Rice prices surge to one-year highs; Casino prizes may now be paid in foreign currencies; Contractors start work on underground part of Metro Line No. 1; VND30-trillion urban area to go up at Saigon Newport site

VietNamNet Bridge – The cable car system to Fansipan peak, dubbed the Roof of Indochina, will be put into operation on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the country’s re-unification (April 30) next year, four months ahead of schedule.

VietNamNet Bridge – Educators discussed three methods for organising the 2015 national high school exam at a meeting hosted by the Ministry of Education and Training yesterday, July 29, in the capital.

Formosa Plastics Group still remains committed to the construction of the mammoth integrated steel mill in Vietnam, despite the Vietnamese government’s rejection of a special economic zone designation for the project.

VietNamNet Bridge – Intel Products Vietnam, an affiliate of the US-based Intel Corporation, on July 29 launched its first central processing unit (CPU) product named Haswell manufactured at its factory in the Saigon Hi-tech Park.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Hundreds of kilometres of coastlines and river banks in the southernmost province of Ca Mau are suffering from serious soil erosion, posing a major threat to the life of local people

 VietNamNet Bridge – A delegation of the Steering Committee on the Search and Repatriation of Remains of Fallen Soldiers held a working session with the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command in Washington on July 28,

The Ministry of Home Affairs this morning received a certificate of world documentary heritage for a number of documents signed by Nguyen kings (1802-1945) from a representative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. 

VietNamNet Bridge – This morning a tornado suddenly appeared during a light rain in the town of Co Do in the Mekong Delta City of Can Tho, damaging over 100 houses and injuring five people.

Social networking service Twitter reported a loss of $145m (£86m) during the second-quarter period from March to June.

 Celebrity supports anti-violence initiative; Educators learn about RoK culture; New TV show informs viewers about Vietnamese history; Cultural month marks Buddhist holiday of motherly love; Bike festival draws crowds

 A new tournament record was set yeasterday at the National Youth Shooting Championships in Ha Noi.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Foreign investment funds have put high hopes on the initial public offerings (IPOs) of SOEs slated for upcoming months. However, the IPOs may have little to offer them.

VietNamNet Bridge – Authorities in Lam Dong province are taking the final steps to complete their report on the Lang Biang biosphere reserve which will be submitted to the UNESCO for recognition in September.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The 2014 V-League 22nd round continued to witness a dramatic title race between Becamex Binh Duong and Hanoi T&T, while Hung Vuong An Giang could possibly face relegation. Let’s review the five highlights in this round of play.

VietNamNet Bridge – The State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC), in a recent report on its operation in this year’s first half, said that it encountered many difficulties in receiving, selling and transferring State stakes.

 US President Barack Obama has announced new economic sanctions against Russia, saying they will make Russia's "weak economy even weaker".

"The National Assembly building is friendly with the Thang Long Imperial Citadel," the deputy director of the management unit for the NA’s House project, has said in response to complaints about possible damage to the citadel, a World Heritage Site.

 The Supreme People's Procuracy of Vietnam on July 29 decided to prosecute six Dong Nai FC players, who had been arrested for match fixing after a V-League match, for gambling and organising gambling.

 Police in Jeollanam-do province south west of the Republic of Korea on July 29 found the dead body of a young Vietnamese woman in a local valley.