VN President successfully wraps up Tanzania visit

 President Truong Tan Sang wrapped up his State visit to Tanzania on March 11 after reaching dozens of agreements to elevate the two countries’ wide-ranging cooperation.

Asia Cooperation Dialogue Ministerial Meeting takes place in Thailand

The 14th Asia Cooperation Dialogue Ministerial Meeting took place in Bangkok on March 10, focusing on ways to enhance connection among Asian nations in the future. Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Dinh Quy led a Vietnamese delegation to the event.

Vietnam, Malta ratchet up cooperation

 Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy and Malta Cao Chinh Thien presented his credentials to Malta President Marie Louise Coleiro Preca at a ceremony held on March 10 in the capital city of Valetta.

Deputy PM hosts Lao Minister of Science and Technology

 Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc asked the Ministries of Science and Technology of Vietnam and Laos to maintain experience sharing in managing science and technology activities, while welcoming Lao Minister Boviengkham Vongdara on March 10.

Vietnam attends 33rd FAO Regional Conference

 Vietnam is attending the 33 rd session of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific in Malaysia.

MPI warns PetroVietnam proposal may create monopoly

VietNamNet Bridge - The proposal by the national oil and gas group PetroVietnam to force domestic enterprises to buy petroleum products from domestic sources will create a monopoly, the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) has warned.

Apple 'raised technological barriers' to stop warrant in iPhone case: U.S. government

 The U.S. Justice Department on Thursday said Apple Inc's (AAPL.O) rhetoric was "false" in a high-profile fight over the government's bid to unlock an encrypted iPhone belonging to one of the San Bernardino shooters.

Dutch hardcore band to play in HCM City

 VietNamNet Bridge – No Turning Back, a hardcore band from the Netherlands, will come to HCM City on March 20, ending its tour around Asia from March 3-20 to promote their latest album Never Give Up.

Securities companies afraid of becoming ‘foreign owned’

Many securities companies are wavering between lifting the room ceiling for foreign investors to 100 percent and staying Vietnamese-owned as they fear they will no longer receive preferences if they are foreign-owned.

Four Vietnam destinations nominated among the world's top 100 attractions

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnam Record Organization (VietKings) has nominated four special destinations among the top 100 most attractive destinations in the world.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 11/3

 Taxi company Uber Vietnam cuts fares, Piaggio recalls faulty Zip motorcycles, Ford reports record sales in February, HCM City supports new business park, Vietnam mobile phones exempt from Turkey’s safeguard duty

Hiromi wins second stage of international cycling event

 VietNamNet Bridge – Japanese Kaneko Hiromi won the second stage of the sixth Binh Duong International Women’s Cycling Tournament, Biwase Cup 2016 on Wednesday.

Is Hanoi more polluted than Beijing?

VietNamNet Bridge - Admitting that the air in Hanoi has been polluted for a long time, the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment (MONRE) said the pollution level in Hanoi must not reach levels as high as in Beijing.

Vietnam, Tanzania target stronger legislative ties

 Vietnam’s President Truong Tan Sang and Speaker of Tanzania’s National Assembly Job Ndugai have consented to back the enhancement of legislative ties between the two countries.

Lan Khue in Global Beauties’ top 50 most beautiful faces for 2015

 VietNamNet Bridge - Competing with 400 international beauties for Miss Grand Slam 2015, the representative of Vietnam at the Miss World 2015 pageant Lan Khue is named on the list of the top 50.

Two U.S. soldiers in South America contracted, recovered from Zika: commander

Two U.S. soldiers serving in South America contracted Zika but have fully recovered and returned to duty, while a third, pregnant service member left the region early for fear of contracting the virus, a top U.S. commander said on Thursday.

'Hearts are in pieces' five years after tsunami hits Japan

 Japan on Friday mourned the thousands who lost their lives in a massive earthquake and tsunami five years ago that turned towns to matchwood and triggered the world's worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl in 1986.

US Assistant Secretary of State to explore Son Doong Cave

 VietNamNet Bridge – Mr. Tom Malinowski will join eight foreign ambassadors in Vietnam on avtour of the world's largest cave Son Doong, in the central province of Quang Binh, this May.

Eight provinces in Vietnam declared as natural disaster areas

VietNamNet Bridge – The eight provinces in the southern region of Vietnam, including Ben Tre, Kien Giang, Long An, Tien Giang, Soc Trang, Ca Mau, Vinh Long, and Tra Vinh have been declared areas faced with natural disaster (drought and salinity).

Da Nang investigates foreign tourist’s complaint about assault

 VietNamNet Bridge - Two foreign tourists who complainedabout the noise caused by a nearby construction site, asked for their money back and then said they were assaulted and insulted by a staff of the hotel in Da Nang.

Hoi An opens “green buses”

VietNamNet Bridge - For the first time, Hoi An has a public bus route in the ancient town, passing through tourist attractions like Tra Que vegetable village, An Bang beach, Cua Dai beach and seven schools. The buses run on compressed natural gas.

Partial eclipse in Vietnam

 VietNamNet Bridge – On March 9, a partial eclipse was observed in Ho Chi Minh City. In Hanoi, astronomy fans could not see the wonderful natural phenomenon because of dense clouds.

US investment fund to invest $10 million in start-up projects in Vietnam

 VietNamNet Bridge - 500 Startups's small fund worth $10 million will invest in 100-150 start-up projects in Vietnam.

Barcelona FC may visit Vietnam in 2017

VietNamNet Bridge – The CEO in Asia Pacific of Barcelona FC, Xavier Asensi, said at a press conference in Hanoi on March 8 that the FC will consider visiting Vietnam from 2017.

Strange events surround instant coffee market

VietNamNet Bridge - What happened with the instant coffee market in 2015 showed that the market was unpredictable.