The annual Francophone Film Festival will be organised in Ha Noi, Hue, Vinh, and HCM City from March 11 to 29.

A policy to grant a 30-day visa exemption for foreign passport holders visiting Phu Quoc Island off the coast of the southern province of Kien Giang took effect on March 10.

Lights, flowers and decoration fill the streets around the capital as Hanoians count down the days to the Lunar New Year of the Snake.

Vietnam takes the lead in the growth of the Asian hotel sector with a forecast annual rate of 15 per cent for the 2012-16 period, according to the World Travel Market's Global Trend Report 2012 in association with Euromonitor International.

Prices of essential goods and services were expected to continue increasing till the end of the year and beyond due to an increase in demand, said the Ministry of Finance.