VIETNAM TODAY

Aftershocks continued to rattle the earthquake-shattered New Zealand city of Christchurch overshadowing Christmas preparations for weary residents in a "hellish year".

State President Truong Tan Sang received the visiting President of the Senate of Thailand Teeradej Meepien in Hanoi

Vietnam Military Medical University has given out a stark warning about hygiene after surveying household kitchens in 10 cities.

Traders have been rushing into Diem Tieu Village, Binh Dinh Province to purchase Ngau trees to sell in China.

France's health ministry advised 30,000 women with breast implants made by PIP to have them removed.

A severe cold front enveloped the northern and central region and another is set to move in by Saturday, certain to bring in an extremely cold Christmas for people living in these areas.

World powers argued about the details of a U.N. resolution on Syria, after suicide car bombers killed 44 in Damascus.

Vietnamese music fans welcomed 10 well-known foreign singers and bands this year.

Teachers colleges need to improve their training methods since students graduating from them lack skills, according to experts.

Sixteen thousand children of poor families around country will have free milk every day in a campaign by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs.

Unlicensed mineral exploitation, tourism and construction activities are seriously threatening the existence of the Ba Vi National Park in Hanoi.

Many young Vietnamese who do not want to spend Christmas alone pay millions of VND for accompaniment during the holiday.

Vietnam received more than 6 million international visitors during 2011, said Hoang Thi Diep, deputy head of Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.

France leads the world as the "most pessimistic" country in terms of the economic outlook, according to a global poll published on Friday.

Ho Chi Minh City plans to build a traffic control centre worth around USD187 million to ease traffic congestion in the city.

Some 5,896 households in 69 poorest districts nationwide have received one breeding cow each worth VND7 million from the Vietnam Red Cross.

Vietnam surprisingly defeated stronger Georgia 3-1 in the third round of the 2011 Women’s World Chess Team Championship in Turkey.

The consumer price index in December rose 0.53% against last month, representing a year-on-year increase of 18.12%.

More than 1,000 people remain missing in the Philippines after devastating floods that have already left more than 1,000 others confirmed dead.