Tuoitrenews briefs you on some of the main stories published today, May 5, in Vietnamese media:

Politics

-- Any activity conducted by foreign countries in Vietnam’s waters without permission is illegal and void, Vietnamese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le Hai Binh said at a media briefing on Sunday. The affirmation came after the China Maritime Safety Administration announced on Saturday its drilling rig HD-981 will be operating at a location which Binh said is totally within Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, from May 2 to August 15.

-- President Truong Tan Sang sent a message of condolences on Sunday to his Afghan counterpart Hamid Karzai over a deadly landslide that reportedly killed 2,500 people in the northeast part of the country on Saturday.

Society

-- A raging fire broke out at Thanh Dat Co, a papermaker located at the Phong Ke Industrial Park in the northern province of Bac Ninh, on Sunday night, completely destroying its manufacturing plants, warehouses and machinery. 

-- A man was struck to death by lightning while his wife was severely injured when they were hiding from rain on a mountain pass in the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum on Sunday.

-- A total of 117 people have been killed in 224 separate traffic accidents across Vietnam during the five-day holidays starting on April 30, the National Committee for Traffic Safety reported on Sunday.

-- Thousands of people on Sunday began returning to Ho Chi Minh City after spending their five-day holidays at tourism spots in the Mekong Delta and the central region, causing serious gridlock at the city’s gateways.

-- An oil tanker was crossing the Dong Nai River on Sunday night when it suddenly burst into fire, killing two people onboard.

Business

-- A chain of 16 stores that sell authentic Da Lat specialties have recently been opened in the Central Highlands tourism city in a bid to prevent tourists from buying Chinese-made products in disguise of the city’s delicacies.

-- A number of subsidiaries of the state-run food giant Vietnam Southern Food Corporation (Vinafood 2) have been suffering from massive losses and nonperforming loans of more than VND1 trillion (US$47.17 million).

-- Vietnam’s national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines has announced it will add more flights connecting Hanoi and Dien Bien City, the historical site of the world renowned Dien Bien Phu Victory 60 years ago.

Lifestyle

-- An exhibition showcasing 60 photos under the theme of the Dien Bien Phu Victory kicked off at the graveyard site of late General Vo Nguyen Giap in central Quang Binh Province on Sunday, attracting thousands of visitors.

-- Around 120 local and foreign artisans are expected to participate in the 2014 Kite Festival, themed “Bay Cung Vietnam” (Fly with Vietnam), from May 8 to 12 in the coastal city of Vung Tau.

Sports

-- Vietnam won the precious ticket to the quarterfinals of the ongoing 2014 Asian Futsal Championship after beating Kuwait 2-1 at the last group stage match in HCMC on Sunday.