Viettel ranks first among the 50 most valuable brands in Vietnam at US$2.569 billion, the military-run telecoms company announced on December 5.

 The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) on December 6 launched a national hotline for children protection at 111 instead of the old number 18001567 that had been used for the past 13 years.

 The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) is universal and unified, stated Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, head of Vietnam’s permanent mission to the UN.

 Traditional weddings in Hue in the 1960s and 1970s the focus of exhibition at Hue Culture Museum until February 2.

Smart Industry World 2017 saw the participation of state management bodies, researchers, experts, and the business community to discuss future orientations and methods to attract investment and develop the Vietnamese smart industry.

 Vietnamese weightlifter Dang Thi Linh Phuong won a silver medal in the women’s 50kg category at the 2017 World Para Swimming and Powerlifting Championships in Mexico City on December 5.

 Mrs Universe Vietnam 2016 Hang Nguyen will serve as an honourable judge at Mrs World Peace 2017 scheduled to take place in Manila, the Philippines on December 10 at the invitation of the organising board of the pageant.

 Natural disasters have killed 385 people, injured 654 others in Vietnam and caused a loss of VND59.3 trillion (USD2.7 billion) for the country so far this year.

 Masan Beverage Company Limited (MB), a wholly owned subsidiary of Masan Consumer Corporation, plans to make an offer to buy out Vinacafe Bien Hoa Corporation (VCF).

 National carrier Vietnam Airlines organised a ceremony to welcome the 200 millionth passenger at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, HCM City, on Tuesday.

 The first-ever Maekyung Korea-Viet Nam Forum will begin in Ha Noi on December 6, as part of activities to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Viet Nam-Republic of Korea (RoK) relations.

 Experts at a wind energy workshop on Tuesday recommended sustainable solutions for development of the wind power sector in Viet Nam.

 Korean Kim Heung Soo, CEO of Daekwang Maika Co., Ltd based in HCM City and Daekwang Apparel JSC in Binh Duong Province, said he had been in Viet Nam for almost 25 years and his business is “very good.”

 Although the fine art and handicraft industry has great potential to grow, poor quality design and low competitiveness are hindering the industry, said Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Quoc Khanh on Tuesday.

 Vietnamese small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are focusing more and more on international trade via e-commerce. 

 The HCM City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera (HBSO) will open the Christmas season this week with the ballet The Nutcracker at the Opera House, featuring a conductor from Norway and dancers from Japan.

 More than 200 audits will be conducted in 2018, focusing on State budget use, according to a plan from the State Audit Office of Vietnam (SAV).

 A new anti-corruption resolution targets greater control over the assets and income of officials, public employees and civil servants, and requires relevant agencies to perform their tasks in a transparent manner.

Head of the State Record Management and Archives Department under the Ministry of Home Affairs Dang Thanh Tung on December 5 received the honour Chevalier des Arts et des Letters from the French Minister of Culture.

Vietnam has 30.5 civil servants for every 1,000 people, a high proportion compared with other regional countries such as Indonesia (17.64), the Philippines (13.02) and Singapore (25.69).