Vietnam has asked China not to conduct oil drilling and promptly pull its Haiyang Shiyou 981 drilling rig out of the mouth of the Gulf of Tonkin, Foreign Ministry’s spokesman Le Hai Binh said on January 19.

VietNamNet Bridge – The giant turtle of Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi reportedly died in the afternoon of January 19. This was shocking news to Hanoians in particular and Vietnamese in general.

 Delegates heading to the upcoming 12th National Party Congress expressed their confidence in the success of the significant political event, which is expected to boost national development and reforms in a rapid and sustainable manner.

 The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) on January 15 announced it’s list of the top 10 tourism activities and events in 2015.

  The world's oldest man, a Japanese who died at the age of 112, said his secret to a long life was not to smoke, drink or overdo it.

  Some 150 journalists from more than 20 foreign media organisations will be covering the Vietnam's 12th National Party Congress in Hanoi from January 20-28.

 The uninterrupted cold front is forecasted to affect directly to the northern region by January 21, reported the National Hydrology Meteorology Forecast Center yesterday.

Work will begin on Nguyen Hue Flower Street in HCM City next Thursday, five days earlier than scheduled, as the project will cover the entire pedestrian area on Nguyen Hue Boulevard, which will be far larger than in previous years.

Olympic and tourism officials in Brazil downplayed risks for foreign visitors from the mosquito-borne Zika virus on Monday, even as the health ministry warned pregnant women to consult doctors before visiting the country amid a widening scare.

 VietNamNet Bridge – A tamarind tree of over 100 years old, weighing more than 2 tons in the shape of a dragon, owned by gardener Nguyen Kim Tan in Thu Duc district is one of the most special tamarind trees in Saigon and Vietnam.

 Events in Vietnam's major cities from Jan.15 to 30. Daily updated

 Glenn Frey, the prolific guitarist, singer, songwriter and founding member of the Eagles, died on Monday at age 67, the American rock band known for "Hotel California" and dozens of other hits said on its website.

European shares fell on Monday, following Asia lower and led by banks after the European Central Bank said it would quiz euro zone lenders about high levels of bad loans, while oil prices tumbled on the prospect of more supply from Iran.

VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Transport has approved a circular permitting drivers traveling in residential areas to increase their maximum speed by 10km/h compared to current laws.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The United States International Trade Committee (ITC) has decided to continue anti-dumping investigation on Circular Welded Carbon-Quality Steel Pipes (CWP) imported from Viet Nam,

VietNamNet Bridge – HCM City will face its most severe drought in six decades over the next few months, the weather office has forecast, warning there will be a severe shortage of water for irrigation and saltwater intrusion up its rivers.

Regarding information that Uber Vietnam transfers VND1 billion (nearly $50,000) daily to the Netherlands, Uber Vietnam Director Dang Viet Dung said that most of the profits were transferred to transport partners and drivers in Vietnam.

VietNamNet Bridge – Skyscanner, the world’s travel search engine, has released the list of destinations with the most appropriate weather in March including Con Dao Island of Vietnam. 

Finland fund raises DLG stake, Vietnam becoming tech firm hub, Oil price scenarios developed to balance state budget, HCM City’s improved investment climate attractive to investors, Rubber industry suffers from falling prices

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese boxers and Southeast Asian Games champions Luu Thi Duyen and Ha Thi Linh have left for Thailand to train for the upcoming Asian zone Olympic qualifier.