Finland fund raises DLG stake, Vietnam becoming tech firm hub, Oil price scenarios developed to balance state budget, HCM City’s improved investment climate attractive to investors, Rubber industry suffers from falling prices

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese boxers and Southeast Asian Games champions Luu Thi Duyen and Ha Thi Linh have left for Thailand to train for the upcoming Asian zone Olympic qualifier.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Nguyen Tien Nhat is training hard in South Korea hoping to qualifying for his second Olympics' fencing tournament.

Dinner In The Sky, a slightly bizarre concept that has caught on in 45 countries – 22 guests are hoisted in the air along with the banquet table and their chairs by a crane to dine 60 metres up in the air – has made its way to Viet Nam.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The public security ministry took over Ha Hoa Tien University in the southern Ha Nam Province yesterday (Jan 18) to build training programmes for its personnel.

 Music videos celebrating spring by local composers and singers have seen millions of hits on YouTube.

 The Ministry of Finance has developed models for different scenarios that consider the future consequences of oil price slumps to more flexibly manage the State budget in 2016, officials said.

 The largest steel flyover of Hanoi, which connects route 5 and Noi Bai Airport, opened to traffic yesterday morning.

 The National Committee for Vietnamese Persons with Disabilities, taking responsibility for issues related to about 7.8 million people with disabilities across the country, was officially debuted yesterday in Ha Noi.

 A myriad of cultural and artistic activities will be held in the framework of the Spring Festival of the Year of the Monkey, which will opens in Hanoi on January 20 (the 11th of the 12th lunar month) and last through February 5.

 The 2016 Ladies Golf Championship will take place in Vietnam for the first time at the Dàlat at 1200 Country Club and Private Estate in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong from March 25 to 27.

 Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Hugh Borrowman on January 18 handed over information boards introducing the Thang Long Royal Citadel to Hanoi People’s Committee.

 The National Power Transmission Corporation under Electricity of Vietnam (EVN-NPT) mobilised about 1.3 billion USD in Official Development Assistance (ODA) for its transmission projects from 2011 to 2015.

The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has issued strict regulations on the establishment and operation of remittance companies under commercial banks in order to better manage money transfer services.

The 12th Party Central Committee will be a united, transparent and strong group that is steadfast in the goal of maintaining independence and developing democracy and socialism, Politburo member Le Hong Anh said.

VietNamNet Bridge - VinaPhone subscribers on the islands of Phu Quoc and in HCM City can now use 4G services and pay charges for 3G services.

VietNamNet Bridge - Thousands of ‘hot spots’ with plant protection chemicals have been found but authorities have not been able to solve the problem. 

The increasingly heavy pressure from both the overseas and domestic markets has forced many cement manufacturers to think of Merger & Acquisition (M&A) as a solution for their problems.

VietNamNet Bridge - The Vietnamese pubic, surprised to hear about Lenovo’s spyware, and are now faced with another surprise as the Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC) has stated that most imported computing devices have “back doors”. 

 Scaffolding collapse kills worker, injures six, Police uncover drug trafficking ring, Nearly 2,000 children in Vietnam suffer abuse each year, Traffic violations on HN highway on the increase, Nearly 2.7 million USD raised for needy children

 VietNamNet Bridge – Hoang Anh Gia Lai Group’s stocks are expected to continue their downward trend in 2016 as the firm faces multiple challenges in the time ahead.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam has huge potential for cruise tourism, but the sector is underdeveloped, with a lack of ports and services.

 VietNamNet Bridge - The most popular retail brands in Vietnam are falling into the hands of Thai investors.

The construction of Cam Lo-Tuy Loan highway crossing through Bach Ma National Park, central Thua Thien Hue Province will have an adverse effect on ecology; however, there is no other choice for the location of the project,

 VietNamNet Bridge – French-backed car maker Renault may build a factory to directly manufacture cars in Vietnam in order to benefit from slashed import tariffs within the ASEAN Economic Community.