Vietnamese consumers are favouring more imported fruits as spending last year reached over USD700m, that has put more pressure on the local businesses.

 Projects by companies from other APEC countries not only have big scales but also make sizeable contributions to Vietnam’s socioeconomic development. FDI from these countries is still continuing to flow into Vietnam.

Vu Quang Hai, the son of sacked former Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang, has been officially dismissed from his positions at Vietnam's largest beer producer Sabeco as member of the board of directors and deputy general director.

 Con Dao islands in the southern province of Ba Ria – Vung Tau has been listed among the best secret islands on earth, according to a recent article by Travel Leisure magazine.

 Scientists from the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology have discovered 700 psychedelic rock geckos on Hon Khoai island, Ngoc Hien district in the southernmost province of Ca Mau.

Japan’s ANA Holdings Inc nominated its Senior Vice President and Strategic Planning-Asia Pacific Director Koji Shibata for a position on the Board of Directors of the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines. 

 As of January 2017, Vietnam had channeled almost 21.4 billion USD into 1,188 projects across 70 countries and territories, an official from the Ministry of Planning and Investment has said.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosted a reception for Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever on Feb. 17 during which he pledged that Vietnam is making effort to improve its business environment to support the long-term operation of foreign investors.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The positive 2016 earning reports of over 90 per cent of nearly 600 listed companies on the two national stock exchanges are providing a fresh impetus for the market.

 The central province of Quang Ngai has decided to establish the Ly Son sea reserve of 7,925 ha in an effort to preserve marine resources and biodiversity and improve local livelihoods. 

 The Australia Border Forces (ABF) said on February 17 that they had detained 29 Vietnamese fishermen allegedly poaching sea cucumbers in the country’s waters.

 A breast milk bank opened at the Da Nang Hospital for Women and Children on February 17, aiming at providing milk for 3,000 – 4,000 babies per year.

The Regional Maritime Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre No 3 in Vung Tau City on Friday assigned a ship and some doctors to rush to the scene and provide first aid to 11 seamen who had met with an accident at sea.

 VietNamNet Bridge – FLC Thanh Hoa are currently at the V.League’s top position in all five rounds.

 The visit to Vietnam by Chief Justice of the Singapore Supreme Court Sundaresh Menon will help bolster the partnership between the two court sectors as well as Vietnam-Singapore strategic partnership, said President Tran Dai Quang.

 Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security and Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior signed a minutes to implement the bilateral cooperation plan in 2017 after their talks in Phnom Penh on February 17.

More than 170 domestic and international reporters have registered to report news at the first Senior Officials’ Meeting of APEC and related meetings scheduled for February 18-March 3 in Nha Trang city.

NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan has suggested the Swedish side continue supporting Vietnam in realising millennium development goals and enhance cooperation with the country in trade, education-training, science-technology and health care. 

Berjaya Land Bhd will be exiting its Vietnam-based Berjaya Long Beach LLC business, as it will be selling its entire stake in the latter to Sulyna Hospitality Hotel Restaurant Travel Service Co Ltd for VND333.25 billion or nearly US$15 million. 

 Electricity of Viet Nam (EVN) is not permitted to mobilise capital to invest in the real estate and finance sectors.

VietNamNet Bridge - The 55-day Da Nang International Firework Festival 2017 (DIFF 2017) with amazing firework displays, many fantastic art and culture events and entertainment activities is expected to attract millions of tourists to the city.

 The Ministry of Industry and Trade affirmed in a statement released on Tuesday that its controversial draft decree neither extend nor make additions to the category of State monopoly.

Vietnamese photographers won two gold medals at an international photo contest that was held by the Kotrung Uttarpara Photography Association in India with the support of the International Federation of Photographic Art (FIAP).

The State Bank of Vietnam has pledged to provide $4.39 billion credit package for hi-tech agriculture with suitable interest rate after Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc instructed the bank and relevant ministries to develop the field. 

 The Prime Minister has issued the index of services in education that can use the state budget.