VIETNAM TODAY

Northern Quang Ninh province has set up an inspection group to check the safety of tourist boats, starting February 19.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy warned that putting national interests first will kill off the G20, as ministers met to hammer out common criteria key to ensuring global financial stability.

Chinese Party General Secretary and State President Hu Jintao has invited new Party General Secretary of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong to visit China soon.

The scenery around Sapa is magnificent, but it was the human drama that proved most gripping.

The US Agriculture Department has delayed a decision on a new Asian catfish inspection program.

The budget battle embroiling Washington is heating up in US states as newly elected Republican lawmakers move to bust public workers unions and slash services in the face of big deficits.

HCM City People’s Committee will allow people living in the city without official nationality to become Vietnamese citizens.

Internet cafes across Vietnam are required to close their online-gaming services from 22:00pm to 8am everyday from Mar. 30.

The survivors from a tourist cruise boat that sank in Ha Long Bay in the northeastern province of Quang Ninh were taken to Hanoi on February 18.

Bahraini security forces opened fire Friday on anti-regime protesters in the capital, with reports of up to 55 wounded.

The fifth biennial Sea Festival will be held in Nha Trang City from June 11-15 with the Spratly Archipelago as a key topic.

In the past few days, the Red River’s water has turned into dark blue from its traditional redness.

Facebook began letting over 600 million members indicate whether they are in civil unions or domestic partnerships.

More than 200 students in central Nghe An Province have had to commute to school by boat for years due to a shortage of funds for a bridge.

G20 ministers gather in Paris Friday to hammer out common criteria for measuring global economic imbalances at a two-day session.

Five Filipino fishermen reported missing off Zambales province last month have been rescued near Vietnam, the Philippine Coast Guard.

Libyan security forces killed at least 24 people in a violent crackdown on anti-regime demonstrations during a "Day of Anger".

Vietnamese central bank governor has recommended that the government slash its credit growth target to under 20% from the current 23%.

The move is expected to foster upgrades of old and neglected apartment buildings, but some say the model may not work.