Big investment incentives only benefit foreign investors: experts

VietNamNet Bridge - Only foreign-invested automobile manufacturers can benefit from the current investment incentives, while Vietnamese automobile cannot grow, experts say.

Update puts FDI approvals in 2015 at US$24 billion

 VietNamNet Bridge – Fresh foreign direct investment approvals in Vietnam last year amounted to US$24.1 billion, up from US$22.76 billion announced more than two months ago, .

Voluntary American doctors offer free services

 VietNamNet Bridge – Four-hundred people filled the auditorium of Nguyen Tri Phuong Hospital last Saturday, listening raptly to advice given by American doctors about guided methods of intervention for their autistic children.

AEC brings opportunity to Vietnam’s insurance sector

 Vietnamese insurance firms have been offered great opportunities to expand their market share in the regional market thanks to the formation of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).

Vietnam hopes for strengthened relations with Cuba: official

 Hoang Binh Quan, special envoy of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, said he hopes the traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the Parties, States and people of Vietnam and Cuba will deepen.

Social News 9/3

 Project to digitise immunisation registry honoured, Huge fire destroys workshop in Dak Lak, HCM City to survey poverty using multi-dimensional approach, Ha Noi to allow sand-mining auction, JICA chief representative receives medal

Forbes list of 20 Most Influential Women in Vietnam

 VietNamNet Bridge – On the occasion of  International Women’s Day (March 8), Forbes magazine has released the list of 20 most influential women in Vietnam.

Going places: machine beats top Go player in another AI milestone

Google's AlphaGo computer program on Wednesday won the first of a series of five matches against one of the world's best players of the complex board game, Go, marking a new milestone in the development of artificial intelligence (AI).

Experts seek solutions to Mekong Delta's worst drought in 100 years

 VietNamNet Bridge - In the future, the Mekong Delta will suffer increasingly severe impact from climate change. Drought, saltwater intrusion, lack of sediment and severe flooding in the rainy season will all occur, scientists said.

Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son wins Int’l HDBank Cup matches

 VietNamNet Bridge – Local title favourite Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son successfully won the first two matches of the sixth HDBank Cup International Open Chess 2016 - Masters Tournament yesterday in HCM City.

China anxiety hits stocks, oil still shaky

 Sharp losses in Chinese stocks pulled Asian equities further away from two-month highs on Wednesday as weak trade figures from the world's second-biggest economy and wobbly oil prices revived concerns about global growth.

Photos feature Vietnamese ethnic women’s beauties

 VietNamNet Bridge – Women of the 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam all have their own characteristics and costumes, which help diversify and make the beauty of each ethnic group more attractive.

People line up to get wealth SIM cards of cellphones

 VietNamNet Bridge – People queued up for lucky mobile-phone SIM cards from local telecoms company Vinaphone in the north and the south of Vietnam on March 7.

Finnish minister seeks economic cooperation with Vietnam

VietNamNet Bridge – Education, Cleantech and ICT have been on the top of the agenda during the visit of Finland’s Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Lenita Toivakka between March 6 and 11 in Viet Nam.  

Saigon's unused water towers to be demolished

 VietNamNet Bridge – Seven unused water towers in HCM City will be demolished, according to the municipal water supply authority.

First non-stop flight from Sweden to Phu Quoc Island begins

 VietNamNet Bridge – Phu Quoc Island welcomed the first arrival of the premier nonstop flight on a B-787 Dreamliner from Sweden yesterday, March 8.

Defence officer observes military exercise in India

 Senior Lieutenant General Vo Van Tuan, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, was among more than 80 observers from 28 countries witnessing the largest-ever foreign military exercise hosted by India.

President arrives in Tanzania for State visit

 State President Truong Tan Sang landed Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar Es Salaam city, Tanzania, on the early morning of March 9 (Vietnam time), starting his State visit to the African country.

Ignoring warnings, businesses still harbor ‘macadamia dream’

The Vietnam Macadamia Association has been officially set up under a decision by the Ministry of Interior Affairs. LienVietPost Bank and Him Lam JSC were two major businesses lobbying for the association.

Mobile restaurants on Hau Giang River

 VietNamNet Bridge - Early in the morning, boats carrying the special dishes of southern Vietnam gather on the floating market of Cai Rang to serve tourists.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 9/3

 Twenty-three Vietnamese fish plants eligible to export to US, Malaysia imposes temporary anti-dumping duties on Vietnamese rolled steel, Experts bullish on property prospects, India hits VN with anti-dumping duty

2-year medical training to be eliminated by Ministry decision

VietNamNet Bridge - The Ministry of Health’s (MOH) decision that intermediate school graduates will not be employed by hospitals and healthcare throughout the country has raised controversy.

Ly Hoang Nam jumps up in world tennis rankings, sets career record

 Top Vietnamese tennis player Ly Hoang Nam jumped one step to 883rd place in the world rankings - his career best.

Foreign Ministry protects Vietnamese fishermen detained in Indonesia

The Foreign Ministry instructed the Embassy of Vietnam in Indonesia to work with Indonesian authorities to help the 25 Vietnamese fishermen arrested for fishing in the country’s seas, the Ministry’s Consular Department told reporters.

Radiant smiles from women working in the field

 For centuries Vietnamese female farmers have been the backbone of the agricultural sector, working hard to produce rice and other essential items for society.