For centuries Vietnamese female farmers have been the backbone of the agricultural sector, working hard to produce rice and other essential items for society.

 VietNamNet Bridge - In 1987, Mr. Chau, 88, won a national fine art handicraft prize for his bamboo-made lobsters, and since then bamboo shrimps have become the main source of income for his family.

 Anne Chamfort, an astrologer and psychic of international repute, is visiting Vietnam for the first time to launch her Great Book of Secrets in the Vietnamese language. 

 The National Assembly Standing Committee yesterday agreed to promulgate the Ordinance on Market Management after a final discussion of the bill.

 Nguyen Thien Nhan, Politburo member and President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee was introduced as a candidate for the election of deputies to the 14th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels for 2016-2021.

 Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen Nguyen Chi Vinh hosted a reception in Hanoi on March 8 for Parliamentary State Secretary of the German Defence Ministry Ralf Brauksiepe.

VietNamNet Bridge - Telecommunication experts said they can see signs of a new race triggered by telcos to add new subscribers.

The average age of the group of people who own assets of over US$10 million in Vietnam is 48, younger than those in China (52), America (56) and the UK (57), according to the Prosperity Report 2016 announced by Knight Frank.

VietNamNet Bridge - Local authorities and investors who are developing road and hydropower projects have promised to plant forests to offset the trees they fell. However, they have failed to keep their word.

 Thailand’s Siam Cement Group (SCG) is on a shopping spree hoping to wrap up its takeover of the Vietnam plastics industry by 2020, said speakers at a recent seminar in Saigon.

VietNamNet Bridge - Steel mills now have to struggle to compete with imports from China. If the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) does not take temporary safeguard measures, a series of enterprises will go bankrupt.

 Vietnam will surely become the biggest ASEAN trade partner of China in 2016, Economic and Commercial Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam Hu Suo Jin said on March 8.

 The Ha Long cherry blossom festival 2016 will open in 30/10 Square, Ha Long city in the northern province of Quang Ninh on March 18, indulging visitors in a sea of pale pink and white blooms brought by Japan.

 VietNamNet Bridge – There is still a gap between the laws protecting Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT) rights and public opinion towards LGBT folks in Viet Nam,

 Vietnam Airlines’ spokesperson Le Hoang Dung said the national flag carrier was planning to privatise VASCO - Vietnam Air Services Company.

 The Binh Duong International Women's Cycling Tournament – Biwase Cup 2016 – kicked off in the southern province of Binh Duong on March 8.

 Vietnam hopes the Thai Ministry of Defence and War Veterans Association will share information relating to Vietnamese fallen soldiers and those missing in action during wartime in areas along the Cambodia-Thailand border.

 President Truong Tan Sang left Hanoi on March 8, heading to Tanzania, Mozambique and Iran for State visits from March 9-15.

  International integration is a consistent focus in Vietnam’s foreign policy at present and in the coming years, Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son asserted.

 Vietnam and Azerbaijan have officially established cooperation in legal and judicial affairs.