A General Statistics Office of Vietnam economist Bui Trinh has opposed the Ministry of Finance's proposal to impose a tax on houses valued from VND700m (USD30,700).    

 Pupils of different grades in a mountainous commune of Thanh Hoa Province have to sit in the same classroom due to a shortage of classrooms.

 A primary school teacher in Hanoi has been arrested after being accused of sexually abusing nine third-grade pupils.  

 Vietnamese start-ups have invested US$129 million in fintech and the industry is forecast to continuously attract heightened investor interest next time, according to the Ernst & Young (EY) ASEAN FinTech Census 2018.

The State Bank of Vietnam has ordered financial institutions and other organisations providing payment brokerage services not to conduct cross-border transactions in cryptocurrency.

 With growth of up to 22 percent forecast this year and firms with bright prospects, Vietnam’s steel industry has high potential to reach many markets if it overcomes difficulties in trade defence lawsuits and high import volume.

 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has agreed with the proposal of the French consultant company ADP-I to build a new passenger terminal south of Tan Son Nhat aiport in Ho Chi Minh City as part of the airport expansion plan.

 Vietnam will use three new vaccines in the national expanded vaccination programme (NEVP) this year, heard a workshop held by the Ministry of Health (MoH) on April 16.

 A former police officer of a department under the Ministry of Public Security was sentenced to eight years in prison on charges of espionage and property plundering.

 Taxi firm Vietnam Sun Corporation (Vinasun) plans to cut its full-year revenue for the fourth time for 2018 due to rising competition from foreign ride-hailing firms.

 The Ha Noi Stock Exchange has approved the Ha Noi Textile Garment Company (Hanosimex) to list 20.5 million shares on Unlisted Public Company Market (UPCoM) on April 19.

 An automated customs control system for exports and imports was launched at Ha Noi’s Noi Bai International Airport on April 16.

VietNamNet Bridge - To improve their competitiveness, Vietnamese livestock companies have been told to restructure their production and supply chains.

 Subscribers express doubts that the requirement of submitting subscribers’ photos to limit “trash” SIM cards will help prevent spam messages.

 An art troupe from Uzbekistan will charm the local audience at a night of traditional dance, song and music at the Hà Nội Opera House on April 19.

 Artists from Asian countries will have a chance to get to know more about the German culture through the Crossing Borders programme, the Goethe Institute Vietnam has announced.

 South Korean conductor Kim Joon-cha and pianist Cho Eun-young will perform in “A Night of Mozart & Tchaikovsky” concert at HCM City Opera House on April 19.

 The HCM City General Sciences Library will open a new research room for traditional Vietnamese music as part of its activities to celebrate 40 years of working under its current name.  

 The Ministry of Finance has proposed a tax on houses depending on their construction value as part of a draft law on property tax.

 France is one of the main partners of the Hue Festival, which is set to take place in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue from April 27 to May 2.