Foreign investors are stepping up their indirect investments in Vietnam through capital contribution and stake acquisition of local firms instead of making direct investments as in recent years.

 Hanoi is a special capital with an important role, thus, the city requires specific mechanisms and policies in its development.

The ban on sale of liquors with alcohol content of 15 percent or more via the internet was issued one year ago, but online advertisements and sales of strong alcohol continue.

 A few large commercial banks have adjusted upward their annual deposit rates following a hike in rates among small banks for call deposits of less than six months since mid-August, according to news website Vietnamplus.

 The HCMC Department of Information and Communications has just proposed to the HCMC People’s Committee receiving feedback from citizens via a social network besides the current system of the hotline 1022.

A programme entitled ‘Experimenting the arts of ‘Cheo’ was recently held at Hao Nam Temple in Hanoi, allowing the capital city’s students to learn more about the charm of ‘cheo’

 Water-puppetry artist Phan Thanh Liem will bring a performance of miniature water puppets to the 39th Orient Festival held from September 14 to 16 in Napoli, Italy.

 The real estate market in Vietnam has been active with new arrivals from foreign brokers and consultants.

 In the race for bigger market share, most firms are resorting to use the media as a weapon for brand promotion and do not hesitate to spend large to pursue their goal.

 Collecting taxes from Facebook and Google as well as individuals earning money from these platforms remains difficult for the Vietnamese government. Even the Law on Cybersecurity coming into effect in early 2019 may only partly handle the issue.

Economists have expressed concern about the impact on Vietnam’s economy if the second US tariff package of $200 billion is ratified after September 6, saying that Vietnam’s GDP may decrease by 0.03 percent because of the trade war.

 State-owned shipping giant Vinalines sold 5.44 million shares at its initial public offering (IPO) on September 5, only 1.1 per cent of the nearly 490 million shares offered for sale.

 Vietnamese IT engineers have enormous opportunities due to the growing thirst for skilled IT workforce both in Vietnam and overseas, particularly in Japan.

Giant foreign and domestic retailers like Lotte Mart, Big C, Fivimart, and Citimart reporting consecutive losses has raised suspicions about widespread tax evasion – or is competition really that fierce in the retail market? 

 Ravolution Music Festival – one of the most anticipated EDM (Electronic Dance Music) festivals – will be held in Bach Khoa Stadium, Hanoi on September 29.

The deaths of Luu Quang Vu and Xuan Quynh in 1988 was something of a national tragedy, but their legacy lives on in their body of literary work.

 The Vietnam Railway Corporation has announced its transport plan during the 2019 Lunar New Year month from January 23 to February 22, 2019, which can accommodate up to 14,000 passengers per day.

As the consumer demand increases, retailers are leveraging the private label market as a critical strategy to differentiate their brands in what is considered an inevitable sub-trend in the spread of modern retailing across the country.

 Although Vietnamese bank stocks appear to have a bright future, foreign investors may find it difficult to join the parade due to a lack of progress on foreign ownership and corporate governance.

 A Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh attended the 10th Japan-ASEAN Defence Vice Ministerial Forum took place in Japan’s Nagoya city on September 10.