VIETNAM TODAY

Purpose-built, ultra-modern and ready to fight environmental destruction on the high seas, Rainbow Warrior III, made its maiden voyage Wednesday.

The 13th National Assembly convened its year-end session to review national socio-economic development in 2011 and set major targets for 2012.

The Ministry of Information and Communication and Microsoft Vietnam on October 19 agreed to establish an Information Technology (IT) development fund.

Hong Kong's pampered canines may have their own spas complete with jacuzzis and massage, but it can still be difficult for a dog to find inner peace.

The new quarterly HSBC Trade Connections world trade forecaster predicts Vietnam is amongst the top five international powerhouses.

Due to some serious malformations, it may be difficult to separate the conjoined twins born a week ago, Ho Chi Minh City’s Pediatrics Hospital No 1 said.

Denmark will provide official development assistance worth $135 million for Vietnam in 2011-2012.

Multinational companies are tending to move their outsourced facilities from China to other countries, offering opportunities for Vietnam.

The Minister of Transport has controversially banned ministry staff from golf in order for them to spend more time on their work.

Public interest in climate change issues has been considerably improved over the past few years thanks to increased communications.

Vietnamese people will have the chance to vote for Ha Long Bay as a new World Wonder through a TV programme to be broadcast live on October 29.

Up to 34 million of the country’s 87.5 million population had not bought health insurance as of June this year.

Nam Dinh provincial authorities said that they will not accept the bachelors who graduate from non-state schools as the officers in state agencies.

China’s Haier Group has acquired businesses operating under the Sanyo Electric brand name in Southeast Asia.

China said it would maintain a stable exchange rate and warned that foreign trade faced a "severe situation" due to the West's economic woes.

Vietnam’s top badminton player Nguyen Tien Minh is competing at the 2011 Open Badminton Tournament, which kicked off in Denmark on October 18.

The Thai government has donated three million baht (USD100,000) to help the Vietnamese people get over the aftermath of the recent floods.

The import duty on cars will be cut by 3-5 percent from next year if a proposal drafted by the Ministry of Finance is approved.

Localities across Vietnam have been conducting a survey to gather statistics on households living below or near the poverty line.