French twins to tickle the ivories in Ha Noi

VietNamNet Bridge - The stage at Ha Noi's Opera House will host twin French pianists Isabelle and Florence Lafitte next Tuesday.

Developers try to revive apartment sales

VietNamNet Bridge - Real estate investors are racing to introduce promotions and discount programmes to spur the sluggish apartment sector in the country's southern economic hub.

Binh Thuan hosts International Water Skiing Tournament

VietNamNet Bridge - The International Water Skiing Tournament will be held for the first time in the south central coastal province of Binh Thuan from February 25 to March 5.

ART & ENTERTAINMENT IN BRIEF 26/2

Popular cartoon to come back in full; 600-year-old coins dug up in Quang Ninh; Competition begins for Golden Kite Award; Pioneering British DJ set to drop heavy dubstep sessions; Denmark-Vietnam Cultural Exchange Fund debuts    

HCMC firm proposes 200% hike in power price

VietNamNet Bridge - Ho Chi Minh City’s Hiep Phuoc Power Co., Ltd has proposed doubling the current power price to offset losses as a 15% hike starting next month is too low.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 26/2

Hi-tech rubber plant inaugurated in HCMC; Imports of consumer goods rise; Building materials sector booms; Vietnam's industrial sector keeps growing; Vincom opened real estate floor in Hanoi    

Ha Long Bay seeks New 7 Wonders of World status

VietNamNet Bridge - The campaign to collect votes for Ha Long Bay to be recognized as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World in November this year is entering the final stages, said an official from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Creater of ethnic language software hailed

VietNamNet Bridge – Engineer Tran Thanh Binh often had second thoughts about building his typing software for ethnic languages, code-named Vnkey. It was four hard years of studying and collecting and collating in mountain village

Putting the north on the tourism map

VietNamNet Bridge - Northern provinces are accelerating efforts to woo investors into tourism development.

Foot-and-mouth epidemic spreads in central Vietnam

VietNamNet Bridge – The central province of Quang Ngai has announced the epidemic of the foot-and-month disease among the cattle since nearly 1250 buffaloes, cows and pigs have been infected.

SBV says lower credit growth rate will not affect production sector

The lowering of the targeted credit growth rate to 20 percent, the five-year lowest will lead to capital shortage for the production sector, because the capital will be transferred from the public to the private sector.

“Bi, Don’t Be Afraid” to come out in March

VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnamese movie that participated in 30 prestigious international film festivals, has released a new trailer with many “hot” scenes.

“Arrogant” footballers at V-League

VietNamNet Bridge – Hoa Phat Hanoi’s striker Timothy is the best scorer at the V-League 2011 with four goals in three games. However, the player’s unsporting behavior gives Hoa Phat a headache.

Brewers add fizz to beer market

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam’s beer market has seen exceptional growth in the past years with major brewers sharply expanding production.

Drought puts many provinces at extreme risk of forest fires

VietNamNet Bridge – Thirteen provinces throughout the country are listed as being under dire threat of forest fires, according to the Department of Forest Management under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

SOCIETY IN BRIEF 26/2

Workplace fatalities on the increase; Quang Ngai to host 13th NWLSHFP; Deputy PM congratulates health workers on Physicians' Day; Education key to keeping revolution alive in youth

Unspoilt Ninh Van Bay is perfect holiday hideaway

VietNamNet Bridge – Visitors who want to escape from city life when they visit the coastal city of Nha Trang in Khanh Hoa Province often go to Ninh Van Bay on Hon Heo Peninsula.

HCM City contractors overstretched by ambitious plans

VietNamNet Bridge – Too few contractors are handling too many construction projects at the same time in HCM City, affecting the quality of supervision and implementation,

Epic bike ride sees love blossom

VietNamNet Bridge – Spaniard Guim Valls Teruel wants to travel the world on his electric bicycle. Now, travelling across continents for years is a lonely pursuit that could test the fortitude of even the most determined.

Ha Noi's Lua has eyes on London

VietNamNet Bridge – Top wrestler Nguyen Thi Lua will appear in four tournaments this year in the hope of gaining a berth at next year's London Olympics.

TRAVEL IN BRIEF 25/2

Hoi An gives free maps to tourists; Saigontourist welcomes cruise ship; High occupancy at HCM City hotels; Island expats enjoy football tourney; See HCM City by laptop

New fish species found in Mekong River basin

VietNamNet Bridge – The Nagao Natural Environment Foundation (NEF) of Japan on February 24 confirmed a total of 540 fish species, including numerous new species, in the Mekong River and Chao Phraya basin region.

Cashew export: short happy days?

Despite a lack of due attention, cashews turned out to be the most successful export in the last two decades. However, the glorious days may for cashews may end soon as cashew industry is struggling with a shortage of materials.

SPORTS IN BRIEF 25/2

VN archers win gold at Grand Prix; A rowing training sets at Nui Coc Lake; Windsurf grand slam starts today; Chinese chess champs begin

India HIV vaccine undergoes first phase of clinical trial

India's apex body for the promotion of biomedical research said Wednesday the HIV vaccine has undergone the first phase of clinical trial and no side effects are found.