VN surrogate moms paid $5,500 for each baby

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnamese authorities are speeding up procedures to repatriate the 14 Vietnamese mothers involved in an illegal surrogate baby ring in Bangkok.

Historical series wins viewer vote

VietNamNet Bridge – A television series about a man who initiated a fundamental change in Viet Nam's agricultural economic structure during the 1960s-70s has won the most audience votes in a survey

Vietnam seeks UN Human Rights Council membership

Vietnam will run for a position on the United Nations Human Rights Council, Permanent Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh announced at the Council’s 16th session in Geneva on February 28.

GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 2/3

Emulation and reward activities under review; Patriotic campaigns urged to increase practical focus; Lawmakers to boost Cambodian ties; HCM City Party Committee convenes third meeting

Vietnam may not have to cut electricity in dry season: MOIT

The electricity price increase of 15.28 percent was decided by the government in late February. However, this still remains a hot topic because now the prices of goods also increased following the electricity price increases.

Complaints sub-committee meets ahead of elections

VietNamNet Bridge – A sub-committee in charge of solving complaints and denunciations in preparation for the election of the 13th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2011-16 term met for the first time in Ha Noi

Lieutenant General appointed Chief of the General Department for Politics

VietNamNet Bridge - Lieutenant General Ngo Xuan Lich has been appointed as the Chair of the General Department for Politics of the Vietnam People’s Army.

Vietnamese culture to be honored at HCM City’s exhibition

VietNamNet Bridge – A big event to honor Vietnamese culture will take place in HCM City in early June. The exhibition will display original collections of artworks of most famous collectors in Vietnam.

Three cruise ships land at Ha Long Bay

VietNamNet Bridge – Three five-star cruise ships arrived at Ha Long Bay, Quang Ninh province on February 28 and March 1. From the bay, thousands of international tourists will flock out to visit landscapes in Vietnam.

Newborn mice can regrow damaged hearts

Scientists found newborn mice can repair their hearts by regenerating heart muscles, according to a journal published in "science" Friday.

HCM City hit by salt water encroachment

The Institute for Water Resources and Environment has said that brine encroachment in HCM City early 2011 nearly doubles the average of previous years and is taking place a month earlier than normal.  

“Big guys” withdrawing capital from projects, putting pressure on stock market

Big state-owned economic groups are planning to withdraw their capital from many investment projects and institutions to gather strength in their main business fields. Therefore, the supply of stocks on the market is believed to increase sharply.

Mekong Delta educationists call for tie-ups

Collaborative programs between universities will help Mekong Delta provinces improve their educational level and create a skilled workforce, experts said at a conference on education in Can Tho Saturday.

Ten agencies involved in saving legendary turtle

VietNamNet Bridge – Hanoi authorities on March 1 assigned over ten departments to be involved in the treatment process of the iconic turtle in Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem Lake.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 2/3

HCM City container transporters up rates by 20 pct; Fuel prices should have been hiked higher: ministry; Government gets serious about rice exports;  Vietnam's Feb trade deficit falls to $950 mln: report

It’s not easy for Vietnam to export rice at high prices

Rice exporters say they are facing considerable challenges in 2011 because loyal rice importers have changed the way they purchase rice and input expenses have soared.

Cinema lucrative business in Hanoi and HCM City

VietNamNet Bridge - Many modern cinema complexes including cinema theaters, shopping centers and restaurants are doing lucrative business in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. 

318 Vietnamese return home from Libya on hired flight

The first flight of Vietnam Airlines carrying 318 Vietnamese workers in Libya landed at Hanoi’s Noi Bai Airport on the evening of March 1. Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan welcomed workers at the airport.

Tourists complain about shortage of high-class services

More Russian tourists are coming to Vietnam and using luxurious services. Some complained that they didn’t find places to spend money in Vietnam.

UK to stop aid for Vietnam

VietNamNet Bridge – As Vietnam has become a middle income country, the UK is to stop direct aid to Vietnam, according to BBC News.

Vietnamese American boy invited as university guest lecturer

Nguyen Tuong Khang, a 12-year-old Vietnamese American, has been invited by a university in Virginia (USA) as a guest lecturer of speaking skills. He is paid $250 an hour.  

SOCIETY IN BRIEF 2/3

UNICEF emphasises investment in youth; Rescue teams to help evacuate Vietnamese workers; Kovalevskaya prize to mark Int’l Women’s Day; Illegal timber found after lorry overturns; E-learning contest hands out awards

Coach Calisto says goodbye to national squad

VietNamNet Bridge – Coach Henrique Calisto of the national football team doesn’t want to lead the team anymore though his contract signed with the Vietnam Football Federation is still effective until March 2013.

Quang Ninh tightens safety rules on travel boats in Ha Long Bay

Relevant agencies in Quang Ninh province have inspected 135 travel boats licensed to work in Ha Long Bay and found technical errors on the boats.  

Hanoi takes action to save legendary turtle

VietNamNet Bridge – As of February 27, clean water has been pumped into the Hoan Kiem Lake, sand bags have been carried to the turtle tower to prepare for the treatment of the old turtle.