New financial sources, particularly from the private sector, will help Vietnam further develop its energy industry, according to a new World Bank report on maximising finance for Vietnam’s energy development.

The State Audit will focus on a number of major projects in 2019, including the Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro line, as well as the 10-trillion-VND flood control project in Ho Chi Minh City and Cat Linh-Ha Dong railway line in Hanoi.

 Young women from across the country are encouraged to join the first national Miss World Vietnam 2019 competition.   

 A Government-level negotiation on territorial and border issues between Vietnam and China took place in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai on January 14.

 The Department of Tourism in the northern province of Ninh Binh have warned tourists not to stay at 20 guest houses illegally-built in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Trang An.

 Many parents in Hai Phong City have expressed anger after local schools announced that only primary pupils with good grades could go to school while a teaching competition was being carried out.

 Park Hang-seo and his Vietnamese squad left Abu Dhabi for Al Ain on January 13 in preparation for their last Group D match against Yemen scheduled in two days’ time.

 A strong cold snap is forecasted to hit the northern region from January 16.

 Car prices in Vietnam have considerably increased due to higher demand before the Lunar New Year holiday.

Hanoi Medical University, one of the most prestigious schools in Vietnam, still has no  master plan on developing research teams because it lacks money to implement a strategy on science and technology development.

Ngu Hanh Son or the Marble Mountains, a natural complex with unique spiritual architectures has become a symbol of the central city of Da Nang.

Thuy Tien, 26, an office worker who lives on the third floor of an apartment building on Tran Dang Ninh street in Hanoi, chooses to take the stairs every day instead of the lift.

 The flower growers in Nhat Tan flower village located in Hanoi provide meticulous care to close to 100 That Thon peach trees.

 Vietnam’s textile and garment sector is hoped to make breakthroughs in 2019 based on successes and momentum last year.

Vietnamese designer Cong Tri will introduce his latest fashion collection during New York Fashion Week in the US, set to be held on February 11. 

 Nhat Ha surpassed other contestants to be crowned winner of The Tiffany Vietnam in the grand final held in Ho Chi Minh City on January 11.

 Local telcos are set to being testing 5G services in the first quarter of 2019, whereas associated infrastructure and terminal equipment providers stand ready for 5G commercialisation starting from 2020.

Coral is considered the under-ocean home to aquatic species. Since 2012 experts of the Nha Trang Institute of Oceanography have helped Cham islanders in Quang Nam province revive the polyped stony corals by farming techniques.

Mangos, papayas, and grapefruit have become popular items in recent days ahead of the Lunar New Year (Tet) festival. Customers can have letters carved onto the fruit wishing a year of wealth, luck, and happiness.

 Last year Vietnam achieved a GDP growth of 7.08%, exceeding the target set by the National Assembly. More particularly, export revenue posted an impressive result, bringing Vietnam into the company of the world’s leading exporters.