VietNamNet Bridge – Despite drizzly and cold weather, hundreds of people queued  in front of the My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi from 2 am onwards, on December 16, to buy tickets for the second semi-final game between Vietnam and Malaysia.

VietNamNet Bridge - Although EU has banned plastic baby bottles as they could contain bisphenol-A - a hormone altering agent, Vietnam will not impose such a ban as local tests only detect minute toxic levels.

VietNamNet Bridge – As real estate prices in Hanoi become “toweringly high”, many investors in Hanoi  think that they should no longer limit themselves to local investments, and Da Nang in the central region has become their new destination.

VietNamNet Bridge – The information that a bank in Vietnam offers to provide 2-dollar banknotes to people has immediately sparked criticism of “lending a hand to the dollarisation” in Vietnam.

VietNamNet Bridge – The finals of the fifth Television Charming competition 2010 for beauties from radio and television broadcast stations in Vietnam started in HCM City on December 15.

World Bank steps up support for Vietnam’s higher education; HCM City plans US$135 mln for pre-schools in 5 years; Denmark to fund art education in primary schools in Vietnam; HCMC to force investors to construct educational institutions   

Saigontourist eyes Japanese partners; Tour operators offer discounts; Russian carrier flies to Cam Ranh; Five-star resort opens on island; Central provinces unveil island tours; HCM City luxury hotel rates fall

VietNamNet Bridge – The seventh the 7th International Contest and Exhibition for Young Innovators opened in Hanoi on December 16.

VietNamNet Bridge – President Nguyen Minh Triet has signed into law the Law on National Assembly and People's Council Elections (revised); the Law on Inspection and the Law on Administrative Litigation and the Resolution . . .

Cambodia agrees on religious links; Vietnam calls for stronger ASEAN-Middle East ties; Vietnam hands over CPR chairmanship to Indonesia; Thailand military delegation visits Vietnam

VietNamNet Bridge – The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) and the World Bank (WB) signed an agreement in Hanoi on December 16 to grant US$50 million for the second phase of the Higher Education Development Programme (HEDP).

Vietnam, Myanmar increase two-way trade; Forum to boost US investment in southern hub; HCM City takes lead in e-commerce; International seminar aims to build tourist destination brands; Vietnam produces its first electric cables for ships

VietNamNet Bridge – Education for Nature Vietnam (ENV) on December 16 said that some bear farms in Quang Ninh province have illegally extracted and sold bear bile to tourists.

VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam plans to light up more city streets and use energy-saving public lighting within 15 years. Under the country's urban lighting development plan to 2025, . . .

VietNamNet Bridge – It is high time for Viet Nam to focus on development of green buildings, an academic and architect told a seminar in HCM City yesterday, Dec 16.

VietNamNet Bridge – The Government has earmarked VND730 billion (US$36.5 million) for a national programme that seeks to reduce fatal workplace accidents by at least 5 per cent a year.

VietNamNet Bridge – The municipal People's Committee has approved spending VND780 million (US$39,000) to draw up a taxi management project in the city for the period 2010-15 with a vision to 2030.

VietNamNet Bridge – A cargo ship capsized in waters off the central province of Ha Tinh leaving 25 sailors and two passengers missing in strong gales and rough seas yesterday morning, Dec 16.

VietNamNet Bridge – With the year's peak shopping season, the Tet holidays, approaching, shopkeepers at traditional markets in HCM City are in dire need of funds to stock goods and have to borrow from moneylenders at usurious rates . . .

VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam's second successful adult liver transplant was performed at Viet Duc Hospital on Wednesday.

VietNamNet Bridge – The onus of repairing pavements damaged by vehicles driving on them during road construction is on the road contractors, the HCM City Department of Transport has said.

President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy said on Thursday he saw no need to increase the existing rescue fund at the moment but did not rule out the possibility of doing so in the future.

MySpace and Google on Thursday announced a multi-year agreement to renew and expand the two companies' search and advertising cooperation.

A draft deal from the ongoing UN climate meeting in the Mexican resort city Friday called on rich countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 25 to 40 percent compared with 1990 levels.

European Union (EU) leaders Thursday reached an agreement on a change to the Lisbon treaty to allow for the setup of a permanent rescue mechanism to cope with future debt crisis, a top EU official said.