The Operation Center at the State Bank of Vietnam on Wednesday, January 2 unexpectedly raised the purchase price of the U.S. dollar by VND500 to VND23,200, according to a VnExpress news website report.

 The Vietnam Railway Corporation has warned about several websites that are selling online tickets at high prices.

 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked the Tax Department of Ho Chi Minh City to hold back on enforcing a tax decision on collecting 3.14 trillion VND (some 136.1 million USD) from Sabeco for violations on special sales tax.

 Vietnam actively contributed to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 2018, which will serve as the foundation for the country to perform the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2020.

 Thousands of people are fleeing Thai islands popular with tourists ahead of what could be the most devastating storm to hit in decades, 

 It is highly probable that the government still reaches its targets in inflation control, interest rate and exchange rate stabilizations.

 The festivals worshipping The Saint of Tan Vien Son at many temples in Doai (West region) are held simultaneously on January 15th of the Lunar Calendar. According to legend, this is the anniversary of the birth of the Genie.

 Hanoi has implemented and approved 57/68 projects, reaching 83% of the planned coverage rate according to the approved number of projects, and 86% of the coverage rate by area.

 Vietnam’s food processing industry has experienced rapid growth over the past five years and further expansion is expected as it eyes additional foreign investment, according to the Singapore-based Food Navigator Asia news.

 The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has warned that foot-and-mouth disease among pigs has spread to six localities.

 Over 520 households living within the boundaries of Hue Citadel will be moved out this year as part of a campaign to restore the royal complex.

 The Office of the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control, Search and Rescue of the south-central province of Binh Dinh said that a fishing vessel drowned by high waves at sea has been rescued.

 Vietnam is deemed highly likely to curb its inflation below 4 percent in 2019, experts said at a seminar in Hanoi on January 3, which focused on national market and price movements during 2018 and forecasts for 2019. 

 Vietnam will lack from 70,000 to 90,000 information and technology (IT) workers this year despite increasing salary and welfare, according to a TopDev, a recruitment network and ecosystem in mobile and IT, reports on the IT market in Vietnam.

 Hanoi will organize a number of cultural and artistic activities to celebrate the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet) festival, which lasts from February 5-7.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Friends of Vietnam Heritage (FVH) will hold a city walk to Quan Thanh Temple and nearby Truuc Bach Lake and Ngu Xa Islet on Saturday in Hanoi.

VietNamNet Bridge - Market analysis reports all show a high two-digit growth rate for consumers over 50, but domestic manufacturers continue to ignore the market. 

While boosting its international integration via engaging in various free trade agreements, Vietnam is also speeding up the equitisation of state-owned enterprises to lure more private investment.

Hồ Chí Minh Trail listed as typical national heritage, Footballer and model share start-up success stories, TPD screens family film ‘Big Fish’, Bilingual film shows Hùng Temple and Vietnamese religious beliefs

 The Government has issued measures to boost non-cash payment methods in the country this year.