Viettel 4G subscribers increase 1.5 times after launch

 Military-run telecom group Viettel’s 4G subscribers increased by 1.5 times following its official launch on April 18 and reached nearly three million by the end of April, the company announced.

Non-performing loans at banks vary

 The ratio of non-performing loans (NPLs) at banks in the first quarter of this year is was varied, according to a daily report by Bao Viet Securities Corp (BVSC).

APEC App challenge to knock down trade hurdles

Eleven teams of developers from APEC member economies will be in Hanoi from May 18 to 19 to participate in a 24-hour app challenge.

Travel firms’ revenues outstrip profits

 Viet Nam’s tourism industry recorded a successful year with VND400 trillion (US$17.6 billion) of total revenue in 2016. However, the travel companies’ profits are not commensurate with their revenue, vneconomy.vn reports.

Revolution 4.0 challenges Asian countries seeking inclusive growth

 The optimism appears justified given that 95 per cent of the Asia’s population now lives in middle-income economies, while as recently as the 1990s, more than 90 per cent of Asians were low-income earners.

Red tape hindering VN's power plant projects

 Substandard investment procedures and regulations hinder investors in major power plant projects, baodautu.vn reported.

Spec Go Green Int’l Awards invites all Asian architecture contestant

 All Asian architectural students and architects aged under 40 have been invited to join the Spec Go Green International Awards 2017, which aims to honour environmentally friendly architecture.

Chefs to test skills of cooking Cao Lau

 Chefs from 12 countries will compete at the international Cao Lau (a Vietnamese dish made with noodles, pork, and greens) cooking challenge in Hoi An on June 12-14.

Young actor’s parody film becomes an internet hit

 Young comic actor Huynh Lap set a new record when his parody film based on Vietnamese blockbuster Tam Cam: The Untold Story earned three million views one day after appearing on YouTube.

Through the lens - Manhole covers as art: students beautify the streets

 About 30 manhole covers on pavement in HCM City’s District 5 have been turned into streetside paintings by art students as part of a programme to raise awareness about environmental protection and urban beauty.

Project’s second phase to boost “VN-made” drugs launched

 The Ministry of Health has launched the second phase of a project on encouraging Vietnamese people to use locally manufactured drugs at a conference today in Hanoi.


VEC looks to transfer toll privileges to raise capital

Vietnam Expressway Corporation (VEC) has proposed a plan to the Ministry of Transport to transfer Cau Gie-Ninh Binh Expressway toll-collection privileges at a cost of VNĐ9.1 trillion (US$402.12 million) over a period of 30 years.  

HCM City considers building 4 smart parking lots

 The HCM City Department of Transport is considering building four smart parking lots, worth VNĐ170 billion (US$7.5 million), in the city’s downtown area, including Lam Sơn Square, 23/9 Park, Tao Dan Park and Le Van Tam Park.

School enrollment time a headache for Hanoi parents

 Hanoian parents face an annual headache of registering their children at public schools, and the school year 2017-18 is no different, with the number of public schools limited but the number of children at school age rocketing in the city.

Xo Dang in the Central Highlands

 Vietnam’s 54 ethnic groups begins a series on the Xo Dang, an indigenous people of Vietnam’s Central Highlands.

Memories of street calls

Though street calling is less common now than it used to be, you can still hear it from time to time on the streets of Hanoi.

Phan Thanh Liem modifies traditional puppetry

 In recent years, a model of mini water puppet stages has become popular with domestic and foreign audiences.

Phu Vinh Bamboo and Rattan Village

 417-year-old Phu Vinh village in Chuong My District, 25km west of the center of Hanoi, is famous for its sophisticated bamboo and rattan products.

Miss Universe Flora Coquerel poses in Ao Dai

VietNamNet Bridge - Former Miss France and Miss Universe Flora Coquerel posed for her first photo op at Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi on Saturday.

Workers’ Month: A visit to miners

 The miners’ workplace is described as hell because it can be hundreds of meters deep underground with numerous hardships. In May, a month which honors workers, Truong Giang reports on how he experienced a day with miners.

Ambassador Pham Sanh Chau, a diplomat of heritages

 “If you want to do something extraordinary, you must have extraordinary aspiration”, says Ambassador Pham Sanh Chau, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Special Representative of the Prime Minister of Vietnam on UNESCO Affairs.

Vietnam, Italy step up judicial partnership

 The judicial cooperation is one of the important fields helping to promote Vietnam-Italy strategic partnership in a more comprehensive manner.

Multiple outcomes reaped from Vietnam’s attendance in WEF-ASEAN

 Vietnam has gained practical outcomes from its participation in the freshly-concluded 26th World Economic Forum on ASEAN (WEF-ASEAN) in Cambodia, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Dinh Quy.

Vietnam to use buprenorphine in drug addiction treatment

 Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam hoped that the National AIDS Control Organization of India will make it easy for Vietnam to learn about its buprenorphine treatment programme and access low-priced buprenorphine in India.

First Vietnamese commercial pilots graduated in Australia

 The Australian Airline Pilot Academy (AAPA) on May 12 held a graduation ceremony for 30 international commercial pilots, including seven from Viet Flight Training (VFT) – a company of national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines.