VIETNAM TODAY

The Ha Noi Department of Transport has agreed to a proposal from the Hoan Kiem District People's Committee to re-open five local streets for parking.

The project on developing an urban railway in Hanoi was approved to receive USD1.1 million in support from the Asia Development Bank.

People who drive long distances to work are more likely to be overweight and have poorer fitness levels than people who live closer to their jobs.

Artists at the Tuoi Tre (Youth) Theatre voiced their dissatisfaction over the merger of the Youth and the Vietnam Drama theatres.

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs held a conference in Hanoi on May 8 to launch the 2011-2015 national program on gender equality.

Vietnam hopes to receive more support from the USAID for hunger elimination and poverty reduction, climate change adaptation, human resource training and HIV/AIDS prevention.

The Vietnam Posts and Communications Group will launch the satellite, Vinasat-2, in the middle of this month.

Residents in central Hanoi will have access to fresh water all summer long, says Nguyen Nhu Hai, general director of the Hanoi Water Company Ltd.

The US foiled a plot by Al-Qaeda's branch in Yemen to blow up an airliner and recovered an explosive device, officials said.

Greek conservatives failed to form a government, paving the way for anti-austerity leftists to try and cobble together a coalition.

Vietnam earned two gold medals in the ongoing Asian Taekwondo Championships to take a second-place ranking on May 6 in HCM City.

Dang Quan and Bao Ngoc beat 10,000 contestants of Vietnam’s Got Talent to become the contest’s winners during the first season.

Decades of conservation efforts to save rhinos are coming undone, as surging demand for their horns in Asian traditional medicine has spawned a vast criminal trade powered by poaching.

The NA has turned down the resignation of its member Dang Thi Hoang Yen, who is facing the removal of her membership for dishonesty shown in her record details.

The third session of the 13th NA will consider a bailout package worth VND29,000 billion ($1.3 billion) as a solution to save businesses, the Government announced.

The bombmaker accused of masterminding the Bali attacks that killed 202 people begged forgiveness from the victims' families, and claimed he did not know nightclubs would be targeted.

A heavy rain poured down in Hanoi and inundated several streets in the capital.

The Government is advised to introduce strong measures to lower business expenses in light of falling demand.

The insurance market will continue to expand this year, with total premiums expected to reach USD2.2 billion, up 24% from last year, says a recent report from A.M. Best.