ART & ENTERTAINMENT IN BRIEF 19/12

Show honours film composer; Action flick kicks off holiday season; VN's first insect photo exhibition opens

GOVERNMENT IN BRIEF 19/12

Vietnamese, Lao provinces enhance cooperation; Vietnam boosts legislative ties with AIPA member; State President sends condolence to Venezuela, Colombia

Living in economic way: the Britain under new policy

Angela Ahrendts, the London-based famous brand Burberry's CEO, was excited to see its luxury goods' profits jumped to a new high this year.

EDUCATION IN BRIEF 19/12

$9million devoted to build Thua Thien Hue’s top secondary school; Denmark to fund art education in primary schools in Vietnam; World Bank steps up support for Vietnam’s higher education

Cu Huy Ha Vu indicted for anti-state activity

The Hanoi People’s Procuracy on Friday issued an indictment on its prosecution of Cu Huy Ha Vu on charges of “disseminating information against the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam”

Belarus remains calm before presidential election

The Belarussian government on Saturday vowed to safeguard a smooth presidential election slated for Sunday.

SOCIETY IN BRIEF 19/12

New suspension bridge collapses in Kon Tum; Man charged over anti-State material; Rough seas hamper search for 24 sailors

For what purpose?

Mr Bui Kien Thanh, senior independent finance expert, tells sees a number of issues with plans to inject funds into state-owned economic groups.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 19/12

Ministry eyes Mideast market; Work starts on linking three power plants with national grid; High-quality salt plant takes shape in Ninh Thuan Province

Police start fight against ATM crimes

The Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security will instruct its forces to help banks to prevent ATM crimes which have become an increasing problem in the country recently.

Cafés no longer just about coffee

In Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi cafés are springing up like mushrooms after a rain. Forced to think of ways to stand out among the clutter and attract customers,

$4 billion mammoth project raises doubts about its feasibility

VietNamNet Bridge – Another mammoth foreign invested project has been licensed. However, people seem to keep cautious this time, because they heard about the collapse of many mammoth projects in the past.

Securities companies do not expect high Tet bonuses

VietNamNet Bridge – 2010 proves to be not a prosperous period for securities companies due to the quietness of the stock market.

Family of floating people receives Vietnam record

VietNamNet Bridge – A family in Ca Mau province in southern Vietnam, has received the Vietnamese record as the family with the most members who can float on water.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 18/12

Gold stalls; dollar up; Vietnam’s biggest supplier says gasoline reserve healthy; Square-head anabas booming in Hau Giang; Floor price for Tra fish comes into effect; Vietnam-key market for Singapore

SOCIETY IN BRIEF 18/12

Villagers knocked off rope bridge; Norway funds bio-security project in Vietnam; Northern mountain gets rare snowfall; Agribank manager arrested for theft; VN vessel sinks in East Sea, 27 fishermen missing

Woman cures terminal diseases by… shaking hands

VietNamNet Bridge – A woman in Vinh Phuc province in northern Vietnam is said to be able to cure incurable diseases by a very simple method.

On golden pond

VietNamNet Bridge – A group of my friends from the US recently travelled to the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta, home to Tra Vinh's legendary Ba Om Pond. While there, they visited Ang Pagoda which people claim is the best vantage point . . .

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT IN BRIEF 18/12

Japanese cartoon week to take place in Hano; HCMC holds concert for heart disease children; Hanoi hosts exhibition of insect photos

Real Vietnamese billionaires still hiding their faces?

Local newspapers regularly release the lists of top 100 stock millionaires every year. However, experts believe that the stock millionaires might not be the richest Vietnamese people.

Food quality uncontrollable

VietNamNet Bridge – While food poisoning has become a big problem, Vietnam’s ability in testing food and its warning system of risks on food hygiene and safety is very poor.

Fans don’t sleep to buy tickets for second AFF semi-final

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.

Vietnam not to ban dubious baby bottles over EU warnings

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.

Hanoi real estate investors marching towards the central region

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.

Banker lends a hand to “dollarisation”?

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.