VIETNAM TODAY

Fake diamond has become widespread in Vietnam and is being sold at prices up to 150 times higher than its intrinsic value.

Chinese factories are facing curbs on electricity use as coal prices soar and a severe drought hits hydropower plants.

Vietnam's first regional flood warning system is now operating in the five most flood-prone provinces of the central region.

The fifth biennial Nha Trang Sea Festival, themed "Nha Trang – Coastal Destination" this year, will be held next month.

Nguyen Van Tong, a rich entrepreneur has replaced and upgraded 250 of the footbridges in the rural areas of the Mekong Delta.

The Vietnamese government will award those who have fought corruption with money, the highest award being the Bravery Order.

NASA is preparing to launch a satellite to observe levels of salt on the surface of the world's oceans and effects of salinity to climate.

A delegation of Party and State leaders paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his Mausoleum, as part of activities to celebrate the late president's birthday.

Deo Sen is the final resting place for more than 400 young people, most of whom died of AIDS or drug addiction.

A rocky alien planet called Gliese 581d may be the first known world beyond Earth capable of supporting life as we know it.

The 2011 Vietnam International Real Estate Connection workshop, set for May 20 in HCM City, will focus on investment into entertainment.

The United States and the European Union may within days take further steps against Syria over its crackdown on pro-democracy protests.

The Saigontourist welcomed the luxury cruise liner Bremen of Germany on its first voyage to Vietnam , with 750 tourists aboard.

Vietnamese import-export businesses expect their demands for trade sponsors to increase in the next six months.

At least one forecast predicts an inflation rate of over 15% this year, despite recent economic measures.

Al-Qaeda has chosen a former Egyptian Special Forces officer as interim leader of the violent extremist group, CNN reported.

Offering easy access to information and communication is considered a top priority in policies for farmers in rural areas.

Ming Ming, the world's oldest panda, has died of old age, Chinese state media reported on Tuesday. She was 34.

Borrowers complain that banks have raised the interest rates of consumer loans too sharply, which has made the financial burden heavier on their shoulders.