Hai Phong customs officials found and seized more than 2.2 tonnes of elephant tusks smuggled into Viet Nam from Mozambique yesterday.

Christine Ha, a vision-impaired woman who won the 2012 US MasterChef contest, yesterday motivated young Vietnamese, to stand up and move ahead to achieve success in life when faced with problems and upheaval.

 The domestic foreign exchange market yesterday remained relatively stable after the United States (US) Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point.

Hanoi Police have detained a person who allegedly led a prostitution ring involving many young girls across the country, the Criminal Police Department said.

  The health ministry yesterday asked health departments nationwide to inspect business units that sell and advertise test sticks for quick detection of cancer.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Sai Gon Medical Equipment Joint Stock Company was ordered to stop selling Pentaxim five-in-one vaccine and return deposited money to parents after an inspection of HCM City Health Department on Wednesday.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The National External Information Service Awards 2015, held by the Central Committee's Commission for Popularisation and Education and the Steering Committee for External Information Service,

 VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam's U23 tied 2-2 with Japanese Cerezo Osaka FC in a friendly match yesterday (Dec 17) in Ha Noi.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam's top tennis player, Ly Hoang Nam, is hoping to make it into to the world's top 500 ranked players next year.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Top Vietnamese badminton player Nguyen Tien Minh entered the third round of the men's singles event at the US$50,000 Mexico Grand Prix yesterday morning (December 17).

VietNamNet Bridge – The People's Court of the southern province of Binh Phuoc yesterday (Dec 17) sentenced Nguyen Hai Duong and Vu Van Tien, both 24, to death on charges of murdering six family members in their home and robbing VND50 million

Nao pe chau, a festival of the Mong ethnic group in the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien, was recognised as part of the national intangible cultural heritage at a ceremony in Nam Pong Village, Muong Dang Commune, Muong Ang District,

 Vietnamese doctors have successfully performed 1,500 kidney transplants, 50 liver transplants and 13 heart cases to date.

  The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee on December 17 chose Trungnam Group to implement the phase 1 of a project to control flooding caused by tides in the City.

 A photo contest themed “Vietnam today” was launched in Hanoi on December 17, aiming to promote the country’s tourism in the eyes of domestic and international tourists.

 More than 60 art troupes from 47 countries worldwide will join 53 local ones in the 2016 Hue Festival, which will take place in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue from April 29 to May 4, 2016.

 The European Parliament (EP) adopted an official resolution ratifying the Vietnam – EU Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA), at a plenary session in Strasbourg city, France, on December 17.

VietNamNet Bridge - The business fields that Thais have poured money to in Vietnam – infrastructure, building materials, retail, consumer goods, food and automobiles – are all fields with great potential.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Terraced fields are recognised by the State as national scenic places and appreciated by international mass media as the peak of beauty crystallised by Vietnamese culture and labour.

 All six Vietnamese students attending the 12th International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO) held in the Republic of Korea brought home medals, according to the Hanoi municipal Department of Education and Training.