Inspections over social insurance funds should be increased: lawmakers

 Strengthening inspections over social insurance funds is essential given the hike in their management expenses in 2016 and 2017, heard the ongoing 24th session of the National Assembly Standing Committee in Hanoi on May 15.

APICTA urged to share e-government experiences with Vietnam

 Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has suggested the Asia Pacific ICT Alliance (APICTA) share with Vietnam experiences in building e-government and e-administration accumulated from its members such as Australia, Singapore and Japan.

VNAT General Director: foreign tourists must abide by Vietnamese law

 General Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) Nguyen Van Tuan has stated that Vietnam welcomes visitors across the world to the country, however, they must abide by Vietnamese law. 

Best players to compete at AFF U-19 Youth Championship

 Coach Hoang Anh Tuan has made a plan calling the best players to participate in the annual ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) U-19 Youth Championship to be held in Indonesia from July 1-15, looking towards the final round.

Hue looks to become ‘food capital’ of Vietnam

 Hue city, which has long been known as the only place in Vietnam that has royal dishes, is striving to become the capital of gastronomy in Vietnam.

VN concerned about escalating conflicts in Gaza: spokesperson

Vietnam keeps a close watch on and is concerned about the escalating violence in the Gaza Strip over the past days, leaving many Palestinians dead and injured.

Vietnam’s largest industrial properties supplier debuts

 The BW Industrial Development JSC, a joint-venture between the US private equity fund Warburg Pincus and Vietnam’s Investment and Industrial Development Corporation (Becamex IDC), made debut in the southern province of Binh Duong on May 15.  

Vietnam attends ESCAP’s 74th session in Bangkok

 Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc has led a Vietnamese delegation to the 74th session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), which is taking place in Bangkok, Thailand, on May 11-16.

PM: Legitimate interests of residents in Thu Thiem must be ensured

Complaints and petitions regarding the Thu Thiem new urban area in Ho Chi Minh City must be settled in line with laws and policies to ensure legitimate interests of residents, said Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. 

Two men arrested in stabbing deaths of two volunteer “street knights”

Two men were arrested on Monday by HCM City police in a stabbing incident on Sunday evening which killed two men who were part of a team of volunteer “knights” who protect local residents. 

1% of GDP may be affected if foreign firms forced to locate servers in Vietnam

The data relocation and regulation that requires foreign firms to set up data centers in Vietnam remains the most controversial issue of the draft cybersecurity law.

Don’t let Cat Ba follow Ha Long Bay’s development path: expert

Blessed by nature, Vietnam has many special landscapes and rich biodiversity. UNESCO has recognized eight natural and cultural heritage sites and nine biosphere reserves. 

History glitters through archaeological treasures

 VietNamNet Bridge – Glorious jade sceptres, precious terracotta mythical creatures and gigantic bronze drums are few among 300 artefacts being showcased in public for the first time.

Vietnamese parents rush to register children for summer camps

VietNamNet Bridge - As the summer holiday begins in late May, life-skill training centers have launched summer camp programs with very attractive offers.

Vietnam’s taxi firms gear up for ride hailing apps

As Uber has lost to Grab in Vietnam and has left the market, Vietnamese are taking advantage of a golden opportunity to jump into the ride-hailing market. 

Anan Saigon: New take on traditional favourites

 VietNamNet Bridge – If you think you already know dishes like banh xeo, banh trang or nem nuong too well, Anan Saigon’s creative versions might surprise you. Plus, their unique location is a bonus. 

Every cloud has a silver lining

 Hoang Nhat Anh, 26, a stylist working in Hanoi, visited his girlfriend’s houses a few weeks ago for the first time.

GDP not an ideal indicator for growth

Joint winner of the 2004 Nobel prize in Economics, Prof. Finn Kydland, speaks about the Vietnamese economy and growth on the sidelines of the 2018 Recontres du Vietnam.

'Feel good' factor not CO2 boosts global forest expansion

 Forests are increasing around the world because of rising incomes and an improved sense of national wellbeing say researchers.

Tension in Gaza as Palestinians begin to bury 58 dead

 Funerals are being held in Gaza for 58 people killed on Monday when Israeli troops opened fire on Palestinian protesters, in the deadliest day of violence there since a war in 2014.

Government News 15/5

Party official welcomes visit by India’s Assam State Governor, Hanoi-Moscow ties important to Vietnam-Russia relations, PM pledges to create optimal conditions for Belgian businesses

Hanoi railway attracts foreign visitors

 A railway section which runs across a densely-populated area in Hanoi has become a popular destination for foreign visitors. 

Social News 15/5

Hai Phong starts 2 key projects, Winners of Press Awards in Science and Technology honored, Master plan for development of Tam Chuc national tourism area approved, Agriculture minister asks for reduction of toxic pesticides

Swedish firm interested in MobiFone

 Swedish telecom firm Comvik is willing to assist the Vietnamese Government in equitizing mobile network operator MobiFone, a representative of Comvik said when meeting Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue on May 11.

Loan sharks cause suffering in Mekong Delta, central provinces

On May 9 police in Sa Dec City accosted Nguyen Van Thu at a car wash in Ward 1 and seized notebooks with records of his loans, more than 400 deposit contracts and identity documents and 3,000 flyers