EU issues declaration on East Sea

 The EU is committed to maintaining the principles of international maritime law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Agreements signed to boost IT in HCM City

 The HCM City Computer Association has signed a cooperation agreement with the municipal Department of Information and Communications to improve development of the city’s information technology sector.

Vietnamese photographer wins prize at US photo contest

 Reporter Viet Van from the Lao Dong (Labour) daily newspaper has won an Honourable Mention in the photo competition “Same but Different” in the US for his work named “The room”.

Football: Philippines, Myanmar to co-host regional Suzuki Cup

 The Philippines and Myanmar will co-host the AFF Suzuki Cup 2016, the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Council decided at its meeting in Vietnam ’s Da Nang City on March 12, reported Hanoi Moi newspaper.

Xoan singing an intangible cultural heritage of humanity

 Vietnam is waiting for guidance from UNESCO in helping to reclassify xoan singing from being a world’s intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent protection, to simply being an intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

WB helps Vietnam with urban development

 Construction and urban managers are being equipped with knowledge to build modern and civilised urban areas in Vietnam, at an ongoing training course in the central city of Da Nang.

HCM City: 78 independent candidates for NA, People’s Council elections

 Ho Chi Minh City has 78 self-nominated candidates running in the upcoming election of deputies to the 14th National Assembly and the municipal People’s Council.

Vietnam, Malta to deepen multifaceted cooperation

 Malta and Vietnam can boost cooperation in sea port management, financial and tourism services, and human resource training in maritime law, diplomacy, and foreign languages.

Vietnam holds bilateral meetings on ACDFIM-13 sidelines

 Chief of the General Staff General Do Ba Ty held separate bilateral meetings with heads of delegations from Laos, the Philippines, Myanmar, and Brunei on the sidelines of the 13th ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces Informal Meeting (ACDFIM-13) in Laos.

Foreign diplomats go on spring tour in Hanoi

 More than 300 delegates, who are foreign diplomats in Hanoi, their spouses, and representatives from international and non-governmental organisations participated in a spring tour in Hanoi on March 13.

WHAT'S ON MARCH 15-31 (DAILY UPDATE)

 Events in Vietnam's major cities from March 15 to 31. Daily updated

Social News 14/3

 PM’s instruction averts Mekong Delta saline intrusion, First national press festival underway, Dong Thap hosts regional Francophone Festival, Da Nang to upgrade roads for APEC 2017, Implementation of 2016 minimum salary under review

‘Zootopia' rules, Sacha Baron Cohen’s ‘Brothers Grimsby' bombs

 Disney’s “Zootopia” cruised to another box office victory this weekend, picking up $50 million and barreling across the $100 million mark domestically.

Japan's Z.com becomes new sponsor for VN national football team

 Z.com, a Japanese GMO Internet Group providing Internet solutions, signed a deal with the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) in Hanoi on March 11 to sponsor the national football team.

Hai Phong exclusive atop V-League standings

 Hai Phong monopolised the top spot of the 2016 V-League standings with 12 points as they extended their winning streak to four matches following a narrow 1-0 fourth-round win against QNK Quang Nam on March 12.

Veteran soldier recalls battle in Spratly Islands

 Veteran Nguyen Van Thong, 52, from Bo Trach District in Quang Binh Province recalled the battle against the Chinese invaders at Johnson South Reef in the Spratly Archipelago on March 14, 1988.

The 2nd season of The X-Factor to be aired

 The 2nd season of Vietnamese X-Factor will be aired on television in coming time.

Zara to open first shop in Vietnam

 Vietnam, New Zealand, Paraguay, Aruba, and Nicaragua are five new markets for Zara, a brand of Spanish fashion corporation Inditex, in its bid to open between 280 and 360 new stores this year.

T-ara girls charming in Vietnamese ao dai

  After their arrival in Vietnam last weekend, T-ara Eun Jung and Qri from Korean girl pop group wore Ao Dai (Vietnamese traditional dress) to attend a meeting with their fans at a studio in Ho Chi Minh City on March 14.

Da Nang to host Asian conference on IT

About 300 scientists and information technology experts will participate in the eighth Asian Conference on Intelligent Information and Database Systems (ACIIDS) in Da Nang from March 14 to 16.

Home appliance distribution chains in a rush to seek foreign partners

VietNamNet Bridge - As the competition in the market has become ‘scorching hot’ in the last three years, many home appliance distributors have decided to join hands with foreigners to receive support from powerful partners.

Three days to discover Tram Chim - Gao Giong

 VietNamNet Bridge - Visitors at Dong Thap province in the Mekong Delta will be amazed at the immense plains, blooming lotus ponds, the flower village of Sa Dec and the Lai Vung pink mandarin gardens.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 14/3

 SBV: Still much room for property loans, Minh Nguyen strategic deal geared towards Samsung, $446.6 million addition to Danang tourism scene, Ha Noi lists qualified housing projects, VN’s cashew exports expected to stay stable

Vietnam to face Thailand in AFF women's championship group stage

 Vietnam has been drawn in Group A along with Thailand, Singapore and the Philippines at the 2016 AFF Women’s Championship, to take place in Mandalay, Myanmar from July 26 to August 4.

Large vegetarian buffet set for Mar 25 in HCM City

 Green Monday Vietnam, a large-scale vegetarian buffet which is part of a Humane Society International-supported global campaign, will be launched in Ho Chi Minh City on March 25 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.