VIETNAM TODAY

Fraud and fake businesses will face fines of up to VND70 million in a recent bid by the government to protect consumer rights.

While the majority of teachers complain that the income is not high enough to cover their basic needs, some “branded teachers” can earn billions of dong a year.

Businesses fear that they will not be able to access loans in US dollars when the tightened policy on lending in foreign currencies takes effect this May.

This movie will be launched in Vietnam on April 13, one month earlier than the release date in North America, on May 18.

Young overseas Vietnamese pianist Le Thu Quynh has won the third prize at the national Konkurs piano competition in Poland.

Central city Danang’s secretary Nguyen Ba Thanh announced a zero tolerance policy against traffic policemen taking bribes, in a bid to ratchet up social security.

The Greek parliament formally ratified a second eurozone bailout scheme worth up to 130 billion euros ($170 billion) to save it from defaulting on its national debts.

A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck southwest Mexico, sending panicked people onto the streets.

The Ministry of Information and Communications has yet to make any official decision on the merger of VinaPhone and MobiFone, one official said.

Vietnamese martial artists secured second place at a Muay Thai World Championship, which concluded in Bangkok.

The capital city faced a trade deficit of up to US$2.91 million while HCM City gained a trade surplus of US$58 million in the first quarter this year, according to statistics office estimates.

The death toll in Syrian protests rose as Damascus ally Russia said President Bashar al-Assad had made "a lot of mistakes" in clamping down on the year-old demonstrations.

Myanmar ’s President Thein Sein arrived in Hanoi for a two-day official visit. He was given a grand welcome ceremony by his Vietnamese counterpart, Truong Tan Sang.

A Vietnamese company’s acquisition of the Hanoi Daewoo Hotel marks a bold move in the context of Vietnam’s current real estate sector.

A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck southwest Mexico, damaging hundreds of houses and sending people into the streets of the capital.

Ten is the highest level in the Vietnamese grade scale, which is given to excellent pieces of school works; but students now have become tired of receiving 10 grades from teachers.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism decided to add Dong Ho folk woodcut painting to the list of cultural heritages of Vietnam that seek UNESCO’s recognition as world cultural heritage in 2012-2016.

Operation Smile will organise a charity art auction and gala dinner in HCM City on May 26 to raise funds for 500 surgeries for Vietnamese children.

The Australian Consulate-General in HCM City announced a special performance featuring one of Australia’s leading indigenous dance groups “Descendance” at the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Cultural House.