Vietnam spent in excess of US$2.82 billion importing pharmaceuticals for medical treatment and health care last year, up 10% on a year earlier at US$ 2.563 billion.

After enjoying a 'honeymoon' of numerous attractive incentives for a short time, drivers of both Grab and Uber are taking to the streets to protest against both Uber and Grab increasing commissions and cutting allowances.

In a bid to create a more business-friendly climate and attract more investment, the Vietnamese government will continue truncating thousands of business and investment procedures, which have been undermining investors’ and enterprises’ performance.

In the face of rapid expansion of well-known brands, less strong brands such as Suzuki, Piaggio, SYM and Kymco are targeting niche markets to improve sales.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Many street cleaners in HCM City have quit their jobs because of the hard work - and wages and bonuses that tend to decline year-by-year, 

An exhibition entitled Ever Shining Faith opened yesterday in Hanoi featuring revolutionary heroes such as Nguyen Duc Canh, Tran Phu, Le Hong Phong, Ha Huy Tap and Nguyen Van Cu.

 A restaurant in HCM City’s Thu Duc District has used a robot to serve customers.

 Farmers in Ninh Thuan Province are complaining about being attacked by wild monkeys who are also destroying their vineyards.

 Vietnam Social Insurance Agency has turned down Mai Linh Taxi's proposal to extend their insurance payment deadline to 2038.

 Thirty Vietnamese have received the New Zealand ASEAN Scholarship Awards to study in New Zealand.

 The northern province of Lao Cai is proving popular with visitors as its Japanese cherry blossoms at Sapa near Mount Fansipan are blooming.

 HCM City’s Ben Thanh Market area houses the oldest and most famous tea store in the city, opened in the early 20th century.

A Long-term exhibition by French photographer Réhahn on the beauty of Hoi An, the ancient town in the central province of Quang Nam, has been opened in Hoi An Museum.

Viet Nam spent more than US$2.15 billion importing 94,000 cars last year, marking a year-on-year decrease of 16.8 per cent in volume and 9.6 per cent in value.

Viet Nam Rubber Group is expected to list its shares on the HCM Stock Exchange in June or July after its initial public offering on February 2.

 Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick will officially become a billionaire, after investors agreed to take a large stake in the ride-hailing firm.

 Credit card holders will not be allowed to withdraw cash at card readers of domestic points of sale (POS) from March this year, says the State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV).

Casino establishments in Vietnam must soon equip their venues with features like a working camera system to aid the Ministry of Finance in supervising the casinos’ operations.

 The HCM City Export Processing Zones and Industrial Parks Authority (Hepza) hopes to attract new investment worth US$900 million this year.

 The Ministry of Industry and Trade has urged Vietnamese firms to verify information of Thai business partners carefully to avoid being swindled.

Viet Nam and France will promote co-operation in scientific and medical research on HIV/AIDS and viral hepatitis in the coming years.

Accordingly, the region will go in the direction of green and sustainable growth and adaptation to climate change, aiming to become a national hub of agricultural production, fisheries, sea-based economy and eco- and river tourism.

 Political and security issues were tabled in the first plenary session of the 26th Annual Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF-26) in Hanoi on January 19.

The century old Ana Mandara Villas Dalat Resort and Spa is situated on a pine hill covering more than 7 hectares with 17 ancient villas built in the 1920s-1930s by French colonists.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Recent rapid construction of more than 20 hotels and resorts in Son Tra Nature Reserve is threatening the survival of highly endangered langurs and other wildlife.