PetroVietnam to equitise oil refining subsidiary

 The Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical Co. (BSR), a subsidiary of the Viet Nam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam), plans to complete its evaluation by December 31 and equitisation by the end of next year. 

Thailand officially receives Vietnamese workers

 The Thai government on November 10 has approved the Ministry of Labor’s (MOL)’s proposal for recruiting workers from ASEAN member countries, including Vietnam, with a view to solving the labour shortage in the country.

Vietnam, Mauritius look to strengthen partnership

 Mauritius President Ameenah Gurib-Fakim has told Vietnamese Ambassador to Mozambique and Mauritius Nguyen Van Trung that the East African country is willing to act as a bridge for Vietnam’s services and goods to enter Africa. 

Vietnam's budget deficit set at 4.95% of GDP in 2016

 Lawmakers approved a draft resolution on State budget estimates for 2016 with a majority of votes on November 11. 

Vietnam, China talk closer judicial cooperation

 Vice President of the Supreme People’s Court of China He Rong and Permanent Deputy Chief Judge of the Vietnam Supreme People’s Court Bui Ngoc Hoa shared experiences in judicial reform and trial experiences during their talks in Hanoi on November 11. 

Vietnam, Angola eye expanding cooperation

 The Angolan Embassy in Vietnam on November 11 held a ceremony to mark the 40 th anniversaries of National Day of Angola (November 11, 1975) and diplomatic ties between the two countries (November 12).

Education Ministry, experts argue about history teaching methodology

VietNamNet Bridge - The Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) plans to integrate history into other learning subjects, while experts insist on teaching history as an independent subject.

Delayed decision leads to death of 30 pangolins at national park

 Thirty pangolins kept in northern Ninh Binh Province's Cuc Phuong National Park have died while they were waiting for an official decision to be returned to their habitat.

Social News 12/11

 Vietnam among top 8 best Christmas trips for solo travellers, Vietnam, Egypt cooperate in scientific research and training, Flooding forces HCMC to spend huge on digging buried canal, Hanoi ranks third in administrative reform index

Rapid urbanization makes it profitable to invest in water supply projects

An ADB report shows that Vietnam’s population in urban areas is expected to increase to 37 percent by 2020 from 30 percent. The rapid urbanization would lead to an urgent needs for infrastructure, including clean water.

Tourism to be Vietnam's key sector by 2020

The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism believes current figures will see 2020 goal achieved for the tourism industry.

EU parliament to hold vote on PCA with Vietnam next month

 VietNamNet Bridge – The European Parliament (EP) is expected to hold a vote on the EU-Vietnam Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) next month, which is seen as a positive step in EU-Vietnam ties.

Millions of credit cards idle in Vietnam

 VietNamNet Bridge – About 20 percent or 20 million Vietnamese residents have bank accounts but the number of issued cards quadruples it to reach 86 million this year meaning tens of millions of cards have been idle,

Vietnam urged to go ahead with 4G

VietNamNet Bridge - While the Ministry of Information and Communication (MIC) still questions the timing for licensing 4G services, analysts and businesses and their partners all believe now is the right time to start 4G.

Korea: choosing talent for the country

VietNamNet Bridge - South Korea was an underdeveloped country in the early 1960s but it passed the initial stage of development and succeeded to become a developed country in a very short time.

Local governments race to build expensive administrative centers

Hai Phong City has announced it will build a municipal administrative and political centre in Thuy Nguyen District at a huge cost of over $446 million. Not long ago, many provinces and cities made similar announcements.

Vietnamese experts warn against digital ILCoins

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese banking officials and experts have warned of risks to investors involving a new and illegal digital currency called ILCoins.

Controversy over award-winning book

 VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam's senior photographer Tran Manh Thuong has admitted his mistake and apologised after a meeting to discuss copyright issues over his book entitled Lich Su Nhiep Anh The Gioi

HCM City asks for $380m for dredging

VietNamNet Bridge – HCM City has asked the Ministry of Planning and Investment for official development assistance and other soft loans worth US$380 million for the project to dredge the section of Soai Rap River between HCM City and the East Sea.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 12/11

PVN seeks import tax cut to compete with imports, AIA Vietnam, ACB sign bancassurance deal, The Gioi Di Dong listed as second leading retailer in Vietnam, 2015 cashew exports forecast at US$2.5 billion

Gamers to compete at FIFA Online 3 Asian Cup 2015

 VietNamNet Bridge – Three top Vietnamese gamers will arrive in Busan, the Republic of Korea (RoK) to contest the FIFA Online 3 Asian Cup 2015, running on November 12-14.

Fashion show featuring high-end styles returns city

 VietNamNet Bridge – Lynk Fashion Show featuring a haute couture collection by French designer Alexis Mabille will take place at GEM Center in Ho Chi Minh City on November 11.

China's Alibaba breaks Singles Day record as sales surge

 E-commerce giant Alibaba has broken its own record for sales on China's Singles Day, the world's biggest online shopping event.

Vietnamese, foreign businesses vie by offering high pay

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnamese businesses are now offering extremely high pay to hunt for talents to compete with foreign invested enterprises.

Draft revised law on children to further accord with UN convention

The draft revised Law on Child Protection, Care and Education will remove flaws in the existing law, adhere more closely to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and improve the implementation of the 2013 Constitution.