Low-carb diets could shorten life, study suggests

A low-carb diet could shorten life expectancy by up to four years, a study suggests. Low-carb diets, such as Atkins, have become increasingly popular for weight loss and have shown promise for lowering the risk of some illnesses.

Health ministry launches “Healthy Lung” portal

 The Medical Examination and Treatment Department under the Ministry of Health, in coordination with the AstraZeneca multinational pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical company, launched the “Healthy Lung” portal in Hanoi on August 16.

VN's top swimmer Anh Vien aims to make a splash at ASIAD

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese top swimmer Nguyen Thi Anh Vien is confident she will change her medal’s colour at the upcoming Asian Games (ASIAD) in Indonesia.

German firm to provide technical support for Vietnam Airlines’ fleet

 Germany-based Lufthansa Technik AG will provide maintenance services for the auxiliary power units (APUs) of national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines’ Airbus A350-900 fleet which are produced by Honeywell.

Foreigners splash the cash on Hanoi Old Quarter’s tourism services

 Hanoi’s Old Quarter is an exciting hub of activity, drawing a large number of foreigners throughout the year, leading to a boom in tourism-related services such as accommodation, bars, motorbike rentals and tour booking.

Vietnam Puppetry Festival opens in Ho Chi Minh City

The first Vietnam Puppetry Festival opened on Nguyen Hue Pedestrian street, Ho Chi Minh City, on August 16 with the participation of six theatres. 

Banh mi - iconic Vietnamese street food

 Banh mi is becoming the most beloved Vietnamese street food. With its typical flavor, Banh mi in the Old Quarter of Hanoi has established a reputation among both locals and foreign tourists.

Petrolimex asks for divestment extension

 The Vietnam National Petroleum Group (Petrolimex) has asked the Government to extend its deadline for selling the State’s capital to the 2019-20 period instead of this year as currently planned.

Ministries tighten scrap import management

 The Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment has officially established an inspection team to look into scrap imports.

Plastic industry fears bankruptcy as scrap import ban bites

 Plastic companies are facing possible bankruptcy after 4,000 tonnes of plastic scrap, raw material for their production, have been held up at ports for tests to ensure they meet import criteria.

Vietnamese steel sector caught in US-China trade war

 Improving material supplies and proof of product origin were ways to limit the impact of trade lawsuits amid the growing US–China trade war, according to insiders.

Gov’t aims to boost logistics by cutting costs

 The Government is trying to reduce the cost of goods transport in the country to make logistics more competitive and one of the economic spearheads.

Non-life insurers plan to increase premiums from bancassurance

 Many large non-life insurance companies plan to increase the contribution bancassurance makes to their total premium revenue this year.

VN artists to attend Carnegie International exhibition

 A group of artists from Viet Nam known as Art Labor and Joan Jonas will attend the 57th Carnegie International at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh, the US.

US threatens more action against Turkey unless pastor freed

 The US has threatened to impose more economic sanctions on Turkey if it does not free a detained American pastor.

Upcoming Events

Abstract exhibition by Nguyen Ngoc Phuong opens, Designer Ha tells story of áo dài, South Melbourne Districts’ hold Auskick event in HCM City, GBA Oktoberfest Viet Nam at Hotel Nikko

US military parade ordered by Trump postponed 'to 2019'

 President Trump's plans for a Veterans Day military parade through the streets of Washington DC have been delayed until at least 2019.

HCM City loses out on cruise tourism without large ports

 VietNamNet Bridge – The HCM City tourism sector needs to provide better inputs to the Government and improve marketing and promotion to maximise the city’s tourism potential, 

Mekong Delta provinces prepare for upcoming academic year

The education sector in Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta provinces are preparing for the new school year, investing in and upgrading infrastructure and building new facilities, especially at boarding schools for ethnic minorities.

Rose Park to open in Hanoi

 VietNamNet Bridge – The capital city’s first ever rose park will open soon in Long Bien District, 10km east of the city centre.

How will Vietnam cope with the crisis caused by China-US trade war?

As GDP relies on exports, in order to avoid the abrasive effects of the China-US trade war, it needs to improve competitiveness and find new markets.

No weed killer ban just yet

 The Plant Protection Department under Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will ban the use of glyphosate, an active ingredient in many weed killers when there is enough evidence proving the herbicide has impacts on human health.

Tax collectors struggle to collect from Internet income

 A young man from the central province of Quảng Nam reportedly showed up at the provincial tax department on Tuesday to pay his long overdue income tax from alleged income of US$700,000 he generated from Google from 2014-17.

Government News 17/8

PM asks for measures to improve Vietnam’s e-government index, Citizen protection work discussed at 30th Diplomatic Conference, Politburo issues conclusion on pilot models in political system

Walking street business boom frustrates walkers

Two years after the walking street around the iconic Hoan Kiem (Returned Sword) Lake was first introduced to the Hanoians, the place has become a top destination for families and friends to hang out on weekends.