VietNamNet Bridge – A review of new hydropower plant projects along the Mekong River, especially the Don Sahong Hydropower Plant, was on the agenda at the first meeting of the Mekong River Commission (MRC) Council this year.

VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute (Vinatom) and the United States (US) Westinghouse Electric Company have inked an agreement on human resource training cooperation for Vietnam’s nuclear power plant projects.

 VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam's Next Top Model 2014 has published the first pictures of the Top 16 finalists preparing for the finale, which is scheduled for 9pm on January 17 and will be broadcast live on Vietnam Television’s channel VTV3.

 VietNamNet Bridge introduces the best 11 photos of the photo contest "Da Nang’s panorama". These photos were selected from 2,272 entries by 276 authors at home and abroad.

 By Friday morning, rescuers have rescued three passengers on board a tug boat that sank on the Yangtze River in east China's Jiangsu Province on Thursday, and are still searching for more than 20 missing.

More than 100 timber trucks carrying timber imported from Laos have been waiting for six to 10 days at the Lao Bao international border gate, due to new regulations of the Ministry of Finance on timber inspection.

 Pollution has soared to hazardous levels in Beijing, reaching 20 times the limit recommended by the World Health Organisation.

VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) is considering a higher  import tax on luxury cars and new tax incentives on priority products.

The Goethe Institute in Hanoi is hosting a display of “Ao Dai” in combination with a multimedia installation as the first cultural activity in a series to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Germany and Vietnam in 2015.

 The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has encouraged the national football team to win at least the silver medal at the upcoming Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Singapore this June.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Work on an eight-floor operation centre and related works for HCM City's second metro route from Ben Thanh Market to Tham Luong began yesterday (Jan 15) in District 12.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs would ask its provincial agencies to evaluate and restructure vocational schools in order to improve their performance,

 VietNamNet Bridge - Due to the influence of cold air from the north, the temperature in Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday morning fell to 18 degrees Celsius.

 The Vietnam Shipping Lines Corporation (Vinalines) set to launch initial public offerings in the first quarter of 2015, General Director Le Anh Son announced.

 Birdman and The Grand Budapest Hotel lead the race for this year's Oscars with nine nominations each.

A delegation from the Chamber of Representatives of Uruguay led by its Speaker Anibal Pereyra will pay an official visit to Vietnam from January 18-22.

 Two suspected jihadists have been killed in an anti-terror operation in eastern Belgium, officials say.

 The 21 st meeting of the Mekong River Commission (MRC) Council focusing on action orientations for 2015 commenced in Hanoi on January 15.

 The Ministries of Public Security of Vietnam and Laos have agreed to intensify cooperation in the fight against organised, trans-national and hi-tech crimes as well as human trafficking and drug smuggling.

 Promoting solidarity, friendship, mutual understanding, and interpersonal exchange between Vietnam and China is crucial to developing the bilateral comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in a stable and healthy fashion.