8 and October 11-15.

False rumor of tsunami forces thousands of people to evacuate

VietNamNet Bridge – The rumor was spread on the evening of September 10, on Ly Son Island in the central province of Quang Ngai, urging thousands of locals to run away helter-shelter.

Self-portrait collection debuts in capital

VietNamNet Bridge – Winning works of Dogma Prize, the first competition for self-portraits in Viet Nam will be on a display at the National Fine Arts Museum.

American duo Huber/Raymond win US Open women's doubles

 Fourth-seeded American team of Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond won the women's doubles final at the U.S. Open on Sunday by outlasting defening champions Vania King and Yaroslava Shvedova.

SBV uses a sharp knife to chop down interest rates

Commercial banks all have stopped the programs on mobilizing capital from the public at negotiable interest rates, after the SBV late last week threatened to dismiss managers of the banks which offer the interest rates higher than 14 percent.