A Pho restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City has launched an eating contest. If participants can finish a giant bowl of soup in one hour, they win VND1,000,000 (US$48).

The 7th National Games was officially kicked off in Thien Truong Stadium in Nam Dinh city, northern Nam Dinh province on December 6.

Choreographers and dance troupes from eight countries and territories will perform at the second annual International Dance Festival in Ho Chi Minh City from December 7 to 16. 

The market for leasing offices in Hanoi is expected to brighten in 2015 due to expectations of a continued economic recovery, according to CBRE Vietnam Co Ltd, a foreign property consulting service provider in Vietnam. 

Deputy Minister of Finance Nguyen Huu Chi and other ministry officials visited Cuba from December 2-7 under a cooperation programme with the Cuban Ministry of Finance and Prices. 

Coach Toshyia Miura said he came to Malaysia to win.

Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) will hold the ninth round of negotiations on their bilateral free trade agreement (FTA) from December 8-12, according to the RoK Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy on December 7.

A sound understanding of Vietnam and its positive changes will enable the France-Vietnam Friendship Association (AAFV) to devise practical projects for Vietnam and play a constructive role in reinforcing bilateral ties.

Domestically-made medicines making up 80 percent of total consumption is one of the goals set forth in a national strategy to develop the Vietnamese pharmaceutical industry until 2020.

The Party, State, government and Defence Ministry are steadfast in developing the defence industry and improving military combat capacity, especially the naval and air forces, towards building a revolutionary, regular, elite and modern army, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said.