From National Assembly elections to trade to the East Sea dispute: it’s been a turbulent year. Let's look at some of 2016’s top news events and most striking photographs.

VietNamNet Bridge - A ‘clean’ political, economic and legal environment is the prerequisite for Vietnam to attract overseas Vietnamese intellectuals, experts say.

 Vietnam is expected to produce six-in-one vaccines in 2017 or 2018 and by 2020 these will be used widely in the country, according to the Ministry of Health.  

 The Vietnam Musicians’ Association announced the 2016 Music Awards in Hanoi on January 5.

VietNamNet Bridge – In more than a week, HCMC will begin building the traditional flower street on Nguyen Hue Boulevard to celebrate the Lunar New Year, or Tet. The Nguyen Hue flower street is a signature event in the city during Tet. 

VietNamNet Bridge – The Viet Nam Football Federation has decided to suspend coach Van Si Son of Ha Noi FC for four matches at the upcoming V League 1 for kowtowing to referee Vo Minh Tri.

 The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee has approved 115 projects that will cost 4.2 trillion VND (193.5 million USD).

 The Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) strives to increase oil and gas reserves to 10-15 million tonnes this year, said Chairman of the Board of Directors Nguyen Quoc Khanh.

 The issuance of a national plan to implement the Paris Agreement on climate change and the completion of maps of the Vietnam-Laos borderline are among outstanding events relating to natural resources and environment in 2016.

President Tran Dai Quang has asked Party cells under the Party Organisation of the Central Business Bloc to work harder to fulfill the task of business restructuring while closely managing, protecting and developing State capital.

Vietnamese Ambassador to India Ton Sinh Thanh has highlighted the bright prospects of the Vietnam-India ties in the future in an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency.

Vietnamese and Lao border officials agreed to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in border management during their 26th annual meeting in Vientiane on January 5. 

The Party’s external activities have played a crucial role in reinforcing trust, handling the relations with important partners, solidifying the country’s peaceful and stable environment.

 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said goodbye to Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Vietnam Martin Klepetko at a reception in Hanoi on January 5.

VietNamNet Bridge - A 3-star hotel with 50-70 rooms needs investment capital of VND100 billion. Meanwhile, annual revenue is not higher than VND20 billion. But more and more hotels arise every day.

VietNamNet Bridge - With a technology of identifying species - DNA barcoding – scientists can identify species and their origins with just a very small sample. The technology is now being used in Vietnam.

 VietNamNet Bridge – With an abundance of seafood, southerners have created a wide variety of dishes featuring fish in various modes - stewed fish, grilled fish, fermented fish, fish vermicelli and, of course, the ubiquitous fish sauce.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Localities and ministries this year must tighten controls on public investment activity, especially in the stages of fund appraisal and balance, approval in principle and final approval.

VietNamNet Bridge - Hanoians are experiencing an abnormally hot winter with higher average temperatures in the first half of December compared with the same period 10 years ago. 

VietNamNet Bridge - Cao Thi Viet Nga from the Vietnam Forestry University and her classmate Vui Van Kien have used an in vitro technique to propagate dang sam (Codonopsis Javania).