Asian openbill storks flock to Gao Giong cajuput forest in Dong Thap

 More than 100,000 Asian openbill storks have nested in Gao Giong cajuput forest, Cao Lanh district, the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap so far this year. 

Cho Thu carpentry village in An Giang

Cho Thu is the Mekong Delta region’s best-known carpentry village.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 10/4

Vietnam Institute of Directors makes debut, Binh Phuoc enjoys impressive growth in FDI attraction, Credit institutions hope for good business in Q2, 2018, VPBank to lift chartered capital to 1.22 billion USD

Catfish falls in price as Vietnamese master technology, increase productivity

VietNamNet Bridge - Twenty years ago, Vietnam succeeded in having shark catfish (including tra – or Pangasius hypophthalmus and basa, or Pangasius bocourti) reproduced artificially. 

HCM City’s semiconductor industry slowing down

VietNamNet Bridge – HCM City authorities once vowed to make the semiconductor industry a key part of the economy, but no significant action has been taken recently.

How is the Hoan Kiem turtle preserved?

VietNamNet Bridge - Modern plastination technology is helping the Vietnam National Museum of Nature to preserve the Hoan Kiem turtle.

Vietnamese students’ reading glasses to be presented US fair

VietNamNet Bridge - The reading glasses invented by HCM City's students Nguyen Hoang Minh Khoi and Vu Phuong Thao can recognize characters and emit sounds with a high accuracy rate of 89 percent.

Check mate!

Hanoi’s Sword Lake has become a cultural hub for Co Tuong, or Chinese chess, a mental sport activity that attracts people from all walks of life.

High-tech shrimp breeding brings higher profits to farmers

 More than two years ago, Dang Thanh Tan, a farmer in Binh Minh town, northern Ninh Binh province, decided to switch from breeding shrimp in traditional ponds to high-tech farming.

Night market to open in Ly Son Island

 VietNamNet Bridge – The island district of Ly Son, 30km off the coast of Quang Ngai Province, will open a night market for tourists on the island in May.

Development of organic fertiliser key to VN’s future agriculture

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam has identified organic agriculture as the way forward, and why the development and promotion of the product is key to achieving their goals.

Investors happy about new cut in corporate income tax

VietNamNet Bridge - The stock market has shown positive reactions to the disclosure of the government’s intention to slash the corporate income tax (CIT) from 20-22 percent to 15-17 percent.

UNESCO to help protecting heritage

UNESCO Representative to Viet Nam Michael Croft on last Friday revealed to local media that the office intends to coordinate with Vietnamese government agencies to further push dialogue on tourism development, 

Hue Festival show depicts Hoang Sa sovereignty

 VietNamNet Bridge – A show in the upcoming Hue Festival, which starts on April 28, will feature performances on Vietnam’s island sovereignty.

Daily tour to land of the Hung Kings launched

 A new daily tour from Hanoi to the northern province of Phu Tho, the land of the mythical Hung Kings, was recently launched.

Finance Ministry proposes major cuts to business requirements

 Minister Dinh Tien Dung has proposed abolishing and simplifying more than half of the 370 business requirements under his Ministry of Finance (MOF) as part of a government-wide effort to improve the business climate in Vietnam.  

International franchisors keen on Vietnam

South Korea’s largest convenient store chain, GS Retail, opened its first store, GS25 Vietnam, in HCMC in January this year, after shaking hands with SonKim to launch a joint venture franchise in the country. 

Hanoi football stadium to undergo US$310m upgrade

 Hanoi’s Hang Day Stadium in Hanoi will undergo a EUR250 million (USD310 million) upgrade this autumn.

Marine forces rescue sinking boat, all passengers safe

 Marine rescue forces in HCM City successfully rescued a sinking boat late on Sunday after it was stranded in the waters of Can Gio Beach for 12 hours.

Localities urged high vigilance in response to forest fires

 Localities nationwide have been urged by the Vietnam Administration of Forestry to prepare measures to prevent forest fires and mitigate damage caused by fires.

Japanese doctor appointed Honorary Consul of Vietnam in Aichi

 Japanese doctor Nagato Natsume has been appointed Honorary Consul of Vietnam in Aichi prefecture of the Northeast Asian nation.

Vietinbank and PG Bank deal collapses

 The Viet Nam Bank for Industry and Trade (VietinBank) and the Petrolimex Group Commercial Joint Stock Bank (PG Bank) have called off a potential merger after nearly two years of negotiations.

Excess loans to be permitted beginning May 1

 Credit institutions and foreign banks will be allowed to grant loans to some prioritised borrowers in excess of lending limits regulated by law beginning next month.

Lack of upmarket office space makes HCM City red hot for developers

 The HCM City office market is rife with opportunities for property developers, especially the grade A and B segments which have been labouring under a shortage for the last couple of months, experts said.

Mekong Delta ready for fight against climate change

As hot weather peaks this month in southern Vietnam, authorities in the Cuu Long (Mekong Delta) region are stepping up efforts to cope with forest fires and salinisation as a response to climate change.