Vietnam eyes lower transport prices

The Ministry of Transport is investigating transport companies who have failed to lower prices amid a drop in petrol costs.

Oman eyes highway, water works in Vietnam

  Oman plans to increase investment in highway and water supply projects in Vietnam, the Middle Eastern emirate's sovereign wealth fund said.

Russian cultural festival in Vietnam to be launched

The 2015 Russian Cultural Festival in Vietnam will be held at the Hanoi-based Cultural and Friendship Palace from September 24-27, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST).

Weaker VND drives cash to real estate market

VietNamNet Bridge - The dong devaluation has caused changes to the cash flow: it will help heat up the real estate market. However, the dong/dollar exchange rate adjustment will not influence property prices.

Weightlifters turn up trumps at Asian weightlifting championship

 Vietnamese weightlifters lived up to expectations, bringing home two gold, three silver and one bronze medal at the ongoing 2015 Asian Weightlifting Championships in Phuket, Thailand, from September 3-12.

Vietnam’s longest lantern road in Da Nang sets record

 Thousands of lanterns are lighting up Asia Park in the central coastal city of Da Nang setting a new record for a road in the area as the longest lantern road in Vietnam.

Vietnam attends AIPA women parliamentarians’ meeting

 A Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Head of the National Assembly’s Committee for Social Affairs Nguyen Thuy Anh attended a recent meeting of the Women Parliamentarians of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Underground car park proposed in downtown HCM City

 Vingroup, a leading property developer in Vietnam, has proposed an underground car park worth over 3.3 trillion VND (nearly 146.9 million USD) in Ho Chi Minh City in a bid to meet local demand for parking.

Vietnam to host 27th International Biology Olympiad

 The 27th International Biology Olympiad (IBO) will take place for the first time in Vietnam from July 17-24 next year with the participation of over 1,000 candidates from 70 countries and territories.

DPRK looks to boost trade union ties with Vietnam

 The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) hopes to step up trade union friendships with Vietnam through pragmatic activities for the legal rights and interests of workers.

Vietnam Army General Staff awarded Military Exploit Order

 The General Staff of the Viet Nam People's Army was awarded the Military Exploit Order yesterday at a ceremony in Hanoi marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of the General Staff on September 7th 1945.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong to visit Japan

 Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong will embark on an official four-day visit to Japan from September 15 at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

New power fees likely next month

 VietNamNet Bridge – The new retail electric tariff will be submitted to the Government for consideration in October, said Dinh The Phuc, deputy head of the Electricity Regulatory Authority of Viet Nam (ERAV).

Thai ice cream rolls in town

VietNamNet Bridge – From big restaurants on main streets to small bistros off alleys or mobile ice cream carts in HCMC, people can easily catch the sight of boards reading “Thai ice cream rolls”. 

Falling oil prices adversely affect Vietnam economy

Many economic experts argue it is difficult for global oil prices to go up again and with the worst scenario, oil prices may drop a mere US$30/ barrel, causing a huge loss for this year’s budget revenue and heavily weighing against economic growth.

Test shows how old your body really is

 Scientists say they have developed a way of testing how well, or badly, your body is ageing.

Pork safety risk

 VietNamNet Bridge – The use of illegal substances by pig farmers to stimulate growth or to produce lean meat has gone unchecked for years. However, the situation has worsened, sparking consumers’ concerns over the harmful effects

Vietnam farmers’ income still too low

Living conditions have improved generally but the added value in agriculture per each laborer in Vietnam was at a standstill over the past decade, and not commensurate with economic growth, according to a recent survey.

VN’s fuel prices cheaper than in neighbouring countries

 VietNamNet Bridge – Petroleum prices in Viet Nam are lower than those in its neighbouring countries like Laos, Cambodia, and even China, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT).

4G war breaks out among telcos

VietNamNet Bridge - Just one day after the military telecom group Viettel announced a plan to provide 4G services, VinaPhone said its 4G services would be available in the market in October or November.

Clean energy association proposes to raise environmental fee on coal, oil

VietNamNet Bridge - The Vietnam Clean Energy Association (VCEA) has proposed raising the environmental fee on coal and oil to encourage the development of renewable energy and prevent the overexploitation of fossil fuel.

Vietnamese water puppetry to be exhibited in UK

 VietNamNet Bridge – The art of Vietnamese water puppetry will be introduced in the UK as a part of activities included in the ‘Discover Vietnam’ programme held in the UK from September 10 to 13.

Total market strategy could fill gaps in int'l HIV/AIDS funding

 VietNamNet Bridge – A conference held in Hai Phong City last week discussed the promise of a total market approach to Viet Nam's HIV prevention efforts now that foreign HIV-aid to the country will cease in 2017.

Vietnam to issue international driving permits in October

The Directorate for Roads of Vietnam, the Departments of Transport in Hanoi and HCM City will begin issuing international driving licences to Vietnamese citizens for use in 85 countries in the world as of October 2015.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF 8/9

 Transport companies yet to lower fares despite fuel price cuts, Air travel to become cheaper, Vegetexco Vietnam successfully IPOs, Oil production on the up, An Phat to increase holding in Vinaconex 3 to 51%