Viet Nam supermarket opens in Cambodia; Interest rates on dollars still high, but dong falls; Processed food tops list of products hit by inflation; Insurance premium grows 20% to $1.5b year-on-year; Bank issues convertible bonds to partners  

VietNamNet Bridge – Despite the cold weather, hundreds of thousands of people flocked to major roads of Hanoi and HCM City to celebrate the New Year 2011.

VietNamNet Bridge – The General Statistic Office on December 31 announced that Vietnam’s unemployment rate in 2010 reached 2.88 percent, including 4.43 percent for the urban and 2.27 percent for the rural area.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has written an article about major contents of the draft socio-economic development strategy for the 2011-2020 period and the country’s key tasks in 2011.

VietNamNet Bridge - Total insurance premiums are estimated to have reached VND30.69 trillion (US$1.57 billion) this year, a rise of 20.3 per cent on last year, according to the Ministry of Finance's Insurance Management and Supervision Department.

VietNamNet Bridge - December’s strong price rise has sent the consumer price index in all of 2010 surging to a higher-than-expected level of 11.75%, thus eroding the country’s hard-won economic gains.

Don village was dubbed the “elephant kingdom” in the Central Highlands for its tradition of taming wild elephants and also worshipping them.

VietNamNet Bridge – Securities companies have experienced a year full of difficulties. Dau tu chung khoan highlights the most noteworthy events of the companies.

VietNamNet Bridge - Rural areas and the agriculture sector have provided the main impetus for the nation's rapid growth in the post renewal period, but the sector has not received sufficient investment or help from the Government, experts say.

Authorized organizations have showed a lack of investigation into some farmers that use pesticides and other stimulants to increase the amount and size of their farm produce.

The end of the year is seeing a sharp rise in smuggling activities, according to border authorities.

Although the military-run Viettel lagged behind Vietnam Post and Telecommunication Group (VNPT) in the VND100 trillion (US$5.14 billion) revenue race in 2010, it has deserved as the winner in terms of real capacity and achievements.

Northern provinces to receive Japan aid for primary school project; Overseas students join new year festival; Hanoi prepares to welcome New Year; Group sculpture show in town

As a goodwill ambassador of the International Red Cross, Chinese Kung-fu movie star Jet Li will visit Hanoi from January 21 to 24.

Vietnam, the source of 99.9% of tra and basa fish exports, expects to reduce outbound shipments of the fish by a hefty 45% to some 360,000 tons next year from this year’s 640,000 tons.

VietNamNet Bridge – The covers of many manholes in Hanoi have been stolen, the holes are dangerous traps for passers-by.

Having been carrying out e-customs clearance at Cat Lai, Tan Cang and Nha Rong-Khanh Hoi ports for the last two weeks, customs agencies hope that this will help simplify procedures and ease cumbersome procedures.

VietNamNet Bridge – The citadel was built in 1822 in Son Tay town, around 60km from Hanoi’s hub. It is now a national historical relic and a tourist attraction in Hanoi.

South Korea restores royal music instruments; Youth Year 2011 to feature various activities; Photo exhibition on Vietnam – Cuba ties opens in Hanoi;

85 percent road accidents caused by drivers’ faults; Vietnamese student beaten up in Australia; Nearly 500 hospitalized for food poisonin; Vietnamese studying abroad meet in Hanoi; Vietnamese sailors seized by pirates off Madagascar