September CPI edges down for the first time in a decade

 The consumer price index (CPI) in September slipped by 0.21 percent against the previous month and increased by only 0.4 percent over last December, as announced at a press conference in Hanoi on September 24.

Putin offers to meet Elton John after gay rights call – Kremlin

 Russian President Vladimir Putin has phoned pop star Elton John and proposed a meeting, according to the Kremlin.

Philippine firm buys 45 percent stake in Vietnamese company

A Philippine corporation has secured its entry into Vietnam’s infrastructure business with the completion of its 4.1-billion-Philippine-Peso ($87.5 million) investment in a Vietnamese company, the Manila Bulletin newspaper reported on September 23.

AEC integration tops CEO Forum discussion

 The formation of an ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) by the end of this year caught interests from business executives participating in the Vietnam CEO Forum 2015, organised in Ho Chi Minh City on September 24.

Air tickets won’t be cheaper despite airfare ceiling cut

VietNamNet Bridge - Though the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has lowered the airfare ceiling by 4 percent, air carriers’ airfares have remained the same.

Vietnamese President meets with UN Secretary-General in NY

 Vietnam is determined to foster sustainable development as its regular and long-term orientation, President Truong Tan Sang stated during his meeting with United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in New York, the US, on September 24.

Ukrainian Ambassador honoured with friendship insignia

 Outgoing Ukrainian Ambassador to Vietnam Oleksiy Shovkoplias has been presented with the insignia “For Peace and Friendship among Nations” in recognition of his contributions to enhancing the two countries’ solidarity and friendship.

Hanoi vows to treat polluted To Lich River

VietNamNet Bridge - Hanoi authorities have once again shown their strong determination to treat the polluted To Lich River after many failed treatment campaigns. 

Youngest-ever provincial dept director appointed

 VietNamNet Bridge - The central province of Quang Nam on September 23 appointed Mr. Le Phuoc Hoai Bao as Director of the Planning and Investment Department. Bao, 30, is the youngest department director in Vietnam.

Party General Secretary welcomes Lao Party officials

 Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong hosted a reception for a delegation from the Commission for External Relations of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) in Hanoi on September 24.

Use of scientists’ inventions partly depends on chance

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnamese scientists not only need to have talent, but also luck to have their scientific ideas developed. If they are not lucky, their inventions are often never used or commercialized. 

New property policy lures overseas Vietnamese, foreigners

 Living in the UK, Hoang has just bought a seaside villa in Ba Ria-Vung Tau southern province at over VND 5 billion (nearly USD 23,000), a price worth to make investment as she said.

Banh com – a fine treat of Hanoi

 VietNamNet Bridge – Hanoi has many specialties on offer but one of the most renowned snacks which most visitors to the capital want to bring home as a gift for family and friends is banh com (sweet, soft and fragrant green rice cake).

Educators say universities should be allowed to appoint professors

VietNamNet Bridge - Educators and scientists believe that schools should be given the right to appoint their own professors and grant titles to teachers in the future.

Vietnamese coffee sold at Starbucks shops & what’s next?

 VietNamNet Bridge - Starbucks’ announcement to sell Vietnamese coffee at more than 21,500 shops in 56 countries is good news, but it also reveals weaknesses of the Vietnamese coffee industry.

Only 5.97% households live under poverty line

 VietNamNet Bridge – In 2014, over 1.4 million households in Viet Nam were hit by poverty, accounting for 5.97% of the total, according to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids, and Social Affairs.

Key resource & support

Mr. Mori Mutsuya, Vietnam Chief Representative at the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), spoke about Japanese ODA in recent times.

Dance Festival “Europe Meets Asia in Contemporary Dance” 2015

This year, the Dance festival “Europe meets Asia in Contemporary Dance” takes place for the 5th time in Hanoi and HCM city from September 30 through October 4.

Thousands of lives in limbo for half-century due to 'park' project

 VietNamNet Bridge – More than 2,000 people have lived in limbo for nearly half a century because of a planned "park" in Hanoi's Hai Ba Trung District that never happened.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 25/9

EVN seeks special mechanism for privatised Gencos, State Bank draft overhauls lending, Russia – 17th largest investor in Vietnam: conference, Office rentals in Hanoi offer more choices, Tra fish loses its edge in Mexico

VN beat Indonesia at regional handball tournament

 The Vietnamese men's team defeated Indonesia 48-16 in the first match of the fourth Southeast Asian Handball Championship, which started in HCM City's Tan Binh Sports Centre on September 23.

Jessica Minh Anh to host River Seine fashion show

  Vietnamese fashion show organiser and model Jessica Minh Anh will return to the world's fashion capital, Paris, to produce another grand show on October 29.

Three Thai boats seized for fishing in Vietnam waters

VietNamNet Bridge - The Bureau for Development and Protection of Fisheries Resources of the southernmost province of Ca Mau has seized three Thai fishing vessels in the waters of Vietnam.

Court dismisses lawsuit against Coca-Cola Vietnam

 The People's Court of Bac Tu Liem District yesterday dismissed the lawsuit filed by a Ha Noi's customer who sued Coca-Cola Viet Nam for selling substandard beverages to its customers.

Researcher spends all life to study Hanoi

 VietNamNet Bridge – Researcher Giang Quan, who has devoted his entire life to studying Hanoi, received the “Bui Xuan Phai – Love for Hanoi” award in the capital on September 23.