The State Bank of Vietnam announced they intend to restructure five banks this year.

 More challenges and difficulties will face the local economy in 2017, said Nguyen Duc Thanh, head of the Vietnam Institute for Economics and Policy Research.

Alcohol abuse may increase the risk of heart attacks and other cardiac problems even in people who don’t have a family history of heart disease or other known risk factors, a study suggests. 

 VietNamNet Bridge – The HCMC government will implement 80 traffic infrastructure projects with total capital of VND39,263 billion (US$1.72 billion) this year in a bid to ease congestion,

 VietNamNet Bridge – LaBrassBanda band who has been known for its trademark mixture of Bavarian folk music and ska-punk will perform at 3A Station in HCMC’s District 1 on January 11. The city will be the first destination on their world tour.

Chinese tourists have made up half of international arrivals to Nha Trang City in the central province of Khanh Hoa this year, forcing the local government to find ways to diversify its source markets, instead of heavily depending on China.

VietNamNet Bridge – The Ha Noi Traffic Police have yet to impose any fines despite many road users having been recorded driving in the lanes reserved for the bus rapid transit (BRT) system over their first few days of operation.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Sticking a ‘safe’ logo onto food products is one of the capital city’s recent efforts to fight off unsafe food, and the public is discussing and debating its effectiveness.

Trying to attract more audiences, experimenting with new plays and genres, applying many creations in technology and arts in plays, and engaging with foreign theatres, are among orientations that Vietnamese theatrical units implemented in 2016,

VietNamNet Bridge –  Viet Nam is expected to produce six-in-one vaccines in 2017 or 2018 and by 2020 these will be used widely in the country, according to the health ministry. 

VietNamNet Bridge - Seven out of 15 of the richest billionaires in 2016 are businessmen in the real estate sector or sectors related to real estate.

 A 35 year-old woman in HCM City died of dengue fever on Tuesday, taking to six the total number of fatalities due to the disease since last year, according to the Preventive Medicine Centre.

 The Tourism Department in central Da Nang City yesterday announced the launch of two hotlines to receive timely feedback and quickly respond to reports related to tourist activities.

Many like to travel by train from Hue to Danang to contemplate Hai Van Pass which is one of the most scenic hillside roads in Vietnam.

 Celebrity chef Martin Yan will make a comeback in a cooking show of the Asian Food Channel (AFC) every Thursday, starting from January 5 at 8 p.m.

 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked the Ministry of Health to inspect the observation of regulations in antibiotic prescription and use in medical facilities.

 The future of Thach Khe mine in Ha Tinh, where Kobe Steel’s unmoving Nghe An project expects to source ore for steel production, has become unclear thanks to financial troubles.

 Vietnam has set targets of 6.7% GDP growth, stabilizing the macro-economy, and ensuring social security for 2017. To meet these goals, the Government has initiated a number of action plans.

 The General Statistics Office has estimated Vietnam’s 2016 retail revenue at US$118 billion, a 10.2% rise over the previous year.

 Stepping up water resources planning is among the core tasks the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has set for 2017, aiming to complete a national water resources planning by 2020 and others for major river basins.

 Scientific research must follow reality’s demands, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said at an online conference on science and technology with provinces and central level cities on January 4.

Midfielder Pham Thanh Luong made national football history on January 4, winning his fourth Golden Ball as the best male player for 2016.

HCM City will apply information technology to reinvigorate its museum tours and bring museums to more viewers.

 Vietnam U20 football squad will attend a training camp in Germany, which is expected to start in March, to prepare for the World Cup Championship in the Republic of Korea (RoK).

The Vietnam Young Leader Awards (VYLA), an annual scholarship co-sponsored by the Ministry of Education and Training and the US-based Indiana University Bloomington, is opening for application until January 10.