PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosted a reception in Hanoi on May 7 for Timothy Geithner, former Secretary of Treasury of the US and now President of Warburg Pincus, during which he appreciated the US firm’s investment in several projects in Vietnam.

The management board of the North-South Expressway project will issue prequalification documents to bidders of the National Highway 45-Nghi Son section of the project from May 8 to July 8.

Remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts found in Laos were handed over to the Vietnamese side for repatriation at a ceremony held in Vientiane on May 7.

NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan highlighted the development of the Vietnam-Italy strategic partnership while receiving Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Enzo Moavero Milanesi in Hanoi yesterday.

The UN of Vesak 2019 will be celebrated at the Tam Chuc Buddhism Culture Centre in Kim Bang district of northern Ha Nam province from May 12-14. Preparation work for the event is entering the final stage.

The Vietnam Circus Federation has hosted a circus show re-enacting the Dien Bien Phu battlefield in Hanoi to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the victory.

Sixty-five years ago, under the leadership of the Party Central Committee, President Ho Chi Minh launched the Dien Bien Phu campaign with the aim of putting an end to the French empire over Indochina.

About 7,200 members of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and volunteers will be serving the upcoming United Nations Day of Vesak 2019.

Experts, scientists and architects agreed that a construction boom along the Han River over past decade had impacted on the river flow, erosion and floods, and could result in environmental tragedy in the future.

With the approval of the Vietnamese Prime Minister, two Australian Navy ships, HMAS Canberra and HMAS Newcastle visited Cam Ranh International Port, Khanh Hoa province on May 7- 10.

Vietnam's women's U19 football team lost to China by a score of 0-4 in an international friendly tournament in China on Monday.

For Hanoi, the regulation of working hours must be considered and evaluated in many aspects because the capital houses many state administrative bodies, with a big population of state servants.

The high ranking police officers who deliberately influence to falsified exam results were breaking the law and must be strictly punished.

Following the Prime Minister’s instruction, the current contribution rate has been decreased to 14 – 16%, allowing provinces and cities to increase expenditure for investment and carry out wage reform.

In Vietnam, year-round Japanese encephalitis is usually prevalent in summer season and peaks between June and July.

Drawing Words, an exhibition of children’s book illustrations commissioned by the British Council and curated by illustrator Lauren Child from Children’s Laureate Foundation, is on at the French Institute in Hanoi.

Local banks have continued raising the interest rates for certificates of deposit (CD) to attract customers, with some even raising rates beyond the record high of 9% per annum, according to a report on the Nguoi Lao Dong Online website.

Tax authorities are still struggling to find ways to tax cross-border trading services, said Nguyen Nam Binh, deputy head of the HCMC Tax Department, at a workshop on May 6.

There are 50,000 technology firms currently active in Vietnam, but the country is set to double the number by 2030, said To Thi Thu Huong, deputy director of Information Technology at the Ministry of Information and Communications.

Sunday might be a day off for most kids, but one classroom in Nguyen Hue Secondary School in the central city of Da Nang is full of students on the day of rest every week.

Fahasa Nguyen Hue Book Store in HCM City’s District 1 on Friday unveiled a dedicated area for selling books, stationery and souvenirs imported from South Korea together with Korea-based Kyobo Book Centre Co Ltd.

The Government recognises the importance of private schools to development of the national education system, the National Assembly’s Committee for Culture, Education, Youth and Children has said.

At Cua Dai, concrete embankments have been built to mitigate the impact of sea waves, but erosion is still occuring.

BUSINESS NEWS 8/5

Vietnam’s banks are having difficulties meeting Basel II standards, including the quality of database, the qualifications of staff, technology infrastructure, training, and budget for consultants.