VOV.VN - On January 4, astronomy lovers will be able to look up and watch the sky over Vietnam sparkle with the Quadrantids Meteor Shower, according to astronomers at the Academy of Science and Technology.

VOV.VN - Ninety three traffic accidents were reported throughout the country in the three New Year holidays, resulted in 79 deaths and 54 injuries, according to National Traffic Safety Committee statistics.

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

Tens of thousands of Vietnamese seeking degrees abroad every year have created a booming industry for service providers.

Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City are set to implement some 80 projects, costing over US$60 million, in 2017 in a bid to alleviate traffic congestion.

In 2016, the National Target Programme on Sustainable Poverty Reduction during 2016-2020 had lots of new content, requiring a new approach in poverty alleviation work.

Poverty reduction programmes have had positive impacts on the living standards of ethnic minorities, but the challenge of sustaining the gains remains, experts say.

VOV.VN - More than US$750,000 was raised at a program held in Ha Nam province on January 1 to help the poor enjoy a happy Lunar New Year festival later this month.

VOV.VN - Many foreigners gathered at pubs and cafes in Ta Hien street in Hanoi’s Old Quarter to enjoy the first moments of the year 2017.

Cardboard, food waste, plastic bags and bottles littered the city center on the first day of 2017.

Traditional lottery companies throughout Vietnam’s south, meanwhile, have officially raised their stakes.

Road accidents claimed 33 lives in Vietnam at the beginning of the year 2017, a hike compared to the same period last year, police said.

The Health Ministry has recently released its top ten events of 2016.

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

Vietnam had 8,978 communes and 79,899 hamlets as of July 1, 2016, representing decreases of 93 and 1,005 respectively from five years ago, according to the preliminary outcomes of the latest rural, agricultural and fisheries survey, which was released in late December 2016. 

Thousands of Hanoians on December 31 flocked to the downtown of the capital to engage in various art and cultural activities to welcome the New Year 2017.

Nguyen Hue Flower Street, a very popular attraction in HCM City during Tet (Lunar New Year festival) every year, will be ready to welcome visitors on January 25, 2017.

VOV.VN - From Hanoi, the capital of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, I would like to extend my warmest greetings and wishes for a new year 2017 full of health, happiness and success. May humankind live joyfully in peace, friendship, cooperation, and development!

People around the world have celebrated New Year 2017 in different ways.

The HCMC Department of Transport is weighing using text messaging as one of several emergency measures for dealing with chronic traffic congestion.

The Asia institute of City Management (AiCM), which had commissioned a yearlong study on Danang, announced that the budding coastal city is the most liveable place in Vietnam.

Up to 526 households in Hon Nghe island commune in Kien Luong district, the southern province of Kien Giang accessed the national grid on December 30, Electricity of Vietnam’s Southern Power Corporation (EVN SPC) announced.

As many as 265 businesses in industrial and processing zones of Ho Chi Minh City have revealed bonus plans for workers on the occasion of traditional Lunar New Year 2017.

The Electricity of Vietnam’s Southern Power Corporation (EVN SPC) put into operation 619 power works at a total investment of over VND6.5 trillion in 2016.

VOV.VN - The first of 20 next generation buses rolled out of the BRT depots in Hanoi on December 30-31.

The Ho Chi Minh City administration has ordered the arrangement of exclusive scheduling for certain commuter groups, a plan previously rejected by local authorities to ease the city’s congestion.

VOV.VN - Public places have been beautifully decorated and are getting ready for count-down parties to welcome the New Year.

The Becamex International Hospital was launched on December 30 in Thuan An town, the southern province of Binh Duong, which is expected to provide locals with health care service meeting international standards.

Ho Chi Minh City will focus its financial resources into key projects under the city’s 7 breakthrough programmes in 2017 in order to improve the appearance of the city and the living conditions of local residents. 

VOV.VN - French magazine Francophonie Actualites recently released a special issue on the East Sea and the sovereignty of Truong Sa (Spratly) and Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelagos.