Real estate sector eyes recovery; Overhaul of banks to force mergers; Official warns about liquidity shortage in 2012; Fuel company fears losing money owed by partner; Dollar prices down as demand slumps ahead Tet   

The nation's stock exchanges saw fairly active trading last week as rising blue chips and renewed foreign investor interest created some new enthusiasm for the lagging market.

Vietnam’s tourism ambassador Ly Nha Ky has left for Taiwan, China, to advertise the national culture and call for foreign investment into the country.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has allocated the 2012 fuel import quotas to 13 major petrol distributors.

Information about Vietnam’s dancing robot, which was introduced at the International Consumer Electronics Show 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada on January 10, has appeared on world leading newspapers and journals on science and technology.

The Vietnamese dong has increased its attractiveness as a result of the State Bank of Vietnam ’s monetary policies, SBV Governor Nguyen Van Binh said.

Exhibition features Vietnamese culture; Artists presented with Golden Apricot Blossom Awards; Photos salute capital chairman; Student’s designs featured at Hong Kong fashion week; Paris exhibition features Vietnamese

For an update on the cruise ship that ran aground off the coast of Tuscany in Italy. A third survivor has been found inside the ship, but some 40 people still remain unaccounted for.

In 2011, the Vietnamese distribution market received two more big brands – Japanese Aeon and Hong Kong’s Giant. As such, Vietnam just needs British Tesco and the US Wal-mart to gather enough the world’s biggest distributors.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Sunday, in his first public reaction to France's credit rating downgrade, vowed to carry out more reforms to lead the country out of crisis, local media reported.

VietNamNet Bridge – Models Minh Tu and Minh Vuong have been selected for the Young Faces of Asia competition in South Korea from January 15 to 18.

VietNamNet Bridge – On a visit to the Viet Art Centre, I found myself in a world of household utensils and working instruments from years gone by, but I could not touch or hold any of them.

VietNamNet Bridge – Calligraphers grouped up at Vietnam’s first university – the Temple of Literature – in Hanoi in the morning of January 13, ready to give scripts for Tet. This year young calligraphers are absent from the event.

Vietnam is a bright example for nations in the world which are struggling for independence, freedom and equality.

Some “big guys” – the owners of securities companies once intended to “give up the games” in 2011 because of the “stock market crisis”, but many others could see opportunities in the difficulties.

VietNamNet Bridge – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has sent an express message to the four Ministries of Public Security, Transport, Industry and Trade and Science & Technology asking these agencies to urgently investigate vehicle fires.

 Northern areas to have a cold Tet; Hydrofoil bursts into flame; Man kills wife then attempts suicide; Driver trapped in burning taxi dies

VietNamNet Bridge – My Tam and Karik walked away with the Favourite Singer awards at the Viet Nam Music Video Competition (VMVC), held yesterday at the Nguyen Du competition hall in HCM City.

VietNamNet Bridge – Five projects by Vietnamese artists have been awarded grants from the British Council Arts Fund.

The Standard & Poor's downgrading of nine eurozone nations, on first impression, might sound like a heavy blow towards eurozone market sentiment. But analysts believe its follow-on effects may be limited.