The central coastal region of Vietnam boasts huge tourism potential and efforts are underway to turn this sector into a driving force of local development.

Border guards in the central province of Quang Tri, in coordination with the security force of Savannakhet province of Laos, have arrested a Lao man for smuggling 94,000 meth pills. 

A seminar was held at the military school of the northernmost province of Ha Giang on February 15 to recall the war that defended the northern border 40 years ago.

Seed bombs, a new method applied at the Nui Chua National Park in Ninh Thuan province to regenerate forest flora, has brought encouraging results.

Minister of National Defence Gen. Ngo Xuan Lich inspected dioxin detoxification work at Bien Hoa airport in the southern province of Dong Nai on February 15.

The Vietnam Air Services Company (VASCO) has announced that it officially launched the first flight service linking Vinh city, in the central province of Nghe An, with the central city of Da Nang on February 15. 

The defining aim of the Vietnam-Japan partnership is to contribute to regional peace and prosperity, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said in an exclusive interview granted to General Director of VNA Nguyen Duc Loi.

The Hanoi City People’s Committee announced a decision to establish a steering committee on building the municipal e-government on February 15. 

Vietnam’s new budget carrier Bamboo Airways has announced that it will launch three new air routes between Ho Chi Minh City-Vinh, Hanoi-Vinh, and Vinh-Buon Me Thuot, with at least seven round-trip flights per week from February 23. 

 The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has declared that Vietnam now complies with international safety standards, giving its airlines the opportunity to fly to the US and codeshare with American carriers.

 A wall of rubber tyres has been installed along Lo Xo mountain pass which passes through the central provinces of Quang Nam and Kon Tum.

 The Asia-Africa Market Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has made some recommendations for Vietnamese enterprises when exporting watermelons to China.

Vietnam Airlines announced on February 15 that it will add nearly 4,000 seats on wide-body aircraft on the Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City route between now and February 17 to meet increasing demand following the Lunar New Year festival. 

 The United States’ Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has given a Category 1 (CAT 1) rating to Vietnam.

The Mekong Delta province of An Giang will install security cameras at smuggling hotspots, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Le Van Nung has said.

 President of Argentina Mauricio Macri and his spouse will pay a State visit to Vietnam from February 19-21.

The central bank’s Deputy Governor Nguyen Kim Anh talks about how the new legal document will help drive the banking sector amidst Vietnam’s further international integration and the ascension of Industry 4.0.

The healthcare sector made never-before-seen achievements in 2018, contributing to increasing access and facilitating business activities. Nguyen Thi Kim Tien, Minister of Health, talked about the priority tasks for 2019 and the opportunities ahead.

 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has decided to designate May 15-25 as the national week for natural disaster prevention and control. 

Indonesian Ambassador to Vietnam Ibnu Hadi and Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USSH) Pham Quang Minh on February 15 signed a Memorandum of Understanding on teaching the Indonesian language at the USSH.