Dong Thap: ancient tree receive national heritage status

 A century-old tree in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap has been recognised as a Vietnamese Heritage Tree by the Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment (VACNE). 

Vietnamese Embassy promotes tourism in India

 The Vietnamese Embassy in India hosted a tourism promotion event at Samrat Hotel in New Delhi on April 20, featuring tourism associations and travel agencies from both Vietnam and India.

Cuba emphasises ties with Vietnam: Ambassador

 Cuba will continue creating favourable conditions for the enhancement of its relationship with Vietnam, particularly in economy and trade, a Cuban diplomat has said.

Vietnam, China coast guards conduct joint fishery patrol

The coast guards of Vietnam and China are conducting a joint fishery patrol on shared fishing grounds in the Tonkin Gulf from April 19 – 23, Quan doi Nhan dan (People’s Army) daily reported.

Foreign Ministry hosts conference promoting Asia-Europe partnership

The Foreign Ministry opened a conference on “Enhancing the comprehensive Asia-Europe Partnership in the 21 st century” in Hanoi on April 20 to review two decades of ASEM and make proposals on the grouping’s track in the third decade. 

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 21/4

 Vntrip.vn links with Booking.com for accommodation deal, Vietnam’s agriculture to profit from TPP: Argentine paper, Shrimp exports to China earn 64.8 million USD in two months, Vietnam woos European investors

Three dead, dozens injured in blast at chemical plant in Mexico

 A massive explosion rocked a major petrochemical facility of Mexican national oil company Pemex in the Gulf state of Veracruz on Wednesday, killing at least three people, injuring dozens more,

Ministry may let Besra dig a bigger tax hole

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment may be pressured into renewing the exploration licence for debtor Besra Group’s Bong Mieu gold mine, as the licence is set to expire this year.

Public debt increasing rapidly, Vietnam under repayment pressure

VietNamNet Bridge - If Vietnam becomes insolvent, this will have serious implications for the national economy, not just for several years, but for a few decades, economists have warned. 

Suitors line up for Big C partnership

French retailer Casino Group, will continue its export activities in Vietnam despite keeping off its roots in the retail sector while attracting both foreign and domestic interest as it moves forward with the selection of a new partner.

Common medicines tied to changes in the brain

 Commonly used drugs for problems like colds, allergies, depression, high blood pressure and heart disease have long been linked to cognitive impairment and dementia.

Senior golfers set to tee off in Hue City

 The National Golf Championship for Seniors will kick off at Thua Thien - Hue Province’s Laguna Lang Co Golf Course on April 30.

Binh Duong FC defeated at Asian League

Becamex Binh Duong’s trip to the Asian Football Confederation Champions League ended yesterday after their 0-3 loss to Jiangsu Suning in the fifth round match of Group E.

Mai Khoi to perform new songs at solo concert

 Singer-songwriter Mai Khoi will perform a solo concert at Hà Nội’s Heritage Space on Saturday.

‘Vietnamese Oscar’ film winners announced

The movie "Jackpot", based on the true story of Lanh, a lottery ticket seller in the southern province of Dong Thap, was granted the ‘Vietnamese Oscar’ Golden Kite award for feature movie at a glittery award ceremony last night in Hanoi.

Investment in HCMC's industrial parks drops

 Industrial parks and export processing zones in HCM City attracted investment worth US$197.86 million in the first quarter of 2016, a year-on-year decline of 53.4 per cent.

Nha Trang to create ecological beach park

 The central province of Khanh Hoa plans to make Nha Trang Beach an ecological park where seaside buildings can only have 40 floors at most.

Environmentalists strongly oppose new hydropower plant in Dak Lak

 Scientists and environmentalists across the country have raised their voice to strongly oppose the construction of the Drang Phok Hydropower Plant at the end of this year in the Central Highlands Dak Lak Province’s Krong Na Commune.

Vietnamese students not interested in reading

VietNamNet Bridge - University students are required to spend appropriate time on self-study, but few students have the habit of going to the library.

Fish die en masse along coast in central Vietnam

In the past few days, many provinces in the central region of Vietnam have reported an abnormal phenomenon – large amounts of fish dying along the coast. The authorities have recommended that locals not eat the dead fish.

HCM City: Fireworks, cultural-sport events mark national reunification anniversa

 The southern metropolis Ho Chi Minh City will set off fireworks in four venues to celebrate the 41st anniversary of the liberation of south Vietnam and national reunification (April 30) and the 130th International May Day (May 1).

Chinese fishing vessel rescued off Thua Thien-Hue shore

 A Chinese fishing vessel in distress offshore Phu Loc district in central Thua Thien-Hue province was helped to anchor at the locality’s Chan May port on April 20, according to the local Border Guard.

Vietnam, Russia sign deals on further oil and gas exploitation

 Vietnam and Russia signed an inter-governmental agreement on further geological survey and oil and gas exploitation in Russia within the framework of the Vietnam-Russia oil and gas joint venture Rusvietpetro at a ceremony in Hanoi on April 20.

FDI by sector and challenges: garnering interest

Manufacturing, real estate and retail count among the most appealing sectors for foreign investors.

The sole laterite citadel in Vietnam

 VietNamNet Bridge - More than 40 kilometers from the center of Hanoi, the ancient city of Son Tay is a unique military structure in Vietnambuilt with laterite.