Vietnam Airlines earns $1.62 bln in H1

 The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines earned a combined revenue of 36 trillion VND (1.62 billion USD) in the first half of this year, accounting for 72 percent of the set target. 

Vietnam named fifth happiest country in the world

Viet Nam ranked first in Asia and fifth in the world in the 2016 Happy Planet Index, according to the UK-based New Economics Foundation.

Voters concerned about China’s wrongful actions in East Sea

Voters nationwide are concerned about China’s wrongful actions in the East Sea and want effective and consistent measures to be taken to protect Vietnam’s sovereignty over islands in the sea.

Forged paintings case ends without answer

 Whether the paintings at the Paintings Returned from Europe in HCM City are original or not remain unclear as the exhibition came to an end while investigation is on-going.

Vietnam's biggest beer producer Sabeco to have new CEO

 The Deputy CEO of the scandal-hit Sabeco seems likely to become CEO of the beer giant after the position remained vacant for months and led to its recent leadership crisis.

UK ready to back HCM City in infrastructure development

The United Kingdom stands ready to back Ho Chi Minh City in developing infrastructure, said new British Consul-General Ian Gibbons on July 21.

Leading positions of 14th National Assembly named

 Leading positions of the 14th National Assembly were named on July 22 during the legislative body’s first session following the secret ballot conducted one day earlier.

Vietnam postpones $3bn international bond plan

 Viet Nam has postponed a US$3-billion international bond issuance plan due to unfavourable conditions in the global finance and monetary market, the finance ministry said.

Digiworld halves profit target

 Digiworld Joint Stock Company halved its after-tax profit target from VND140 billion (US$6.2 million) to VND65 billion for this year.

Three traffic inspectors in Can Tho arrested for taking bribes

VietNamNet Bridge - Three traffic inspectors in Can Tho, the largest city in the Mekong Delta, were arrested this week for taking bribes totaling $150,000 from local transport firms and businesses.

Officials dismissed for certifying 800 substandard aquaculture products

VietNamNet Bridge - The General Directorate of Fisheries has dismissed its Director of Aquaculture Department for making fake seafood certificates for the circulation of 800 substandard aquaculture products. 

Traditional markets in central areas, shopping malls in suburbs

VietNamNet Bridge - Saigonese often advise travelers to go to central business districts if they want to find traditional markets, and to the suburbs for modern shopping malls.

Visiting Chuong conical hat village

 Located in Phuong Trung commune, Thanh Oai District, Hanoi, Chuong village is well-known for its iconic product “non”, which was recognised long ago in a saying: “Whoever wants a beautiful conical hat can come to Chuong village”.

Doctors devise care plan for babies as Zika threat looms in U.S.

 As U.S. public health officials try to determine whether Zika has arrived in the country, doctors are establishing guidelines on how to care for the rising number of babies whose mothers were infected with the virus during pregnancy.

Futsal team convene for 2016 World Cup

 VietNamNet Bridge – The national futsal team convened yesterday (July 21) in HCM City to prepare for the 2016 FIFA Futsal World Cup from September 10 to October 1 in Colombia.

VN through to U16 ASEAN football’s final

 VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam is to play Australia on Sunday in the final of the ASEAN U16 Football Championships after they defeated the host Cambodia 1-0 yesterday, July 21.

Five break records at junior swimming meet

 VietNamNet Bridge – Do Dinh Thi of HCM City won a gold medal and broke the national record at the National Junior Swimming Championships in HCM City yesterday, July 21.

Vietnam Navy begins training exercise

Naval forces began a training exercise on July 18 off the coast of the Nhon Trach District of the southern province of Dong Nai, according to an announcement by the Vietnam Navy.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 22/7

 VCCI and HOSE agree to more co-operation in financial market, Shrimp export to US sees growth, Malaysia's Waz Lian Group eyes Binh Dinh investment, Vietnam’s key export industries unlikely to meet 2016 targets

Canada calls for compliance with tribunal’s East Sea dispute ruling

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Stéphane Dion has called on countries involved in East Sea disputes to abide by the recent ruling of the Arbitral Tribunal in The Hague, the Netherlands.

NA deputies must vote against overspending planned budget

 National Assembly (NA) deputies must insist on voting against overspending the government’s planned budget, said Deputy Tran Hoang Ngan from Ho Chi Minh City on July 21.

Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan re-elected as 14th NA Chairwoman

  Chairwoman of the 13th National Assembly Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan was re-elected as the head of the 14th legislature during the body’s first session on July 22.

First Vietnam-RoK contemporary art exhibition opens

 Vietnamese and RoK contemporary painters and sculptors are converging in their first ever exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City to deliver their unique styles exploring the diversity of lively life in their respective countries.

Vietnamese talented pianist to perform at Toyota concert

 Talented Vietnamese piano soloist Vu Ngoc Linh will join the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra to perform at the 19th Toyota concert scheduled to be held in Hanoi on August 5-6 and in Ho Chi Minh City on August 10-11.

Earth on track for hottest year ever as warming speeds up

 The earth is on track for its hottest year on record and warming at a faster rate than expected, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Thursday.