Politics

-- Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and other leaders of ASEAN nations take part in a conference with President Barack Obama in Sunnylands, California on Tuesday to discuss strategic partnership between the U.S. and the grouping.

Society

-- From February 6 to 14, 13 traffic accidents occurred in Ho Chi Minh City, killing 12 and injuring two others.

-- The Japanese Embassy has offered to organize a cherry festival in Hanoi from March 20 to 21 and gift Vietnam 200 cherry trees, according to Nguyen Duc Chung, chairman of the People’s Committee of Hanoi.

-- Mahouts and staff of the travel company Buon Don in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak have been found plucking hair from the tails of the elephants they ride to sell to tourists at VND300,000 (US$13) each. It is believed that hair from elephant tails brings luck to those who keep it.

-- Around 100 tourists who were stuck on Cu Lao Cham Islet in the central province of Quang Nam because of rough seas were safely taken home on Monday on board a ship of the local border guard force.

Business

-- Vietnamese automobile company Truong Hai has put into operation a factory that manufacture specialized heavy vehicles and trailers in Quang Nam Province.

Sports

-- The Vietnam Football Federation will sign a two-year contract with Vietnamese coach Nguyen Huu Thang to lead the national team on February 19.