A tropical low pressure is entering the East Sea and is likely to strengthen into a typhoon with complicated developments, according to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has requested the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to investigate the disappearance of 152 Vietnamese in Taiwan and strictly punish anyone involved in the case.

 Lower water levels in reservoirs and barren farmland can be easily seen in many parts of the south-central and Central Highlands region even though it is the rainy season, reports the Countryside Today newspaper.

 Binh Dien Long An defended their women’s title at the National Volleyball Championship in Buon Ma Thuot  City in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak on Thursday.

 Four workers at Duyen Hai Thermal Power Plant in the Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh died of gas suffocation yesterday.

VietNamNet Bridge - Chinese import management agencies are planning to tighten control over rice imports early next year.

 Here are 10 outstanding economic events of Vietnam in 2018:

Deputy PM urges stronger Vietnam-RoK cooperation, PM: Vietnam, US should continue close multifaceted cooperation, Vietnamese defence chief pays official visit to Cambodia, Deputy PM welcomes newly-appointed Chinese ambassador

 Exports of footwear, suitcases and bags of all kinds are estimated at 19.5 billion USD in 2018, according to the Vietnam Leather, Footwear and Handbag Association (LEFASO).

VietNamNet Bridge - Many retailers have reported losses, but they are continuing to pour more money into Vietnam to expand their networks.

Van Don International Airport in the northeastern province of Quang Ninh will officially open on December 30.

VietNamNet Brigde - On the occasion of the New Year 2019, the 5-star resort hotel Premier Residences Phu Quoc Emerald Bay has launched an attractive incentive program for travelers who book rooms from now until January 31, 2019.

 The manufacturing and processing sector garnered the most interest from foreign investors in 2018, attracting 16.58 billion USD, or 47 percent of the registered capital.

First FujiMart opens in Ha Noi, Techcombank chairman’s son raises stake to 3.95%, State Treasury raises $7.09 billion via G-bonds, Viettel Group embraces industry 4.0, Effective mechanism needed for animal husbandry sector           

 The General Department of Vietnam Customs estimates the country’s trade surplus this year at 7.21 billion USD, 5.1 billion USD higher than the figure registered last year.

 Vietnam’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 7.08 percent in 2018, the highest in the past 11 years, the General Statistics Office (GSO) announced on December 27. 

 The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has set up seven teams to keep special watch over the budget carrier Vietjet Air from December 28, 2018 to January 15, 2019.

Vietnam’s stock market capitalisation rose 13.5 percent against the end of last year, reaching a record high of 3.98 quadrillion VND (170.93 billion USD), according to the State Securities Commission (SSC).

 Vietnam plans to build 160 stations to serve its Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS), aiming to increase the system’s accuracy and nationwide coverage.

HCM City trade unions ensure happy Tết for labourers, Hundreds of families in Kien Giang long for clean water, Oil spill causing headaches, Đà Nẵng police bust online gambling ring, Vietnam improves HIV care and support services