Music reporters gathered in Hanoi and HCM City to select the nominees for the annual musical awards by Vietnam News Agency’s Culture & Sport newspaper.

 Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Viet Nam (Vietcombank) reported a pre-tax profit of more than VND11 trillion (US$482.5 million) in 2017.

 Members of the Vietnam Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (VAMM) sold more than 3.2 million motorcycles in 2017, marking a year-on-year increase of 4.8 per cent.

 F&N Dairy Investments Pte Ltd has registered to purchase 14.5 million shares in Vietnam Dairy Products JSC (Vinamilk) in a bid to raise its ownership in Vietnam’s largest dairy producer.

 The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has issued warnings to 15 commercial banks as they have offered too much credit for some high-risk sectors, news website Dan Tri quoted SBV deputy governor Dao Minh Tu as saying on January 9.

 The Ministry of Home Affairs is consulting relevant ministries and agencies over a plan to raise the monthly base salary from the current VND1.3 million to VND1.39 million (US$61.2) for public officials and employees as well as armed forces.

 Popular Japanese music band “Kuricorder and Friends” will come to Vietnam for a music concert in Hanoi on January 12 and in HCMC on January 14.

The housing market in HCM City's western part has recently become attractive, especially apartments in the affordable segment costing around VND2 billion (US$87,000), analysts said.

 PetroVietnam Power Corporation (PV Power) will hold two roadshows to introduce the investment opportunity in the company’s initial public offering (IPO), scheduled on January 31 on the Ha Noi Stock Exchange.

 Military-run telecommunications company Viettel Group was officially renamed Viettel Military Industry and Telecoms Group and recognised as the national defence and security enterprise with 100 per cent State-owned capital.

 Vietnam has recently made the list of the 10 happiest countries in the world in 2017, according to the 41st Annual Global End of the Year Survey conducted by Gallup International Association.

 Following are a couple of entertainment and cultural events held in HCMC this weekend.

 The Finance Ministry has insisted on levying a special consumption tax on sweetened beverages, except for dairy products, news website Vietnam Finance cites the ministry’s latest draft of the amended law on taxes.

Former Deputy governor of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) and many other bankers were prosecuted for violations in bank related fields in 2017.

 Vietnam Securities Depository reported that there were 447 foreign investors granted with transaction codes in the stock market last December, higher than the previous month when it reached 428 investors.

 Nearly 800 technology students of Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang City and Hanoi have been taking part in the event of the Open Camp in three days on January 6, 8 and 12.

 The cherry blossom festival of Da Lat city, the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong will be started from January 20, announced the provincial People’s Committee at a conference on January 11.

 Vietnam’s foreign reserves have grown by more than 21 per cent since last October and by $1.5 billion during the first ten days of 2018 to reach their highest-ever level, State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) Governor Le Minh Hung said.

 GrabBike drivers in Ho Chi Minh City went on strike for the second time to protest the company's new hike in its revenue share to 23.6 per cent from the previous 20.

 The Government Inspectorate has just announced finding several violations related to asset and capital usage and management, equitisation, and divestment at Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV).