Recognised global geopark title to become a driver for Cao Bang tourism: expert

The Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark in the northern province of Cao Bang has been declared as a new member of the UNESCO Global Network of National Geoparks.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 5/5

Inundating losses may force Ha Bac Fertiliser out of business, Petrol firms suggest increasing E5-RON 95 price difference, Ministry postpones CR stamp rule to next January, Textile-garment firms vague about new regulation

Medical claims on the rise, says VSI

 VietNamNet Bridge – The number of in-patients with public medical insurance has unusually increased in the first four months, 

New race in beverage market starts

VietNamNet Bridge - The Vietnamese beverage market remains very attractive to investors, with growth potential three times higher than the average growth rate in Asia.

Camera, sensor, and IoT devices in Vietnam vulnerable to cyber attacks

 Newly released statistics from Kaspersky show that in 2017 there were around 3 cyber-attacks per second globally. Vietnam is classified as being highly exposed to hacking risks.

HCM City uses high-tech to treat hazardous waste

HCM City is now treating hazardous medical and industrial waste by high-tech methods at two plants, but by 2020 the city will need additional plant capacity as well as more private investment when public funding runs out.  

Le Thi To Hai – A naturopathy and human energy expert

 Having spent more than 16 years studying yoga and meditation, Le Thi To Hai, founder of Golden Hearts Meditation & Yoga, is among the first people who have laid the foundation for naturopathy applying meditation and yoga in Vietnam.

Business and investment environment increasingly dynamic

 VET sought the views of chambers of commerce in Vietnam regarding its business and investment environment.

Nine golden land plots at Thu Thiem New Urban Area aim foreign investment

The HCM City eople’s Committee will auction nine land plots located at the functional area I of Thu Thiem New Urban Area, to lure more foreign investment to the already bustling real estate scene in the city. 

Visa exemptions for Western European countries extended to 2021

 Viet Nam will extend visa exemptions for citizens from the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy for the next three years, starting from the beginning of July.

Government News In Brief 4/5

HCM City pledges optimal conditions for Peruvian investors, Vietnamese Ambassador to UK presents credentials, Vice President meets Vinh Long voters ahead fifth NA session, Poverty rate remains high among ethnic minorities

Social News In Brief 4/5

Tragic traffic accident kills 1, injures 9 in Lam Dong, President presents orders to HCM City’s firefighters, US$3.4 mil invested to build the HCM City's Preventive Medicine Center

Vietnam Steel Association seeks action against U.S. over steel tariff

 The Vietnam Steel Association has sent a petition to relevant authorities to take action, including complaints to the WTO and counter-tariffs against U.S. products, to safeguard local enterprises from the U.S. steel tariff.

'Bai choi' singing to receive UNESCO certificate of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

Binh Dinh will hold a ceremony on May 5 for the receiving of a certificate from UNESCO recognising “Bai Choi” singing as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Renowned violinist Stephane Tran Ngoc to return Vietnam for HCMC concert

 The celebrated Vietnamese-French violin soloist Stephane Tran Ngoc will return to Vietnam to perform a concert at the Ho Chi Minh City Opera House on May 9.

Vietnam continues visa exemptions for five European countries

 Vietnam will renew visa exemptions for a three-year period for the citizens of five Western European countries, including the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy.

Twitter tells 330 million users to change their passwords

 Twitter has warned its 330 million users to change their passwords after a glitch exposed some in plain text on its internal network.

Bui Vien walking street no longer has pedestrian path

The walking street of Bui Vien has been put into operation since August 2017, and become a popular entertainment destination for foreigners and young people at weekends. 

Nobel Prize for Literature postponed amid Swedish Academy turmoil

 The organisation that decides the Nobel Prize for Literature has said it will not announce an award this year, after it was engulfed in a scandal over sexual assault allegations.

Extreme weather 'potentially catastrophic' for bats

 Extreme weather appears to be disrupting the life cycle of Europe's bats. Scientists were alarmed to find that some bats in Portugal skipped winter hibernation altogether this year while others gave birth early.

Vietnam welcomes Chinese investment capital, but remains wary about risks

VietNamNet Bridge - Chinese FDI (foreign direct investment) flow to Vietnam has been increasing rapidly recently as Vietnam is one of the destinations included in China’s ‘One belt, one road’ strategy’.

Cocobay added to Danang DoC’s black list

 $616.7 million Cocobay complex, home to Cocobay Towers where football legend Cristiano Ronaldo registered to buy a condotel, is the latest name on the list of projects without a construction permit in the central city of Danang.

Bad performance spells doom for $10.6 billion Hoa Sen Group steel complex?

 The consecutive decrease in profit makes it questionable whether domestic private Hoa Sen Group can develop the $10.6-billion Ca Na steel project in the central province of Ninh Thuan.

Award-winning high-schooler denied US visa for science fair

A Vietnamese pupil may miss the opportunity to participate in an international science fair in the US after his visa application was rejected twice.

Mount Kilauea: Hawaii emergency declared over volcano eruption

 Mount Kilauea volcano has erupted near a residential area on Hawaii's largest island, prompting a local state of emergency and the mandatory evacuation of 1,700 local residents.