VIETNAM TODAY

There is a growing demand for services, such as being the first Tet visitor, or caring for the sick, during the holiday season.

The Ministry of Education and Training will continue inspections of universities and colleges nationwide to ensure they are operating with adequate facilities and number of lecturers.

Three people died and about 70 were missing after an Italian cruise ship with more than 4,000 people on board ran aground and keeled over, sparking scenes of panic.

The results of petroleum sample test will be announced before the Tet holiday, said an official.

The number of enterprises which pay industrial wastewater charge for environmental protection has been shrinking, a recent survey has found.

Veteran writer Nguyen Xuan Khanh won the Vietnam Writers Association Book of the Year prize for his novel Bring Rice to the Pagoda.

Many people in Hanoi have been seeking out paper objects, such as Iphones and Ipads, to burn on the day of Kitchen God.

Many businesses, agencies and domestic and foreign social organisations have joined charitable activities to help the poor and disadvantaged ahead Tet festival.

Thu May, Truc Diem and Thuy Ngan are among the world’s top 100 beauty queens as voted by the beauty observer Globalbeauties.

The Ministry of Transport plans to scrutinise all inter-provincial transport nationwide after the Tet holiday.

The eurozone economy plunged back into crisis as France and Austria were stripped of their top triple-A credit ratings and Standard and Poor's downgraded a swathe of debt-laden EU members.

Six people died after a cruise ship ran aground off the Italian coast in an accident which forced the coast guard to evacuate over 4,000 people, media reports said.

The Soc Trang City Party inspector who has been detained for gambling has earlier been conferred an “outstanding performance” certificate but has not yet received it.

Vietnam and Mexico should promote the exchange of high-ranking delegations and expand cooperation, especially in economics and investment, says President Truong Tan Sang.

Petroleum firms have been requested to import a minimum of 10.1 million cubic metres of petroleum products this year.

Permanent member of the Party Central Committee Secretariat Le Hong Anh emphasised the necessity to raise the quality of forecasting and combativeness in political ideology.

Apple admitted some of its suppliers continued to overwork and underpay employees, as it opened its factory doors to monitors.

Flowers are arranged on the 2km bank and on boats at the flower market along Tau Hu canal in District 8, HCM City.

Inspectors in 2011 discovered economic violations worth more than VND8.5 trillion through 75,600 inspections in State and socio-economic management, said an official.