Tẩn Láo Lở, accused of murdering four people, including three children in Bát Xát District in the northern mountain province of Lào Cai,  was sentenced to death yesterday by the provincial People’s Court.

The president of the Việt Nam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL), Bùi Văn Cường, on Saturday visited and handed over financial aid worth VNĐ500 million  (US$22,000) to flood victims in the central province of Khánh Hòa.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) on a skills internship programme was signed on Saturday in Tokyo between Việt Nam’s Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and IM Japan – the Japanese international human resources training agency.

The Government has targeted over 90 per cent of nationwide population covered with health insurance by 2020. Despite preferential policies to encourage citizens to buy health insurance, the number of health insurance card holders, especially household health insurance, remains low due to red tape.

Plans to scrap the minimum number of points required for university enrollment in Việt Nam has highschool students cheering, but teachers concerned.

Deputy Prime Minister Phạm Bình Minh has agreed in principle to build an underground trade centre in downtown HCM City under the city’s first metro line project.

Việt Nam lacks control over non-fired brick quality despite the large number of such bricks produced in the country over the last five year, the Ministry of Construction said.

Last week, Hà Nội municipal authorities asked the Standing Committee of the National Assembly to consider a number of special financial mechanisms for infrastructure development of the capital city, arguing that current budget constraints prevent it from responding to an urban planning and transportation "debacle".

HCM City’s Department of Tourism on December 24 welcomed Chappe Bertrand from France, the 5 millionth international visitor to the city this year, at Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport.