Germany to help VN bolster EU relations

VietNamNet Bridge – Germany would strongly support Viet Nam's efforts to increase co-operation with the European Union, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said.

Long Thanh Airport construction to begin in 2015

VietNamNet Bridge - Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has given approval for work on the Long Thanh International Airport near Ho Chi Minh City to start in 2015.

Trial of Michael Jackson's doctor postponed to September

A Los Angeles judge on Monday postponed the trial of Michael Jackson's personal physician until September at the request of defense, so as to allow for more time to fully prepare.

Fire and smoke in Hanoi streets

VietNamNet Bridge – Instead of moving fallen leaves to dumping grounds, environmental workers burn them on the street, turning Hanoi’s roads into fields after the harvest season.

U.S. stocks end lower despite early rise on bin Laden's death

U.S. stocks on Monday pared earlier gains triggered by Osama bin Laden's death before closing and ended lower, as investors became concerned about possible new terror attacks fueled by the killing of the al-Qaeda leader.

Vietnam hopes FTAs will bring more opportunities to expand export markets

If Vietnamese enterprises have thorough preparations, they can take full advantage of the opportunities to be brought by free trade agreements (FTA) between Vietnam and other countries in the world.

Ba Be Lake may disappear in several decades

The largest natural lake in Vietnam, which is located in the northeastern province of Bac Kan, is being threatened by untreated waste water from a mining company. Experts have warned that the lake may disappear in several dozens of years.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 3/5

Vietnamese projects get thumbs up in Cambodia; France’s Bouchet: SBV on the right track; Moody’s: Vietnam outlook negative; Retailer trademarks seen popular, says expert; Tenders invited for first land lot in Thu Thiem

The most “cracked” community of mobile phone players in Vietnam

VietNamNet Bridge – The community includes the members who spend huge sums of money to buy the mobile phones not to surf on websites or listen to music, but use for unusual purposes.

New business fee targets start-up telcom firms

VietNamNet Bridge - Enterprises that are granted business licences for the telecommunications sector will be required to pay a new fee based on company size and revenues.

New decree on labelling to promote energy conservation

The Government issued Decree No 21/2011/ND-CP on March 29 requiring producers and importers to affix equipment and vehicles with energy labels pursuant to the Law on Energy Conservation.

New rules complicate EU herbal medicine market

As a 2004 European Union (EU) directive on herbal medicine is to be fully implemented on May 1, herbal medicinal products without a license will no longer be allowed in the EU market,

Lead contamination found in Ha Noi food

VietNamNet Bridge – Food samples recently taken from four major markets in Ha Noi revealed that they were contaminated with lead.

Xoan singing – A unique, long-standing folk treasure

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has been working with Phu Tho Province to assemble a dossier on Xoan singing aiming to seek UNESCO recognition of it as an ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage in need of Urgent Protection’.

Digging to the bottom of hot mining issues

From July 1 businesses and individuals will be required to join auctions if they want to do business in the mining field. Deputy chief of office at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Lai Hong Thanh talked about the new regulation.

HCM City has 1,300 more hotel rooms in Q1

VietNamNet Bridge - The number of one- to four-star hotel rooms in HCMC, the country’s biggest tourism base, increased by more than 1,300 in the first quarter.

Obama says al-Qaida leader killed in U.S. operation outside Islamabad

U.S. President Barack Obama announced Sunday night that a U.S. operation had killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden in Pakistan and put his body in U.S. custody.

Gold isn’t your source of nutrition

VietNamNet Bridge - In Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, people are eating and using gold in skincare products because of its alleged health benefits, though doctors disagree.

Basic freight rate down, but surcharges up

VietNamNet Bridge – Since mid March 2011, shipping firms have been imposing a lot of new surcharges on enterprises which has burdened Vietnamese import and export companies.

Behind overseas treatment services

Around 40,000 Vietnamese go abroad for medical treatment annually. They pay more than $1 billion for the services, but many of them spend money and only get worse.

City to probe manufacturers along Saigon River

VietNamNet Bridge - All manufacturers that discharge from 50 cubic meters of wastewater a day into the Saigon River will be subject to inspections by the HCMC Environmental Protection Agency between now and mid-May, an official said.

All villagers deforest for planting rice

VietNamNet Bridge – All 70 families of Mong ethnic people in Sai Khao village, Muong Ly commune, Muong Lat district in the central province of Thanh Hoa, involved in chopping down forests to grow cassava and maize.

City museums take history to the people

VietNamNet Bridge – Museums in HCM City are hoping to lure rural youngsters away from dubious forms of entertainment like karaoke by taking exhibitions to their doorstep.

Becoming an IT powerhouse

VietNamNet Bridge - In the hope of becoming an information and communications technology (ICT) powerhouse within 10 years, Viet Nam will continue to create favourable conditions for investors.

ADB meeting gives Vietnam a progress showcase

VietNamNet Bridge - The 44th annual meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), to take place in Hanoi from May 3-6, is a unique opportunity for Vietnam to profile its progression to a middle income country to the entire world.