VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam Idol 2012, the fourth season, has a special contestant.

 Vietnam Institute of Economics director Tran Dinh Thien expresses concerns about the possible return of inflation when long-term radical measures to restructure the economy have yet to be strongly expedited.

 Statistics of the General Statistics Office show there was no growth in new broadband Internet subscriptions in April-August but in reality, broadband Internet services in the country were expanding in the period.

  For years in the recent past, the local healthcare sector attracted very few foreign investors who saw it as requiring a long time to recoup investment.

 Scores of canals in HCMC remain heavily polluted and blocked by garbage but their rehabilitation has put on hold since 2009 due to the lack of funding and equipment.

 This change can create a new leadership style and support the firm’s business performance and strategy. Staff restructuring also means a change in corporate culture, allowances and talent management?

  VietNamNet Bridge - After nearly one year of construction, the pace of the overhead rail project implemented by the Chinese contractor is almost one quarter slower than the plan.

 VietNamNet Bridge – When I asked my four-year-old son where he wanted to go for the weekend, he said he wanted to visit a place where monkeys lived.

  VietNamNet Bridge – Hoan Kiem Lake - Hanoi’s symbol is surrounded by 15-20 storey buildings. Modern buildings of over 100m high threaten to turn the Thap Rua (Turtle Tower), Thap But (Pen Tower) and The Huc Bridge into miniatures.

VietNamNet Bridge – The seriously polluted environment surrounding 47 trade villages nation-wide is set to be gradually removed under the National Target Programme on Environmental Pollution Improvement during 2012-15. 

 The business of obtaining and selling internet domain names is flourishing in Viet Nam, with some names fetching thousands of dollars.

  Dr. Vo Tri Thanh, vice director of the Central Institute for Economic Management, spoke to the Daily on the country’s economic situation from now to the year’s end. Excerpts:

 The number of Chinese tourists visiting Vietnam in the January-August period dropped by 9.7% from the same period last year, and arrivals from this source market are forecast to remain weak towards the year-end.

Industrial waste, unsafe frozen products and petroleum have been imported in masses recently as temporary imports. However, the importers do not intend to re-export the imports.

The new academic year has begun, but a lot of schools in Vietnam still have not got ready for it: the material facilities have degraded, students attempt to drop out, while dangers await students on the way to schools.

VietNamNet Bridge – Nguyen Thi Mo was a worker at an industrial park in HCM City – until she quit her job. It wasn't something the central Binh Dinh Province native wanted to do; she needs the money.  

 Veteran Director Dang Nhat Minh points out shortcomings of the movies that are funded by the state.

VietNamNet Bridge – ‘Faraway’ by Hanoi-based artist Do Tuan Anh will open on Thursday at Craig Thomas Gallery in the city’s District 1, 

"Knights of the street" are the way people call men who voluntarily hunt robbers on the street. VietNamNet talks with "knight" Nguyen Van Minh Tien about robbery in HCM City.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Many young doctors have shown little interest in a Ministry of Health pilot project encouraging them to work in remote areas.