Experts proposed a number of measures to improve the quality of growth and competitiveness of the economy in Ho Chi Minh City at a seminar on June 23.

 The High-Level People’s Procuracy in Hanoi on June 22 proposed upholding the first-instance sentences for Dinh La Thang and his accomplices in the case involving PetroVietnam’s contribution of $35.2 million to Oceanbank.

 Vietnam is actively preparing to send its policemen to UN peacekeeping missions, said Lieut. Gen. Tran Van Ve, Acting General Director of the General Police Department.

 Some US steel producers have lodged a request to DOC to ask for investigations into and application of preventive measures against the avoidance of paying anti-dumping tax on corrosion-resistant carbon steel imported from Vietnam.

 The budget carrier Vietjet Air’s first flight from Hanoi to Taichung (Taiwan) departed the Noi Bai International Airport on June 22.

 Vietnam and France have agreed to further expand cultural cooperation in all aspects, including new forms, to encourage more and more Vietnamese youths to study French culture and language. 

 Facing increasing competition from the arrival of many world leading retailers, domestic retailing companies are turning their eyes to the rural market to capitalise on the advantage of home ground.

 The Police Investigation Agency of Hanoi’s Long Bien district on June 22 issued a decision launching criminal proceedings against and detained three people for illegal drug possession. 

 Each Vietnamese currently consumes about 46.5 grammes of free sugar every day, which is close to the maximum daily intake of 50 grammes and almost doubles the recommended daily intake of under 25 grammes.

 The fifth South East Asia (SEA) Freestyle Skating Champs officially kicked off at Hera Palace in the southeastern province of Ba Ria – Vung Tau on June 22.

 The southernmost Ca Mau Province People’s Committee has ordered local authorities to protect people and property from natural disasters by inspecting dykes and solving erosion and flooding incidents as soon as possible.

 The Ministry of Construction has offered nearly 80.58 million shares of the largest ceramics producer Viglacera in an attempt to offload the State capital in the company.

 A new record for summer power consumption was made, peaking nearly 711 million kWh on June 22, according to the Electricity National Load Dispatch Centre (EVN NLDC).

 The Ministry of Transport has ordered GrabTaxi Vietnam Co Ltd to halt a planned expansion; the company will only be permitted to grow within the five localities in their pilot programme.

SeABank ) and VNPT have signed the minutes to transfer VNPT finance subsidiary Post and Telecommunication Finance Company Ltd (PTF) to SeABank in the form of transferring the contributed capital.

 Standing Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son paid working visits to Singapore and India from June 21-22 to step up cooperative ties with the two countries.

 Retired Vietnamese goalkeeper Duong Hong Son was voted one of the five best AFF Suzuki Cup goalkeepers ever by the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF).

 Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City were presented with the best marketing campaign award at the closing session of the eighth Tourism Promotion Organisation for Asian-Pacific Cities (TPO) Forum on June 22.

 Vietnam has big potential in applying 4.0 technology to develop retail banks and payment utilities.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Nearly 40 per cent of enterprises with foreign direct investment (FDI) in Vietnam are facing a shortage of employees and have struggled with recruiting new labourers, 

 VietNamNet Bridge – Over the last 13 years a centre in Can Tho City’s Ninh Kieu District has become a place where young disabled people can learn to look after themselves and earn a living.

VietNamNet Bridge - Four percent of businesses use ‘other informal modes to settle disputes, according to the Vietnam International Arbitration Center (VIAC).

 VietNamNet Bridge – Lawyer Tran Thi Ngoc Nu is indefatigable in her mission to protect children from sexual abuse and assault.

 Regional workshop on human trafficking prevention, Netherlands-funded biogas project effective in rural areas, Hanoi commits to fulfilling 90-90-90 goals in HIV/AIDS prevention, Seminar discusses corporate responsibility in fight against alcohol

It’s been three months since the last time Dinh Van Tinh, 52, has had that pleasure of puffing on a traditional Vietnamese pipe that has become as familiar as an everyday meal for him over the last quarter of a century.