Get a real taste of Viet Nam

VietNamNet Bridge – American pottery artisan Lee Middleman and his wife Donnie decided to spice up their holiday to Viet Nam by joining a cooking class at La Residence Hotel&Spa in the former royal capital city of Hue.

The project on gifted schools raises debates

The Ministry of Education and Training, in an effort to develop the system of gifted schools to find talents for the country, has decided to launch a programme worth 2.3 trillion dong.

Tentative regulations on ATM transactions make people feel inconvenienced

VietNamNet Bridge – The State Bank of Vietnam plans to apply measures to protect card holders, but the measures have not been applauded by the public.

Travel firm hires airplanes for Vietnamese football fans

Immediately after Vietnam beat Singapore 1-0 to enter the semi-finals of AFF Cup 2010, hundreds of fans called travel agents to book trips to Malaysia, where Vietnam and Malaysia will meet in the first semi final game on December 15.

Tien Minh to face ASIAD champion at Hong Kong Super Series quarter-finals

VietNamNet Bridge – Beating host player Yun Hu at the Hong Kong Super Series Badminton Tournament, Vietnam’s top player Tien Minh will meet the current champion of Asian Games 2010, China’s Lin Dan at the quarter-final round.

Team to probe high interest rates

VietNamNet Bridge - The State Bank of Vietnam on Wednesday set up an investigative team led by the bank's deputy governor, Tran Minh Tuan to work with Hanoi-based banks to inspect unusually high interest rates.

Miss Earth 2010 beauty queens in HCM City

VietNamNet Bridge – The new Miss Earth 2010 Nicole Faria, Miss Earth Water and Miss Earth Fire paid a visit to the HCM City Urban Environment Company on December 9.

HCM City-London air-route to be set up

VietNamNet Bridge – The new UK Ambassador to Vietnam Antony Stokes told the local press on November 9 that he set three priorities for his term in Vietnam to promote the strategic partnership between the two countries.

ART & ENTERTAINMENT IN BRIEF 10/12

Charming Vietnam to be held in Indonesia; Festival to highlight Vietnam’s rice tradition; Quang Binh reserves 21 ancient Ca Tru tunes; Vietnam spotlighted in works of overseas artist; Flowers and women featured in 'sisters' exhibition

WWF to send official to Vietnam over catfish row

The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) global seafood coordinator, Mark Powell, will visit Vietnam next week, according to the WWF Vietnam.

Injuries pose defense problems for Calisto

VietNamaNet Bridge - For Vietnam’s coach Henrique Calisto, the backline has become a headache ahead of the Suzuki Cup semifinal against Malaysia on December 15 after two key defenders sustained injuries.

Vietnam minister says Vinashin should make its own debt payment

A Vietnamese minister said state-owned Vietnam Shipbuilding Industry Group, known as Vinashin, should make a US$60 million debt payment on its own as the government offers to help the company become profitable.

Interpol to probe $10 mln banknote graft

VietNamNet Bridge - Interpol Vietnam will investigate accusations that an Australian firm paid over US$10 million in bribes to a Hanoi-based company to secure a banknote-printing contract.

Indochina Airlines still hit by turbulence

VietNamNet Bridge - The VND25 billion ($1.25 million) bad debt Indochina Airlines owes to aviation fuel supplier Vinapco would have been avoidable if the latter had received more justified instructions from relevant authorities.

Int’l recognition sought for Vietnam's largest lake

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam will apply for the inscription of the Ba Be National Park on the Ramsar List of Westlands of International Importance, the government said Saturday.

Vietnam to invest $42 million in cybersecurity to counter attacks

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam's Ministry of Information and Communications has unveiled a US$42 million, 10-year plan to bolster the country's cybersecurity defenses in response to increasing cyberattacks.

City schools add yoga

VietNamNet Bridge - Yoga has become a part of the daily routine for Ho Chi Minh City schoolchildren - grades K to 12. 

Australian scientists in peanut allergy treatment breakthrough

Australian scientists have identified peanut proteins that could be translated into the world 's first treatment for the often lethal food allergy, said Professor Robyn O'Hehir from Melbourne's The Alfred hospital and Monash University on Friday.

Ronaldo says tired of soccer

During the 2010 International Forum of Soccer, the Footecon, Corinthians striker Ronaldo declared on Wednesday that he is getting tired of the sport.

Colombian rescuers find 53 bodies after landslide

Colombian rescuers have found 53 bodies after a landslide in the northwest of Colombia, official sources said on Thursday.

HCM City lights up for Christmas

VietNamNet Bridge – December marks the beginning of the world's leading festive season as people prepare to celebrate Christmas and welcome the New Year.

GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 10/12

VN, Japan hold defence talks; Viet Nam, N Korea increase bilateral co-operation; ASEAN, EU strengthen bilateral ties; Luxembourg continues to back Vietnamese relations with EU

Coaches lack safety equipment

VietNamNet Bridge – Most coaches based out of Ha Noi's terminals lack safety equipment such as emergency hammers, fire-extinguishers and seatbelts.

Vietnam asks WWF to remove tra fish from red list

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam has requested World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) members in a number of European countries remove its tra (Pangasius) fish from the red list of the guidance manual for seafood consumers in 2010-2011,

VN plans to put end to TB within 20 years

VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam plans to eliminate tuberculosis by 2030. The National Tuberculosis Prevention Programme yesterday revealed its strategy for the next five years to reduce the prevalence of TB by half of the estimated incidence in 2000.