American audience welcome “Floating Lives”

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese movie “Floating Life” was screened at the Billy Wider theater in California last week. The director and leading actors talked with the audience after the show.

SCI-TECH IN BRIEF 10/11

Vinasat-2 credit package into orbit; China Unicom opens Southeast Asia Regional RO in Vietnam; Vietnam’s first joint venture on LTE-based internet broadband services launched

Miss Earth contestants play Vietnamese musical instruments

Participating in a cultural exchange in HCM City on November 8, 20 contestants of the Miss Earth 2010 pageant enjoyed many unique performances. They were very interested in trying Vietnamese traditional musical instruments.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 10/11

Shares rebound on sluggish volume; Companies receive gold quotas; Industry, retail recover, but currency woes remain

Non-state universities puzzled by the “gift” from MOET

The decision by the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) allowing non-state universities to receive more applications does not make them happy as expected.

Business prospers, mini hotels mushrooming in HCM City

The increasingly high number of tourists visiting HCM City has raised the demand for accommodation services. That explains why mini hotels have been mushrooming in the city.

School headmasters do not live on salaries, but on commissions

Every month, headmaster of a day-boarding primary school with 1000 students can pocket 20 million dong which is the “commission” paid by private catering companies.

Hoang Gia Ngoc to compete at Manhunt International

The Silver Prize winner of the Vietnam Supermodel 2010 contest, Hoang Gia Ngoc, has been selected as Vietnamese representative at the world largest male beauty contest in Taiwan from November 10-22.

Ba Den Mountain in Tay Ninh

VietNamNet Bridge – Climbing the mountain sometimes called the roof of Southern Vietnam is a once in a lifetime experience for visitors to Tay Ninh Province.

U.S. company recalls eggs over salmonella scare

Cal-Maine Foods, the nation's leading egg seller and distributor, has ordered a recall of 288, 000 eggs for fear of salmonella contamination, health officials said on Tuesday.

G20 summit spokesperson says Seoul ready for leaders, media

G20 Seoul Summit spokesperson, Sohn Jie-Ae, said Tuesday host South Korea was ready for world leaders and 2,000 to 3,000 journalists around the world expected to gather in Seoul.

GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 10/11

Congratulations to Cambodia; Vietnam, Netherlands cooperate in coping with climate change and sea level rise; Myanmar vote lauded; State President stresses importance of national unity bloc

SOCIETY IN BRIEF 10/11

Accommodation to be offered to additional 200,000 students; Seven prosecuted for slandering journalists; Missing fisherman's body recovered; Slipped disc surgery goes without a hitch; Panama-registered ship sinks in East Sea

It’s now the time to compete by strong brands, not by low charges

Analysts say that mobile phone service providers cannot compete with others by offering low charges. Instead they need to compete with strong brands.

UK helps Vietnam train government spokepersons

VietNamNet Bridge – The British Embassy and the Ministry of Information and Communications (MOIC) will hold a training course for government spokespeople on November 10 in Ha Long city, the northern province of Quang Ninh.

Gold prices dancing, shops sell gold in dribs and drabs

The gold market was burning yesterday with the price increasing in waves. People rushed to purchase gold, but shops only sold gold in dribs and drabs.

Goods prices escalating, people have to tighten their belts

The prices of essential goods have been increasing sharply by 10-20 percent, or even 100 percent just over the past few weeks. But the actual income of regular employees does not increase.

ART & ENTERTAINMENT IN BRIEF 10/11

Indonesian garment firm enters market; Work halted on river restoration; I Am Giant returns to HCM City; Bazaar to raise funds for charity; Ba Na communal house to be rebuilt; Orchestra to hold free concerts

Ha Noi theatres fail to attract sponsors

VietNamNet Bridge – Theatres in Ha Noi have been finding it difficult to get sponsorship or support themselves through ticket sales without funding from the State – unlike their southern counterparts.

Communities deal with ageing populations

VietNamNet Bridge – The burden of bringing up two mentally disabled sons has become easier for 69-year-old war invalid Do Thi Mui since she joined an older people's self-help club three months ago.

Survey puts climate change atop nation's most pressing concerns

VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam is one of only two countries or territories globally where climate change is the people's top concern, according to a survey by HSBC.

HCM City seeks to rebuild levee system

VietNamNet Bridge – Record-high tides on the Sai Gon River and heavy rains over the weekend caused flooding in several residential areas in HCM City, prompting city officials to call for the rebuilding of 58 dykes . . .

Forest stewards group receives certification

VietNamNet Bridge – The Quang Tri Smallholder Forest Certification Group has been awarded the Forest Stewardship Council certification making it the first group of small forest owners in Viet Nam to receive the internationally recognised standard

Ballet tells modern love story

VietNamNet Bridge – South Korean dancers will debut a performance entitled Look Back into Love – Orpheo at the Au Co Theatre in Ha Noi tomorrow, Nov 11.

Three women lead pack in ‘Morning Star' singing contest

VietNamNet Bridge – The three women finalists – and, to many people, the front-runners – in the nation's top reality music show may be attracting an increasing number of fans but they are not resting on their laurels . . .