VietNamNet Bridge - Nearly 100 percent of petroleum imports are now from South Korea. This occurred after the import tariff was cut to 10 percent. 

 Miss Vietnam 2016 Do My Linh has targeted to be listed in the top five at Miss World 2017 scheduled to take place in China in November this year.

 Ho Chi Minh City hopes for assistance from the US Government and businesses to local startup and innovation activities as well as smart city building, said Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan.

 Vietnam is seen as an active and responsible member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) with substantive contributions to the IPU Assembly, said Chairman of the National Assembly (NA)’s Committee for External Relations Nguyen Van Giau.

 The Vietnam International Autumn-Winter Fashion Week (VIFW) 2017 will take place in Hanoi from October 31 to November 3, reported the organiser Multimedia Joint Stock Company. 

 This year’s winter is forecasted to come later but be colder than the previous three years, said an expert from the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting.

 There are only two months left until January 1, 2018, the date set for the nation to switch from RON A92 petrol to bio-fuel E5, but the plan is facing problems. 

 Young Vietnamese piano talent Luu Hong Quang will perform with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra (RPCO) in the Toyota Classical Concert 2017 at the Hanoi Opera House, on November 4.

 The Ministry of Health has proposed more details to complete the bill to legalise sex reassignment surgery for those aged over 18.

 Saigon Players, an English-language theatre group, will present its annual Halloween party at The Hive Saigon Outcast on October 27 and 28.

 Heart Beat Saigon will present Birth of Frequency, aka Simon Coupe, a techno DJ and producer from Paris, at The Lighthouse on October 27.

To ensure delivery of HIV treatment services, the health sector in HCM City is accelerating coverage of health insurance for HIV patients as donor funding for antiretroviral (ARV) drugs and treatment will end in a few years.

 Foreign bands in recent years have stepped up their efforts to “stay in the game” as Vietnamese bands appear to be regaining popularity in the local music scene.

 The annual Vietnam Open tennis tournament will be held from October 21 to 29 in Ho Chi Minh City.

 First Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (Central Committee Le Quoc Phong met with Chairman of the Young Guard of United Russia Denis Davidov in Sochi, Russia on October 18.

The teaching and learning of spoken and written ethnic minority languages in Vietnam is facing a range of difficulties, heard a seminar held in Hanoi on October 18. 

Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh has expressed her hope for stronger cooperation in all spheres with Finland while meeting Finnish officials and entrepreneurs during her official visit to this European country from October 16-19.

 The central city of Da Nang is redoubling efforts to complete preparations for the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week, slated for early November.

 Vietnam won two bronze medals at the three-day Asian Canoe Sprint Championships, which closed in Shanghai, China on October 18.

 Shares declined on the HCM Stock Exchange on October 18 as investors looked for short-term profits when the VN Index reached the intraday high of 831 points.