As many as 39 planes of four airlines were left unused and parked at airports or in hangars as of the end of the first quarter due to travel restrictions to curb the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam.

Nearly VND96 trillion (US$4.16 billion) and 772ha of land were found to be involved in economic violations uncovered by the Government Inspectorate in the first quarter of this year.

Quang Ninh ranked top in both PAPI and PCI rankings released last week, marking the northern coastal province’s decisive reform process within a decade.

The Ministry of Health has set up five inspection teams for COVID-19 prevention and control measures, including vaccinations, in the southwest from April 18-30.

A court in the United Kingdom has ordered the extradition of a Vietnamese man to Belgium where he is wanted in connection with the deaths of 39 migrants found in a lorry.

The Vietnamese health ministry has announced the decision to divert 110,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines, originally meant for police and army personnel, to local centres for disease control (CDCs) instead.

The secrets of spiritual culture and life of the Muong ethnic minority in the north-central province of Thanh Hoa will be revealed at an exhibition titled Mo Mường to be held this week.

The control of corruption in the public sector last year showed the best performance in a decade, since the Vietnam Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI) survey was first conducted.

Tan Son Nhat Airport has been facing severe congestion in the past several days, with the operator attributing the situation to passengers’ lack of awareness in following the airport’s policies and filing the electronic medical declaration form.

With expectation to develop into a leading digital economy in Southeast Asia over the next decade, Vietnam is also witnessing a strong inflow of high-tech investment swelling performance in the region.

Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, Cao Thi Ngoc Dung, Dang Thi Hoang Yen and Nguyen Thanh Phuong were in the news last week.

Authorities in the central city of Danang have announced a project to make the city an environmental city during the 2021-2030 period.

Listing of candidates for upcoming elections being sped up

Four new species of camellia (a genus of flowering plants in the family Theaceae) and Begonia (a genus of perennial flowering plants in the family of Begoniaceae) – have been found in Bidoup-Nui Ba National Park in Lam Dong province.

Bui Minh Tuan, lecturer at the Meteorology and Oceanography Faculty under the Hanoi University of Natural Sciences, has been nominated for the Ta Quang Buu Award this year for his research on weather forecasting.

Cu Chi Tunnels, a popular destination for both domestic and foreign tourists thanks to its unique historical and architectural values, may soon join UNESCO’s list of world heritage.

Banks have reported satisfactory business results for 2020 and are projecting ambitious plans for 2021.

Miss Tourism World Vietnam 2021 pageants has been officially launched, with new rules.

An 8-year-old girl from the southern province of Tien Giang has been recorded as the first case with LEOPARD syndrome in Vietnam, according to doctor Tran Nguyen Anh Tu from the Ho Chi Minh City Dermatology Hospital.

Vietnamese tend to be more open to digital banking services than people in other countries in the Asia-Pacific region such as Singapore, Malaysia, New Zealand or Australia, according to a recent survey by FICO.

Foreign investment into Vietnam up sharply

Vietnam’s moves to reform and boost the performance of state-owned enterprises is just the latest in a long line of adjustments over the years, 

As UNSC President in April 2021, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on April 19 chaired a High-level Open Debate on "Cooperation between the UN and regional organisations in enhancing confidence-building and dialogue in conflict prevention and resolution".

A “land fever” is spreading throughout the country, from the North to the South, from the lowlands to the mountains. Everywhere, the price for land of all kinds, from housing to industrial to farming land is increasing.

The Ministry of Education and Training has presented its petitions to the Government calling for unchanging tuition fee for the 2020-2021 school year, in order to share the financial burden with parents and students.