Vietnam ranked the 75th out of 141 countries in the World Economic Forum (WEF)’s Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI), five grades higher than 2013.

 Inra Jaya is a Cham ethnic minority who has travelled extensively to many countries around the globe and strongly believes that tourism is the catalyst that will preserve the group’s way of life.

 A wedding fashion show for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people will be held for the first time in Vietnam in Hanoi on May 16, Tuoi Tre newspaper reports.

 VietNamNet Bridge – World junior No 14 Ly Hoang Nam has been seeded No 7 at the 56o Trofeo Bonfiglio's boys' singles, which will be played May 18-24 in Milan, Italy.

 VietNamNet Bridge - On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of German-Vietnamese diplomatic relations, the Goethe-Institute is introducing a new generation of German artists at the “New Painting from Germany” exhibition.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vovinam, a unique Vietnamese martial arts form, is going to be featured in a Hollywood action film that will be shot by the end of this year.

VietNamNet Bridge - The Ministry of Finance (MOF) fulfilled only one-fourth of the yearly government bond issuance plan by the end of April, raising concerns that the state budget would not have money to spend this year.

 Concerns raised over airport rights, SBV seeks fresh impetus for green credit growth, Gov't approves hi-tech agricultural zones plan, Japanese insurer signs deal with HDBank, Vietnam, India boost cooperation in automobile industry

 Foreign enterprises remain upbeat over Vietnam’s business climate, according to high-profile surveys.

 A portrait of the late President Ho Chi Minh made of thousands of white and pink lotuses will be on display on May 17 at Dai Tue Pagoda, Nam Dan district in the central province of Nghe An.

PM Nguyen Tan Dung has expressed his support to the Chinese province of Yunnan ’s proposal to launch a direct flight to Vietnam and build a cross-border economic cooperation zone, a joint project with the northern border province of Lao Cai.

 A group of banyan trees with the oldest dating almost 600 years old in Thien Huong hamlet, Dong Van district in northern mountainous Ha Giang province was recognised as a national heritage on May 11.

VietNamNet Bridge - Insiders believe that an unreasonable examination scheme and lack of transparency are the two reasons that led to many good candidates failing the Hanoi civil service exam.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The American television network ABC (American Broadcasting Company) will make a live broadcast of a Good Morning America programme featuring one Viet Nam's natural wonders.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Two Vietnamese films, Big Father, Small Father and Other Stories and Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass, will be shown at the 68th Cannes Film Festival.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Plans to increase water tariffs in HCM City by 10.5 per cent annually in 2015-19 are part of a water supply master plan submitted recently to the city People's Committee for approval by related departments.

VietNamNet Bridge - With a price of $800 million, Keangnam Landmark 72, a 72-storey building in Hanoi has not attracted either local or foreign investors, analysts say.

Foreigners are not permitted to own more than 30% of the total units of a building in Vietnam, according to a draft decree compiled by the Ministry of Construction to guide the enforcement of the revised Housing Law, which will take effect on July 1.

 Singapore agrees to share anti-corruption experience with Vietnam, Public security minister greets Cambodia interior official, Yunnan Governor welcomed in Hanoi, Dien Bien collectives awarded with Lao Friendship Order, Medal

 The 13th National Assembly Standing Committee convened its 38th session in Hanoi on May 11 to prepare for the upcoming ninth sitting of the 13th legislature.