Vietnam takes pride as one of the world’s biggest natural rubber exporter, but it still has to spend nearly $1 billion a year to import mostly synthetic rubber products to satisfy domestic production.

Vietnam spends VND600 billion each year to develop technology for agricultural production, of which VND300 billion, or $15 million, is spent on research and development (R&D), or one-tenth of Thailand’s.

VietNamNet Bridge - While an education organization has ranked Vietnam in the seventh position among 21 Asian countries in proficiency of English, some experts call the result ‘flashy’.

VietNamNet Bridge - In the past, Lan kim tuyen as called by Vietnamese, or Anoechilus roxburglihayata, was considered a species of valueless weed. But now, it sells for hundreds of million of dong per kilogram. 

 The fintech sector is forecast to see strong growth and become a major technology trend next year, while at the same time encouraging the growth of other sectors, heard participants at the Vietnam Young Leader Forum 2018 last week.

 The third High-level Dialogue on ASEAN-Italy Economic Relations is scheduled to be held in Hanoi on June 5-6, 2019.

 The recent French festivals in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City spread messages of the close-knit friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and France.

 Vietnam’s e-commerce market is predicted to boom in the near future, given that 53 percent of the population uses the internet and nearly 54 million people use smartphones. 

 Vietnam has for the first time become a member of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), singing up for a six-year term.

 The oil painting “My teacher” which portrays head coach of the Vietnamese national football team Park Hang-seo will be auctioned at Chon’s Auction House in downtown Hanoi on December 30.

 The likely gross domestic product (GDP) growth rate of 6.8 percent and improved business climate are among the highlights of Vietnam’s economy in 2018, experts said.

 The Vietnamese market has seen an increasing amount of Japanese goods winning locals’ predilection.

 One hundred teams from across Vietnam are taking part in a biggest ever cyber-attack drill, which runs in Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City from December 18 to 21.

 The CPV has expelled 50,938 members during the 2011-2017 period, of whom 38,519 were removed from the Party rolls for wrongdoings and 12,499 were expelled from the Party as punishment.

 The Government Inspectorate’s bureau for corruption prevention and combat on December 18 issued a document announcing the establishment of hotlines and email receiving information on cases having signs of corruption.

The Investigation Police Agency under the Ministry of Public Security has issued decisions on prosecuting and detaining Do Van Khanh, former Director General of the PetroVietnam Exploration Production Corporation (PVEP). 

 Hanoi will invest around $85.6 million in 2019 and 2020 to upgrade medical establishments in the city, thus improving medical care quality for residents.

 Local securities companies are facing stiff competition from their foreign rivals, especially in the race for capital.

 The Asian Commercial Joint Stock Bank (ACB) on Monday announced a plan to issue VND2.2 trillion (US$96.6 million) worth of non-convertible bonds by the end of 2018.

PM sets deadlines for transport projects in south, Nguyen Thi Phuong Lan crowned Miss Student 2018, Vietnam makes great strides in promoting gender equality, Agribank agency director commits suicide