VietNamNet Bridge - By January 23 afternoon, relatives of the 24 Vietnamese fishermen seized by Somali pirates on January 17 off Oman seas have yet to receive information about the hostages except for one secret email sent by a captured ca

Two Vietnamese models – Lan Huong and Quang Thinh – received the “Asian model” titles in Seoul on January 21.

More than 13,000 people joined the Lawrence S.Ting charity walk in HCM City’s Phu My Hung new residential area on January 22 to raise fund for the poor on the occasion of the Lunar New Year (Tet) festival.

The director of “Pao’s Story” – Ngo Quang Hai – turned the “Code of Style” fashion show into a magic show of fashion, drama and performance art.

VietNamNet Bridge – This is the title of a Canadian sculptor’s exhibition which has captured the world’s attention. The exhibition came to Vietnam on January 22.

Vietnam’s retail market remains very attractive in the eyes of foreign investors, even though Vietnam’s GRDI (the global retail development index) in 2010 fell by eight grades in comparison with 2009

Educators have voiced their worries about the current university enrollment process which has been described as “running after profit and ignoring the quality of training”.

In 2010 alone, 58.6 million computers in Vietnam were infected with viruses. This means that 160,000 computers were infection a day. Network security experts believe that it is  time to ring the alarm bell over the virus infections in Vietnam.

Hundreds of thousands of Viet Kieu (overseas Vietnamese) have been flocking to Vietnam from all over the world in order to celebrate Tet in the homeland.

VietNamNet Bridge – The Ha Noi Information and Communications Department has proposed that press management agencies lift restrictions on the number of inserts and supplementary advertisements in newspapers, . . .

VietNamNet Bridge – Preventive medicine centres around the country are encouraging people, especially pregnant women and patients with chronic diseases, to be vaccinated against influenza, as more cases have been recorded in recent weeks.

VietNamNet Bridge – The Ha Noi Social Insurance Agency has filed lawsuits against 11 companies who owe their workers' social insurance fees totalling VND5 billion (US$255,000).

VietNamNet Bridge – Horticulturalist Tran Tien Dung feels sad as he looks around his garden of 500 peach-blossom trees. More than half show no sign of being able to open their gorgeous red or pink flowers for Tet.

VietNamNet Bridge – More than 340 litres of blood has been donated to the local Red Cross during a single day.

VietNamNet Bridge – Despite a new ban passed by the Government, the votive paper market is hot again as the traditional customs surrounding rituals that involve sending Kitchen Gods to heaven approaches.

Project to empower rural communities; Tet supplies warm up cold-hit island; Health checks at borders tightened; Police catch Khanh Hoa animal trafficker; Rice deliveries to ease tough times for poor

Up to 200 people living with HIV/ AIDS in Jayapura, Papua, died in 2010, 20 more than 2009, local media reported on Friday.

The euro hit a two-month high above 1.36 dollars in late New York trading on Friday and its break of important technical levels suggested more gains to come as concerns about the eurozone debt crisis started to ease.

At least 32 people were killed and several injured in a road accident in southern Pakistan, officials and rescue teams said Sunday.

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Sunday that Iran is hopeful about the future talks with the world powers.

The Central African Republic started the presidential and legislative elections on Sunday.

Five car bombs and a roadside bomb explosions in and near Baghdad on Sunday killed a total of eight people and wounded 24 others, as part of the latest wave of violence ahead of major Shiite ritual.

Incumbent Portuguese President Anibal Cavaco Silva is interviewed after casting his vote at a polling station in Lisbon, capital of Portugal, Jan. 23, 2011. Portugal's presidential election began here on Sunday morning. (Xinhua/Wang Qingqin)

Government Office urged to keep up the good work; State President affirms Catholics' contributions to nation; Deputy PM visits Germany; Vietnam attends North East Business Summit in Mumbai

VietNamNet Bridge – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has decided to abolish the use of specialised zones which slow down and dissipate the energy of flood flows to the capital city and the Hong (Red) River Delta region.