UN team assesses Vietnam’s readiness for peacekeeping activities

A UN delegation is making an assessment and advisory visit to the Vietnam Peacekeeping Centre from June 26-30 to examine the country’s military medicine and engineering capacity for peacekeeping.

President Tran Dai Quang begins official trip to Belarus

President Tran Dai Quang, his spouse and a high-ranking delegation of Vietnam arrived in Minsk on June 26 afternoon, beginning a three-day official visit to Belarus.

HCM City welcomes 2.8 mln tourists in first half of 2017

 Tourist arrivals to Ho Chi Minh City reached some 2.8 million in the first half of 2017, a 14.7% increase year-on-year. 

Hanoi U13 Club to compete in Gothia Cup in Sweden

 Hanoi Football Club will compete in the Gothia World Youth Cup 2017 from July 16-22 in Gothenburg, Sweden.

HCM City fosters front connection with Cambodia

 Ho Chi Minh City wishes the National Council of Front for the Development of Cambodian Motherland (FDCM) facilitate cooperation in front work between Vietnam’s southern city and the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh.

Defence minister receives outgoing Israeli ambassador

Defence Minister General Ngo Xuan Lich received outgoing Israeli Ambassador to Vietnam Meirav Eilon Shahar in Hanoi on June 26.

Lao PM urges closer coordination in searching fallen Vietnamese soldiers

Lao PM Thongloun Sisoulith has urged the Special Working Committees of the Vietnamese and Lao Governments to continue their close coordination in searching and repatriating remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts. 

Vietnam, Laos intensify judicial ties

 National Assembly Vice Chairman Phung Quoc Hien on June 26 welcomed head of the Justice Committee of the Lao National Assembly Bouakham Thippavong. 

President meets Belarusian friendship association members, veterans

Right after his arrival in Minsk on June 26, President Tran Dai Quang met representatives of the Belarus-Vietnam Friendship Association (BVFA) and Belarusian veterans who helped Vietnam in wartime.

VN chess prodigies bring home the bacon

Young Vietnamese chess players won 20 gold medals at the Eastern Asian Youth Chess Championships which concluded in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on June 25.

Long Bien - a bustling night fruit market in Hanoi

 Situated at the foot of the Long Bien Bridge in Ba Dinh District, Hanoi, Long Bien fruit and vegetable market is known as the largest wholesale market in Hanoi and northern Vietnam as a whole.

A taste of Cambodia in Saigon

Its official name is Le Hong Phong Market, but for decades people have been calling this market in HCM City’s District 10 “Cambodian Market” simply because it sells certain products from Cambodia. 

Vietnam’s mobile game market poised to explode

In recent years, millions of electronic game fans have gradually left internet cafes, where they played games on PCs, and have shifted to mobile phones. 

Moving in

The retail pharmacy market has garnered increasing attention from investors of late, not all of them experienced in the field.

Mekong Delta faces uncertain future as landslides increase

VietNamNet Bridge - In recent years, the landslides in western Ca Mau province have become more serious. The sea has not only encroached on forests, but also eaten into farmland.

Former oil and gas officials: the path from high posts to prison

VietNamNet Bridge - A number of bosses in the oil & gas sector have been charged by law enforcement agencies for unprofitable multi-trillion projects. 

Finding its feet

Any judgment on how the government led by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has performed just after one year in office is still premature as the real tests lie ahead.

Vietnamese student wins three master’s, doctoral scholarships in the US

VietNamNet Bridge - Nguyen Phuong Anh has turned down two scholarships for doctoral study and decided to study first for a master’s degree in English literature in the US. 

New rice celebration of the Xo Dang

 The New Rice celebration is the most important ritual of the year for the Xo Dang.

Police to focus on synthetic drugs, smuggling

Lieutenant General Do Kim Tuyen, Deputy Director of the General Police Department, told the Kinh te & Do thi newspaper that the community plays a central role in reducing the number of drug addicts.

Planning and Investment Ministry prepares Hanoi for FDI infusion

 Hanoi has consistently proven to be a magnet for foreign direct investment. Nguyen Noi, deputy head of the Foreign Investment Agency under the Ministry of Planning and Investment, talked 

Hoa Binh hospital deaths: Dialysis machine water bad

Water used for kidney dialysis in Hoa Binh General Hospital, where eight patients died recently, in one of Viet Nam’s most serious medical incidents, did not meet standards, tests revealed.

Facebook in talks to produce original TV-quality shows: WSJ

 Facebook Inc (FB.O) is in talks with Hollywood studios about producing scripted, TV-quality shows, with an aim of launching original programming by late summer, 

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 26/6

 Emirates seeking pilots in Vietnam, Kinh Bac passes on $250-million Diamond Rice Flower complex, Ornamental fish export revenue up, IP land occupancy rate reaches 73 percent, Japan allows chicken import from Vietnam

Social News 26/6

 Rare monkeys left to disappear in central Vietnam, Water discharge affects agricultural land in Cà Mau, World Bank helps Vietnam improve transport connectivity, forest protection, Eco-friendly aquaculture model on Ha Long Bay proves fruitful