VIETNAM TODAY

The rich culture of ethnic communities in northern coastal Quang Ninh Province and northeastern regions was highlighted at the spectacular Carnival Ha Long 2012 held last night.

Two wardens at A2 Dong Gang prison in Khanh Hoa province have been charged over the death of an HIV-positive prisoner, a high-ranking police officer said.

Bartenders from nine countries including Vietnam will compete at the first International Bartender Contest in Ho Chi Minh City on May 5.

Facebook is on track to make its historic multi-billion-dollar debut on Wall Street on May 18, The Wall Street Journal reported.

President Barack Obama said a "time of war" was ending in a moment of American renewal.

Central coastal provinces should take a more active approach to seek capital resources to boost connectivity and socio-economic development.

Scientists from the HCM City Agriculture-Forestry University have discovered vanilla orchids in Khanh Hoa Province. This is the first time this species is found in Vietnam.

Australia coach Mickey Arthur backed veteran batsman Ricky Ponting to be a key figure in next year's Ashes series in England, saying the former skipper was "not going anywhere.

A passer-by was attacked by a foreigner who tried to flee the scene of a traffic accident in Ho Chi Minh City.

A British parliamentary committee publishes its report into phone hacking that is expected to criticise Rupert Murdoch and his son James for their handling of the affair.

The long holiday have led to skyrocketing prices, along with opportunities for price-gougers.

Fans bidding in a charity online auction to buy a teacup used once by pop diva Lady Gaga had offered $50,000 by Tuesday, with five days left before the hammer falls.

Vietnam wants to be a member of the International Hydrographic Organisation to boost economic development, sea transport and ensuring maritime safety in the region and the world.

Dang Thi Thu Thao, from the Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu was crowned Miss Mekong Delta 2012.

A group of more than 30 women between the age of 50 and 80 gather at Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi at 8am every other day to listen to hiphop music and dance their way to good health.

Osama bin Laden bemoaned "disaster after disaster" inflicted by the US onslaught on Al-Qaeda before he was killed and even mulled changing his terror group's name, a top US official said.

With more coal-fired power plants to be built, by 2020, Vietnam would need 48 million tons of coal imports a year.

New York's skyline got a new king after the still unfinished World Trade Center tower crept above the venerable Empire State Building.

Twin blasts targeting security buildings killed more than 20 people in the northwest Syrian city of Idlib, as an explosion was also reported in the capital, a monitoring group said.