After a record-breaking 2017, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) volumes are poised for further expansion driven by growing investor confidence in Vietnam. 

 Electronic health insurance cards are likely to be introduced in mid-2019, said an official of the HCMC Social Insurance Agency at a dialogue on social insurance policy between municipal authorities and enterprises last week.

Local property developers are increasingly keen on joining the country's stock market.

 Two Vietnamese teams will compete at the annual Asia Pacific Robot Contest (Robocon) 2018, being held at Ninh Binh Sports Centre in Ninh Binh city on August 26.

 The Hanoi municipal People’s Committee has instructed relevant sectors and agencies to organise a string of activities throughout the city in celebration of the 73rd anniversary of the August Revolution (August 19) and National Day (September 2).

 Vietnam has been listed among Asian markets that have a full house of positive factors for the long-term growth of real estate as an investment class, according to JLL’s latest Global Capital Flows Research. 

 Ho Chi Minh City-based ecommerce portal Sendo.vn has raised US$51 million in a round of Series B funding from eight foreign investors, Sen Do Technology JSC (Sendo) said in a statement issued today, August 16, by PRNewswire.

The show Hoi An Memories, the largest outdoor visual arts performance ever in Vietnam recalls the memories of Hoi An as a prosperous trading port over a 400-year period.

 The government has approved tuition fee exemption for students at state-owned secondary schools and children aged five at nursery schools.

 Two people have been killed, while three others from a family in the southern province of Bac Lieu have been left in critical condition after being stung by wasps.

Vietnam spends billions of dollars to import car parts each year for domestic assembling, but it also exports billions of dollars worth of vehicle parts. 

 Many football fans in Vietnam have to turn to online channels to watch the Asian Games as the organisers expressed surprise that Vietnam failed to buy the rights for the event.

 Vietnam Airlines, Jetstar Pacific and Vietjet Air have announced to reschedule flights from/to airports in Hai Phong city and Nghe An and Thanh Hoa provinces on August 17 as a result of Typhoon Bebinca.

 Nguyen Nhat Anh, Director of Nha Nam Culture and Communications JSC, one of the most popular publishing houses in Vietnam, was named a Knight of France on August 16 for his contributions to introducing French ideology in the Asian country.

 The Medical Examination and Treatment Department under the Ministry of Health, in coordination with the AstraZeneca multinational pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical company, launched the “Healthy Lung” portal in Hanoi on August 16.

 Germany-based Lufthansa Technik AG will provide maintenance services for the auxiliary power units (APUs) of national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines’ Airbus A350-900 fleet which are produced by Honeywell.

The first Vietnam Puppetry Festival opened on Nguyen Hue Pedestrian street, Ho Chi Minh City, on August 16 with the participation of six theatres. 

 The Vietnam National Petroleum Group (Petrolimex) has asked the Government to extend its deadline for selling the State’s capital to the 2019-20 period instead of this year as currently planned.

 The Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment has officially established an inspection team to look into scrap imports.

 Plastic companies are facing possible bankruptcy after 4,000 tonnes of plastic scrap, raw material for their production, have been held up at ports for tests to ensure they meet import criteria.