The Yen Bai province environmental authority has taken samples of the Red River for testing and advised locals to limit their direct use of the river water.
The Vietnam Bank for Social Policies has lent VND2.5 trillion (USD121 million) out of the VND5.5 (USD266 million) reserved for student loans this spring.
A powerful tsunami spawned by the largest earthquake in Japan's recorded history slammed the eastern coast Friday. Authorities said at least 32 people were killed.
A former lawyer accused of spreading anti-government documents is to stand a first-instance trial in Hanoi and is facing a maximum imprisonment term of 12 years.
The H1N1 swine flu that swept the globe in 2009/10 could morph into a more transmissible form, while an older, mid-20th century virus could come roaring back.
US President Barack Obama will hold a press conference to discuss rising energy prices and issues as the world heaps pressure on Libya's Moamer Kadhafi.