Music show tours northern and central regions

 VietNamNet Bridge – South Korean and Vietnamese performers will begin their tour of the northern and central regions today, August 6.

Motorbike festival revs up for next week

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnam Motorbike Festival will take place at Phu Tho Stadium from August 14-16.

Zombie run to lurch about District 7

 VietNamNet Bridge – A 5km zombie run, in which participants are clothed as a human or a zombie, will be held at Crescent Mall Zone on August 15.

Vietnam Airlines offers special airfare to UK

 Vietnam Airlines on August 4 launched a promotion programme for passengers who travel on the new-generation Boeing 787-9 on flights from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City to London, the UK.

Securities market needs an overhaul

Vietnam needs to accelerate the restructuring of the stock exchange by enhancing hedging instruments and diversifying products to drive more foreign capital into the securities market, a member of the board of directors of HOSE has said.

Japanese-funded ship handed over to Vietnam

 The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development received a ship from the Japanese Government as part of its non-refundable aid for Vietnam to ensure maritime safety.

Vietnamese, German universities set up cooperation

A memorandum of understanding was inked between t he University of Economics and Business under the Vietnam National University-Hanoi and Germany’s Applied Language Institute at a ceremony in Hanoi on August 5.

Regional minimum wage increase remains undecided

 A meeting of the National Salary Council in Hanoi on August 5 failed to reach agreement on increasing the regional minimum wage in 2016 and the council is scheduled to meet again in the next two weeks.

President Truong Tan Sang greets Lao Presidential Official

 Vietnam will support Laos to successfully perform the role as ASEAN chair in 2016, affirmed State President Truong Tan Sang during a reception for Lao Minister to the President’s Office Phongsavath Boupha in Hanoi on August 5.

Vietnam, China FMs meet on sidelines of AMM 48

 Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on August 4 on the margins of the 48th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM 48) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Lao court official awarded with Vietnam’s insignia

 Chief Justice of the Vietnam Supreme People’s Court Truong Hoa Binh conferred the insignia “For the Cause of the Court of Vietnam” on Deputy Chief Judge of the Lao Supreme People’s Court Khampha Sengdara on August 5.

Poor student wins silver medal in chemistry at ICO

Tran Dinh Hieu, the silver medal winner at the 2015 International Chemistry Olympiad (ICO), had to walk 10 kilometers every day from his house to school. He had a monthly allowance of only VND400,000 ($20) a month. 

Finance ministry’s proposal to borrow VND30 trillion raises worries

VietNamNet Bridge - The Ministry of Finance (MOF) has asked the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) to lend VND30 trillion to the state budget. Both MOF and SBV said the borrowing was not prohibited by current laws.

Ministry proposes sugar import quota

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has proposed to the Ministry of Industry and Trade that while allocating sugar import quotas, priority should be accorded to factories which imported raw sugar for refining.

US denies dumping chicken in Vietnam

VietNamNet Bridge – Besides denying dumping chicken in Vietnam, the head of the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council implied that it will be hard for Vietnam to win if it pursues an anti-dumping lawsuit against US exporters.

Pesticide abuse in flower villages a challenge to local authorities

VietNamNet Bridge - As pesticides are easily available and can be bought by anyone, local authorities have found it difficult to control pollution.

IT outsourcing firms struggle to find domestic clients

VietNamNet Bridge - Both software business and state agencies are facing difficulties in providing and receiving IT outsourcing services because of unclear regulations.

Vietnamese firms to face challenges post EU FTA

 VietNamNet Bridge – Following the conclusion of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement negotiations in July and expectations that it will be signed later this year, ...

New resolution tightens use of government cars

VietNamNet Bridge – Government officials entitled to use more than one government car can use only one car on a regular basis. 

Vietnam draw Taipei 0-0 in friendly match

VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam's women's football team drew Chinese Taipei in a goalless friendly match on August 4 in Ha Nam Province. 

Vietnam proposes ideas to deepen ASEAN ties with 10 partners

 Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh has proposed initiatives to deepen ASEAN ties with 10 of its partners including China, the Republic of Korea, India, Russia, the US, the EU, Japan, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Admin reforms vital to local development: Deputy PM

 Drastic measures are needed to streamline administrative procedures and better use information technology to bring Viet Nam's business climate indexes up to, or surpass, ASEAN averages, said Deputy PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

NZ minister offers educational support to Vietnam

 Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung received New Zealand's Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Steven Joyce yesterday.

US support needed to balance development in Mekong Delta

 Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh has called for US support for water, energy and food issues in the Mekong Delta, while seeking effective measures to cope with climate change.

Mysterious Mo So caves

 VietNamNet Bridge – Adventurers and those interested in discovering wild landscapes should head for Mo So Mountain in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang.