Pakistanis hunt for militants behind blast that killed at least 65

 Pakistani authorities launched a hunt on Monday for militants behind a suicide bomb that killed at least 65 people in an attack that targeted Christians and was claimed by a Taliban faction that once declared ties with Islamic State.

Sex work businesses corralled under project

 VietNamNet Bridge – Several provinces and cities where prostitution is popular were chosen for a pilot project that aims to prevent the crime and reduce its effects on the community.

National Assembly backs downsizing IZs, EZs

 VietNamNet Bridge – The National Assembly (NA) on March 21 gave the nod to a Government proposal to downsize industrial zones (IZs), economic zones (EZs) and some infrastructure projects from now to 2020.

Travel Enjoy peace, flora and fauna at Van Long Nature Reserve

 The rowers cleave the water leading our wooden boat to graze along the river. Rowing between mountains, we suddenly heard whooping, chattering sounds. There they are. Delacour’s langurs are looming in the leaves above us.

Social News 28/3

 Work starts on ASEAN Culture House in Busan, Korea, Ao Dai Museum: Press conference and Fashion Show, Legal documents issued in February, Carnival Ha Long 2016 to take place next month, Gender equality project educates State employees

What’s behind Doan Nguyen Duc’s trillions-of-dong loss?

VietNamNet Bridge - Hoang Anh Gia Lai Group of Doan Nguyen Duc, an influential businessmen, suffered the first quarterly loss since 2008. Duc also lost VND5 trillion over the last year. 

Historic flood predicted to strike Viet Nam this year

 VietNamNet Bridge – An historic flood, similar to the flood that battered the central region with 2,000 mm of rain in 1999, is predicted to hit Viet Nam in the second half of this year after the most severe drought in 100 years

VN forex reserves rise to US$40 billion

 Vietnam’s foreign exchange reserves have soared to a new high of US$40 billion thanks to the execution of some policy tools, especially monetary policy, said an official from the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV).

Cham ethnic people try to keep ancient traditions alive

 VietNamNet Bridge – Photographer Nguyen Vu Phuoc captured these photos of the Cham ethnic people, a group that not many, even in Vietnam know much about.

Apartment swearing ban worries residents

 Many people have raised concerns about a new regulation by the Ministry of Construction which may punish people for quarrelling or swearing inside apartment blocks.

Vietnamese banks enhanced transparency in 2015: Moody's

 The 2015 results of Vietnamese banking testified to an ongoing process of recognising and cleaning up problem assets, a credit positive, Moody’s said in a new report released midweek.

UN Resident Coordinator responds to drought fight in VN

 VietNamNet Bridge – Despite various achievements, over 3 million Vietnamese children are facing water shortage, said Ms. Pratibha Mehta, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative

American GI’s photos capture the other side of war

 VietNamNet Bridge – After being drafted to serve in the war in Vietnam, an American GI decided to treat his days off-duty in the country as a 'working vacation' with camera in hand.

Social News 27/3

 HCM City: Demand for seasonal workers rises during upcoming holiday, VUFO President conferred with Russia’s Honorary Medal, Discrimination increases HIV risk among MSM, transgender, Expressway proposed in central region

A step closer to an age without malaria

 VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam is nearing its goal of eliminating malaria, but it’s all riding on how determined the Government is to succeed.

Travel firms change Europe tour itineraries after Brussels bombings

 A number of local travel firms are planning to change their Europe tour itineraries to ease customer concerns over security in Brussels after two terror attacks on the Belgian capital on Tuesday.

Vietnamese shuttler fails to make final in New Zealand

 Vietnamese badminton star Nguyen Tien Minh missed out on a berth in the final of the 2016 New Zealand Grand Prix Gold after suffering a bitter 0-2 loss to Riichi Takeshita of Japan in their semifinal clash on March 26.

Artistic Street debuts in Da Lat flower land

 The XQ Vietnam Embroidery Company officially launched an Artistic Street along Yersin Road in Da Lat, Lam Dong province on March 25, making it a new destination for tourists on their journey to explore the Da Lat flower land.

Health Ministry denies wrong use of Salbutamol

 The Ministry of Health (MoH)) denied the information that it has allowed the import and use of Salbutamol chemical rampantly.

Vietnam pegged as IT hotspot

 Vietnam’s great potential for software and digital technology development will help it attract many foreign investors into this industry.

IP takes Japanese enterprise to court

  Tan Duc Industrial Park will sue Japanese confectionery producer Tango Candy Co. Ltd. for delayed infrastructure fee payments, according to newswire vnexpress.

Foreign arrivals to Vietnam up 20%

 Around 2.459 million foreigners visited Vietnam in the first three months of this year, a year-on-year rise of 19.9%, according to the General Statistics Office of Vietnam (GSO).

Kong: Skull Island producers inspect environment before leaving VN

 Kong: Before leaving Vietnam, representatives of Skull Island film crew came back to Quang Binh province on March 25 to check whether the logistics companies treated the natural environment well as they committed.

Japanese girl band ‘to cut’ Vietnamese music

 The newly formed Japanese girl band – Rew for Teenz – will soon release its first Vietnamese single, according to the band’s managing agent.

Farmers fear Chinese chicken will bring misfortune

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnamese agencies are considering allowing the import of Chinese poultry meat. The inews has been published on the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s (MARD) Department of Animal Health’s website.