A dissident blogger was sentenced to two years in prison Tuesday for posting online criticism of Vietnam's authoritarian government, drawing an immediate rebuke from the United States. The verdict against Truong Duy Nhat was the latest in an intensifying crackdown against advocates of free speech and greater democracy in the Communist-ruled country, where the Internet is enabling more opportunities for organizing and spreading dissent.

Vietnam's communist government said trading in bitcoin and other electronic currencies is illegal, and warned its citizens not to use or invest in them. A central bank statement late Thursday didn't spell out penalties for those who disobeyed the instruction, but it said that virtual currencies are linked to money laundering and other illegal activities.

A new study published in the journal Environmental Research reveals that Air Force reservists were exposed to higher levels of the toxic chemical than previously known (or admitted). Many of the same aircraft that dispersed Agent Orange during the war were later used as transport vehicles during (relative) peacetime, primarily between the years 1971 and 1982.

In photographer Ryan Deboodt's words: "I was on a trip with a few other cavers to do some photography work and I heard stories of an epic sunbeam that occasionally occurred at the entrance to Hang En in Vietnam. The morning was foggy and cloudy so most everyone gave up hope and left. I managed to convince one other person to hang back in the hopes that the clouds would clear. They did just in time and it was stunning."

Fast-food giant McDonald's - often seen as a symbol of American capitalism - has opened its first restaurant in communist-controlled Vietnam.

Before women served in combat there were Donut Dollies in Vietnam. “We were a touch of home in a combat zone,” said Rene Johnson. The Donut Dollies were all college-graduates between the ages of 21 - 24 years old who worked for the Red Cross. They spent a one-year tour in Vietnam boosting the morale of the American troops.

Tim Page is a photojournalist of the old school. He arrived in Saigon, South Vietnam, in 1965, when he was 20 years old. Over the next few years, Tim saw enough Agent Orange and Viet Cong to last anyone a lifetime, but he didn't stop going to dangerous places and taking incredible photos.

Forget speeding bullet trains or SUV’s, when it comes to Vietnam the majority of the public whizz around on motorbikes. It’s the cheapest mode of transport to run and ideally suited to the often bustling, narrow and busy streets.