Young painter and non-cubism style

VietNamNet Bridge – Nguyen Quoc Dan, 27, who graduated from the HCM City Fine Art University two years ago, seems to be “eccentric” to state that he only pains artworks that nobody could imitate.

Deputy Health Minister uses fake doctoral degree

VietNamNet Bridge – Police have confirmed that Deputy Minister of Health, Cao Minh Quang, used a fake doctoral degree.

Rare lingzhi mushroom discovered in Lam Dong

VietNamNet Bridge – Some researchers of the Department of Science-Technology of Lam Dong province on September 15, discovered three red lingzhi mushrooms on an ancient pine tree at the gate of the Da Lat Palace hotel.

Foreign-related clinics play tricks on patients

VietNamNet Bridge – Exaggerated advertising, performing illegal services and using foreign doctors without work permits are popular violations of consulting rooms that use Chinese doctors in Hanoi and HCM City.

SOCIETY IN BRIEF 19/9

 Flood threatens Nghe An Province; Dog thieves shoot man to death; Students access net in remote district; Prosecutors warned for breaching Party moral code

Buon Ma Thuot brand: Dak Lak still wavering between suing and negotiating

The Dak Lak provincial authorities still have not made a final decision on whether to take legal proceedings to reclaim the Buon Ma Thuot geographical indication, or demand the brand back through the diplomatic channel.

Climate change effort urged

VietNamNet Bridge – Individuals and organisations should act to protect the environment for mitigating climate change as well as the sustainable development of the country,

ART & ENTERTAINMENT IN BRIEF 19/9

Thua Thien-Hue to build literary, art museum; Hue seeks funds to restore heritage; Vietnam Festival 2011 opens in Tokyo; Exhibition features 50 years of the ‘Ho Chi Minh Trail at Sea’; Hanoi Fashion Week urges use of local products  

Interest rates down, deposits leaving banks

Commercial banks have no other choice than slashing the deposit interest rates to 14 percent per annum. However, banks are trembling with the fear that depositors may withdraw money from banks.

Paintings on silk testify to girl's familial devotion

VietNamNet Bridge – Artist Ngoc Mai's 28 paintings on silk featuring characters of the epic poem Truyen Kieu (The Tale of Kieu) are on display at HCM City's Exhibition House until next Monday.

Phase out of climate gases on target

VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam may complete the phase-out of hydro chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) - ozone-depleting substances and powerful greenhouse gases - by 2025, five years earlier than the deadline,

Strauss-Kahn admits "moral fault" with no plan for presidential election

Former Chief of the International Monetary Fund Dominique Strauss-Kahn admitted a "moral fault"in the U.S. sex scandal and said no plan for 2012 presidential election of France during an interview on Sunday night.

‘Rearing’ stone-made dogs to keep house

VietNamNet Bridge – Ancient Vietnamese used to place stone-made dogs at gates to drive away ghosts and devils, diseases and welcome luck. Today, some people collect stone-made dogs to decorate and keep house.

More than 100 sea turtles seized, and what’s next?

It’s still unclear about the fate of the 102 sea turtles which were seized in July in Binh Dinh province. Will the dead turtles be sold or ruined?

Vietnam not ready yet in labor force for developing sea-borne economy

Vietnam has decided that by 2020 it will become a powerful sea-borne economy with 53-55 percent of GDP coming from the sea. However, in order to reach that goal, it needs to have a well prepared labor force.

Vietnam branded mobile phones booming

The debut of a series of mobile phones with Vietnamese brand names from late 2010 has led to fierce competition in the market.

Football business in bad luck

Investing tens of millions of USD in football annually to get losses, while the number of audiences is going down, football business is now in the time of misfortune. Many investors have planed to dismiss their clubs though they still love football.

Firms lose no sleep over rough ride

Economic instability is eating away at business confidence in Vietnam, but some transnational firms are keeping the faith.

PM appoints new VNA director general

VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnam News Agency (VNA) will have its new General Director as of October 1, 2011, Mr. Nguyen Duc Loi.

The Land Law in Vietnam

VietNamNet Bridge – The compilation of the new Land Law in Vietnam is interested by many international organizations, ministries, sectors, local governments, businessmen and the people. There are disinterested and self-seeking interests.

Poor people donate land to build schools

VietNamNet Bridge – Nearly 50 poor households in a mountain commune in Quang Tri province agreed to relocate their houses to donate nearly 55 hectares of land to build schools.

GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 19/9

Vietnam aims to promote cooperation with Egypt; President Sang greets Aussie painter Burchett; Defence ties with Australia get boost; Arms wide open to Indian investment

15 trillion dong needed to rescue Vietnamese coffee exporters

VietNamNet Bridge – It is estimated that in the 2011-2012 crop, Vietnamese enterprises need to purchase 400,000 tons of coffee material to be capable to regulate the market.

Awards given to top high school students

VietNamNet Bridge – The Hoa Trang Nguyen (Poinsettia Flower) award for outstanding academic achievement in 2010-11 was conferred on 800 high-school students from 33 central and southern cities and provinces yesterday, Sep 18.

Assembly Chairman meets King and Prime Minister of Cambodia

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung last Saturday met Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni and paid a courtesy visit to Prime Minister Hun Sen as part of his official visit to Cambodia.