The Kaysone Phomvihane cultural centre, built with US$9 million from the Government of Vietnam, was handed over to Laos’ central province of Savanakhet at a ceremony on January 7.

An old man passionately plays a three-string lute, while another man beats castanets and a young woman sings classical songs.

Hanoi’s People’s Court on January 7 began the trial of former Deputy Director of the northern port city of Hai Phong's Police Department, Duong Tu Trong, for helping Duong Chi Dung, ex-chairman of State-owned shipping corporation Vinalines, flee Vietnam in May 2012.

The Economic Committee of the National Assembly on January 7 hosted a meeting to map out measures to prevent cross-border smuggling, thus helping reduce counterfeit goods and ensure food safety in the coming time.

A ceremony was held in Ho Chi Minh City on January 7 to mark the 35th anniversary of the victory in the southwest border defense war and the joint victory of Vietnam and Cambodia over the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime (January 7, 1979-2014).

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has urged the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment to prioritise completing its policies, especially five decrees guiding the execution of the revised Land Law and related circulars to ensure the law takes effect on July 1.

The US-based food website Daily Meal continues its culinary tour of the world with its first-ever roster of the 101 Best Restaurants in Asia, which honours five Vietnamese restaurants.

A swindling trial in which the defendant is accused of appropriating VND3.9 trillion (US$ 188.7 million) from individuals and banks began in Ho Chi Minh City on January 6.

The Ho Chi Minh National Academy for Politics and Public Administration held a closing ceremony for an advanced course on political theory for officials of the Lao People Revolutionary Party on January 6.

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) has set its 2014 target of creating 1.6 million jobs, giving vocational training to 1.7 million people and reducing the ratio of poor households by 1.7%-2% compared to 2013.