Ministry makes motorcycle helmets mandatory for students, Dong Thap destroys smuggled cigarettes, Customs detain man after finding heroin in car, Blaze destroys Dien Bien house, workshop, Hanoi sees drop in drug addicts

ANZ raises GDP growth forecast, PVN to develop fuel facility on Phu Quoc, VN-India venture to help manage Bao Viet Fund, HCM City to host int'l maritime exhibition, Trade deficit with China on the rise, Samsung tops list of 500 fastest growing firms

 Minister of Public Security General Tran Dai Quang held talks with Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) James Comey on March 16.

 Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung held a dialogue with hundreds of Vietnamese and Australian business representatives in Sydney on March 17, committing all possible support to them in accordance with the law.

 Southeast Asian countries expect to develop a rubber-trading floor for regional rubber-producing countries to actively fix export rubber prices on the world market, Vietnamese and Thai officials announced during talks.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Rotterdam Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen relations with Ho Chi Minh City in climate change adaptation.

 The HCM City Computer Association signed on Thursday co-operation agreements with the municipal Department of Information and Communication to boost development of the city's information technology sector.

VietNamNet Bridge – Though gold prices remain unchanged and land and securities have become more valuable, the rich still prefer to keep their cash.

 Tourism festival aims to promote heritage sites, Malaysia lures more Vietnamese tourists, Hue’s tourism potential promoted at int’l tourism fairs, HCM City to launch aerial tour with seaplane, Nha Trang offers walk on seabed

 Pioneering surgeons have developed a technique to preserve the bowels when removing pre-cancerous growths.

Photo exhibition depicts country's land and people, Artist sells paintings to save wife's life, Int’l puppetry festival to promote Hanoi tourism, Colourful Vietnam to shine in London, Oxford Dictionary with Vietnamese translation released

 Cuba's state telecom agency Etecsa has granted approval to the artist Kcho to open the country's first public wireless hub at his cultural centre.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Nine-year-old Y Quyet Rya can control an elephant weighing 4 tons, taking him to the forest to seek food and serve tourists in Don Village in Dak Lak province in the Central Highlands of Vietnam.

Authorities launch probe into carnival train accident, Foot and mouth outbreak found in cattle, pigs in north, Complaints on transport hit 1,000 last year, Cigarette smuggling increases after Tet, Motorcyclist remanded to custody

 Vanuatu urgently needs food and relief supplies, officials said, days after Cyclone Pam caused massive devastation across the Pacific nation.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Breakthrough decisions are needed to bring optimism and prosperity to the economy in 2015, economic expert Le Trong Nhi told Nong Thon Ngay Nay (Countryside Today) newspaper.

VietNamNet Bridge – Small shops in alleys and at street corners are proving to be more profitable than flashy luxury shopping malls.

RoK Hanjin group teams up with HNC in express services, VN, Hong Kong garment companies ink cooperation contract, Cosmetics with human stuff banned in VN, Pan Food aims to increase stake in confectioner Bibica

 VietNamNet Bridge – Radical reforms including mergers and introduction of new technologies are needed to help the domestic sugar industry sustain its growth as the country deepens its international integration.

VietNamNet Bridge – The dollar price has been appreciating against the Vietnam dong like other currencies but analysts believe the State Bank will not adjust the dong/dollar exchange in the first half of the year.