The importance of electronic prescriptions

 VietNamNet Bridge – Health Minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien, spoke to newspaper Thời báo Kinh tế Việt Nam (Việt Nam Economic Times) on the plan to introduce electronic prescriptions nationwide.

First phase of smart city project considered a success

 VietNamNet Bridge – The smart city operation centre, which is part of a larger smart city project launched a year ago, is expected to open at the headquarters of the HCM City People’s Committee.

HCM City’s Book Street earns more than US$4.5 million in three years

 VietNamNet Bridge – The HCM City Book Street on Nguyen Van Binh Street in District 1 has earned more than VND105.7 billion (US$4.5 million) from its book and cafe sales since it opened three years ago, 

Co-working offices fight for business premises in prime areas

VietNamNet Bridge - Finding rental premises in central business districts for co-working spaces is becoming more and more difficult.

Cai Lon – Cai Be Irrigation project approved

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Cai Lon – Cai Be irrigation project in the Mekong Delta has been approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, 

Volkswagen sold over 10 million cars last year. Only 1% were electrified

 Volkswagen sold a record 10.8 million cars in 2018. Only 100,000 were electrified.

Tai signs one-year contract extension with Binh Duong

 VietNamNet Bridge – Midfielder Le Tan Tai has signed a one-year contract extension with former V-League 1 champions Becamex Binh Duong.

Marcel wins Viet Nam Open

 VietNamNet Bridge – Top seed Marcel Granollers from Spain triumphed at the Viet Nam Tennis Open Da Nang City 2019 on Saturday after an easy 6-2, 6-0 win over Italian Matteo Viola in the men’s singles final.

Ministry guides oil spill response

 The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has issued a circular to regulate marine oil spill cleanup and recovery efforts.

Chinese Taipei athlete wins HCM marathon 2019

 Amateur marathoner Chia-Che Chang, from Chinese Taipei, won the HCM marathon 2019, which concluded yesterday in Phu My Hung, HCM City.

Many universities set English as admission criterion

 VietNamNet Bridge – Several universities have included English as one of the criteria in their enrolment plans for the 2019-2020 academic year.

Two ties and more suprises at the Critics' Choice Awards

 Hollywood's award season festivities continued Sunday with the Critics' Choice Awards. Lady Gaga won the first award of the night for best song for her collaboration "Shallow" from "A Star Is Born."

Nha Trang faces slow hotel bookings and falling tourist numbers

 Many hotels in Nha Trang City are facing slow sales due to oversupply and dubious services.

Hoi An among world’s most wallet-friendly destinations

 Hoi An ancient town in the central province of Quang Nam has been given the 11th place among the 19 cheapest holiday destinations in the world in 2019 in the annual Holiday Money report compiled by Post Office Travel Money.

Outlook of Vietnamese economy to be scrutinized this week

 The health and short-term prospects of the Vietnamese economy will be high on the agenda of the Viet Nam Economic Forum 2019, scheduled to take place from January 16-17.

Tan Son Nhat projected to serve 900 flights this Tet

 The management board of Tan Son Nhat Airport in HCM City estimate that the airport will serve up to 900 flights a day this Tet Holiday.

Vietcombank seeks gov’t OK to ease foreign ownership cap in 2019

 As part of the process, the bank would reduce the state ownership to 65%.

Vietnam’s benchmark VN-Index projected to jump 18% in 2019: Bloomberg

 The high growth would come from stable economic growth and cheap valuation of Vn-Index.

Japan’s Asahi Group sets up JV to tap in Vietnam’s dairy market

 Vietnam has become an important market for Asahi Group, especially in nutritional products for children, said the group’s executive.

Korean investors make bigger influence in Vietnamese market

 Experts forecast South Korean investors will continue pouring more into the Vietnamese market by M&A or directly compete with local firms.

Car sales in Vietnam up 5.8% yoy in 2018

 Domestically assembled cars dominated Vietnam’s market in 2018, with sale number reaching 215,704 units in 2018, up 10.6% year-on-year, while imported completely-built-units (CBUs) were 72,979 units, down 6.2%, local media reported.

Explore 36 streets of Hanoi on a cyclo

 It’s almost certain that any visitor to the Old Quarter of Hanoi wants to experience the fun feeling while riding a cyclo around the 36 streets. 

Social News 14/1

VN strives to erase maternal transmission of HIV, hepatitis B, syphilis, Health care a highlight in Vietnam–Cuba cooperation, Fourth school traffic safety contest launched, Major pagoda in Hai Duong province gets upgrade

Vietnam improves animal farming quality

 Improving the quality and safety of animal husbandry products remains a major export priority in Vietnam.

ATF 2019 affirms Vietnam’s standing on regional and world stage: Minister

 The ASEAN Tourism Forum 2019 (ATF 2019) is taking place in Ha Long city, the northeastern province of Quang Ninh from January 14-18. Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien talked about the event.