Historical banyan tree restored back to life

VietNamNet Bridge - The Tan Trao banyan tree has recently come back to life, said the deputy director of Tan Trao Cultural, Historical and Ecological Tourism Area, Ly Manh Thang.  

Bluefone enters the market

VietNamNet Bridge -  On January 12, CMC Distribution unveiled the company’s first series of locally-made mobile handsets under the brand-name Bluefone, which is aimed at the medium- to low-end market segment in Vietnam.

Vietnam realty joins global leaders

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam’s property market is ranked fourth in the most attractive emerging countries for real estate investment in 2011.

Party Congress hears presentations on essential matters

Party committees and organisations have been asked to have specific leading and directing plans and prepare for the elections of the 13th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2011-2016 term.

Emphasis on human resources

VietNamNet Bridge - Human resources development is one of the three key elements incorporated into Vietnam’s overall social and economic development draft strategy for 2011-2020 now under review at the National Party Congress XI.

International integration serves the nation’s development

International integration contributes much to the country’s industrialisation, modernisation, construction and defence in the new stage, said A Party Central Committee member at the ongoing 11th National Party Congress in Hanoi on January 14.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 15/1

Interest rate for US$ mobilization amounts to 6 percent/year; Japanese investors praise Vietnam’s renovation achievements; Vietnam’s monetary market to face difficulties in 2011; Waste energy to be used for cement production

FIFA January ranking, Vietnam ahead of Southeast Asian champion

VietNamNet Bridge – In the first month of 2011, Vietnam ranks higher than Singapore,136th on FIFA ranking.

Agent Orange victim becomes calendar girl

VietNamNet Bridge -  This photograph of 9-year-old Nguyen Thi Ly, an Agent Orange victim in Vietnam, won UNICEF's "Photo of the Year" contest this year. Photo courtesy of Ed Kashi.

SOCIETY IN BRIEF 15/1

Crane crushes its driver to death; Southern fire torches eight buses at station; Police demoted, gangsters caught; Vietnam cracks down on ore smugglers; Blaze causes loss of nearly $360,000 in Mekong Delta         

ART & ENTERTAINMENT IN BRIEF 15/1

154 outstanding contributors to Hanoi’s 1000th birthday honoured; MOCST holds awards ceremony for propaganda posters; Cheaper golf in the late afternoon; Big deal for big wedding parties 

MPI ups the ante on inspections

Vietnam’s investment authorities will intensify inspections of infrastructure development and property projects in 2011 according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

Take more steps can help to cut risk of diabetes: study

Taking more steps each day significantly cuts the risk of the diabetes, Australian researchers said on Friday.

Air cargo volume up 30% in 2010

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam’s overall aviation market returned to double-digit growth in both passenger and cargo segments last year, with cargo shipments surging up to 30% year-on-year, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam.

Foreign media highlights Vietnam’s Party Congress

VietNamNet Bridge - Foreign media has highlighted the 11th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), which opened in Hanoi on January 12.

Traffic law violators to pay fine by stamps?

VietNamNet Bridge – To simplify the procedures if paying fines for traffic accidents and to curb corruption, the Vietnam Auto Transportation Association has proposed relevant agencies to issue a special kind of stamp.

Should electricity, coal and petroleum prices be curbed or floated?

If the prices of essential goods increase, Vietnam may fail to curb the inflation rate. But if not, the producers will continue incurring loss, which will badly affect the national economy.

Handrail breaks, 7 students fall from second floor

VietNamNet Bridge – During the break, the entire handrail of the second floor in a junior high school in the northern mountain province of Bac Kan suddenly broke. Seven sixth graders fell.

Lunar New Year in old capital city

VietNamNet Bridge – What are the special features of the lunar New Year in Vietnam’s ancient capital city of Hue? Let’s see the photos displayed at the “Hue enters Spring” exhibition held by the Thua Thien-Hue Province Photographers’ Association.

Intel reports record Q4, full year results

Chipmaker giant Intel Corp. on Thursday reported that its fourth-quarter revenue increased by 8 percent year-over-year and annual revenue rose 24 percent, saying that 2010 was the best year in the company's history.

Small change conversion service booming during pre-Tet days

The black market is heating up these days with a booming small change conversion service. Despite the exorbitant fees, the services are attracting a lot of clients because commercial banks refuse to give the service to clients.

Delegates make suggestions to develop the country

The Minister of Planning and Investment, the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment and officials of Hanoi and HCM City mounted the rostrum of the 11th National Party Congress to suggest breakthrough solutions to develop Vietnam.

Asian Football Confederation honors Vietnamese coach

VietNamNet Bridge – Coach Mai Duc Chung of Navibank Saigon football club has received the golden medal of the Asian Football Federation (AFC).

Vietnam faces power shortages

VietNamNet Bridge - Viet Nam would face a power shortage of 3 billion kWh this year because of a lack of water in reservoirs, according to Electricity of Viet Nam (EVN).

Vietnam tops world’s cashew and pepper exports

VietNamNet Bridge - Posting an export turnover of $1.14 billion in 2010 from shipping abroad 196, 000 tonnes of cashew nuts, Vietnam has been the world’s leading cashew exporters for the fourth consecutive year.