Social News 15/3

Vietnam getting tough on harmful online info, Medical workers warn re-emergence of measles, Scrapyard fire leads to school evacuation, Tumour removed from 6-day-old child, Price drop forces farmers to leave vegetables unharvested

Thai firms continue pushing for bigger Vietnam market share

 The just increased ownership of NawaPlastic Industries (Saraburi) Co Ltd in Vietnamese firm Binh Minh Plastic (BMP) is yet another clear indication that Thai companies are continuing finding ways to gain a bigger market share in Vietnam.

Khanh Hoa, Danang seek to reduce tourism dependence on China

 Tourism authorities of Khanh Hoa and Danang provinces have taken steps to diversify their source markets so as to cut their heavy reliance on China.

Local consumers spend heavily on snacks and beer

 Vietnamese consumers have great demand for snacks and beer, according to a newly-released report by the global marketing research firm Nielsen.

Da Lat City turns ugly

Da Lat has recently been tarnished by images of garbage-covered streets, aggressive scenes, tourist harassment and vendor scams.

History of Reunification Palace goes on show

 A special exhibition unveiling hundreds of artifacts about the history of the Reunification Palace, the former seat of the South Vietnamese regime, is now open to public viewing for free until March 23.

Danang among top ten places worth living

Danang has overtaken HCMC and Hanoi, Vietnam’s two biggest cities, to become the only Vietnamese candidate listed in the world’s top 10 worth-living destinations for expats in 2018.

Cherry blossom festival set for late this month in Hanoi

 The Japanese cherry blossom festival is slated for March 23 to 26 in the capital city of Hanoi, as part of cultural exchange activities to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Vietnam.

Hue streets bloom into life for March

When March comes around, the ancient city of Hue is brought to life with colourful displays of Bauhinia, Bombax, and Chinaberry flowers each vying off in a show of beauty.

Vietnamese-English bilingual picture book on Truong Sa released

 A bilingual picture book in English and Vietnamese on Truong Sa (the Spratly) archipelago by female journalist My Tra has been launched in Hanoi on March 12.

Retail model under conversion in Vietnam

After two decades in Vietnam, Parkson system has continuously announced operation stop of some four trade centers in Vietnam. Meantime, convenience stores and some other retail models such as shopping mall and Omni-channel have strongly developed.

Vietnam, Australia issue Joint Statement on setting up strategic parternship

The following is the full Viet Nam-Australia Joint Statement issued on the occasion of PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc's ongoing official visit to Australia.

VN, Australia upgrade ties to strategic partnership

Vietnamese PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull have decided to upgrade the two countries’ Enhanced Comprehensive Partnership to Strategic Partnership, making Australia the 12th Strategic Parner of Viet Nam.

Tu Lan racers to raise funds for flood-resistant floating houses

 VietNamNet Bridge – Tu Lan Cave, sister of the biggest cave in the world, Son Doong, is offering visitors treks, swimming, caving trips and a race.

WB:Vietnamese schools achieve significant educational progress

 The East Asia and Pacific region has seven of the top ten performing education systems in the world, with schools in China and Vietnam showing significant progress, according to a new World Bank report released on March 15.

Whitebook 2018: Vietnam – an attractive destination for foreign investment

Vietnam has many competitive advantages when it comes to being an attractive destination for foreign investment, according to the EuCham’s Whitebook 2018.

Daikon radishes dumped in Red River due to low prices

 Farmers in Hanoi are throwing tonnes of radishes away despite being harvest season because of incredibly low price,s with a kilo of radishes sold for VND500 to VND1,000.

Exhibition held for non-professional artists in Hanoi

 VietNamNet Bridge – The third exhibition by the Bui (Dust) fine arts non-professional artists community is being held at the Exhibition Centre of Fine Arts and Photography, 29 Hang Bai Street, Hanoi.

Three people appear to die of alcohol poisoning

 Three people in the central province of Nghe An died after drinking alcohol soaked in plants taken from a local forest.

Hundreds of businesses to join Vietnam International Travel Mart 2018

Up to 679 local and foreign tourism businesses have been registered to participate in the Vietnam International Travel Mart 2018 which is scheduled to be held in Hanoi from March 29 to April 1.

JLL: HCMC & Hanoi among most dynamic growing cities worldwide

 Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi remained among the global Top 10 most dynamic growing cities in JLL’s Short-Term City Momentum Index (CMI) 2018.

Resort property market: mini hotels on the wane, homestays on the rise

VietNamNet Bridge - Investors are now developing new types of resort properties like homestays as condotels are no longer the preferred investment channel. 

Photo exhibition reflects on urbanisation

 VietNamNet Bridge – The photo exhibition Midway by Duy Phuong will open to the public at L’Espace from 6pm on March 16.

E-commerce boom in VN’s future: experts

 Vietnamese e-commerce has been exploding two decades after the internet first came to Viet Nam, said head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Department of E-Commerce and Economy Dang Hoang Hai.

US to inspect Vietnam catfish controls

 The US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) will inspect Viet Nam’s catfish quality control system in the next few months, according the National Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance Department (NAFIQAD).