Bahrain to open trade promotion office in Hanoi, HCM City

 Bahrain will open its trade promotion offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to facilitate trade with Vietnam and other countries in the ASEAN bloc, said Sheikh Daij bin Isa Al Khalifa, Chairman of the ASEAN-Bahrain Business Council.

Vietnamese leaders welcome Iranian Parliament Speaker

NA Chairwoman welcomes Iranian Parliament Speaker’s visit, Vietnam wants to bolster traditional ties with Iran: Party Chief, Iran looks to foster comprehensive partnership with Vietnam, VFF pledges to contribute to Vietnam-Iran relations

Organising committee for World Economic Forum on ASEAN set up

 The Prime Minister has inked Decision No.395/QD-TTg on the establishment of the organising committee for the World Economic Forum on ASEAN (WEF ASEAN) scheduled in Hanoi this year.

Life sentence upheld for former leader of Housing Group

The Hanoi High-Level People’s Court has maintained the life sentence given to Chau Thi Thu Nga, former National Assembly deputy and former Chairwoman and General Director of the Housing Group, for swindling to appropriate assets.

Work on Thu Thiem urban area’s smart complex to start in Sep

 Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong and CEO of Lotte Asset Development Lee Kwang Young have agreed to start construction of a smart complex in the city’s Thu Thiem New Urban Area on September 2.

Bringing waterway transport to its full potential

 VietNamNet Bridge – One of transport sector’s current goals is to develop waterway transport to reduce pressure on road transport. Hoang Hong Giang, Director of Inland Waterway Department,

Regular excess drinking can take years off your life, study finds

 Regularly drinking above the UK alcohol guidelines can take years off your life, according to a major report.

Superdry fires first shot in Vietnamese fast fashion market

 The emergence of Superdry Plc., a British international clothing company, may create competition among international fashion brands in Vietnam and hinder their plans to continue expanding in the country.

Bac Me lam rice

 Ha Giang has rich fields with many types of tasty rice, therefore Bac Me lam rice has become a unique dish of the Tay communities.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 17/4

Da Nang High-Tech Park tries to attract more investment, Ceramic exports to Argentina rise sharply, US giants voice their policy concerns, As investors flood Đồng Nai, housing market strains

Meritorious Artist Quyen Van Minh: I’m still passionately in love with jazz

 After more than five decades developing a strong attachment to music, Meritorious Artist - saxophonist Quyen Van Minh admitted that he was still passionately in love with jazz. 

IPP Group to pour $440 million into Van Don SAEZ

 IPP Group (Imex Pan Pacific Group) has proposed pouring VND10 trillion ($440 million) into the whole non-tariff area of Van Don Special Administrative-Economic Zone (SAEZ) in 2018-2023.

Vietnam likely to be loser in debt claim battle with Uber

VietNamNet Bridge - Lawyers, citing current regulations, say that it will be very difficult to collect tax debts from Uber, which has sold its Vietnam business to Grab. 

Hanoi river faces years of serious pollution

 People in Hanoi’s Bac Tu Liem and Tay Ho districts have been living with a seriously-polluted river for many years, but the local authorities have seemed to ignore the problem.

Businesses, farmers struggle to develop tea brands

In an effort to increase tea export value, both farmers and businesses in the northern province of Thai Nguyen, the country’s largest tea producer, are seeking to develop brand names for their products.

Hanoi adds classes for Golden Goat influx

 VietNamNet Bridge – High schools in Hanoi are expected to enroll 85,800 students in the 10th grade this school year, an increase of 19,500 students compared to the previous year.

School violence, disorder shake up education community

VietNamNet Bridge - The reports about school scandals have caused concern among parents and educators. 

Drivers struggle after Uber calls time in Vietnam

 VietNamNet Bridge – A number of drivers who used to work with the ride-hailing company Uber say they are uncertain about their futures after the company closed here last week.

Folk singing strives for tourists’ delight

 As soon as the folklore art form of Xoan singing was added to the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage of humanity, Phu Tho has made the folk art performances a tourism product. 

HCM City plans food safety crackdown

 VietNamNet Bridge – The head of the HCM City Food Safety Management Board has said inspections will be stepped up to ensure food safety.

Quang Tri man applies Israeli knowledge to mushroom farming

Tran Van Phuc, a young man from central Quang Tri Province, has learned how to grow oyster mushrooms at his university thanks to an agricultural course created through an Israel-Viet Nam partnership.    

Lawyer-talk: can and should Thai Beverage gain control of Sabeco now?

 Lawyers Luong Van Trung from the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre and Tran Thi Anh Tho from Lexcomm Vietnam LLC discuss whether Thai Beverage has the right to be on Sabeco’s 

Social News 16/4

Social media – effective tool for tourism companies, Chinese Embassy in Vietnam meets with local reporters, Australia helps Vietnam with slaughtering management, skills, HCM City to host activities for Hung Kings’ death anniversary

Preventing fires in dry season

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Tay Nguyen (Central Highlands) provinces are taking measures to ensure that 2.56 million hectares of forests are not affected by fire during the peak of the dry season.

Government News 16/4

Vietnam, Pakistan hold second political consultation, Vietnamese ambassador works to enhance ties with Algerian locality, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong during a working session in Dong Thap