A working delegation of the EC’s Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries began a fact-finding trip to Vietnam on May 15 to inspect the implementation of recommendations related to the fight against illegal fishing.

 Positive socio-economic signs in the first months of 2018 have made economist optimistic about the Vietnamese economy’s outlook for the whole year as well as until 2020. 

 Vietnam’s retail sector earned about 129.6 billion USD in 2017, a rise of 10.6 percent from the previous year, according to a report on global retail market trends of Savills Vietnam retail consultancy.

Vietnam’s industrial real estate sector stands ready to take off after the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) comes into effect, experts have said.

 An environment protection campaign in tourism activities, themed “Blue Vietnamese Sea”, will take place in five central coastal cities and provinces of Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Da Nang from May 18-26. 

 State corporations and groups have been found to have committed violations worth $15.4 billion in State capital usage and management during the 2011-2016 period, according to the Government Inspectorate.

 Voters and people nationwide have sent more than 3,000 opinions and petitions to the National Assembly through local delegations of NA deputies and the Vietnam Fatherland Front’s local chapters, ahead of the NA’s 5th session. 

 Indian carrier IndiGo Airlines has plans to launch services to 24 new international destinations, including Vietnam, in the next 18 months.

 An international watercolour exhibition opened in Ho Chi Minh City on May 15, displaying 74 works of 55 painters.

 The Secretariat of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union’s Central Committee announced its plan for the upcoming summer voluntary campaign, which runs from June 3 to August 31.

 Strengthening inspections over social insurance funds is essential given the hike in their management expenses in 2016 and 2017, heard the ongoing 24th session of the National Assembly Standing Committee in Hanoi on May 15.

 Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has suggested the Asia Pacific ICT Alliance (APICTA) share with Vietnam experiences in building e-government and e-administration accumulated from its members such as Australia, Singapore and Japan.

 Coach Hoang Anh Tuan has made a plan calling the best players to participate in the annual ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) U-19 Youth Championship to be held in Indonesia from July 1-15, looking towards the final round.

Vietnam keeps a close watch on and is concerned about the escalating violence in the Gaza Strip over the past days, leaving many Palestinians dead and injured.

 The BW Industrial Development JSC, a joint-venture between the US private equity fund Warburg Pincus and Vietnam’s Investment and Industrial Development Corporation (Becamex IDC), made debut in the southern province of Binh Duong on May 15.  

 Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc has led a Vietnamese delegation to the 74th session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), which is taking place in Bangkok, Thailand, on May 11-16.

Complaints and petitions regarding the Thu Thiem new urban area in Ho Chi Minh City must be settled in line with laws and policies to ensure legitimate interests of residents, said Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. 

The data relocation and regulation that requires foreign firms to set up data centers in Vietnam remains the most controversial issue of the draft cybersecurity law.

Blessed by nature, Vietnam has many special landscapes and rich biodiversity. UNESCO has recognized eight natural and cultural heritage sites and nine biosphere reserves. 

VietNamNet Bridge - As the summer holiday begins in late May, life-skill training centers have launched summer camp programs with very attractive offers.