Hoi An to host fourth Vietnam International Choir Competition; Photo show fetes VN-Hungary ties; Photo contest for IPU-132; Vietnam featured at international book fair in India; HCMC’s book street festival to welcome Lunar New Year

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnamese Government has issued a decree on in vitro fertilization techniques and surrogacy conditions for humanitarian purposes.

Under the new import/export tariff scheme effective as of January 1, 2015, a zero tax rate is applied to many import items, but most Vietnamese businesses say this has yet to affect their business.

 EU foreign ministers have agreed to extend existing sanctions against Russia until September.

 Can Gio listed among top 100 sustainable tourism destinations; Info stands launched in town; Central port receives first 2,500 tourists in 2015; Quang Nam achieves six-year tourism development target

At least 26 people have been killed in a series of attacks by Islamist militants in the north of Egypt's Sinai peninsula.

 Viet Nam's U23 team is set to play a friendly match, where the squad will test its skills against Thailand on March 22 in Bangkok, Thailand.

 VietNamNet Bridge - Bamboo Cafe & Fast Food has been closed at Hanoi’s Noi Bai airport and fined VND8million (US$400) for selling a dish not listed on the menu, vegetarian instant noodles, for VND100,000 ($5) a bowl.

 The National Women's Football Championship will be kicked off on March 5 with seven participating teams, one more than the previous years.

 Vietnamese Pham Van Phuong won two titles during the second leg of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) 's Asia 14 and Under Championships, Division II, which concluded in HCM City yesterday.

 Electricity tariffs will be hiked up to 9.5 per cent in 2015, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

 The Foreign Ministry will continue assisting foreign media this year to bring a realistic picture of Vietnam to the world, Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Minh Khoi told a gathering of foreign reporters and press attachés in Hanoi on January 29.

VietNamNet Bridge – The public has been stirred up by the news that “a Vietnam-made smartphone, comparable to the iPhone” will be launched on the market in several months.

The European Union (EU) has renewed its commitment to supporting Vietnam’s multi-dimensional transitional process, as evidenced by its increase of non-refundable aid from 300 million EUR to 400 million EUR for 2014-2020.

Vietnam, Indonesia co-operate on education; NA Vice Chairwoman welcomes Lao Justice Minister; New ambassador to Singapore presents credentials; Party chief urges thorough preparations for Party Congresses

 The ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) Retreat in Malaysia on January 28 was a success, contributing to determining the vision and future of the alliance during 2015 when Malaysia is the ASEAN Chair, said ASEAN chief Le Luong Minh.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Frustrated and incensed residents of Huong Phuoc and Tan Cang villages in Dong Nai Province have been blocking roads used by quarries to transport rocks since Monday.

The General Department of Customs (GDC) says it does not how to tax a so-called “strange vehicle”, a motorhome, because several government agencies have been unable to classify it properly.

 The EU and Vietnam are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2015.

All ASEAN member states agreed to speed up implementation of action plans to complete the remaining 20% of the tasks required to formally establish the ASEAN Community at the end of this year.