VIETNAM TODAY

Stars land in Venice for art-house film festival

The Venice film festival kicks off on Wednesday with the arrival of stars on water taxis for an art-house dominated line-up dealing with issues from religious extremism to economic crisis.

World's largest marine park unveiled

The Cook Islands has announced the creation of the world's largest marine park, as the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) opened with a spectacular Polynesian welcoming ceremony.

State agency headquarter relocation to ease Hanoi population pressures

Land owned by agencies and former ministry headquarters must not be used for housing projects, an expert said.

No disease with AIDS-like symptoms in Vietnam

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health has denied rumors of a disease with AIDS-like symptoms appearing in Vietnam.

Fuel prices rise again, with more to come

Retail petrol prices yesterday increased by VND650 (US$0.033) per litre to VND23,650 while diesel rose by VND300 per litter to VND21,850.

Hanoians have money to burn for traditional festivals

To celebrate the Vu Lan and the Amnesty of Unquiet Spirits, Hanoians flock to buy all kinds of votive offerings from paper villas to Ipads to burn for the dead.

UK football legend to boost octane level among Vietnam's top players

The Vietnam football team has employed a physical strength coach in their preparation for the Southeast Asian Football Federation Cup later this year.

More threats to rare monkeys

A rare black-shanked douc langur (Pygathrix nigripes) was found dead in a bag thrown onto the road by a driver in the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum.

UN promotes legal access for poor

The United Nations Development Programme and Vietnam Lawyers' Association yesterday launched a three-year project to promote legal empowerment for poor and vulnerable groups in Vietnam.

Vietnamese companies lack strategy for exports to US

Vietnamese exporters' lack of attention to quality could harm their long-term strategy in the US market, said an official.

Death toll from S. Korea typhoon climbs to 15

South Korean rescuers Wednesday resumed a search for 10 missing crewmen from two Chinese fishing boats as the confirmed death toll from a strong typhoon rose to 15.

Japan's Daikin to buy US firm for $3.8bn: report

The world's biggest air-conditioner maker Daikin Industries of Japan will acquire Goodman Global of the United States for 300 billion yen ($3.8 billion), a report said.

Republicans formally nominate Romney for president

Republicans formally nominated Mitt Romney for president, minting him as the party's official opponent versus President Obama.

Both students and parents struggle with first-grade lessons

Vietnamese parents do not attend the lessons at the schools, but in fact, they also have to learn hard to become the fellow-travelers of their children, who go to the first grade.

Million dollar homes still up for sale

Large houses in inner-city districts of Hanoi are being offered for sale online at tens or even hundreds of billions of VND.

Parents overwhelmed by reference book chaos

While the publishing of textbooks is monopolised by the Education Publishing House, the reference books market is lucrative.

Exports to Japan up 45 percent

Vietnam’s exports to Japan in the first half of this year reached around US$7 billion, a year-on-year increase of 45 percent.

Foreign arrivals up 9.4 percent in eight months

Vietnam has welcomed almost 4.4 million visitors in the first eight months of 2012, a year-on-year increase of 9.4 percent, according to the General Statistics Office.