VietNamNet Bridge – More than 900 tonnes of persistent organic pollutants (POP) in 12 contaminated sites have been destroyed over five years via a POP elimination project funded by the UNDP.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Insurance enterprises accumulated more than VND152.5 trillion (US$6.7 billion) to reinvest this year, up 18 per cent against last year,

  Vietnamese photographer Ly Hoang Long got Special Mention award in the “Best Single Image in a Portfolio” category at the Travel Photographer of the Year 2015 photo contest for his “Bamboo Fishing Basket” photo.

 Japanese breed raised in central highlands under special conditions sells for a fraction of the price of imported beef.

  American installation painter and sculptor Mark Cooper will put on an art exhibition called “YU YU Vietnam BLUE” between December 28 and January 9 at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, organizer ACCAViet said in a statement.

  The central province of Thanh Hoa on December 25 announced 10 tours of Thanh Hoa city and five tours linking major tourism sites in the province.

 Dang Pham Phuong Chi was sashed Miss Jewellery Vietnam 2015 at the pageant grand finale on December 24 at the Cultural Friendship Palace in Hanoi.

 Nguyen Sy Hien was appointed chairman of the National Coach Council, according to the Viet Nam Football Federation (VFF).

 AKE OME! 2016 festival will introduce Japanese traditional and modern art performances at the Giang Vo Exhibition Centre in downtown Ha Noi on December 26-27.

Masan Group Corporation (MSN) yesterday announced the signing of a partnership agreement with Thailand's Singha Asia Holding Pte Ltd worth as much as US$1.1 billion.

 Vietnam had 120.6 million mobile subscriptions by the end of this year, according to a report from the Viet Nam Telecommunications Authority.

 Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has instructed authorities at Gia Lam District's Ninh Hiep Commune to investigate complaints about the construction of a trade centre.

 Forty-five vocational schools around the country will pilot a programme to teach international curricula in 34 vocations to improve the quality of human resources.

 A tourist cruise burst into fire yesterday on its route running around famous Ha Long Bay. All 25 people on board were safely evacuated.

 Khanh Hoa Province's authorities will inspect accusations that Nha Trang Sao JSC have damaged the environment of Nha Trang Bay through their project.

 Nearly 20,000 new drug users are recorded in Vietnam every year, it was reported at a conference to share experience in detoxification and re-integration of ex-addicts into society held in Hanoi on December 25.

National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung arrived in Hunan province on December 25 as part of his official visit to China.

Politburo member and Minister of Public Security Tran Dai Quang paid courtesy calls to the Lao Party and State leaders in Vientiane on December 25, part of his working visit to the neighbouring country.

The National Committee for APEC 2017 held the third session in Hanoi on December 25 to review preparations done so far this year for the country’s hosting of events of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum two years from now.

The defence ministries of Vietnam and Laos sign an agreement on their cooperation in 2016 after talks between the two defence ministers in Vientiane on December 25.