Viet Nam is a land of opportunity, especially HCM City, but Thai investors should be more strategic by creating both "aggressive and passive" business plans to maximise benefits when the ASEAN Economic Community takes effect in 2015,

VietNamNet Bridge – Over the last 11 years, HCM City has resolved pollution problems at 1,400 manufacturers in the city by either relocating the factories or by suspending production operations.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Hundreds of production workshops have been relocated out of the inner city under a program initiated by the HCM City local authorities.

 The Vietnam Food Administration said that it would continue to test all fresh rice vermicelli products in the country following a scandal that rice noodles were contaminated with Tinopal whitening agent.

Chairman and CEO of the HCM City-based Forest Product and Handicraft Production, Import - Export Joint Stock Company (UPEXIM), was arrested on August 13 for acts of "fraudulent appropriation of assets."

 More than 3,600 people took part in a national-scale exercise to deal with fires at high-end building in downtown Ho Chi Minh City on August 14.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Unlicensed and other fraudulent taxis that fleece customers continue to be a major headache for Ho Chi Minh City authorities.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The HCM City Department of Industry and Trade has fined three producers of fresh rice noodles for using banned chemicals as well as excessive levels of additives.

 VietNamNet Bridge – A major fire drill involving high-rise buildings will be held in downtown HCM City with assistance from the Ministries of Public Security and Defence.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The first Bus Rapid Transit route is expected to be put in use in four years, according to HCM City officials.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Drinking water fountains will be set up at railway stations, airports, tourist attractions, other public places and a couple of main roads in HCM City in 2015.

VietNamNet Bridge – The 2013 Mekong River Delta bicycle race will begin in Ho Chi Minh City on August 12, featuring 19 domestic teams as well as the amateur American representatives Tamouh.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Shares made significant gains on the HCM City Stock Exchange last week to break the 500 point barrier, but stocks tumbled in Ha Noi as liquidity remained low.

 VietNamNet Bridge – A special inspection team, led by the Deputy Minister for Transport Nguyen Van Cong, has been set up to discover the cause of an accident that saw nine people drown last Friday, on the Soai Rap River in HCM City.

VietNamNet Bridge – Although they manage to open increasing numbers of classrooms at the beginning of each academic year, HCM City authorities are unable to meet rising demand, leading to a chronic shortage of facilities

 VietNamNet Bridge – City authorities are planning several emergency response scenarios in case the main dam of the Dau Tieng Irrigation Reservoir in southwestern Tay Ninh Province collapsed or if the reservoir discharged too much water.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Although the city has increased subsidies to bus companies, only 6-7 per cent of the total number of riders and passengers of private and public transport use the service,

 VietNamNet Bridge – Starbucks, the giant American coffee company, opened its second store in Ho Chi Minh City on August 1, just six months after making its initial appearance in Vietnam.

VietNamNet Bridge – Pop star Thu Minh will perform at a huge live show in HCM City on August 3 that will mark her 20 years of singing and the beginning of a new series meant to honour singers who have contributed to the country's music scene.

 VietNamNet Bridge – A recent decision by the Ha Noi People's Council to develop a pilot programme to elevate 18 State-owned schools to a higher quality level has created controversy among parents and educators.