VietNamNet Bridge – The economic slowdown is taking a heavy toll on Christmas celebrations this year. Businesses, souvenir shops, and even Santa Clauses are under pressure.

 VietNamNet Bridge – It will take at least a week to repair the broken Asia-America Gateway (AAG) undersea cable which connects Viet Nam with other countries for Internet access.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCM City has become the first airport in the country to receive 20 million passengers in one year, airport authorities announced yesterday, Dec 23.

 The UN Security Council on Tuesday approved a recommendation to almost double the UN peacekeeping forces in conflict-torn South Sudan to better protect civilians from violence.

 VietNamNet Bridge – 2013 is a year worth remembering for bankers as it witnesses the leave of a lot of big shareholders from commercial banks. The trend is believed to continue in 2014.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese made dancing robot ‘Tosy DiscoRobo’ has been named among the best toys this Christmas Season by the American Parent Association.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Dak Lak people feel both worried and glad when seeing wild elephants in the areas near residential quarters. This means that the wild elephant populations there have been growing well.

Hanoi and HCM City authorities have vowed to shut down the unlicensed nurseries, or the household run classes which fail to meet the requirements on safety for babies. But this means that the children from poor families would have nowhere to go.

 VietNamNet Bridge – A new chapter has begun in the history of the OTT (over the top) app market. As some service providers have left, the market is now controlled by the three big guys Zalo, Viber and Line.

 VietNamNet Bridge – It is the legal loopholes existing in complicated laws which have lent a hand to businesses in evading taxes.

 VietNamNet Bridge - Most pilots, flight attendants and flight operators of Vietnam Airlines – the national carrier - are trained at the training center based in HCM City.

VietNamNet Bridge – I have been on countless cyclo trips in HCMC but they were nothing compared to a cyclo tour around the ancient, bustling Old Quarter on a winter’s day with a northeastern monsoon blowing through my hair and chilling my body.

 Human traffickers jailed for 80 years; Man killed in road accident; Hanoi acts to ensure traffic safety; Border crackdown targets illegal birds; Treatments empower HIV-positive mothers

 Paper industry grows 7% in 2013; Rubber exports surpass 1 billion USD; BIDV teams up with Japan’s top bank; US$1.36 billion investment in a new thermal power plant; VietJetAir receives foreign loan for new aircraft

 VietNamNet introduces some churches with typical architecture throughout Vietnam.

 VietNamNet Bridge – While some institutions believe that the Vietnamese real estate market would recover soon after it bottomed out, others think that it is too early to talk about the market recovery.

 VietNamNet Bridge - These days, many young people in the central provinces of Quang Ngai and Binh Dinh have transformed into Santa Clauses to present gifts to poor children.

 VietNamNet Bridge - According to experienced travelers around the world, four hotels in Vietnam are worthy to be named on the list of the best 500 hotels in the world.

 VietNamNet Bridge - While snow has not completely melted, Lao Cai province continues to suffer from spells of hoarfrost, causing severe damage to the region, estimated at VND35 billion ($1.7 million).

 VietNamNet Bridge - The Hanoi People's Committee has decided to shut down Zone 9 - a favorite amusement zone for young people, artists and expats in Hanoi - before 15/1/2014, by administrative measures or even by force.