Despite the geographical divide, the desire to accelerate bilateral relations had brought Vietnam and Ukraine closer, Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said at a business conference in Hanoi on November 15.

Vietnam won their sixth and seventh gold medals in the Southeast Asian Fencing Federation Championship after winning team events on the fourth day on November 15.

Vietnam’s top badminton player Nguyen Tien Minh lost to Parupalli Kashyap of India 21-12, 20-22, 14-21 at the Li Ning China Cup on November 15.

Junior Nguyen Ngoc Linh was awarded first prize for her story Perfect Triangle on November 15 at a writing contest launched in 2011-12 by the Danish embassy and Kim Dong Publishing House for children from three to 14 years of age.

Super Grandmaster Le Quang Liem will take part in the Fujariah International Chess Championship, which kicked off in the UAE on November 13.

Vietnamese fencers continued their domination by winning two more gold medals on the second day of the Southeast Asian Fencing Championship in HCM City on November 13.

Life and people are the themes of works by painter Shyevin S’ ng that are now on display at the Fine Arts Museum in Ho Chi Minh City.

A conference, organised by the Ministry of Science and Technology, has been held to discuss research on the cause and solutions to motor vehicle fires.

The nation’s trade surplus climbed to US$64 million in the first 10 months of the year, according to the General Department of Customs.

Fees for visa and temporary residence card applications will be increased by US$15-35, effective in January 2013.