There is still one week left before Christmas but the festive atmosphere is hard to avoid with many streets colourfully decorated in the capital city of Hanoi.

 VietNamNet Bridge – A project to build playgrounds for children in urban areas won a US$3,500 prize on Saturday. 

Fansipan mountain in Sapa district in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai has been covered with snow and frost on December 19.

The General Statistics Office (GSO) has announced there was an excess of exports over imports of $2.8 billion in the first 11 months of the year. 

VietNamNet Bridge - Two resorts invested by real estate giant Sun Group were presented with top prizes at the 24th World Travel Awards (WTA) 2017 ceremony, held in Phu Quoc Island on December 10.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Many university lecturers in Vietnam are not qualified as they hold below standard degrees, statistics recently released by Ministry of Education and Training revealed.

 The Korean band GOT7 are set to liven up Ho Chi Minh City with a concert on January 19 along with the participation of numerous Vietnamese singers.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Two years after joining the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC), Vietnam’s labourers have not tapped the opportunities brought about by greater labour mobility, 

 What will you be like in your 80s? Living independently, robust in body and mind, with a wide social circle?

After being audited by the State Audit Office of Vietnam, the corporate value of Vinalines increased by VND1.35 trillion ($59.4 million) with the state-owned capital increase of VND1.8 trillion ($79.2 million), compared to the previous statistics.

 Along with Vinamilk and Vingroup, numerous Vietnamese brands have stopped advertisting on the world’s largest online video site YouTube after their advertisements were linked to clips containing poor content.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The HCM City Magic Club’s 44 magicians, most of whom work for traditional art theatres and circus troupes, will begin performing this week in the city.

 The EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement will offer direct opportunities to Vietnam to upgrade its textile and garment sector.

 According to the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA), Vietnam will have to cut 669 tariff lines to zero percent in January 2018.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Nguyen Thuy Linh won the Yonex Italian International badminton tournament on December 17.

 Local people in Danang City's Ngu Hanh Son District are complaining about the slow re-opening of roads to the beaches which have been blocked by beach-side resorts.

Cycling machines attached to a water filtration system have been installed on the bank of Hoang Cau Lake in Hanoi. These have not only helped local people to do their exercise, but also keep the lake clean.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Sanna Khanh Hoa have earned a ticket to compete in the final of the Toyota Mekong Club Championship 2017.

 The underground military operation bunker where the Vietnamese government worked during the American War in Thang Long Imperial Citadel has been opened to visitors for the first time.

 A series of projects belonging to real estate giants such as Vingroup, Bitexco, Geleximco, and the BIM Group will be included in the inspection plans of the Ministry of Construction (MoC) in 2018.