Total lending of the banking sector for securities trading has reached VND10 trillion (US$444.4 million), according to State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV) governor Le Minh Hung.

The HCM City Department of Natural Resources and Environment on Monday issued a warning to customers and secondary real estate investors about illegal activity of Alibaba Real Estate JSC and Alibaba Tay Bac HCMC JSC.

 Pham Nhat Vuong, billionaire founder and chairman of Vingroup, is ranked 479th on Forbes Magazine’s updated list of the richest people in the world on Wednesday with total assets of US$4.3 billion.

Though Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable industry is growing, its exports still account for less than 1 percent of the global market, indicating the need for the processing industry to upgrade its facilities and practices.

 The SMIC Golf Challenge Tournament is scheduled for November 25 to 27 at FLC Samson Golf Links in the central province of Thanh Hoa.

All three special economic zones (SEZs) Vietnam plans to set up – Phu Quoc, Bac Van Phong and Van Don – will give priority to services, tourism and integrated entertainment with casinos. 

 More than 70 people and 20 horses had to be rescued from floods in Lancashire as bad weather hit the UK.

 Eight people have been rescued after a US Navy aircraft carrying 11 crew and passengers crashed off the coast of Japan, 

Characters from the popular opera Carmen will be performed as contemporary Vietnamese people by artists from Viet Nam National Opera and Ballet (VNOB) at Ha Noi Opera House on November 23 and 24.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The prospect of establishing three special economic zones is more likely than ever, but future administrations there are at risk of being unconstitutional.

 The National Best Tennis Players Tournament will run from December 17-22 in the central province of Nghe An, the event’s organisers announced yesterday.

 Eleven Japanese films released over the last three years will be screened at the annual Japanese Film Festival in HCM City from November 24 to December 9.

 VietNamNet Bridge – About 60,000 sq.m of pavements in the central districts of Hanoi are being misused as parking areas, blocking pedestrians and degrading footpath quality, 

Lawmakers voiced support for appointing a single chief to run each special administrative-economic unit, instead of setting up People’s Councils and People’s Committees, while discussing a draft law on such units on November 22.

 Charity Christmas show to be held in HCM City, Christmas sale at Bookworm, French DJ Voiski presents two shows, DJ Sister Nancey to perform in HCMC, FVH walking tour to Thăng Long Citadel

 VietNamNet Bridge – Candidates for the Golden Ball Awards 2017 were announced yesterday in HCM City.

"South Korea has fulfilled up to 99% of the workload for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Peyongchang city from February 9-25, 2018," said Jihye Lee, PR manager of the Pyeongchang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games. 

 VietNamNet Bridge – For Italian painter Laura Federici, the chance to visit Viet Nam and paint in the country was a long-held dream that has now come true.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Tran Van Thao is expected to win the first-ever World Boxing Council (WBC) Asia title for Viet Nam today in Bangkok.

Vietnamese commercial banks are planning to sell a stake in their company to foreign investors to attract capital and hasten their restructuring before listing shares on the bourse.