Fairy tale musical Lucia and the Ice Mountain premiered in HCM City

 Lucia and the Ice Mountain, a fairy tale musical co-produced by young musicians and producers from ASEAN countries, premiered in HCM City on January 6.

Ede ethnic model crowned Miss Universe Vietnam 2017

 H’Hen Nie, a 25-year-old model from the Ede ethnic minority group in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak, was crowned Miss Universe Vietnam 2017 in the grand finale on January 6.

Hanoi court to open trial for Trinh Xuan Thanh on Jan. 8

 The Hanoi People’s Court will open proceedings in the trial of Trinh Xuan Thanh and his accomplices accused of wrongdoings at PetroVietnam and its subsidiary PVC on January 8. 

2025 maritime industry and trade development plan approved

 Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh has approved a plan to develop Vietnam’s maritime industry and trade to 2025, with a vision to 2035.

Indonesia repatriates Vietnamese fishermen ahead of lunar New Year

 The Vietnam Embassy in Indonesia is working with local authorities to send home 71 Vietnamese fishermen, who were captured for violating Indonesia’s waters, within January.

Commercial banks report high profits in 2017

 Vietnam’s commercial banks reported solid results for 2017 with the total after-tax profit estimated to grow 44.5 percent from the previous year, according to an independent report of the National Financial Supervisory Commission.

Firecracker smugglers feel heat as Tet nears

 As Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday approaches, firecracker smuggling is again "hot" in the border areas. Several tonnes have already been seized by customs authorities as they head across the border into Vietnam.

Khmer soldier adopts comrade’s HIV-infected kid

 VietNamNet Bridge – Most people know now that HIV/AIDS cannot be transmitted easily.

Writers hopeful for VN’s historical future

 Nguyen Khanh Duong, Comicola’s founder and script writer for the Phong Duong Comics duo, has been pioneering the Vietnamese historical comic movement with the ongoing hit series Holy Dragon Imperator

Young actresses shine on big screen of 2017

 VietNamNet Bridge – The year 2017 saw the rise of young actresses on the big screen, proving their talent and impressing audiences.

Major highlights of Vietnam tourism 2017

Foreign arrivals to Vietnam hit a record high of more than 13 million this year, a year-on-year increase of 30%.

Delta farmers earn high profits from clean shrimp-rice cultivation model

 VietNamNet Bridge – Farmers in Ben Tre Province’s Thanh Phu District have earned high profits from rotating rice and shrimp cultivation in the same rice field.  

Tung lamaow - A specialty of Cham people

Tung lamaow is a famous traditional dish of Cham people in the border town of Chau Doc in An Giang Province. 

New faces on the list of the richest Vietnamese businesspeople of 2017

VietNamNet Bridge - According to CafeF, 51 Vietnamese have stock assets of VND1 trillion and more. 

Finance-banking stocks to become new craze in 2018

 A recent survey conducted by Vietnam Report revealed that finance and banking stocks would be the ones to watch out for in 2018 as a number of reputable financial institutions (FIs) schedule to hold their initial public offering (IPO) next year.

Post-Formosa, coastal residents switch to inland farming

 VietNamNet Bridge – Nearly two years after the 2016 Formosa toxic spill, fishermen in the coastal province of Quang Tri are slowly returning to the sea or finding alternative livelihoods.

Crony capitalism subverts socialist aspirations

In a Da Nang plot that has thickened steadily over the last several years, police are seeking a 42-year-old real estate tycoon, Phan Van Anh Vu, for criminal charges of “revealing State secrets.”

BUSINESS I BRIEF 7/1

 HCM City aims for 8.3%-8.5% GRDP growth in 2018, Vietnamese exports enjoy stellar growth, FLC Group Chairman becomes richest man in stock market 2017, 2017- A good year for paper industry

Apricot blossoms vibrant Phu Yen

 In such a village in the central coastal province of Phu Yen the beauty of apricot blossoms, one of the typical flowers of Vietnam in Tet holiday is attracting visitors.

Businesses stand to gain if they back university research

Bui Van Ga, former deputy minister of Education and Training, speaks to Thanh nien newspaper about the need to reform curriculum and encourage businesses to support scientific research in higher education institutions.

Low CAR spells doom for state-owned banks

 State-owned commercial banks are growing concerned over the critically low capital adequacy ratio (CAR) of around 9%, which also hit the minimum required CAR for the Vietnamese banking system.

The ‘blockbuster’ performers of VN's 2017 stock market

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet, Petrolimex, VP Bank and Vincom Real were the five ‘blockbusters’ that significantly increased the capitalization of the stock market.

HCM City to have its own textbooks in 2019

 HCM City authorities will work with Vietnam Education Publishing House to draft textbooks that suit the city's socio-economic development and pupil abilities.

Khen panpipe, a cultural value of the Mong

 Playing the Khen panpipe and dancing is a custom of the Mong. The Khen panpipe is a musical instrument that expresses deep feelings and connects this life to the spiritual world.

Angels find their calling in tech startup incubator

 The enthusiasm and passion for business found in much of the local youth could make Vietnam a future incubator for startups. Is this enough for the country to build up its own Silicon Valley?