VietNamNet Bridge – Rapid economic development during the past decade has driven changes in many aspects of Vietnamese life, with families and society seeing a transition towards a more modern lifestyle.

This month's issue of our news magazine Outlook examines how Vietnamese families have changed during the past decade of rising incomes, urbanisation and global integration.

Outlook, which goes on sale in Ha Noi, HCM City and other major centres this morning, reports that while traditional values continue to play an important role in society, trends such as a rising divorce rate have seen dramatic changes in family life.

We report on the growing number of Vietnamese people who chose not to get married in the first place, opting for the freedom of being single, while our story on the growing ranks of elderly explores the implications of an ageing population.

Elsewhere in this issue, we visit a village of woodworkers in the northern province of Hai Duong, meet an entrepreneur who is selling Vietnamese medicinal fungi in Europe and find out how Ethnic Xo Dang families in the Central Highlands have helped to ensure a better education for local children.

Readers can also catch up on what's hot in the country's culinary, sports and arts scenes - and check out listings for everything from bars to embassies. Outlook retails for VND15,000 at news-stands, major hotels and restaurants and can be purchased at the head office of the Viet Nam News at 11 Tran Hung Dao, Ha Noi, or at our HCM City office at 120 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News