Viet Nam witnessed a trade surplus of nearly US$2.7 billion in the first quarter of this year, according to a report from the General Department of Customs.

 VietNamNet Bridge – To many it may just be you’re everyday life, but to others, it’s art. An exhibition, featuring 60 photos inspired by daily life in Vietnam is on a display in HCM City. 

 VietNamNet Bridge – French theatre company Be Clown will perform its circus play Pétole (Becalmed) for free in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta city of Can Tho on April 15.

 The Ministry of Construction has urged authorities on Phu Quoc Island and Van Don Island as well as Van Phong Bay area to take immediate steps to control surging land prices.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Relevant authorities must speed up the pace of study for creating an urban area for innovation, a so-called ‘Silicon Valley’, in HCM City, an international workshop heard on April 12.

 VietNamNet Bridge – More than 200 Vietnamese and foreign doctors compared notes on many areas of medicine at the Cho Ray Science Congress held in HCM City on Thursday.

The National Assembly (NA)’s Standing Committee mulled over a Government report on thrift practice and combating wastefulness at work during its 23rd session on April 12.

 The People’s Court in the central province of Ha Tinh on April 12 handed down a jail term of nine years, which will be followed by another five-year probation, to Tran Thi Xuan for attempt to overthrow the people’s administration.

National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines said since April 11, it has diverted its flights from/to Europe away from the Black Sea area, which could be under influence of the rising tension in Syria.

 VN Index recovered and exceeded 1,170 points on April 12 after a nosedive of over 31 points on the previous day.

 Vietnam won four gold medals at the ongoing 80th Singapore Open Track and Field Championship.

The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Vietnam has decided to give a warning as a disciplinary measure against Tran Quoc Cuong, member of the CPV Central Committee and Deputy Secretary of Dak Lak.

Beginning in April each year, farmers in the district of Phuc Tho on the outskirt of Hanoi are busy harvesting their ripe mulberries.

Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark in the northern border province of Cao Bang was recognised as a global geopark by the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council in Paris on April 12.

Considered a country with great potential for solar and wind power, Vietnam continues to be one of the 12 ‘hotspots’ in the globe for coal-fired power development.

Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark in the northern border province of Cao Bang was recognised as a global geopark by the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council in Paris on April 12.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Ride-hailing firm Uber Technologies Inc recently agreed to sell its Southeast Asian business to bigger regional rival Grab, marking its second pull-out from an Asian market.

 The International Finance Corporation (IFC) will help Ho Chi Minh City to build a smart city plan, IFC Vice President for Asia and Pacific Nena Stoiljkovic told Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Le Thanh Liem on April 12.

 More than 60 Vietnamese bamboo varieties have been planted in the Gao Giong eco-tourism site in Cao Lanh district, the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap, as part of the site’s bamboo conservation project. 

The 2018 sea festival of Sam Son city of the north central coastal province of Thanh Hoa will take place on April 21, heard a press conference held in the city on April 12.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Book lovers of all ages will flock to Thong Nhat Park, Hanoi, to celebrate Viet Nam Book Day 2018 on April 21.

 Shrimp exports see bright prospect this year, Foreign investors eyeing notorious Chu Lai Soda processing plant, Savills says Vietnam youth is easier for housing affordability, Da Nang High-Tech Park tries to attract more investment

 Boat racing festival in Dam Village in Bac Tu Liem District, Hanoi, is scheduled to be held on April 23-25, attracting the participation of hundreds of local men. 

HCMC speeds up construction of Rach Chiec sports complex, Fifth grader honored for returning $1,052, 7th Southern Folk Cake Festival returns to Can Tho, Cyber security becoming urgent issue in Vietnam

VietNamNet Bridge - The number of shops that only serve Chinese travelers and refuse Vietnamese customers have been increasing in Nha Trang, to the embarrassment of state and local officials.