The Thai Embassy in Hanoi reaffirmed on August 14 that Vietnamese citizens holding an ordinary passport are not required to obtain a visa when entering Thailand for various purposes.

 Media agencies in the US and Europe have given wide coverage of Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Martin Dempsey’s ongoing visit to Hanoi, noting the visit is one of the highlights of his career.

Given that it suffered damages of over VND8 billion ($400,000) by Metro Cash&Carry’s unilateral termination of its contract, Nhat Thong, a printing company, has filed a lawsuit against the German group in a District 2 court in HCM City.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The historic city of Hoi An, the romantic Thu Bon River and the My Son Sanctuary are destinations that tourists cannot miss when they visit the central province of Quang Nam.

 VietNamNet Bridge – HCM City has a high demand for childcare for six- to 18-month-olds, but state-owned nursery schools are finding it difficult to attract enrollees.

The exhibition of landscape paintings by The Mobile Artist Group entitled “The Echo of Nature” is held at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum in Hanoi until August 15. Most of the paintings show the beauty of Vietnamese villages and countryside.

Hanoi has sketched out a 20 trillion VND (940 million USD) project to develop urban areas along the Nhat Tan –Noi Bai axis, which is expected to become a driving force for the development of the city’s northern region.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Imbalance in the structure of ship categories was a major difficulty for Viet Nam's sea transport industry,

 VietNamNet Bridge - Many exporters do not have enough dragonfruit (pitaya) to sell as the fruit grown in the central province of Binh Thuan is being sold for low prices because of its poor quality.

VietNamNet Bridge – With an enormous 38 million cubic-meter “water-bag” hung at the height of 72 meters, Ho Ho hydropower plant is viewed by locals as a major threat to their livelihoods during flood season.

The ravishingly beautiful Nguyen Thu Hoai, former Mrs Vietnam Continents for 2012, has refused the invitation to compete in the Mrs Universe pageant, citing health reasons.

 Women's U19 touch down in Bangkok; Duan wins first stage of cycling tour; VN edge El Salvador at chess Olympiad; Tuan stays with Quang Ninh; Vietnam slide down FIFA rankings

Several photos of the Sao La, one of the rarest and most threatened mammals on the planet, were made public in Quang Binh on August 13 by the Viet Nature Conservation Centre and the Quang Binh provincial Department of Forest Rangers.

 The last Vietnamese guest workers at fighting zones in strife-torn Libya have moved out of dangerous areas, Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Hai Binh said on August 14.

 Ha Noi police have summoned four people for spreading rumours about infections of the deadly Ebola virus in Viet Nam on social media that have sparked panic in the community during the past few days.

 For the first time veterinarians have found avian flu virus A/H5N6 at chicken breeding farms in Vietnam – a strain that claimed human lives in China’s Sichuan province.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Shipping firms, which have been incurring losses in recent years, have said they oppose new port infrastructure fees that could be raised by 5-6 percent.

 Aiming to get more foreign tourists to Viet Nam, the Government is granting a 50 per cent discount to airlines with flights to and from five local airports by end-2015.

 Fraser & Neave Dairy Investments Pte Ltd, owned by Thai billionaire Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, has tendered an offer to acquire an additional 15 million shares of Vietnam Dairy Products Joint Stock Company (Vinamilk).

 Ambassador seeks closer Vietnam-Thailand ties; Minister calls for reform to military draft; Party leader tells Can Tho to drive growth; Leaders cable greetings on RoK’s National Liberation Day; More input needed to draft new law on legal documents