Impressive achievements in Vietnam’s exports in 2017

 Vietnam’s exports in 2017 were fruitful despite many difficulties caused by natural disasters and import markets. 

100-year-old sedge mat village on verge of extinction

Sedge mats made by Xuan Duc village in Nam Dinh have been in presence of Vietnamese people lives throughout the course of history. However, the craft of making sedge mats in the village is on verge of extinction.

Trung aims to win AFF Cup

 VietNamNet Bridge – After winning the Golden Ball award 2017, captain of V.League 1 champions Quang Nam, Dinh Thanh Trung says he and the national team aim to win the AFF Cup this year.

When new, crisp notes acquire ‘antique’ value

 VietNamNet Bridge – You want to change VND100,000 into smaller denominations, so you pay VND150,000, a 150 per cent commission or “service charge.”

Farmer’s hard graft with big citrus earns him millions

Skilled grafter Le Duc Giap from Thanh Oai district, Hanoi can earn hundreds of millions of Vietnam dong during the traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) by selling pomelo trees which he has engrafted with up to 10 different varieties of fruit.

Traffic accidents reduced, but congestion more complicated

 VietNamNet Bridge – In 2017, some 22 people died and 46 were injured each day due to traffic accidents nationwide.

‘The Beauty of Light’

The collection ‘The Beauty of Light’ is a gentle connection between two like-minded souls celebrating the beauty of light in daily life.

HCM City to hold 12-day Tet flower festival

 The HCM City People’s Committee plans to kick off a Tet Flower Festival on February 10 in Tao Dan Park in District 1 and will open 130 Tet flower markets around the city.

Foreign banks try new local tactics

 The Year of the Rooster has been a rollercoaster ride for foreign banks in Vietnam: one received a licence to expand, two trimmed down their business scopes, while others decided to divest their stake in domestic banks.

Tay Ninh shrimp salt

 When mentioning the cuisines of Tay Ninh, many people usually think of Trang Bang Rice Paper, or Trang Bang Soup.

Top libraries for students in HCM City

 In Ho Chi Minh City, there are numerous libraries providing extra-curricular learning space for students in need of a tranquil venue for study in groups or self-study on the weekend.

The biggest M&A deals in Vietnam in 2017

The biggest M&A deals were in a variety of business fields, especially the real estate and banking sectors.

Zero import tax expected to raise Vietnam’s car ownership

 The import tax for cars imported from ASEAN has been slashed to 0% from January 1, 2018, which is expected to raise the country’s car ownership rate which remains low compared to regional averages.

Air pollution at alarming rate in HCM City

 Smog that has appeared frequently in Ho Chi Minh City, with the most recent recorded on January 3 morning, shows that local air pollution is now at an alarming level, an expert has said.

20 int’l art troupes to perform at Hue Festival

 Art troupes from at least 12 countries as well as Vietnam are scheduled to perform in the biennial Hue Festival scheduled to take place from April 27 to May 2 in the former royal city of Hue.

Mountain blacksmiths keep the fire burning

 The end of the lunar year is a busy time for the blacksmiths of Phuc Sen village in the northern mountainous province of Cao Bang. 

Traditional medicine prices vary widely

The use of herbal medicine is on the rise among Vietnamese in recent years, but concerns about management and arbitrary pricing are growing, too. 

Social News 5/1

 21 explosions leave 11 dead in 2017, Spring flower festival to be held in District 7, Four fishermen saved at sea of Đà Nẵng, Efforts scaled up to prevent winter-spring diseases, HCM City marks Cambodia’s victory over genocidal regime

Top Vietnamese adventure travel destinations

Many Vietnamese travellers choose to venture off the beaten path as they make adventurous trips to conquer Mount Pha Luong, Datanla Waterfall, or trek through Mui Doi to enjoy spectacular the sunsets. 

Twenty four more national treasures recognised

 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has approved the recognition of 24 new national treasures, the 6th approval of this kind in 2017.

Thanh Trang represents Vietnam at Miss All Nations Pageant

Thanh Trang has been selected to represent Vietnam at the Miss All Nations Pageant 2017 set to take place in China from January 4-20.

Vietnam's Huong Giang idol to compete at int’l transgender beauty pageant

 Singer Huong Giang Idol will represent Vietnam to compete at the transgender beauty pageant “Miss International Queen 2018” in Thailand.

Banks’ profit skyrockets due to credit growth

 Due to the recovery of the credit market throughout the year 2017, plenty of banks announced positive business performance with increased profits whilst fostering asset trading, risk management, and control over non-performing loans.

The paradox of Vietnamese coffee industry

 Despite being the world leading exporter of Robusta coffee, Vietnam has to import instant coffee to meet special customers’ needs and a huge volume of green coffee beans every year from Laos and China for processing and exports.

Police crack drug trafficking cases

 The Drug Crime Investigation Department (PC47) under Ho Chi Minh City Police on January 5 uncovered two drug trafficking cases and arrested two people for illegal trading and stockpiling of ecstasy, ketamine and heroin.