Public Security Minister welcomes Japanese policemen

 Minister of Public Security General Tran Dai Quang greeted a delegation from the Japan National Police Agency led Deputy Commissioner General Sakaguchi Masayoshi in Hanoi on December 15.

Vietnam, European Union deepen relationship

 Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh expressed his hope that the partnership and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and the EU will be deepened in a more pragmatic and effective manner in the time ahead.

President welcomes Russian First Deputy Prime Minister

 President Truong Tan Sang met with visiting Russian First Deputy Prime Minister I. Shuvalov in Hanoi in on December 15.

Many VN banks change top officials

 VietNamNet Bridge – Changing top managers was a highlight of Vietnamese banks in 2015.

Why do Vietnamese who study abroad not return to Vietnam?

“The story of Doan Minh Dang shows one of the reasons why some overseas students like us think that we can choose another way rather than come back to work in Vietnam,” said Nguyen Thanh Vinh, the runner up at the first ‘Road to Olympia’ competition.

Saigon man owns VND2billion doll collection

VietNamNet Bridge - Passionate about designing clothes for dolls, after more than five years, Than Nguyen An Kha, 26, has hundreds of dolls worth nearly VND2 billion (nearly $100,000).

Banh bo cake of Chau Doc

 VietNamNet Bridge – Those who have been to the villages of Cham people in Chau Doc City of An Giang Province in the Mekong Delta should have seen the image of Cham women grilling yellow round cakes on clay ovens.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 16/12

 NCB appoints new General Director, Japan puts stress on agricultural deal with Vietnam, Korean firm to invest in Quang Nam IP, Non-cash payment method gets popular, TPP to help Vietnam balance trade relations: economists

Rivers die as policymakers dawdle

VietNamNet Bridge - While rivers have been dying day after day due to pollution, policymakers are still busy discussing how to control pollution.

Social News 16/12

 Fire destroys ship off Binh Thuan, Two persons rescued from apartment blaze, Pork fat seized in Da Nang, Large weapons hold at Quang Ngai, National Highway No 37 to be upgraded, Developers withhold maintenance fees

The ghost of the trade deficit returns

MOIT has estimated that the trade deficit may be as high as $4 billion in 2015. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) has predicted the figure would be higher than $6 billion, far outstripping last year’s $0.6 billion.

Survey: Vietnamese traders worried about global volatility

 VietNamNet Bridge – Global market volatility in recent months has unnerved Vietnamese traders, with 61% citing global economic crisis as a worry over the next six months, according to a recent survey of HSBC Bank.

Administrative errors: matter of life and death

Last week the People's Committee of Tho Xuan District in Thanh Hoa Province had to withdraw a number of death certificates that were issued to people who are apparently alive.

U23 Vietnam lose to JFL Selection

 Viet Nam's national U23 team lost to Japan's fourth-ranked club JFL Selection 1-0 during their friendly match in Ha Noi on December 14.

Phu Quoc Economic Zone management board established

 The southern province of Kien Giang's People's Committee on Monday announced Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung's decision to establish the Phu Quoc Economic Zone management board.

Five-in-one vaccine for babies by end of December

 At least 15,000 doses of Pentaxim, the five-in-one vaccine, will be available by the end of this month in the North after being in short supply for a long time.

Two foreigners arrested for bank card fraud in Nha Trang

 Police officials in southern Khanh Hoa Province have arrested two foreigners, a Briton and a Dutch national, for allegedly using fake bank cards to engage in property fraud.

Hanoi seeks greater cooperation with Warsaw

 Chairwoman of the Hanoi People’s Council Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc called for greater cooperation with Warsaw during her visit to the Polish capital from December 11-13.

Lower Mekong nations step up ties with friends

The eighth Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) Regional Working Group Meeting and the first meeting of the Friends of the Lower Mekong (FLM) Working Group were convened in Hanoi on December 15.

 

Vietnamese, Mozambican parliaments cement ties

A delegation from the National Assembly’s Committee for External Relations led by its deputy head Ngo Duc Manh paid a working visit to Mozambique from December 10-13.

Wholly-foreign owned banks land in Vietnam

VietNamNet Bridge - Some branches of foreign banks in Vietnam have applied for conversion into banks with 100% foreign capital.

Who will hold the key positions?

Who will be the Party General Secretary, the President, the Prime Minister, the Chairman of the National Assembly, and the heads of ministries? Such questions are very common now in the country.

Muangthong United to face Binh Duong in friendly match

 Thailand Premier League's runner-up, SCG Muangthong United, will meet V.League 1 defending champions Binh Duong on January 23 during their ASEAN Tour 2016 at HCM City's Thong Nhat Stadium.

VNPayTV interested in Premier League broadcast rights

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnam Pay Television Association (VNPayTV) has written to MP & Silva, the exclusive sales representative for the Premier League (EPL) media rights in Vietnam, saying it wants to buy the right to broadcast matches