On 30th anniversary of Chernobyl disaster, Ukraine remembers its victims

 Ukraine held memorial services on Tuesday to mark the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, which permanently poisoned swathes of eastern Europe and highlighted the shortcomings of the secretive Soviet system.

Real estate market warms up, but prices unchanged

VietNamNet Bridge - Though demand has increased as foreigners are now allowed to own houses in Vietnam, real estate developers dare not raise selling prices.

Thanh An – ideal place for summer vacation

Thanh An island village in Can Gio district is seen as a right place for summer holidays where you can enjoy mild weather and beautiful landscapes while staying away from bustling cities.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 26/4

Toyota recalls more than 700 Innova cars, Ministry launches SME development fund, Keppel Land buys 500 bln VND of bonds, April consumer price index expands 0.33%, Construction begins on US$4 billion five-star resort project

PM to hold dialogue with 3,000 labourers for Workers’ Month 2016

For the first time Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc will meet and hold talks with 3,000 workers in Dong Nai province and in southeastern localities on April 30.

Prime Minister pledges to back enterprises

  PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc on April 25 in Hanoi presided over the first meeting with ministerial and sectorial leaders seeking to remove obstacles arising in the enforcement of the Laws on Enterprises and Investment.

Vinashin ghost fleet becomes unsolvable Ha Long Bay problem

Authorities in Ha Long are facing troubles as a fleet of nine tugs and three barges built by the troubled state-owned Vinashin have been left unused for years and now pose an environmental threat to Ha Long Bay.

Criminal charge against coffee shop owner suspended

 According to the decision, the law does not require separate license for the business registered by Mr. Tan as per Article 159 of the Penal Code and food hygiene and safety certificate is optional in this sector.

Mysterious fish death spells doom for tourism

The unknown cause of mass dying of fishstock in the central part of Vietnam may affect the tourism sector, known as one of the major bread-winners of the central region.

Young man commits suicide, detonates home-made grenade

 VietNamNet Bridge – A young man has committed suicide when he detonated a home-made grenade in Buon Ma Thuot City, in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak.

Vietnam, Russia agree to beef up defence ties

Minister of National Defence, General Ngo Xuan Lich and his Russian counterpart General Sergey Shoigu emphasised the need for the two countries to realise defence cooperation agreements they have reached.

Trade surplus hits $1.47 billion

 The national balance of trade saw a surplus of about US$1.48 billion this year, reported Hai quan, the online newspaper of the Viet Nam Customs.

Russian Duma ratifies EAEU-VN deal

  The State Duma of Russia has ratified the free trade agreement (FTA) between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and Viet Nam.

Gov’t to consider plan for Red River dams

 VietNamNet Bridge – Experts have proposed the construction of five to seven dams along the Hong (Red) River to raise the water level, thus serving agricultural production and water transport without affecting flood drainage.

Son Tung named Singer of the Year

 VietNamNet Bridge – Emerging singer-songwriter Son Tung-MTP won Singer of the year award at the annual Music Devotion Awards by the Vietnam News Agency’s Sport & Culture daily on Sunday.

Vietnam demands more airlines in region

Low fuel prices and budget airlines have helped the new Filipino and Vietnamese middle-class fly in ever-greater numbers within Southeast Asia.

VN, S Korea trade could hit $70b by 2020

Free trade agreement between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea would be an effective channel to increase the bilateral trade to US$70 billion in 2020, said an official of the Trade Promotion Agency under the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Banks still unsure about listing shares on bourse

VietNamNet Bridge - Many banks began preparing to list shares on the bourse for many years, urged by the State Bank (SBV). But no further progress has been made.

Prime Minister receives WEF Managing Director

 Vietnam always considers the private sector an important driving force of development, said Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc during a reception in Hanoi on April 25 for World Economic Forum (WEF) Managing Director Philipp Rosler.

PM demands removal of obstacles to production, business

 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on April 25 requested to create favourable conditions for production and business activities.

First new NA session: High-level State personnel top agenda

The first session of the 14th National Assembly will take place over 15 days from July 20 to August 9, with a majority of days focusing discussion on high-level personnel at State-run agencies.

Vietnamese, Lao leaders underscore bilateral friendship

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Lao Party chief and President Bounnhang Volachith met in Hanoi on April 25.

Government leader welcomes US Secretary of Agriculture

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosted a reception in Hanoi on April 25 for US Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack, during which he hoped the US would step up activities to support Vietnam in agricultural production and climate change response.

Japan eyes Vietnam as production base

The chairman of HCM City People's Committee said the city sought continued support from Japan in the transfer of technology, ODA, management expertise and investment in several fields.

Dancing in the desert dunes of Binh Thuan Province’s ’Sahara’

VietNamNet Bridge – My native place has never lacked sunshine. You could even say that it has had more of it than needed.So it happens that Binh Thuan Province’s Tuy Phong District has extended dry periods and the highest speed of desertification.