VIETNAM TODAY

More gift packages are being delivered to people from disadvantaged backgrounds on the occasion of the up-coming traditional Lunar New Year (Tet).

A group of young people in Hanoi are urging others to stop polluting the city's ponds, lakes and rivers with trash, invoking the Kitchen God to their cause.

An examination has been created for candidates vying for the position of a chief in State corporations for the first time in Vietnam.

Japan revised its foreign aid charter on Tuesday to allow funding of non-military operations of other country's armed forces as part of its drive for a bigger role in global security.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development wants to strengthen links with overseas Vietnamese to boost the agricultural sector and improve farmers' lives.

Local authorities in Bac Ninh Province have illegally sold 42 rare pangolins seized in a raid on wildlife traffickers, raising the hackles of conservationists.

The Hanoi People's Committee has forbidden officials and staffs from making numerous business trips abroad or participating in study tours organised or funded by local enterprises or directly invited by international companies.

The leaders of Ukraine, Germany, France and Russia discussed the meeting in a phone call Sunday as part of their efforts to achieve a "comprehensive settlement" in the conflict between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian rebels, Berlin said.

The Secretariat of the Communist Party of Vietnam directed all agencies at localities throughout the country to enhance the party's ability to guide management and organisation of spring festivals.

Rising living standards in major cities have created a boom market for casual workers over the Tet holiday, filling a range of jobs from house sitter, cleaner or cook, to pet minder, salt seller, first New Year caller or "lover".

Reducing poverty among ethnic minority groups in a rapid and sustainable manner is a key priority for the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak, said Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung during a working session with provincial leaders on February 9.

Japan has seized the passport of a journalist planning to travel to Syria following the brutal killing of two Japanese hostages by the Islamic State group there, local media said Sunday.

Subscribers to Viettel services can download a free anti-virus software at http://phonesafe.viettel.vn that can scan for viruses and give warnings if it finds threats.

Market authorities are cracking down on illegally labelled foreign wines and spirits being sold as discounted expensive brands ahead of the Tet holiday.

Nearly 6,000 workers in Binh Duong Province have returned gifts offered by their company for the Tet holiday after finding some of them were cheap fakes.

The information and telecommunication ministry today announced the withdrawal of licence of the Nguoi Cao Tuoi (The Elderly) online newspaper's website, www.nguoicaotuoi.org.vn, and its editor-in-chief's journalist card.

Vietnamese exports to Canada expanded by 34.55 percent on year to 2,08 billion USD in 2014, said the Vietnam Industry and Trade Information Centre under the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Climbers in Chile's Andes say they have found the wreckage of a missing plane that disappeared more than half a century ago with a team of soccer stars on board.

An early morning head-on crash between two passenger buses has killed at least 10 people and left another 11 injured in Binh Thuan Province.