VIETNAM TODAY

Republican lawmakers Thursday challenged Democratic foes to vote for their debt plan or risk a calamitous US default.

Vietnamese is doing more to encourage students to join the International Science and Engineering Fair.

Strong storm Nock-Ten, which is now 440 kilometres east of Hoang Sa archipelago, is predicted to affect the north of Vietnam as of early Saturday.

Vietnam State budget revenue rose by 21% year on year to over VND51.5 trillion (roughly $2.53 billion) in July, reported the Ministry of Finance.

Around 140 ancient items such as golden swords and royal seals studded with gems will be exhibited at Vietnam History Museum in Hanoi.

A group of students from the HCM City University of Technology has successfully created models of aeroplanes, pursuing their childhood passion.

Hue University will coordinate with Taiwanese Meiho University to enroll students specialising in finance and information management in September.

Vietnamese exports to the Japanese market have surged as Japanese demands have increase after the earthquake and tsunami disaster.

Doctors are deserting public hospitals in droves, seeking better pay and conditions in the private sector, said an official.

A compilation of war diaries and notes, entitled From Military Zone 5, was recently published by the Literature Publishing House.

A seminar on how to prevent and deal with natural disasters is being in held the central province of Danang on July 28-29.

Miss Russia 2011 Natalia Gantimurova, who is in Vietnam for some charity events, tried on the Vietnamese traditional dress.

South Koreans were cautioned about rogue landmines and explosives after deadly landslides swamped homes and military sites, officials said.

Dengue fever and hand-foot-mouth diseases continue their spread in HCM City and other areas, hospitalising hundreds.

A plane carrying 10 tons of nutritional supplements to treat malnourished children has landed in famine-hit Somalia, a U.N. official said.

Surging inflation, Japan's weak conomic recovery and debt woes in the U.S. and Europe threaten East Asia's economic outlook, the ADB said.

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai urged sea-going vessels to remain inshore as the Nock-10 tropical storm was approaching.

Low-income households are the first to feel the effects of price hikes, but the middle-class now have to tighten their belts too.

PM Nguyen Tan Dung approved Hanoi Master Plan, in which, Ba Dinh District will still be the politicial and administrative centre.