Banks which are not given credit growth quotas should be restructured, says a senior official of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV).

Due to inefficiencies related to the country's 3G mobile service providers, the licence for the more modern 4G service will be put on hold until around 2018, experts have said.

Vietnam’s economic downturn and lower consumption have not stopped retailers from moving into Hanoi’s three newest shopping centres.

After a two hour drive from Hanoi you will arrive at Giang Mo village in Cao Phong district of Hoa Binh province, where Muong people live in a wonderfully idyllic setting.

Viet Nam supports moves made by the international community, including the Arab League, to restore stability and hold talks that focus on national reconciliation and peace in Syria.

VietNamNet Bridge – The name “cancer village” has been given to a village in Hanoi – Tu Chau hamlet, Lien Chau commune, Thanh Oai district. One hundred people in the hamlet have died in the last 20 years.

VietNamNet Bridge – Several years ago, investors eagerly and noisily entered the real estate market. Nowadays, they leave the market quietly.

Vietnam’s top chess player Le Quang Liem could not defend his championship at Aeroflot 2012, but the failure temporarily makes him oust from the list of international super-great masters because his Elo is deducted by nearly 20 points.

People often stay away from mental madmen but Mr. Ha Tu Phuoc, 47, a driver in Pleiku City in Gia Lai province, takes them home and treat them like their father. Phuoc has quietly pursued this charity career for a dozen of years.

Firms welcome lending interest rate cuts; Stock market thirsty for new cash flow; Property firms see profits dwindling to zero; Vietnam targets US$12b in mobile phone exports; PCI 2011 to be released next week; Ministry ponders cut in gas tax  

VietNamNet Bridge – Speaking about the new logo of Vietnam’s tourism, Nguyen Manh Cuong, Vice chief of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, said that there are always opposite opinions about the new things.

Many banks could report losses this year if interest rates are not cut as expected to help them collect and settle bad debts, independent observers say.

Commercial banks have been told to continue restricting lending in 2012. However, they say in fact, they may not use up the “credit growth quotas”.

VietNamNet Bridge – Political relations between Russia and Vietnam are at a highly developed stage and ties between the two countries will expand constantly in future, said a Russian diplomat.

Universities and junior colleges have complained that the rigid enrolment regulations would put big difficulties for them. However, the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) said it “wont’s make concessions.”

The rapid development of digital media has brought more opportunities to businesses to approach customers. However, it has also brought challenge: the data boom, or Big Data, has made them puzzled.

New British consul general in HCMC, Douglas Barnes has outlined a number of strategic priorities and objectives in different sectors to achieve in the coming years.

There are nine airports in the 14 provinces and cities in the central region, from Thanh Hoa to Binh Thuan. The localities, which still do not have airports, are seeking the permission to build airports.

Apple on Thursday released a developer preview of the next version of the company's Macintosh operating system, bringing some popular features from iPhone and iPad to its Mac computer.

VietNamNet Bridge - One can see raised chicken, hanged clothes, cooking by beehive stove, and etc. in shared corridor of many urban buildings. This is a common picture in villages but currently happens in the cities.