Heritage tourism remains an unexploited gold mine

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam has a big “gold mine” – the heritage – which is very attractive to travelers. However, Vietnam’s tourism industry still does now how to exploit the mine.

Stories come from mouths of wells

VietNamNet Bridge –For centuries, communal wells have held a special meaning for the Vietnamese people.

Door to open for golf course developers

VietNamNet Bridge - Local and foreign golf course developers are ready to tee off following a key Ministry of Planning and Investment proposal.

Uruguay beat Paraguay to win Copa America for record 15 times

Striker Diego Forlan scored twice to lead World Cup semifinalists Uruguay to beat Paraguay 3-0 on Sunday for a record 15th Copa America win.

China to pay most of 257km Cambodia-Viet Nam rail link

VietNamNet Bridge – A feasibility study on the construction of a 257-km railway linking Cambodia and Viet Nam shows it will cost at least US$686 million, according to the Phnom Penh Post.

Putting wind in the sails of power producers

VietNamNet Bridge - Wind energy is expected to play an important part in the Government's plan to increase the share of renewable energy from 2.5 per cent in 2008 to 5 per cent in 2020.

Ban sought on teen age taxi drivers

VietNamNet Bridge –The Ha Noi Department of Transport will send a proposal to the Ministry of Transport to increase the minimum age of taxi drivers from 18 to 21.

First ‘blood donation street' in Ha Noi

VietNamNet Bridge –The National Institute of Haematology and Blood Transfusion launched an event named "Street of blood donation" for the first time on Le Loi Street, Ha Dong District, Ha Noi, last weekend.

Half of Fiji's population suffer from anaemia: health ministry

There are 400,000 people suffering from anaemia in Fiji with a total of population at about 800,000 people, according to the Health Ministry on Monday.

Ha Noi attempts to clean up its act

VietNamNet Bridge – A short supply of public rubbish bins is blamed for a rising tide of bagged and unbagged refuse and litter being dumped in the streets of the capital city for municipal cleaners to take away every day.

IMF warns U.S. debt challenge to cause global repercussion

The U.S. economy, which is facing increasingly downside risks, will cause global "severe shock" if the country's debt ceiling not raised in time, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reported on Monday.

East Sea disputes: China, other claimants and the US

VietNamNet Bridge - The East Sea (internationally known as South China Sea) sovereignty issue consists of a number of separate disputes. Added to this already complex situation is China’s mysterious “U-shaped line,”

First gay couple wed in New York

Two women became the first couple in New York City to get married on Sunday under the New York state's new law allowing same-sex marriage.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 26/7

Vietnam eyes 2nd anti-dumping lawsuit against US; Vietnamese business confidence falls on more uncertainties; China imported 100,000 tons of sugar from Vietnam; Prime Minister Dung urges further fossil fuel exploration 

Vietnamese bank CEO can earn up to 20 billion dong a year

VietNamNet Bridge – Bank chief executive officers (CEOs) are believed to be the people who have the highest salaries in Vietnam. A CEO reportedly earns 20 billion dong a year.

U.S. will not default on debt: Geithner

The United States will not default on its financial obligations, U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said Sunday, urging Congress to reach an agreement now.

PIT exemption hoped to help drive capital flow to stock market

Securities investors feel encouraged these days when hearing that the ongoing National Assembly’s session would discuss the proposal by the government--on exempting personal income tax PIT on the incomes from securities investments.

Indochina Telecom keeps ambiguous about plan to join market

VietNamNet Bridge – The delay in launching services of the eighth licensed mobile network in Vietnam – Indochina Telecom – has been blamed on the harsh competition in the market which is believed to have become saturated.

Vietnam’s marine and island sovereignty at photo exhibition

VietNamNet Bridge – A photo exhibition called “Legends of the land of An Tra” opened on July 22 in the central city of Quang Ngai.

MOET plans to treat rote learning with mind map

The Ministry of Education and Training has decided to use mind map in a large scale to help renovate teaching method. The new method has been applauded by teachers, who believe this will help students escape from rote learning.

ART & ENTERTAINMENT IN BRIEF 25/7

HCM City to hold Buddhist music concert; Culinary contest selects 10 young chefs for int’l competition; Vietnam’s unique landscapes exhibited in Hanoi; 17th Vietnam Film Festival to take place in Phu Yen; Indochina to unite at arts festival  

Commercial banks unexpectedly “let dollars out”

VietNamNet Bridge – Enterprises have never found it so easy to buy dollars from banks like now, when banks are selling dollars at competitive prices.

Truong Tan Sang elected as State President

VietNamNet Bridge – Mr. Truong Tan Sang was elected as the State President of the 2011-2016 tenure, with 97.4 percent of the votes, at the National Assembly meeting this afternoon, July 25.

Norway mourns victims, prays for peace after deadly attacks

Norway has plunged in grief as its people come to terms with life after the massive bomb blast and shooting spree on Friday killed at least 93 people.

Hue dredges ‘King's River' to offer boat tours

VietNamNet Bridge – Authorities in the province of Thua Thien-Hue have begun dredging a canal that would allow tourist boats to go to the inner royal citadel from the Huong (Perfume) River.