Overseas destinations attractive to Vietnamese despite economic difficulties; Vietravel cited ‘Best Vietnam Travel Agency’; Vietnam’s tourism in 2013 draft report introduced; Vinpearl to launch new island resort

 ‘House for Trees’, a construction designed by Vietnam’s Vo Trong Nghia Architects Company, was named the award winner of ‘House’ category at the World Architecture Festival, being held in Singapore October 1-3.

 Thai Police have said two Burmese men have apparently confessed to killing two British tourists on Koh Tao island.

 According to the Vietnam Astronomy Association– a total lunar eclipse will occur on October 8 and the entire event will be visible in Vietnam.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The US dollar price in Vietnam has increased slightly, but this is not alarming as demand has always increased in the third quarter of the year.  

 US State Secretary John Kerry announced that the US was partially lifting its ban on the sale of lethal arms to Vietnam during talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh in Washington on October 2.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Some of the most prestigious universities in Vietnam are considering new policies that would admit students based on their capacity instead of knowledge of facts learned at school.

 UFC suspends Cung Le for nine months; Saigon Heat lose to Singapore Slinger 65-79; ASIAD 17: Vietnam wins two bronze medals in taekwondo; Vietnam readies for U19 AFC Championship; Vietnamese players crash out in badminton tourney

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has launched the fourth round of their Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research program to support and build scientific and technical capacity.

 Protesters blockading key parts of Hong Kong have accepted talks with the government, hours after Chief Executive CY Leung rejected calls to step down.

VietNamNet Bridge – Responsible tourism, which is common in western countries, is still in its infancy in Vietnam, with tour operators and hospitality providers starting to join the initiative.

VietNamNet Bridge – The Central Bank of Myanmar has announced the names of nine foreign banks that were licensed in the first phase in this country, without any representatives of Vietnam.

With the votes of over 95.5%, Mr. Tran Van Ron was elected as the Chairman of the southern province of Vinh Long at an extraordinary meeting of the Vinh Long Provincial People’s Council.

 VietNamNet Bridge - In addition to horror and thriller movies, many action and romance films will be released in Vietnam this month, including "Outcast" and "Fury".

VietNamNet Bridge – Low-cost carrier VietJet on October 1 celebrated its burgeoning relationship with South Korea in a ceremony marked by the attendance of Vietnamese and Korean officials in Seoul.

 Karatedo martial artist Nguyen Hoang Ngan won a silver medal in the women's kata (performance) event at the ongoing Asian Games (ASIAD) in Incheon, South Korea yesterday.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Early next month more than 20,000 screaming fans will be able to catch sight of pop idol My Tam, known as Queen of Pop.

 The Supreme People's Procuracy has decided to prosecute a former judge for wrongly imprisoning a man from the northern province of Bac Giang for 10 years.

 The second Latin American film week takes place at Cinematheque located at 22 Hai Ba Trung street in Hanoi from October 6-11.

VietNamNet Bridge - Samsung Heavy Industries - the 3rd largest shipbuilder in the world - is considering opening its first shipyard outside South Korea in Indonesia, Vietnam or Malaysia.