As of October 12, medical fees hike in 16 cities and provinces in the country, said the Ministry of Health.

 A meeting marking the International Day for Disaster Reduction (October 13) was organized by Vietnam Red Cross Society, International Red Crescent Society and the 

 The Hai Duong People’s Committee is seeking solutions for the $2 billion, 1,200 megawatt Hai Duong thermal power plant, in case the investors continue to delay with the construction.

A photo book capturing the life of Hanoi in the 1980s by former UK diplomat John Ramsden will be launched in the time to come.

 More than 650 million people in Southeast Asia live in disaster-prone areas, ANTARA News quoted Chief of the Indonesian National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Willem Rampangilei as saying.

  HCM Stock Exchange (HOSE) will join financial information provider StoxPlus to organise the 2nd Vietnam Annual International Investor Conference on November 4 in HCM City.

 The Ministry of Finance has transferred VND3 trillion (US$134 million) to four coastal central provinces of Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien Hue where fish died en mass due to environmental pollution in April.

 The Ministry of Transport has submitted to the Government a scheme to build the North-SouthExpressway from Ha Noi to HCM City with total investment of about VND230 trillion (US$10.2 billion).

  The Viet Nam Steel Association will protect the interests of local firms after Vietnamese steel exporters were accused of tax evasion in the United States, said the association's vice chairman, Nguyen Van Sua.

 The fourth meeting of the Vietnam – Germany Strategic Management Group was held in Hanoi on October 12.

Vietnam has been making practical contributions to turning the Mekong sub-region into a dynamic and prosperous economic area via CLMV and ACMECS cooperation framework, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh has affirmed.

VietNamNet Bridge – Demolition work on the Sai Gon Tax Trade Centre, built by the French 135 years ago, began yesterday in HCM City to make way for a 40-storey office and hotel tower and the first metro subway route. 

 The second Asia- Europe Music Festival and the 34th Asian Composers League Festival and Conference kicked off at the Hanoi Opera House on October 12.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Doctors have warned residents living or working in high air pollution areas of HCM City and Ha Noi about the serious health risks coming from the stench emitted from polluted lakes, landfills and by road dust.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnamese U19 squad have arrived in Bahrain for the Asian football championship and set a humble target for the event.

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese-Indian fight master, actor and director Peter Hein is working with Vietnamese staff on the new boxing film Sam Hoi (Penitent), a joint Vietnamese-Indian production. 

 VietNamNet Bridge – The upcoming pilot programme for Public-Private Partnership (PPP), which was recently approved by the Prime Minister, will focus on strengthening the country’s science and technology progress.

 HCMC has spent US$900 million to deal with flooding but worsening flooding after heavy rains has proved the city’s efforts ineffective. Experts attributed the issue to outdated and short drainage system, climate change and rampant urban construction.

 For nearly 40 years, Binh Minh commune, Trang Bom district, southern Dong Nai province has been well-known for making unique fine art items from wood scraps which are exported to many countries.

 Ly Hoang Nam could not spring any surprises against No 8 seed Tatsuma Ito of Japan in the Vietnam Open tennis tournament held in HCM City yesterday.