Three national hi-tech parks in Hoa Lac, HCM City and Da Nang have attracted 218 investment projects with a registered capital of nearly US$10 billion, creating jobs for about 50,000 workers.

 The State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV) can take early intervention measures against weak credit institutions in the supervision process from July this year, according to a new SBV regulation.

VN is integrating increasingly with the global economy, having signed the CPTPP this month and discussing four other free trade agreements, the annual Economic Scenarios Conference heard in HCM City on Monday.

 Start-ups will be given support from the State budget in localities with no more than 30 per cent of total investment mobilised from investment funds.

 The Ministry of Transport (MoT) will transfer its rights to purchase shares additionally issued by the Vietnam Airlines Corporation through auction at the Ha Noi Stock Exchange.

 The Ministry of Health has called for an urgent investigation into an apparently false rumour about the death of a mother and her child in HCM City while having a natural birth at home.

 Many people in Trung Tu Ward, Dong Da District, Hanoi, have blamed Hanoi Medical University Hospital for discharging sewage and polluting Lu River.

 A truck carrying an elephant without proper safety measures surprised drivers on a highway in Ha Tinh Province.

Along with Carlsberg, the Danish Brewer holding 17.3 per cent stake in Habeco, numerous foreign investors are looking to acquire a stake in Vietnam’s third-largest brewer in order to increase their market shares.

 Convenience store chains are on their way to conquer fast-growing ASEAN markets, but they get little love in Indonesia, the region’s largest market.

Decree 54 and the draft circular that guides its implementation compiled by the Ministry of Health have both raised controversy: foreign investors say the regulations break Vietnam’s WTO commitments.

 VietNamNet Bridge – After their heroics in China, 13 players from the U23 national team have been called up to the senior side.

 Viet Nam’s U15 PVF easily defeated Thailand’s Police Tero 5-1 in the opening match of the U15 ASEAN Dream Football Tournament, held at the SCG Muangthong United Practice Field.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Mong Cai City police in the northern province of Quang Ninh stopped seven Chinese nationals from illegally entering Vietnam and moving to Cambodia to gamble, reported vov.vn online newspaper.

 The Vietnamese embassies in many countries held ceremonies on March 20 to pay respect to former Politburo member and former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, who passed away on March 17 at the age of 85.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Transport wants to secure investment from the private sector to complete the Yen Vien – Cai Lan Railway project, which connects Yen Vien Station in Hanoi with Cai Lan Station

 The People’s Court of Ha Dong district in Hanoi on March 20 handed down a jail sentence of 13 months on Nguyen Mau Chien for smuggling 36kg of rhino horn, according to the Education for Nature Vietnam (ENV). 

Former PM Phan Van Khai passed away on March 17 but he lives in the heart of the people, especially those in HCMC, as a child of Cu Chi who made great contributions to the development of the city and the country.

 Vietnam-Italy economic and cultural relations

 Testing chemical residues in vegetables, fruit and other foodstuff sold at wet markets, supermarkets and restaurants will be enhanced in Hanoi this year as part of the city’s efforts to stop unsafe food being consumed.