VietNamNet Bridge - Though the Vietnamese music industry has not been very successful this last year it has still managed to stay in the news with public performances and competitions and plenty of celebrity scandals.

Government bonds to be allocated before mid February; Forestry programmes promote sustainability by market incentives; Year-end discounts spark fashion shopping frenzy; Dinh Vu IZ welcomes first 2011 investment

Dr Nguyen Van Khai, known in Vietnam as the “Ozone man” lives in a 70 square meter house in a densely populated quarter of Hanoi, where he grows vegetables and raises fowl. He believes that he is one of the richest man on the planet.

On December 30, the Government issued Decree No 119/2010/ND-CP amending Decree 105/2006/ND-CP of September 22, 2006, guiding implementation of a number of articles in the Law on Intellectual Property.

VietNamNet Bridge – Construction Ministry technical infrastructure administration director Nguyen Hong Tien spoke with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper about a proposal to include installation and maintenance costs in clean water fees.

VietNamNet Bridge – Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Tran Nam talked with Viet Nam News about social housing and the establishment of a housing fund for future projects.

VietNamNet Bridge - Given Vietnam’s better economic indicators in 2010, securities companies expect a brighter prospect for the stock market this year, with most saying the main index can hit 650 points despite macroeconomic uncertainties.

VietNamNet Bridge – Unhygienic food is now a big problem in Vietnam. Some rich people are willing to pay a lot of money to have meals at luxurious restaurants to have safe food.

Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam Nguyen Van Giau talked to the press about his life and shared his thoughts about the banking operation in 2011.

VietNamNet Bridge – A market has been operating on the Da Trang mountain pass by Muong ethnic people for more than ten years. This is the place where ethnic minority people sell products they collect from the jungle.

VietNamNet Bridge – Narrow and crooked houses in Hanoi are considered “urban waste”. Though the local government has banned the construction of such houses, they are mushrooming along newly built roads in the capital city.

VietNamNet Bridge - Despite Vietnam’s laudable achievements on poverty reduction in the period 2005-2010, there is still plenty of room for improvement.

VietNamNet Bridge – Director of the Ministry of Industry and Trade's market management department Nguyen Hung Dung spoke to Cong Thuong (Industry and Trade) newspaper about the fight against smuggling and counterfeit goods.

Enterprises were told that the implementation of the information technology (IT) and communication development should be their priority.

VietNamNet Bridge – Former National Assembly Economic and Budget Committee chairman Dang Van Thanh told Thoi bao Kinh te Viet Nam that the National Assembly shouldn't dictate every line of the State budget.

VietNamNet Bridge – The majority of companies under Electricity of Viet Nam (EVN) are facing a high rate of power losses from low-voltage electricity grids in rural areas because they lack sufficient capital to upgrade the grids.

VietNamNet Bridge - The Hanoi-based software developer Bkis this year is preparing for the debut of a high-advanced technology named “SmartHome”, which is expected to enable users to control their house remotely.

The local distribution market recently has witnessed two trends: foreign distributors are expanding to new provinces to cash in on new opportunities, while domestic distributors are cooperating with foreign investors to grow their businesses.

Sometimes to love the simplest things in this life, people have to experience blood, death and desperation, two US writers said in a talk with VietNamNet.

TRUSTBank to have strategic partner; VinaCapital fund to sell stake in liquor producer; Bao Minh Insurance pioneers deal for coffee-growers; Oversupply nips farm produce profits

The UN Residential Coordinator John Hendra talks with VietNamNet about the challenges and perspective for 2011 in the context of Vietnam becoming a lower middle-income country and beginning the implementation of the new five-year plan. 

VietNamNet Bridge - This year, the supply of apartments and offices in Hanoi is expected to increase remarkably over the previous year.

VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam plans to create 10 million jobs in the next five years. Under the National Target Programme on Job Creation and Skills Training, about 1.6 million jobs will be created a year,

VietNamNet Bridge - Abundant supplies of houses and apartments are set to be the biggest challenge in 2011 for property firms, experts said. 

VietNamNet Bridge – After 20 years of collecting antiques, Nguyen Van Tuan set up his own “museum” in Da Lat with around 4000 items, all closely linked to Da Lat’s history.