VN travel agencies said to manipulate Google Maps

 Several travel companies in HCM City have said that their rivals manipulated contact information on Google Maps in an alleged tactic to steal clients, with contact numbers deliberately changed as an act of business sabotage.

Over $2.8 bln invested in transport development in Central Highlands

Over $2.81 billion was spent on the upgrading and construction of transport infrastructure in the Central Highlands over the last five years, significantly contributing to the local socio-economic development.

Bitcoin jumps above $1,000 for first time in three years

Digital currency bitcoin kicked off the new year by jumping above $1,000 for the first time in three years late on Sunday, having outperformed all central-bank-issued currencies with a 125 percent climb in 2016. 

Nearly 80 killed by traffic accidents during New Year holiday

 During the three-day calendar New Year 2017 holiday, the country saw 93 traffic accidents which killed 79 people and injured 54 others, according to the Traffic Police Department.

Preliminary outcomes of rural, agricultural survey announced

 Vietnam had 8,978 communes and 79,899 hamlets as of July 1, 2016, representing decreases of 93 and 1,005 respectively from five years ago, according to the preliminary outcomes of the latest rural, agricultural and fisheries survey.

Asia stocks edge up in positive start to 2017, dollar resumes climb

Global markets marched confidently into 2017 on Tuesday, with Asian stocks extending gains after European shares surged to their highest in a year, while the dollar resumed its climb after last week's stumble. 

Japan wants improved youth ties with Vietnam

 The Liberal Democratic Party of Japan (LDP) wants to boost affiliation between its youth division and Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, said Suzuki Keisuke, Director of the LDP’s Youth Division.

Ceremony marks Vietnam-Bhutan diplomatic ties

 The Embassy of Vietnam in India held a ceremony in New Delhi on January 1 to mark the fifth anniversary of Vietnam – Bhutan diplomatic ties (January 19, 2012-2017).

Oil prices rise as markets eye OPEC, non-OPEC production cuts

 Oil prices rose in the first trading hours of 2017, buoyed by hopes that a deal between OPEC and non-OPEC members to cut production, which kicked in on Sunday, will be effective in draining the global supply glut.

Who was best at making money in 2016?

VietNamNet Bridge - The best moneymakers in Vietnam saw their assets in business and investment activities in 2016 increase to very high levels.

VND/USD exchange rate remains relatively stable in 2016

VietNamNet Bridge - The dong/dollar exchange rate remained stable for most of 2016 thanks to important government and State Bank policies, and resources of the national economy.

Daklak to hold tours of coffee processing facilities

The Central Highlands province of Daklak, the nation’s biggest coffee growing area, will launch a tour program in which guests can visit coffee processing facilities and gain hands-on knowledge of the cultural space of Gong

Agricultural land thirsts for clean water

VietNamNet Bridge - As the shortage of clean water for irrigation has become serious, local authorities are trying every possible way to bring clean water to fields.

Vietnam among fastest-growing economies in Asia in 2017: economists

VietNamNet Bridge - Though skeptical about the 6.7 percent GDP growth rate target, economists still believe Vietnam will be among Asia's fastest growing economies.

Consultants warn against startup movement among youth

VietNamNet Bridge - Many Vietnamese university students plan to give up studying and develop businesses of their own, even though they are still living on their parents’ money.

Three scenarios for textiles & garments after Trump takes office

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam’s textile & garment sector will maintain current growth if the US withdraws from the TPP, analysts say, but the growth would be higher if the TPP is approved by the US.

Vietnam expects foreign capital to help restructure weak banks

VietNamNet Bridge - In the context of limited domestic resources, attracting foreign capital to banks is seen as a viable solution to bank restructuring.

Getting lost in the lush mangrove greenery of Bay Mau

 VietNamNet Bridge – Riding a boat in the nipa palm forest gives me a feeling of being lost in the lush greenery.

Terraced hydropower plants on small rivers contribute to flooding

“The program on building terraced hydropower plants on small rivers is a wrong decision. It is the root cause of floods,” said Vu Trong Hong, former Deputy Minister of Water Resources, now chair of the Vietnam Water Resources Association.

Young scientist lends his name to three plant species

VietNamNet Bridge - Discovering 13 new plant species within 13 years, Pham Van The, MA, an expert on reproductive biology, surprised everyone with the speed of his work. 

2016 – eventful year for big players

VietNamNet Bridge - The best-known names in various business fields all entered the bourse in 2016. The year also saw the appearance of a new dollar billionaire – Trinh Van Quyet.

Online math competition a race of ‘fighting cocks’

VietNamNet Bridge - ViOlympic, an online math competition for primary and secondary school students, has raised controversy among parents.

2.5 million people in Hanoi lack clean water

 Some 2.5 million people living in suburban areas in Hanoi do not yet have access to tap water, the city’s Centre for Clean Water and Rural Environmental Hygiene has revealed.

Vietnam's 2016 inflation in check

 Viet Nam’s 2016 inflation rate has been kept relatively low at 4.74 per cent, less than the estimated annual five per cent.

Da Nang, Hoi An host the first tourists of 2017

VietNamNet Bridge – The first 2017 group of tourists in the central city of Da Nang were 150 passengers on a Silk Air flight from Singapore on January 1, 2017.