The high-level court on December 22 upheld the verdict for Tran Thi Nga, who was previously sentenced to a nine-year imprisonment on the charge of conducting anti-State propaganda.

 Yokohama FC defended their title after defeating Vietnam 2-0 in the final of the Thanh Nien Newspaper International U-21 Football Tournament, held on December 22 in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho.

 Transport regulations will be reviewed to ensure a fair business environment for firms, Deputy Minister of Transport Le Dinh Tho said.

 YouTube has removed approximately 90 percent of “toxic” video clips the Vietnamese Government complained about in 2017, Minister of Information and Communications Truong Minh Tuan claimed on December 22.

 Republic of Korea – Largest foreign investor in Vietnam

 A teleconference took place in Hanoi on December 23 to direct coastal provinces from Quang Nam to Ca Mau ready themselves for typhoon Tembin.

 President of the Moroccan House of Representatives Habib El Malki concluded Vietnam visit from December 16-22 at the invitation of National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan. 

 Traditional festivals, rituals and religions of the Vietnamese are introduced in a book compiled by late Prof Nguyen Van Huyen (1908-1975), as a French-educated scholar and Minister of Education of Vietnam (1946-1975).

 A colossal Christmas tree made from 6,000 earthen pots has been erected in Luu My parish in Tru Son commune, Do Luong district, Nghe An province, aiming to promote Tru Son craft village’s traditional production.

 Vietnam has to date had 2,884 communes, or 32.3 percent of the total, recognised as new-style rural areas.

 Christmas Eve musical performances and other holiday events in HCM City feature big names and promises .. and plenty of entertainment for the poor and disadvantaged.

VietNamNet Bridge - The list of SOEs (state owned enterprises ) subject to equitization is long with many well-known names. 

 Investors of bitcoin in particular and cryptocurrencies in general should be aware of the possible risks involved in addition to rapidly increasing profits, experts have warned.

 Vietnam’s economy is expected to grow 6.7% in 2017, according to a new report by the World Bank. That far exceeds the projection of 6.3% the WB made in July. The achievements of 2017 could drive Vietnam to grow sustainably next year.

Several years ago, fans of Thai and Japanese goods had only several choices – either buying the products carried across border gates, or going to a few select shops. But now, they can freely choose products at many specialized stores. 

 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, on December 22, talked on the phone with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe.

VietNamNet Bridge - The pepper output and inventory level around the world is on the rise, while emerging export countries are trying to expand growing areas and increase exports at competitive prices, putting pressure on Vietnamese farmers. 

 VietNamNet Bridge – To celebrate the new year 2018, Urban Sketchers Hanoi group is going to organize a sketching exhibition about Hanoi, with the objective to collect 1,000 sketches for this event.

Volume passes annual target in November, in a year when rice exports were widely expected to struggle.

 Authorities in central Hà Tĩnh Province on December 20 stopped the illegal burning of frozen contaminated fish by a local company.