In HCM City, Electricity of Việt Nam plans to accept bill payments only through banks and other modern platforms starting at the end of next year, putting an end to its conventional home collection service.

HCM City should not set itself the too ambitious goal of eradicating poverty by 2018, a senior former leader has said.

More than 200 leaders of news agencies, journalist associations, journalism training institutes, as well as scientists and journalists from across the country gathered in Hà Nội yesterday at a conference entitled “Journalism after 30 years of đổi mới (renewal process) - theoretical and practical issues.”

Noise pollution in big cities and urban areas has become more severe, badly affecting residents’ quality of life, but punishment of polluters remains ineffective.

The central city of Đà Nẵng started construction yesterday of a tunnel at the junction of Điện Biên Phủ, Nguyễn Tri Phương and Lê Độ streets, one of the busiest roundabouts in the city.

Animal horns weighing 50kg were seized yesterday at the Nội Bài International Airport in Hà Nội. The horns, which resembled rhino horns, were hidden in a red suitcase covered with white plastic.

 The Old Quarter of the capital city of Hà Nội is a built-up area featuring a labyrinth of narrow alleys that put it at heightened risk of fire.

Some 2.5 million people living in suburban areas in Hà Nội do not yet have access to tap water, the city’s Centre for Clean Water and Rural Environmental Hygiene has revealed.

Cities and provinces in the central and southern central regions have been urged to take measures to deal with the heavy rainfall caused by the tropical pressure and the cold wave, the Steering Committee on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control said.