Vietnam and Belgium reached consensus on many measures to boost bilateral cooperation during the first Vietnam-Belgium political consultation at deputy foreign ministerial level in Hanoi on October 15.

 VietNamNet Bridge – As many as 2,500 people and 689 vehicles will take part in the 2013 ASEAN Disaster Emergency Response Simulation Exercise (ARDEX-13) scheduled for October 23 in Vietnam.

Nearly 20 years ago, Catherine Karnow followed General Giap to Dien Bien to take photograph of veterans who jubilantly welcomed him. Now, she flew halfway around the world to Hanoi to witness millions of people bidding farewell in the General.

VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam and Russia need to deepen their comprehensive, strategic co-operation partnership, President Truong Tan Sang said yesterday, Oct 16.

After two days of negotiations on Iran's nuclear issue, the world powers and the Islamic republic agreed on Wednesday to meet again in Geneva on Nov. 7-8.  

 The northern province of Quang Ninh will open a tourism office on Jeju Island in South Korea to promote its image and lure more Korean travelers under a cooperation agreement between the two localities.

 The death toll from a recent powerful earthquake in central Philippines jumped to 156 while 22 others were still missing, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Thursday.

 All 47 people aboard Lao Airlines flight QV301 are believed to have died when the plane crashed yesterday afternoon, Oct 16, in bad weather, according to state run news agency KPL.

 The US economy and consumer confidence have taken significant hits from a two week federal government shutdown, economists say, and a major dent to already sluggish American growth is expected.

Top Vietnamese chess player Le Quang Liem got off to a good start with victories in his two first matches at the 2013 Spice Cup Chess Tournament in the United States.

 Hollywood glitz descends on the Japanese capital this week as Tom Hanks, Robert de Niro and Francis Ford Coppola arrive for one of Asia's largest movie celebrations.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnamhas announced the list of infrastructure projects in the field of aviation. In which, the construction of four airports will cost more than VND170 trillion ($8.1 billion).

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Government Inspectorate has announced that it had found misuse of public funds totalling VND354 billion (US$16.8 million) in four public projects.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam wants to accept the Cape Town Convention and Aircraft Protocol, an international convention that enables nations to access low-cost finance to develop its aviation.

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese artists will have the chance to showcase surreal and imaginative works at this year's Singapore Biennial, which will open next Saturday and attract 82 artists and 27 curators from around 13 countries.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Transport Minister Dinh La Thang has sought an additional VND65 trillion (USD3.1 billion) for the Ho Chi Minh road project, but the National Assembly Standing Committee raised concerns over the capacity to mobilise the capital.

 VietNamNet Bridge - Being in the sprint stage for the Australian Junior Open 2014, Ly Hoang Nam will skip the 2013 South East Asian Championships in Thailand this November.

Vietnam now has the opportunities to sign three free trade agreements with the three biggest trade zones in the world – the Trans Pacific Strategic Economic Partnership, the Vietnam – EU Partnership and Cooperation, and the ASEAN + 6 Agreements.

A lot of big investors rushed to Ha Giang province to exploit minerals. Many of them have become moneyless as they injected money in empty holes under the earth, while the local land has become deserted.

The three biggest mobile network operators have affirmed that the 20-40 percent 3G service fee increase from October 16 is not big enough to make profit. Meanwhile, users, believing the service fee is too high, have threatened to boycott the service.