Management agencies fail to expose cases of untreated solid waste

VietNamNet Bridge - Formosa’s behavior of illegally dumping solid waste has been discovered, but many other companies are escaping state management.

Poor decentralization efforts lead to oversupply of teaching graduates

VietNamNet Bridge - As many as 132 pedagogy schools exist in the country, creating an oversupply of teachers. 

HCM City to organise National Day fireworks

 HCM City will spend VND2 billion (USD95,200) on a firework display for National Day on September 2.

More E-wallets available, but are they useful?

VietNamNet Bridge - With the strong development of e-commerce, more and more e-wallets are now available in Vietnam, but they are still not that useful.

No zoning plan changes for Thu Thiem

 The HCMC government has turned down proposed changes to the zoning plan for a section in Thu Thiem New Urban Area even though the changes would pave the way for a US$4-billion project to go up there.

Masan’s H1 net profit up by 184 percent

 VietNamNet Bridge - Masan Group, one of Vietnam’s largest consumer goods producers, has made public its business report for the first half of 2016, with net profit nearly tripling year on year. 

VN girl, blindfolded, can read and distinguish colors

 VietNamNet Bridge – A 7-year-old girl in Hanoi can distinguish colors, paint pictures and read books blindfolded.

Young girl hospitalized for Facebook stress

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Central Psychiatric Hospital 1 has admitted an 18-year-old patient for mental illness, caused by personal conflicts on Facebook.

Vietnam falls in global innovation rankings

Vietnam ranks 59th in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2016, down seven notches compared to last year.

Flood control measures proposed for HCM City

 Progressive Corporation International (AIC) has proposed a plan to build reservoirs and use mobile water pumps to deal with chronic flooding in HCMC.

Graduate unemployment still a problem in Vietnam

 Vietnam had over one million of unemployed in the second quarter, including 191,300 are graduates.

40m tall “mountain” of toxic waste in Hai Phong

DAP-Dinh Vu fertilizer plant in Hai Phong has discharged millions of tons of waste after 7 years of operation. The waste has changed the color of the water, eroded metal and destroyed fauna and floral systems in the surrounding area.

The race to invest in luxury gym centers in Vietnam’s cities

Investment in luxury gym centers has become a lucrative industry in Vietnam as the demand for doing workouts at well equipped-gym centers, with luxury additional services, of wealthy people in Vietnam is rocketing.

Miss Vietnam finalists in evening gowns

 VietNamNet Bridge – Let's enjoy the beauty of the 33 finalists of the Miss Vietnam 2016 pageant in evening gowns. 

Mekong Delta rivers get deeper

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Tien and Hau rivers in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta have become deeper in recent years instead of having silt build-up like in years past, experts have said.

Vietnamese footwear industry: big turnover, small profits

Footwear is a big industry of Vietnam, considered a ‘foreign currency earner’ thanks to high exports every year.  

Social News 21/8

 HCM City runs summer camps for children, Financial incentives for devastated farmers, Central Highlands vocational training urged to improve quality, Dong Nai: 3-mln-USD kindergarten launched for workers’ children

Ban Gioc waterfall – a landmark at the national frontier

 The Ban Gioc waterfall on Quay Son River in the northeastern province of Cao Bang province is one of Vietnam’s best-known waterfalls for its grandeur and charm.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 21/8

 US$ 10, 5 bln invested into Dung Quat Economic Zone, Export turnover hit US$ 191 billion in Jan-Jul, Agencies back removal of controversial circular on car imports, Apparel export target seen unobtainable in 2016

Priceless 19th century house in disrepair

 A 19th century communal house dedicated to Vietnamese people’s ancestors - 18 Hung kings - in Vinh Phuc Province is in poor condition.

For students, clean toilets do matter

 VietNamNet Bridge – As children across the country return to school after the summer break, a little spoken about yet very real and imperative issue has come under the spotlight: unhygienic school toilets.

PM approves national target program on new rural development

 PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc has signed Decision 1600/QD-TTg approving the National Target Program on new rural development for 2016-2020 period.

Homegrown machine for purifying salt water

 VietNamNet Bridge – Salt water goes into a container, through pipes where it’s processed to remove salt, and finally pure water comes out.

Vietnamese businesses become ‘addicted’ to Chinese technology

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnamese investors tend to choose contractors who offer the lowest prices, so Chinese companies usually win the bids. 

Village opens traditional farming museum

 VietNamNet Bridge – Regular visits by tourists to the Thanh Toan Museum have proven the success of a community-based model, which helped a well known cultural location to become even more popular.