VIETNAM TODAY

Leading Vietnamese violinist Bui Cong Duy will play several famous Christmas tunes to get Hanoi in the festive spirit at the monthly music programme Music Space later this month.

The NA high-ranking delegation led by its chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung left Hanoi on December 4 to begin official visits to Belgium, European Parliament and the UK.

The ruling party of Russian strongman Vladimir Putin suffered a sharp drop in support in legislative elections marred by accusations of unprecedented dirty tricks by the authorities.

The French President and German Chancellor meet under pressure to align their positions on centralizing control of euro zone budgets.

Vietnam has started the construction of the second terminal of Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport with an investment capital of US$968.2 million.

Vietnam intends to enhance relations with its traditional friends in the world, including Mexico, said Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.

The euro faces a decisive week as European Union leaders, urged on anxiously by the US, seek agreement on the definitive rescue plan that has eluded them for two years.

Elections to the Russian State Duma of the sixth convocation started on December 4.

Thu Thiem Tunnel has attracted a huge number of vehicles ever since it opened for traffic, some of which have already had to pay heavy penalties for violating traffic regulations.

The World Bank will continue giving priority to Vietnam ’s socio-economic development targets, said the bank’s Managing Director Sri Mulyani Indrawati.

The budget airlines Jetstar Pacific may be merged with Vietnam Airlines soon, said an official from the Civil Aviation Administration.

Republican White House hopeful Herman Cain effectively ended his US presidential bid, citing the painful toll of "false and unproved" allegations of sexual harassment and adultery.

In Hanoi hundreds of seized vehicles stay unclaimed, and their numbers are rising.

Nguyen Minh Tuan has been shocking friends and acquaintances for the last few months by telling them that his graduation thesis is about condoms.

Vietnam Airlines will launch direct air routes from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to the UK capital city of London , from December 8.

Anti-social behaviour among young people was the centre of discussions by experts at a recent seminar.

Vietnam has halved its target for Olympic berths in London next year to 10 after reconsidering its athletes’ qualifying chances.

Delegates from domestic and foreign travel agents gathered at a seminar in Khanh Hoa to discuss promoting Vietnam sea tourism in Europe.

The Vietnam Business Forum 2011 opened in Hanoi on December 2, serving as a venue to discuss Vietnam’s business environment.