Social News 31/3

 Tay Ninh border gate to expand, Dao maturity rite recognised as intangible cultural heritage, Contraband cigarettes seized in Hai Phong port, Gia Lai: 14,000 drought-hit households face food shortage

Foreign investors to return in second half of year

VietNamNet Bridge - The continued net sales by foreign investors has raised big concerns. However, experts have said the net sales would end by June.

Protective import tax sends steel prices soaring

A spokesperson for Song Da No2 Joint Stock Company (SD2) called up a magazine to grumble that steel prices have skyrocketed, pushing up costs for his company by billions of dong since the prices started to rise.

Hanoi: Diseases under control

 Diseases in Hanoi have been controlled over the past three months, Deputy Director of the municipal Health Department Hoang Duc Hanh has said.

Resorting to charm tactics

  Promises of high returns and increasing competition are prompting developers to spend enormously on luxury resort projects.

PM approves new centre for organ, tissue transplants

 Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has approved the setting up of a research and development centre for human organ and tissue transplants at 108 Military Hospital.

Road violation fine via monitoring devices starts in May

 Surveillance cameras and speed monitoring devices installed along the Hanoi-Lao Cai and  Phap Van - Cau Gie - Ninh Binh expressways will start recording violations on May 1 and July 1 respectively.

Japan to ease visa rules for Vietnam: local newspaper

 The Japanese Government will relax visa regulations for citizens from five countries, including Vietnam, in a bid to attract more tourists to Japan in the coming time, the local Yomiuri newspaper said on March 30.

HCM City to host 4th ASEAN Chief Justices’ Meeting

 Ho Chi Minh City will host the 4th ASEAN Chief Justices’ Meeting on April 1, featuring Supreme Court delegations from ten ASEAN member states.

Vietnam wishes for WB’s continued support, says PM

Vietnam wishes for continued support from the international community, including the World Bank, to fulfill its development goals, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung told WB Country Director Victoria Kwakwa during a reception in Hanoi on March 30.

Lawmakers canvass retirement of National Assembly Chairman

 Legislators held group discussions in the morning of March 30 about the retirement of National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung, who also chairs the National Election Council.

U.S. FTC sues Volkswagen over diesel advertising claims

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission on Tuesday sued Volkswagen Group of America, saying the U.S. arm of the German automaker falsely advertised more than a half million diesel vehicles as environmentally friendly

Sun Group’s resort property attracts foreign investors

VietNamNet Bridge – On the first day of the launch of sales of condotels and villas at two hospitality real estate projects of Sun Group on Phu Quoc Island, 80 condotels and 30 villas were sold.

U.S. firms target investment in Israeli cannabis R&D

Already a pioneer in high-tech and cutting-edge agriculture, Israel is starting to attract American companies looking to bring medical marijuana know-how to a booming market back home. 

What did Vietnam do while Thailand prepared to resist drought?

 VietNamNet Bridge – The first quarter of 2016 has passed and major challenges for Vietnam's economy have been revealed, not promising a bright future as we had expected.

Vietnamese businessman buys SIM for nearly US$500,000

 VietNamNet Bridge – A Saigon man has bought an SIM card from the owner of a gold shop in the northern province of Thai Binh at the cost of up to VND9.9 billion (nearly $500,000).

Vietnamese scientist publishes research in leading journal

Dr. Tran Dinh Phong from Hanoi has published his research in the prestigious journal Nature Materials, with the findings of the structure and mechanism of action of a catalyst that can replace platinum,an expensive material.

Handicraft village suffers pollution

VietNamNet Bridge – Pollution levels are adversely affecting local residents’ health and the long-term economic development of a traditional handicraft village located about 70km from Ha Noi,

Vietnam, Japan jointly produce special drama

Vietnamese and Japanese artists performed the drama "Vịt trời trúng độc" (Poisoned Wild Duck) at Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre in Japan on March 19-26. 

Vietnamese fencers gain points in South Korea fencing event

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese fencers Vu Thanh An and Nguyen Thi Le Dung have added three more points each via the Fencing Grand Prix Sabre in South Korea.

Bad debt at VAMC is actually double the bad debt on books

VietNamNet Bridge - The bad debt ratio of the banking system has been reported as dropping to 2.9 percent. However, the figure does not truly reflect the bad debt panorama.

The market of “death” in Saigon

 VietNamNet Bridge - Kim Bien Market in District 5, HCM City is called the “market of death” because it sells all kinds of toxic chemicals.

Virtual pictures in Rai Cave

 VietNamNet Bridge - Hang Rai (Rai Cave) is a must-see place in Phan Rang - the land of sun and wind. About 20 km from the city, on the way to Vinh Hy Bay, Rai Cave enchants visitors with its beauty.

Singapore company sponsors VN junior national sailing team

 VietNamNet Bridge – Singapore’s Constant Wind Seasports and Sailing School have sponsored sailing boats valued VND2.5 billion for the Viet Nam Canoeing, Rowing and Sailing Federation.

Ly Hoang Nam loses in final round of Japan F4 Futures

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese top tennis player Ly Hoang Nam lost to Japanese Kento Takeuchi in the main round of the Japan F4 Futures tennis tournament yesterday, March 29.