Saigontourist opens Saigon–Ban Gioc Resort; Special tour to Phan Thiet discounted 45 percent; Binh Duong launches passenger bus service to Phnom Penh; Tour prices reduced for New Year; Market offers VND5,000 produce

 A delegation of the National Assembly’s Committee for External Affairs led by its Chairman Tran Van Hang has paid working visits to Mexico and Colombia.

 New schools, care homes and hospitals should be built far away from major roads because of the dangers of air pollution, a report by MPs says.

 VietNamNet Bridge – A government report shows huge debts incurred by state owned enterprises (SOEs) but experts still argue if the huge debts are a threat to the national economy.

 Pham Hong Hai has become the first Vietnamese to serve as chief executive officer (CEO) of HSBC Bank (Vietnam) Ltd. following the approval of the State Bank of Vietnam and the HSBC Group.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Huyen Trang, the winner of Vietnam’s Next Top Model 2011, wore the outfits of Korean designer Lee Jean Youn on the catwalk, with other international models, at the “K-Fashion Project in Milan in 2014".

Central, southern localities brace for typhoon Hagupit; National strategy on pharmaceutical industry launched; ILO announces top three ‘Business Plan’ winners; Ten outstanding Vietnamese students receive Honda Y-E-S Award

More time for investors to change housing projects; Vietnam gets aid to overcome challenges; VTV and Canal+ signing joint venture contract; Vietnamese tea exports to reach $245m in 2014; Central bank: Credit growth nears target

VietNamNet Bridge – The newly amended laws on Investment and Enterprises promise to open up opportunities and improve the business climate in Vietnam, but worries over how strictly these laws will be implemented

VietNamNet shows the collections of two Vietnamese young designers Li Lam and Hoang Minh Ha which were introduced in HCM City on December 4-5.

Typhoon Hagupit is predicted to be located by December 9 about 570 kilometers of Vietnam’s Truong Sa Archipelago’s (Spratly Island) east northeastwards, at 13, 6 degrees north latitude and 119 degrees east longitude.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Enterprises now have the right to determine how much they will spend on ads and marketing activities, but do not have the right to determine the discount rates during promotions.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Ho Chi Minh City-based Cho Ray Hospital has so far this year treated 500 people who were attacked by red-tailed vipers.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam will play powerhouse Japan in a qualifying round of the Asian Football Confederation U23 Championship, following a recent draw in Malaysia.

 VietNamNet Bridge – A collection of Indonesian glass paintings are on display at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology in Hanoi.

 A court case against Apple, which could see the company facing damages of $1bn, might collapse.

 VietNamNet Bridge – November diplomatic activities featured Viet Nam’s efforts in consolidating relations with strategic and traditional partners as well as its active and responsible role in multilateral forums.

 The 2014-15 coffee crop will see output fall by 20 percent due to drought and a large proportion of old trees with low yields, according to Chairman of the Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa Association (Vicofa) Luong Van Tu.

Vietnam Idol kicks off sixth season; Japanese classic orchestra comes back to Vietnam; Award-winning pianist to perform classical repertoire; Innovative artist to give talk at Goethe Institute; Piano recital with Célimène Daudet at Idecaf

VietNamNet Bridge – Square One of the Park Hyatt Saigon, Lemongrass, Nha hang Ngon, La Villa French Restaurant, and Hoi An in HCMC, Le Beaulieu at Sofitel Metropole Hotel and Restaurant Bobby Chinn in Hanoi,