VietNamNet Bridge – The chairman of the HCM City’s People’s Committee has urged district authorities to seek long-term measures to free up pavements in an aim to beautify the city and maintain security and order.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The percentage of Vietnamese citizens with health care insurance has risen dramatically, reaching 81.7 per cent as of last year thanks to new regulations in the Health Insurance Law,

 VietNamNet Bridge – A spate of fires in the ancient town of Hoi An is causing concern for citizens and local authorities. A project on fire fighting and prevention is looking for funding of VND240 billion.

Last month, while Kieu Van Manh was delivering timber in the capital city’s Thach That District, the planks of wood he was carrying came into contact with the overhead power lines and caused a 23-minute power outage for the two districts

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Hoan Kiem District police in Ha Noi have slapped a woman with a fine of VND6 million (US$266) for littering a pavement.

 VietNamNet Bridge – No list of Ha Noi’s best reading spots would be complete without a mention of the BFree library.

 VietNamNet Bridge – When Tran Xuan Huong’s husband was hospitalised last year after his cancer got worse, she took him to a big military hospital in Ha Noi in the hope of saving his life.

 VietNamNet Bridge – As a child, Nguyen Thi Hai Yen of Dong Trieu Town in the northern province of Quang Ninh Province dreamed of becoming a teacher. A serious accident, in which Yen lost both legs, threatened to end that dream.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Hoang Thi Bao Tram of Viet Nam maintained her position as the No 1 master in Zone 3.3 Chess Championship’s women’s category after four rounds.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The municipal administration has asked local authorities to urgently take preventive measures against a possible A/H5N1 bird flu outbreak.

 VietNamNet Bridge – A flock of 18 red-headed cranes has recently returned to Phu My Reserve in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Kien Giang, according to Nguyen Phong Van, director of the reserve.

Viet Nam has proposed four priorities for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum that it is hosting this year: sustainable and inclusive growth, regional economic integration, promotion of small and medium business

Ha Noi’s People’s Committee has implemented measures to improve the pedestrian streets around Hoan Kiem Lake. Also, a public drinking water system will be installed around the lake for the first time to serve locals and tourists.

Artists from Singapore Technology and Design University, Viet Nam’s Fine Arts Association, colleges in Ha Noi and local painters are collaborating on a coracle painting for an exhibition in Quang Nam Province’s Tam Thanh fishing village.

The red streak that appeared in the waters around the Vung Ang economic zone in the central province of Ha Tinh – the same area still reeling from the consequences of the Formosa toxic spill – was confirmed to have been caused by algal bloom.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung has urged relevant ministries and agencies to speed up construction of two key rail projects in Ha Noi.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Three young Japanese travelers – Suzuki Yuuji, Hirano Ken and Takahashi Keisuke – paid a stop at the central city during their world Jinrikisha (hand-pulled rickshaw) tour yesterday.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Phuong Mai talks to HCM City authorities about the latest plan to liven up the city’s streets.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Spring and the Lunar New Year is a great time for many obvious reasons.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Many infants have been abandoned at Ky Quang II Pagoda in HCM City’s Go Vap District which is also home to children with disabilities.