Jury out on burning of votive objects A votive offering is an object deposited in a sacred place for religious purposes. People burn votive offerings at home after finishing ancestral commemorations, at pagodas and temples after completing rituals, and they throw votive paper money during funerals.

Firms seek greater share of State projects National Assembly Finance and Budget Committee member Pham Thi Loan wants the Bidding Law and Investment Law re-assessed to ensure domestic enterprises win a greater share of State projects.

Eastern herbalist takes holistic journey After working as an eastern medicine practitioner for 60 years, Nguyen Thien Quyen reflects on a trade that is being rapidly replaced, Le Quynh Anh reports.

Foreign students get festival fever Just like Vietnamese, hundreds of foreign students in HCM City are also eagerly looking forward to Tet (the Lunar New Year). They plan to stay in the city to see their Vietnamese friends enjoy Tet, visit them and their families, and go to pagodas.

Good deeds now may reap benefits in the future When you see a collection box by the main altar in a pagoda, drop some money into it to help cover the cost of flowers and incense. You'll be acquiring some cong duc for yourself and your loved ones.