Sea water and wastewater samples related to mass clam deaths in central Thanh Hoa Province have failed to meet environment criteria, said Le Van Binh, head of the Environmental Protection Branch.

 Hanoians as well as tourists may soon get to enjoy free Wi-fi at various places in the capital, if a proposal put up by the local tourism department goes through.

 Viet Nam currently has an average floor area per person of 22.8sq.m, according to a recent report by the Ministry of Construction.

 The People’s Committee of the central province of Quang Ngai has approved a plan to turn a coastal road in Ly Son island into a walking street.

 The seventh Traditional Trade Festival will take place in the ancient imperial city of Thua Thien – Hue from April 28 to May 2, announced the provincial People’s Committee.

 With high growth potential, Vietnam has become a promising destination for leading global beer companies, according to Sai Gon Giai Phong newspaper.

“Although there remain many difficulties and challenges, the outcomes obtained last year were encouraging, giving favourable conditions for the country to enter a new stage of development,” Party Chief Nguyen Phu Trong has said.

 President Tran Dai Quang hosted a reception in Hanoi on January 9 for the newly-accredited Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam, Kunio Umeda.

VietNamNet Bridge – Countryside markets, flower villages and fruit farms are among the bustling places in the upcoming Tet holiday. Saigontourist Travel Service Co. is offering tours called “Traveling before Tet, bringing spring to home.”

 Vietnam’s foreign exchange reserves have soared to an all-time high of US$41 billion, said Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at a conference on the implementation of 2017 banking tasks held by the central bank in Hanoi on January 5.

 A new rule that requires film classification went into force on January 1, but few cinemas have strictly abided.

 Deputy PM Pham Binh Minh expected that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s visit to Viet Nam next week will further promote the Viet Nam-U.S. comprehensive partnership.

 The Ministry of Public Security has released Circular 53/2016/TT-BCA on registration and acceptance of temporary residence for foreigners in Viet Nam.

 National carrier Viet Nam Airlines is readying itself to open direct flights to the U.S. in 2018.

 The PM has recently ratified a project on non-cash transaction development in Viet Nam in the 2016-2020 period with a view to keeping cash transaction rate under 10%.

 The country’s first lung transplant will be performed earlier than planned because many patients may not wait for transplant, said   National Lung Hospital director Nguyen Viet Nhung.

 Paris plans a major boost to its cycling infrastructure and will ban cars from outside the Louvre museum as it steps up its fight against traffic pollution,

 Twelve walls in Nguyen Thai Binh Ward in Ho Chi Minh City’s District 1 will be painted by graffiti artists.

 Vietcombank’s pre-tax profits in 2016 rose by 23.4% to VND8,212 billion (US$361.3 million), exceeding its target for the year by 2.7%, the lender reported on January 7 at a ceremony to review its performance in 2016.

 The Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) held a conference on January 7, gathering heads of higher education institutions in Da Nang to discuss ways to enhance the quality of tertiary education.

 Vietnam Airlines and its subsidiaries earned combined revenue last year of more than VND76 trillion ($3.34 billion), an increase of more than 10 per cent against 2015.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Some two weeks ago, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc himself weighed in on a high-profile apartment building complex planned in the capital by a leading real estate developer.

A musician in the northern province of Phu Tho is running a permanent exhibition of his own music instruments collection at his home. His house has become a tourism destination for visitors to Thanh Thuy District.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The country’s struggling rail transport sector continues to falter, with output and revenues of Viet Nam Railways (VNR) declining considerably, falling short of set targets.

After Doan Nguyen Duc, owner of a powerful real estate group, and Tran Dinh Long, owner of a steel corporation, decided to pour money into agriculture projects, a number of other billionaires did the same.