The 2019 Spring Calligraphy Festival officially opened at the Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam (Temple of Literature) in Hanoi on January 29, attracting a large number of visitors.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Customs agents in the northern city of Hai Phong discovered nearly 1.4 tonnes of pangolin scales and 20 elephant tusks weighing more than 100kg hidden inside a container shipped from Nigeria.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) and retailers have been working together in programs to connect producers and distributors, resulting in more sales of Vietnamese-made products and local specialty food items at supermarket chains.

 Vietnam has been listed as one of top 20 most beautiful countries in the world by Rough Guide.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Tran Van Dung, chairman of the State Securities Commission, speaks to Vietnam News Agency about the securities market’s prospects this year following negative growth in 2018.

 Driven by impressive growth in 2018, Vietnam’s aviation sector is expected to be more buoyant this year, with more newcomers queuing up and conditions to be altered to facilitate businesses and investment from overseas. 

 Con Cung JSC, the well-known mum and baby retail store chain has been fined for VND25 million ($1,086) for departing from its promotional programme plans submitted to the authorities.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Nguyen Quang Thanh, deputy general of the State Audit Office of Viet Nam, speaks to Tiền Phong (Vanguard) newspaper about the key missions his agency will be focusing on in 2019.

 According to statistics on pageviews in the fourth quarter, Lazada has been overwhelmed by Shopee and Tiki, and is threatened to be overtaken by Thegioididong and Sendo in the time coming.

 Indian pharmaceutical companies are keen on broadening partnerships with Vietnamese firms in order to serve the growing local healthcare industry.

 Local companies are trying to improve service quality to avoid losing market share to foreign players who are breaking into the high-end baby and mother products market in increasing numbers. 

 Four foreign investors are looking at a private offering of 75.72 million shares in Minh Phu Seafood Corporation this year.

 The HCM Stock Exchange has announced the first update of the year to the blue-chip VN30 Index, a basket of 30 stocks with the largest market capitalisation and highest liquidity.

 VietNamNet Bridge – A number of provinces across the country including Lai Chau, Nghe An and Tay Ninh are taking precautions to prevent forest fires as the dry season begins.

 PV Oil’s locking of the foreign ownership ratio at 6.6 per cent is a temporary measure before the Government endorses its new capital divestment plan, according to the company’s general director Cao Hoai Duong.

 The State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV) will rank credit institutions and foreign bank branches operating in the country in a move to ensure the safety of the banking system and protect legitimate rights of depositors.

The trade deficit will be a big challenge for the economy this year due to tax incentives the lower the price of imported goods on the Vietnamese market.

The share of job seekers who are using formal channels is growing in Vietnam, but still accounts for a minority of the job search channels used. Most jobs in the country today are filled through personal contacts, 

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Health has set a target to reduce hospital violence by between 15 and 20 per cent by 2020.

VietNamNet Bridge - Many students complain about choosing majors at school because they and their parents cannot find a common voice.