Foreign ownership limit drives investors from Vietnamese banks

 Over the past three years, numerous foreign investors made noteworthy divestments at Vietnam-based commercial banks due to the inconsiderable ownership.

Experts suggest red maples may be unsuitable for Hanoi

 Several experts have raised their concerns over the plantation of red maple trees on Hanoi streets.

Moody's: Sweeping corruption crackdown may create perceptions of risk

 Vietnam’s anti-graft efforts is credit positive, Moody’s Investor Service stated in its latest report.

New Lao Cai bridge to China proposed

 The General Department of Vietnam Customs has proposed to build a bridge to China in the northern province of Lao Cai to boost the local economy.

The tea that mesmerises drinkers

Tea has been an essential part of Vietnamese life for thousands of years. It is believed that the refreshing beverage not only calms the mind, but also helps ward off a number of common diseases.

HCM City Can Gio-Vung Tau high-speed boat route to be launched in first quarter

 High-speed boats on the Ho Chi Minh City - Can Gio - Vung Tau route will be put into operation in the first quarter of 2018, according to the HCM City People's Committee.

Bumpy rides on Sapa’s bad roads

 Many streets in Sa Pa Town are being repaired causing inconveniences for local people and tourists.

New curriculum to give students more practical experience

 Under the draft new curriculum, secondary students are expected to have more out-of-school and creative experience, rather than only theory.

Huge leap in workers sent overseas

 Vietnam sent more than 134,700 workers abroad last year, according to data from the Department of Overseas Labour (DOLAB) under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs. This included 53,340 female workers, or 39.6 per cent.

Vietnam Jungle Marathon to start in April

 The Vietnam Jungle Marathon (VJM) is set to start in Pu Luong Nature Reserve in the central province of Thanh Hoa from April 13 to April 15.

Sabeco remains market leader in beer production

 The Saigon Beer, Alcohol and Beverage Corporation (Sabeco) produced nearly 1.73 billion litres of beer in 2017, an increase of 7 per cent compared to the previous year and exceeding 5 per cent against the year target.

Finance Ministry wants hike in tax on capital/securities trade income

 The Ministry of Finance has proposed the Government raise the individual income tax imposed on capital/securities transfer to 2 per cent for trades not registered to the Vietnam Securities Depository and not made on the securities market.

Vietinbank named second-largest bank by profit

 The Viet Nam Bank for Industry and Trade (VietinBank) earned a total profit of VND9.2 trillion (US$404 million) in 2017, equivalent to 105 per cent of its annual target.

Grab says its operation is compliant with laws

 Following a Ministry of Transport directive asking Grab Viet Nam to stop providing car hailing services in certain provinces, the company said its services did not violate laws.

Vietnam an ideal destination for foreign startups

 Vietnam has become an ideal location to start a business, not only for young overseas Vietnamese people but also for expats thanks to the country’s strong economic growth in recent years.  

MoIT-managed business conditions to be cut

 The Prime Minister on January 15 signed to issue a decree on cutting 675 of the 1,216 business conditions (or 55.5 percent), managed by the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT).

London's January air quality 'best in 10 years'

 London's air quality is within legal limits in mid-January for the first time in 10 years, City Hall has said.

Vietnamese sue Apple for ‘purposely slowing down iPhones’

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnamese have joined the community of iPhone users filing lawsuits against Apple for intentionally slowing down the phones as the devices' batteries aged. 

Tour guides in a class of their own

 VietNamNet Bridge – One of the reasons tourists return to Cu Lao Cham (Cham Islands), a group of eight small islands off Hoi An City, is its tour guides.

Experts call for arrest of drunk drivers

 VietNamNet Bridge – Drunk drivers whose alcohol content exceeds 100mg for every 100ml of blood, or 0.5mg for every litre of breath, should be pressed with criminal charges instead of fines, experts suggested.

Diplomatic sector helps raise Vietnam’s position

 Vietnam’s diplomatic sector made great contributions to maintaining peace and stability, serving development and increasing the country’s position in 2017.

Vietnam, France shake hands in combating corruption

 The Government Inspectorate of Vietnam and the French Anti-Corruption Agency signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in preventing and fighting corruption in Hanoi on January 15.

Mitsubishi Motors to build second plant in Vietnam

 Vietnam welcomes Mitsubishi Motors’ plan to build its second plant in the country, said Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue while receiving the group’s Executive Vice President Kozo Shiraji in Hanoi on January 15.

Vietnam’s stocks up on investor confidence

 Vietnamese shares advanced on January 15 as large-cap firms were boosted by positive investor confidence that was looking for opportunities in the earnings season.

PM sets up working group for state capital management committee foundation

 The Prime Minister issued Decision 66/QD-TTg on January 15 to set up a working group to supervise the establishment of a committee for state capital management at enterprises.