Even though Viet Nam has relaxed the policies that allow foreigners to buy houses in the country, the numbers are not as high as expected.

 Vietnam has 11 banks with total assets of more than US$10 billion each, of which three have total assets exceeding VND1 quadrillion ($44 billion) each, financial reports from the banks showed.

 Average interest rates will decrease slightly in the second half of this year, market research firm Market Intello forecast.

 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc this week approved the plan to scrutinise and streamline the legal framework for the management of cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin in Viet Nam.

After tasting success in the first seven months, the issue of Government bonds have been facing difficulty from early August with the bidders’ expectation of rising interest rate and decreasing bank liquidity.

 As it prepares to host the 2017 APEC Summit, the central city is hoping a business convention in September will help it bolster its already-strong record of attracting foreign and domestic investment.

Here are suggestions for top 10 relaxing holiday destinations in the northern region this National Day (September 2).

Besides Cai Rang floating market in Can Tho city and Cai Be floating market in Tien Giang Province, travellers are also urged to visit a lesser-known floating market for fruits in HCM City’s Te Canal.

 Buying goods has never been so easy and convenient for consumers in this era of rapid technological development as it is today. 

Vietnam has been making efforts to mobilise international and domestic sources in order to support national energy development and achieve a sustainable energy system with low emissions, experts have said.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc said a special legal framework with outstanding preferences is needed to develop three special economic zones (SEZs) — Van Don in Quang NInh, Bac Van Phong in Khanh Hoa and Phu Quoc in Kien Giang.

 Chairman of Vietnam’s National UNESCO Committee Le Hoai Trung expressed his hope for strengthened cooperation with UNESCO at his talks with visiting UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova on August 24.

 Vietnam’s history, country, people and culture are introduced through a 90-page book named “Vietnam: Peace, Integration and Development” published by the Romanian Craiova University Publishing House.

 As of 10am on August 25, Vietnam remained second in the SEA Games 29’s medal table, with a total 94 medals, including 37 golds, 25 silvers and 32 bronzes. 

NA Vice Chairman Do Ba Ty is on a five-day visit to South Africa at the invitation of Deputy Speaker of South Africa’s National Assembly Lechesa Tsenoli, aiming to strengthen ties between the two countries and legislative bodies.

 Vietnam’s female Sepak Takraw team on August 25 won a silver medal after they were defeated by the Myanmar team in the quadrant finals at the ongoing 29th SEA Games in Malaysia.

Lack of funding for investment and development is a major challenge for remote areas in the Asia-Pacific, posing a threat to quality of life and sustainable economic growth in the region, 

 VietNamNet Bridge – HCM City will need massive investment from the private sector if it is to meet its goals for transportation, flood control and other areas over the next three years, 

 VietNamNet Bridge – Special policies are needed to help HCM City develop faster and better, thus contributing more to the country’s development, 

 French singer Charles Aznavour finally got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Thursday, capping a more than 70-year career as one of his country’s most popular entertainers.

 Da Nang plans to install security camera systems at 153 sites for the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) Summit this year.

180 international and Vietnamese bio-safety experts, professionals and practitioners are discussing bio-risk, bio-preparedness, and bio-terrorism at the 12th Asia-Pacific Biosafety Association Conference that opened in HCM City on Thursday.

 American singer Ariana Grande suddenly cancelled her live show in Vietnam on August 23 evening, just about five hours before the start of the concert, saying health problems were behind her decision.

 Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim left Hanoi on August 24 afternoon, concluding his three-day official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

The Vietnamese Government supports the Vietnamese and Australian defence ministries to strengthen practical and sustainable ties to match bilateral strategic partnership.