VietNamNet Bridge – Bui Sy Loi, vice-chairman of the NA Committee on Social Affairs, talks to the Ha Noi Moi (New Ha Noi) about proposed changes in the retirement age and the social insurance policy.

 The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee convened its 21st session in Hanoi on February 7, under the chair of NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.

Driven by better performance in 2017, around 70 per cent of Japanese businesses in Vietnam are planning to expand their business activities in the country to cash in on the huge growth potential.

 While PetroVietnam Power Corporation (PV Power)’s shares sold out at its initial public offering (IPO), Power Generation Corporation 3 (EVN Genco 3) proved unmarketable with only 2.8 per cent of the offered shares registered for sale.

 Booking sites Agoda and Booking.com have drawn customers’ ire by their oversight in keeping customers’ personal information secret, while at the same time the authorities have detected signs of tax evasion.

The market for votive offerings in Hanoi is filled with the hustle and bustle of quick commerce as Kitchen God Day (on the 23rd of the last month of the lunar year) nears.

Hue imperial city seems to be more beautiful with yellow apricot blossoms.

Vietnamese midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai has been listed in Top 5 nominees for Young Player of the Year in Southeast Asian Football Awards selected by FourFourTwo.

Many local people in Hanoi visited the lakes and rivers of the capital city on February 7 to release carp as a celebration of the Kitchen Gods Day (23rd Lunar December).

 Famous young Vietnamese designer Valentines Van Nguyen has been invited to present her designs at the prestigious New York Fashion Week, which will be held in the US on February 9.

The Hue Monuments Conservation Center has announced a variety of cultural and entertainment programs will be made available in the Hue heritage area,.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Mental health and psychosocial problems are widespread and increasing in Vietnam, particularly among children and young people.

 The foreign direct investment (FDI) sector contribute a modest amount to the State budget although they enjoy many incentives and get high profits.

The Korean Database Society (KDBS) has donated software programmes on database management and database quality management to the central city’s Dong A College in order to support local students

 Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCM City is facing serious congestion due to the number of people visiting for the Lunar New Year or Tet.

A man in the central province of Nghe An has just been attacked by a wild bear while in a local forest.

 A task force has been established to protect twelve swans taken out of Hoan Kiem Lake to Thien Quang Lake following public concerns over their safety.  

 The Ministry of Transport has completed a draft plan to expand the aviation sector for the 2018-2020 period, with view to 2030.   

The General Statistics Office is working on a plan to assess the value created by the informal economic sector as per the government’s request. 

 As the world faces a crisis in wealth distribution, some experts doubt if the accumulation of capital will encourage innovation and investment, but instead, lead to multiple tax burdens and increase the gap between rich and poor.