Interest rates could rise 0.5-1% in 2017: BVSC, Multi-level marketing companies face ministry's wrath, Vietnamese economy urged to be cautious of external shocks, PM approves agreements with foreign countries

 Viet Nam’s best female gymnast Phan Thi Ha Thanh has decided to retire from competitive events.

 Leaders of Lao Party, State, and National Assembly have spoken highly of contributions made by Vietnamese voluntary soldiers and experts to Laos’s national liberation cause.

 Meat and Livestock Australia has unveiled that the first large-scale purchase of an Australian cattle ranch – for beef production – by a Vietnamese company has been made.

 The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) will review tourist destinations in the country and announce results once a year, according to a Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism decision. 

 French photographer Rehahn last week opened a Precious Heritage Gallery Museum in the UNESCO-recognized ancient town of Hoi An in the central coast province of Quang Nam.

Dinh La Thang, secretary of HCMC’s Party Committee, has suggested opening check-in counters outside Tan Son Nhat International Airport as a measure to ease overload inside the airport and reduce congestion on the roads around the airport.

 The National Committee of the Vietnam Union of Literature and Arts Associations held an awards ceremony in Hanoi on January 17 to honour 66 outstanding literature and art works in 2016.

Foreign affairs have made positive contributions to protecting Vietnam's sovereignty over sea and islands in the East Sea, delegates at a meeting held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hanoi heard on January 17.

 British stand-up comedian Gina Yashere will give performances in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City on January 18 and 20 respectively.

 PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc is making the first trip to Switzerland for the annual meeting of the Word Economic Forum as the Government chief to assure Viet Nam’s commitment to comprehensive reform and international integration agenda.

The University of Engineering and Technology at the Vietnam National University and the Vietnam VP9 Joint Stock Companysigned a cooperative agreement on January 17.

 The year has only begun, but signs are pointed to an exciting time ahead for the banking sector with vigorous mergers and acquisitions (M&As) activities.

An exchange of Vietnam-Japan teenager ambassadors took place in Japan on January 17, gathering 16 Vietnamese students from the Vietnam-Germany High School in Hanoi and 16 Japanese students from the Yokkaichi City high school in Mie prefecture.

 The implementation of external information services and the dissemination of news on sea, island and border demarcation in 2016 reaped important outcomes in promoting the image of Vietnam’s nation, culture, people and territory to the world.

 HCM City, Ha Noi, Can Tho and Nha Trang will offer free wireless internet all 24 hours at flower streets and markets during Tet, according to the Saigon Posts And Telecommunications Service Joint-Stock Corporation.

Interested people can now drop by a traditional calligraphy market just outside the Youth Cultural House in District 1, HCMC. This is part of an annual program for celebrating the Lunar New Year, which falls in late January.

With Vietnam set to open its first derivatives market, experts are warning of the preparations needed to minimise potential investor risks. 

 VietNamNet Bridge – Quang Binh Province is not building a suspension cable to Son Doong Cave, the world’s largest cave located in the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park.

 Vietnam enjoyed a trade surplus of US$2.32 billion last year, according to the General Department of Customs (GDC), slightly lower than the initial estimate of US$2.68 billion made by the General Statistics Office.

  It is essential to lower input costs and improve quality to enhance competitiveness of agricultural products and efficiency of investments in this sector, experts have said.

 HCM City and Ha Noi, two major cities of Viet Nam, are listed among the top 10 most dynamic cities, according to the JLL’s fourth annual City Momentum Index (CMI).

 The US ambassador to Vietnam, Ted Osius, released carp fish at West Lake in Hanoi and visited a flower market on Wednesday.

 Italian motorcycle racing icon Valentino Rossi will visit Vietnam on February 12, Yamaha Vietnam announced on its Facebook fan page.

 More than 300 years after it was constructed in the 11th century, the Bo Da Pagoda in the Vietnam northern province of Bac Giang brings the medieval world wonder back to life.