VIETNAM TODAY

Three men will simulate walking on Mars next month as part of a project that has seen a multinational crew locked up inside a mock Moscow spaceship since June, the head of the project said Friday.

The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee has given the nod to the US-based First Solar Group to build a solar cell plant in the South-East Industrial Zone of Cu Chi district.

For some time, every Tet, peddlers of various wares travel to Hoa Bac commune to sell goods to the Co Tu ethnic minority.

The authorities in Ho Chi Minh City seized eight tons of cakes, candy and jam that had past their expiry date or showed no manufacturing origin.

Vietnam Airlines Engineering Company recently received the FAR-145 certification from U.S. Federal Aviation Administration.

Chinese President Hu Jintao on Friday promised to help create needed jobs in the United States as he basked in a warm welcome in Chicago.

The Prime Minister on January 20 approved adjustments to the master plan for the development of Dung Quat Economic Zone in the central province of Quang Ngai.

Thailand has closed a host of popular dive sites to tourists indefinitely to allow coral reefs to recover from widespread bleaching caused by warmer sea temperatures.

Traffic fines will be doubled and police will have greater powers to impound vehicles in a move to help keep traffic order during Tet.

Up to 10 people died during the current cold spell in Vietnam, including seven in the central region.

This year’s record prolonged drought - setting a century record - could leave Vietnam’s crops high and dry.

South Korean navy commandos stormed a ship hijacked by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean, rescuing all the crew and killing eight pirates, according to military officials.

A Javan rhinoceros that was found dead in the Cat Tien National Park last April may have died of infection after being shot in its leg, the World Wildlife Fund said Thursday.

Forget eating the worm after downing your tequila - with these bottles of unusual wine produced in Vietnam, a tasty tipple comes with a far more potent bite.

Vietnam has set a goal to build schools to provide education for more ethnic minority children.

Despite possible power shortages and even blackouts this year, Vietnam will give priority to the steel and cement industries.

The UN's World Meteorological Organisation said Thursday that 2010 was the warmest year on record.

Keeping inflation below 7% set by the NA will be a challenge for in 2011, but the country will do what it can to meet this goal.

A conference was held in Hanoi on January 20 by the Vietnam National Institution of Nutrition and the Ministry of Health to review the 2010 activities on health and nutrition and their further implementation in 2011.