The Vietnam Software and IT Services Association (VINASA) launched Vietnam’s 50 Leading IT Companies 2018 programme in Hanoi on July 3.

 Shares plummeted on July 3 as strong selling pressure pushed the benchmark VN-Index on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE) and the HNX-Index on the Hanoi Exchange (HNX) to hit rock bottom in 2018.

The police on July 2 launched legal proceedings against a leader and a former employee of Hoa Binh General Hospital for their involvement in the medical incident leaving eight patients dead at the kidney dialysis division.

General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and President of Laos Bounnhang Vorachith and his spouse are on a visit to Vietnam from July 3-7.

 The annual Chem Temple Festival in Chem Village, Hanoi, was held on June 27-29 to remember Ly Ong Trong, a mythic warrior during legendary Hung Kings dynasty.

 Following Uber’s departure from Viet Nam, the country’s ride-hailing market has witnessed the entrance of both domestic and international applications, such as Aber, FastGo, Go-Viet and VATO.

 The Ministry of Finance’s (MOF) two proposals to increase value-added tax (VAT) would have various impacts on the overall economy and household welfare.

 For farmers in the Central Highlands, growing macadamia nuts has not turned out to be the money-spinner they had expected.

 An exhibition by sculptors Thai Nhat Minh and Tran An offers a chance to see artworks made from opposite materials – paper and iron.

While The Ministry of Education and Training insists on the 2-in-1 exam model, education experts doubt its feasibility, saying that it is unreasonable to merge two exams with different purposes – high school finals and university entrance exams.

VietNamNet Bridge - Only one percent of companies around the world are starting to research the application of blockchain in online advertising, but the potential is great, including in Vietnam. 

VietNamNet Bridge - Uber’s departure from the Vietnamese market has created a space for Vietnam’s apps to develop. Vato, Aber, 123xe and the newcomer Fastgo are among them.

VietNamNet Bridge - The Cat Ba langur, or golden headed langur (Trachypithecus poliocephalus), is on the list of the 25 most endangered primate species in the world.

 The Ministry of Finance has proposed the Government review regulations to tighten control for environmental protection of imports of second-hand products, the Vietnam News Agency reported.

 Viet Nam’s index of industrial production (IIP) increased 10.5 per cent on-year in the first half of 2018, the General Statistics Office (GSO) reported.

 The Vietnam Steel Association (VSA) has proposed the Government and relevant ministries and sectors seriously consider the approval of a stainless steel factory in Viet Nam.

 The manufacturing sector in Viet Nam continued to expand in June, and at an accelerated rate, the latest survey from Nikkei revealed on Monday, with a manufacturing PMI score of 55.7 from 53.9 in May.

 Viet Nam’s businesses invested US$263.1 million in total, including new projects and additional capital, in 27 countries and territories in the first half of this year, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).

 The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh Province faces severe threat of pollution as only 20% of domestic wastewater is treated before being discharged into the bay.

 Thousands of households in Lai Chau Province's Muong Te District are still isolated a week after the devastating floods and landslides that caused severe damage to the area, while food supply is becoming difficult.