The Ministry of Industry and Trade is mapping out a new strategy for the auto industry, with highlights including an exemption of special consumption tax for local content of autos, and raising tax rates on pickups to levels now applicable to sedans.

 With its beautiful natural landscape and unique cultural identity of ethnic minorities, Sa Pa town, in Lao Cai province, is focusing on developing community-based tourism (homestay).

Due to the El Niño-Southern Oscillation phenomenon, about 13-15 storms and tropical depressions are forecasted to arrive in the East Sea this year, according to the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting.

 Ho Chi Minh City will call for investment in 130 projects in the public-private partnership (PPP) model, worth over VND380 trillion (US$16.72 billion) amid local budget limitations.

Ninety booths showcasing international and Hanoi cuisine will be opened at an event entitled “Hanoi Food Culture Exchange” on June 16 and 17.

 The Ho Chi Minh City market will mainly focus on the luxury segment in the 2017-2020 period.

 Six months since its debut on the country’s major stock exchange, Novaland has been added to the FTSE Vietnam Index, the underlying index for db x-trackers FTSE Vietnam UCITS ETF, run by Deutsche Bank, in the index’s second quarterly review of 2017.

The latest F88 pawn store opened on Hanoi’s Hoang Hoa Tham Street on April 26, bringing the startup’s store numbers to 50 in five cities and provinces in Vietnam: Hanoi, Hai Phong, Bac Ninh, Thanh Hoa, and Bac Giang.

Vincom Center for Contemporary Art’s  inaugural event is the contemporary art exhibition “Tỏa / The Foliage” taking place from June 6 to August 6, at Level B1 – R3 Royal City, 72 Nguyen Trai, Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi. 

“Then I can turn the world upside down”, an exhibition of works on paper by five Vietnam-based contemporary artists will open for two months (June 15-August 15) at Salon Saigon, 6D Ngo Thoi Nhiem, Ward 7, District 3, HCM City.

VietNamNet Bridge - On the occasion of the 71st anniversary of the Italian Republic, the Embassy of Italy and the Vietnam Museum of Ethnography will jointly hold – for the first time ever in Asia – the exhibition “Raffaello: Opera Omnia”.

 VietNamNet Bridge – More than 50,000 drug addicts across Viet Nam received methadone treatment over the past four years.

Dang Van Lam made national headlines yesterday after he denied Jordan’s attempts in front of Viet Nam’s goal during their 2019 Asian Cup qualification in HCM City on Tuesday.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The International Women’s Volleyball Tournament, VTV Cup, is scheduled to kick off in the northern province of Hai Duong on July 18.

 National carrier Vietnam Airlines said it had achieved the business target set by its shareholder last year.

Binh Thuan Province authorities held a meeting with the Ministry of Defence and other relevant agencies on Tuesday to discuss speeding up of the construction of the civilian-military Phan Thiet Airport.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Quang Nam Province officially debuted a new eco-tour site in Triem Tay Village during the on-going Quang Nam Heritage Festival.

Authorities in the southern economic hub have issued an ultimatum, ordering all its districts to submit plans to the People’s Committee on getting rid of unplanned markets by July.

An exhibition by the artist residency group Cung, Dung, Cham and ethnic minority groups goes on display from today June 15, at the Ha Noi Old Quarter Culture Exchange Centre from 7pm today.

The Viet Nam Journalists Association yesterday urged the Ha Noi Police to undertake an urgent investigation of an attack on Viet Nam Television journalists that occurred while they were working 

Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung said the plan on setting up three special economic zones (SEZs) would be submitted to the National Assembly for approval by the end of the year.

 Vietnam will compete at the Asian Fencing Championships, which will kick off in Hong Kong on June 15.

 Cao Ngoc Ha, a Vietnamese amateur runner, has entered the top 10 of the Asia Trail Master Championship by winning the Vietnam Jungle Marathon (VJM) held in Pu Luong Nature Reserve in the central province of Thanh Hoa held from May 26-28.

 Vietnamese athletes won three gold medals on the third day of competition at the Thailand Open Track and Field Championship on June 14 in Bangkok.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism always considers the management, preservation and promotion of traditional culture of ethnic minority groups one of urgent, strategic and long-term tasks.