As many as 200 representatives of nearly 80 travel firms of Vietnam and Japan gathered for a meeting held by the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) in Ho Chi Minh on January 25.

The People’s Procuracy of Hanoi on January 25 proposed a life sentence to Trinh Xuan Thanh on the charge of “asset embezzlement” at PetroVietnam Power Land JSC (PVP Land). 

 President: Vietnam treasures comprehensive relations with US, Party chief welcomes US Secretary of Defence, Vietnamese, US defence ministers hold talks

 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc had bilateral meetings with leaders of Singapore, Thailand and Myanmar on the sidelines of the ASEAN – India Commemorative Summit in New Delhi, India, on January 25.

The State Securities Commission (SSC) has issued a draft regulation requiring the initial margin ratio contracted by securities companies for margin lending to be at least 60 percent, which is expected to take effect in early February. 

 The second National Survey on Women’s Health and Life Experience funded by the Australian Embassy in Vietnam was launched at a workshop in Hanoi on January 25.

 Heroes of U23 Vietnam

The technical breakdown at HOSE (HCMC Stock Exchange) on January 22 causing a 2-day interruption is estimated to have caused a loss of hundreds of billions of dong. 

 Sir Elton John has announced he will stop touring in order to prioritise his family.

 Vietnam is taking important steps towards fulfilling the commitments to international bidding outlined in the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, in anticipation of growing investment from the region in the future.

 Those passing by Tran Hung Dao Street in District 1, HCMC might see a nearly-100-year-old building attached to the story about Nguyen Van Hao, one of the wealthiest businessmen in Saigon, the former name of HCMC, in the early 20th century.

 CDH Electric Bee further divests from MWG, Vietnam should work towards achieving income per capita of US$10,000, VRG expects to list on HOSE in mid-2018, Ineffective oil projects put PVEP in peril

Vietnam, the second largest coffee exporter in the world, is importing more coffee as demand from restaurants, hotels and shops has increased. 

Myanmar is a target market for many Vietnamese ITC conglomerates. Le Dang Dung, deputy CEO of Viettel, a military company, said among the markets Viettel has invested in, Myanmar has the biggest opportunities.

 VietNamNet Bridge – HCM City’s Food Safety Management Board, the first of its kind in the country, saw significant progress in its first 10 months of operation, 

 Vietnam’s startup ecosystem is on the radar of Japanese firms wishing to co-operate with Vietnamese startups and calling for capital from Japan’s funds to develop novel ideas.

 The Ministry of Transport will work with relevant agencies to discuss the possibility of doing away with airport entry/exit fee collections from automobiles following a proposal of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam.

The project on producing 23,000 PhDs for universities and junior colleges in 2010-2020, or Project 911, capitalized at VND14 trillion, failed at the end of 2016 as many targets were unattainable. 

VietNamNet Bridge - Only 22 percent of the climate-change adaptation plan on protecting forests in coastal areas in 2015-2020 has been implemented.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Art researcher and critic Iola Lenzi arrived in Vietnam for the first time 20 years ago and was charmed by the refined culture.