New funicular up Sa Pa mountain launched

 The longest and mosy advanced funicular railway in Vietnam allows you to admire without effort the extraordinary landscapes of this very famous tourist resort of Vietnam’s northwestern region.

The absurdity of tourist arrival growth

 Vietnam may not be inferior to her neighbors when it comes to tourism resources. But why is there such a huge gap in the spending by international tourists between Vietnam and the other countries?

Ha Long hotels hike room rates sky-high

 Many hotels in Ha Long city in the northern province of Quang Ninh have hiked the prices of their rooms to 1.5 – 2.5 times normal this peak season, with prices especially high at weekends.

Vietnamese child model to compete at Prince & Princess International

 Child model Nguyen Ngoc Trang Anh will represent Vietnam at the ‘Prince & Princess International 2018’beauty pageant scheduled for July 25-31 in Phuket, Thailand.

Fermented buffalo skin, a specialty of Thai people in Son La

 Moc Chau plateau in Son La province, where the Thai live, is well-known for its fresh air, beautiful flowers, and delicious food. Fermented buffalo skin is a special indigenous dish of the Thai.

Social News 2/7

National conference on sustainable growth slated for July 5, Summer Vietnamese course opens in Prague, Young people join sea and island protection movements, Golf tournament of OVs in Czech attracts large number of players

Domestic, FDI business partnerships provide spark for electronics

 The electronics industry is a typical example of Vietnam’s success in the development and integration process. From a certain angle, some of the weaknesses present the country’s failure to adapt.

Hue Citadel to host nightly royal music shows

 Performances of Nha Nhac (Hue royal court music), a UNESCO intangible heritage, will begin on July 1 at Hue Imperial Citadel in the central city of Hue and then be held every evening thereafter.

Digital project helps preserve Hue historical monuments

A data digitisation project has been implemented in the Complex of Hue Monuments in the central province of Thue Thien-Hue to improve the management and preservation of Tu Duc Tomb and An Dinh Palace. 

Complaints about Paracel and Spratly reference on Facebook app

 The Ministry of Information and Communications has just asked Facebook to explain why they include the Paracel and Spratly islands on a Chinese map.

Vietnamese girl wins first prize at int’l piano contest in US

 Seven-year-old Tran Bang Tam from Hanoi has recently won the first prize at the American Protégé Piano and Strings Competition 2018.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 2/7

Digitalisation could be boon for region, 3,000 cases of smuggling, fake goods in HCM City in 2018, Korean firms flock to job fair as need for workers soars, VAT plan would hit household welfare     

Severe heat wave continues in northern, central Vietnam

 The hot spell in the northern and central regions over the past days will continue until the weekend, according to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

Vietnam wins three golds at 3rd Vinh Long In’tl Table Tennis

Vietnam tops the 3rd Vinh Long International Table Tennis, which wrapped up on July 1 in the southern province of Vinh Long, with three gold medals in the events of men’s doubles, women’s doubles and men’s singles.

Will Gompertz reviews Michael Jackson: On The Wall at London's National Portrait Gallery

 The first image you see when you walk into the exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery is the last portrait Michael Jackson commissioned of himself before he died in 2009.

PM: growth needed to address employment, reduce public debt

Growth is an inclusive target of Vietnam, which will assist the country in addressing employment, increasing budget collection and reducing public debt, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc stressed.

Billions of USD flowing to Vietnam from Asia

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam has been receiving big investments from Japan, Singapore and South Korea, and new capital from China. 

Thai cave: Divers advance in effort to save trapped boys

 Divers searching for a group trapped in a flooded Thai cave for more than a week are nearing the area it is thought they could be stranded.

HCM City sea dyke aims to stop waterlogging

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is seeking approval from the Government to build a Vung Tau – Go Cong sea dyke in an effort to combat waterlogging in HCM City.

Illegal mineral exploitation rampant in Phu Tho Province

 VietNamNet Bridge – Illegal exploitation of minerals continues in some districts in the northern mountainous province of Phu Tho, including Doan Hung, Thanh Thuy, Thanh Son and Phu Tho Town.

TV game show revives traditional music

Residents in the Cuu Long (Mekong) River Delta region are encouraged to compete in the Tai Tu Miet Vuon (Traditional music), a TV game show  produced by the Dong Thap Radio and Television Station.

HCM City gets technology training centre

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Saigon Hi-Tech Park in HCM City has set up the Viet Nam-Japan Training and Technology Transfer Centre with assistance from Japanese human resource training companies.

Vietnamese natural makeup brands prosper in home market

VietNamNet Bridge - After many years of using only French makeup, My Ha, 40, from Phu Nhuan district in HCM City has begun using natural products made by Vietnamese enterprises. 

Communal house needs master plan of conservation: culture deputy minister

 VietNamNet Bridge – A communal house on the western outskirts of Hanoi is in serious need for preservation to protect its history and architecture, 

HCM City raises environmental protection, parking fees

 VietNamNet Bridge – volume of industrial waste water in HCM City, while higher parking fees on city centre streets will curb traffic congestion,