VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam and the US have signed a memorandum of intent (MOI) which will pave the way for the cleanup of dioxin in Da Nang.

Despite the existing worries about high inflation, trade gaps and macroeconomic uncertainties, the big economic achievements in 2010 allows Vietnam to confidently start 2011 and enter a new period of development.

VietNamNet Bridge – The education budget will be 2.9 per cent higher this year at VND5 trillion (US$256 million), according to the Ministry of Education and Training.

VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Education and Training will closely monitor admissions by universities and colleges this year, especially new ones that lack facilities, to ensure their intake does not exceed their allotted quota.

VietNamNet Bridge – Kindergarten principals in big cities say the quality assessment standards drafted by Ministry of Education and Training last month are nice in theory, but unworkable.

VietNamNet Bridge – The prices of Tet (Lunar New Year) tours have increased by 15-30 per cent over normal days but many of them are fully booked and cannot accept more customers.

Over 11,000 tourists visit Ha Long Bay at New Year; Tourists to Hung Kings Temple at New Year increase by 30 percent; Vietnam, South Africa cooperate in tourism; Hai Phong welcomes 450 New Year foreign visitors

VietNamNet Bridge – World No 8 Nguyen Tien Minh kicks off his 2011 at the Victor-BWF Super Series Final in Chinese Taipei on January 5-9.

Icy winds isolate Phu Quy Island; HCM City generates 275,000 jobs in 2010; VND1.6 trillion for building new rural areas; Illegal businesses take over HCM City riverbanks; Charity event raises $315 million for impoverished

VietNamNet Bridge – No child abuse, no violence at school, no traffic jam, more places for amusement, less heavy school curriculum. These were among the demands children and teenagers made to the HCM City authorities at a meeting

VietNamNet Bridge – Traditional markets in HCM City are badly polluted due to lack of wastewater treatment systems and deteriorated infrastructure facilities, according to the city Environment Protection Sub-department.

VietNamNet Bridge – A reported 700 people were hospitalised because of food poisoning last week in HCM City, raising fears about hygiene in the run-up to the Tet (Lunar New Year).

VietNamNet Bridge – Foreigners should enjoy simplified administrative procedures when it comes to obtaining residence permits from early April thanks to a new Government resolution.

Egypt resorted to all its resources to abort the vicious terrorist plot after the attack against Alexandria's church, and security was tightened up around churches across the country to welcome Christmas which Copts celebrate on January 7.

U.S. stocks ended at new highs in more than two years on Monday, the first trading day of 2011, as investors were feeling more optimistic about the outlook of the U. S. economy.

Smoking in enclosed public areas in Spain is now illegal after an anti-smoking law became effective on Sunday.

South Korean President Lee Myung-bak said in his New Year's speech Monday that the door for inter- Korean dialogue remains open, but stressed that "any provocation" by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea will not be tolerated.

South Korea on Monday decided to expand areas where vaccination will be administered in the face of the country's severest outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), the government said.

China's Ministry of Public Security Monday enacted emergency procedures to cope with freezing rain in the nation's southern provinces, aiming to restart road traffic which often came to a halt because of icy roads.

VietNamNet Bridge – Bus stations and amusement parks were inundated over the three-day holiday period – despite efforts to alleviate the mayhem.