Itochu pays US$47mn to raise stake in Vinatex

  Itochu, Japan’s second-largest trading company, has spent some five billion yen (US$46.9 million) to buy an additional 10 per cent equity in Viet Nam National Textile and Garment Group (Vinatex).

US investigates plastic bags imported from Vietnam

 The US Department of Commerce (DOC) last week announced the initiation of anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations into the import of laminated woven sacks (LWSs) from Viet Nam.

Dak Nong: Pine forests along Highway 28 being wiped out

Large areas of pine forest along the Highway 28 in Quang Son commune of Dak G’Long district in the Central Highlands province of Dak Nong have been destroyed due to land encroachment.

CPI under control after tax hike: Finance Ministry

 The environmental protection tax increase would make CPI in July rise by 0.27-0.29 per cent from the previous month, said Vu Thi Mai, deputy minister of Finance at the monthly Government meeting held in Ha Noi on Monday.

Investigation begins to trace origin of uprooted trees

 VietNamNet Bridge – Pressure from local media and public has prompted an investigation by ranger authorities into the origin of three large perennial trees found at a plot in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue.

Ports cause HCM City traffic woes

 VietNamNet Bridge – Ports in Cat Lai Area in HCM City’s District 9 cannot be expanded because they are surrounded by residential areas just as they were 20 years ago when they had been located in inner districts.

Sports News 4/4

,Nat’l outstanding archers champs starts in Vinh Long, Hometown cyclists shine at HCM City cycling event, VN tennis team start Davis Cup with two winning games, Hà Nội triumph at National U16 Football Tournament

Woman miscarries after receiving wrong medicine

 VietNamNet Bridge – Three pregnant women in the southern province of Tien Giang and another from Bac Lieu Province were given incorrect medicine, and one of them miscarried soon after.

Heineken to bring Formula 1 to Vietnam

 Heineken will bring Formula 1, one of the world’s most prestigious sporting events, to Viet Nam for the first time in May.

Ha Tinh discovers Nguyen era item

 A museum in central Ha Tinh Province has announced the discovery of an incense holder dating back to the 19th century.

Direct flights from Switzerland to Vietnam reopened in November

 There will be two direct flights weekly from Switzerland to Viet Nam starting November, Federal Councilor of Switzerland Doris Leuthard said on Tuesday when she met Transport Minister Nguyen Van The.

41 people off updated professor list

 Forty-one people have been removed from the list of newly-appointed professors and associate professors that was announced in early February.

Legal threat to landlords who fail fire safety

 Investors of apartment buildings in Hanoi who fail or defer to follow regulations on fire prevention would face legal proceedings, a municipal People’s Committee meeting heard yesterday.

Making a pilgrimage tour to Quan Am Pagoda in Bac Lieu

 On the way to the Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu, around 100 kilometers from the southernmost tip of Vietnam, pilgrims should stop by a Buddhist pagoda where there is an 11-meter-tall Bodhisattva statue facing the sea. 

Health Ministry's smart healthcare system uses AI, Big Data

 A smart healthcare system that exploits Big Data and artificial intelligence (AI) has been set up by the Ministry of Health to improve the quality of health examinations and medical treatment.

Vingroup inks cooperation deal with US universities

Property developer Vingroup on April 3 signed a strategic cooperation agreement with US-based Cornell University and the University of Pennsylvania (Penn).

State ownership in Vietnam Airlines to reduce to 51 pct in 2019

 The Ministry of Transport has asked the representative of State stake in Vietnam Airlines to draft plans to reduce State ownership to 51 percent of the national flag carrier’s charter capital in 2019.

Baby bonsai - a new trend among the wealthy in VN

Despite their high prices, some wealthy Vietnamese people are willing to spend thousands of dollars on miniature bonsais.

FIFA commends Vietnam’s achievements

 Being impressed with Vietnam’s recent success, the world football governing body FIFA has published an article reviewing the country’s achievements, while suggesting that another turning point is approaching.

Government News 4/4

Vietnam attends NAM senior official meeting, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc receives German Ambassador, Ministry to speed up restructuring to ensure growth target

Moody’s: Vietnam’s real GDP growth to reach 6.7 percent in 2018

 Moody’s Investors Service said that Vietnam’s real GDP growth will remain robust, averaging 6.7 percent in 2018, in its annual credit analysis released on April 3.

Vietnam’s coffee exports rake in $1 billion in Q1

 Vietnam exported up to 520,000 tonnes of coffee worth 1 billion USD in the first quarter of 2018, an increase of 15.1 percent in volume but a decrease of 1.7 percent in value compared to the same period last year.

Quang Ninh licences Thai-invested $1.6 billion project

 Amata VN Public Company Limited, a subsidiary of Thailand-based Amata Corporation PCL, has been licenced to develop the first phase of a 1.6 billion-USD industrial and urban project in the northeastern province of Quang Ninh. 

Vietnam to impose harsh punishments on illegal fishing

 A captain who fishes illegally will see his boat driving licence revoked and his vessel banned from fishing, said Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Ha Cong Tuan.

Vietnam plans technical barriers on imported cars

The ministries of Transport (MOT) and Science & Technology (MST) plan to set up technical barriers to tighten the control of imported cars.