In a first, Vietnam grabbed a gold medal in swimming at the ninth ASEAN Schools Games (ASG), which is ongoing in Singapore.

 Mixed share performance is expected this week and market sentiment is forecast to remain weak before companies release their second-quarter earnings reports.

 Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has suggested fostering all-around ties between his country and Vietnam, towards deepening the Vietnam-Laos friendship. 

Vietnam wrapped up the 16th Asian Karate Federation Cadet, Junior, U21 and the 14th AKF Senior Championships 2017 with seven bronze medals in Kazakhstan on July 16. 

 Ngo Quang Thuan scored the only goal in Vietnam’s 1-0 win over Malaysia in their fourth match of the ASEAN Football Federation U15 Championship in Thailand on July 16.

 Japanese Students team triumphed in the International Women’s Volleyball Tournament, VTV Cup, beating Indonesian national team 25-14, 25-19, 25-14.

 Tropical storm Talas landed in the central provinces of Nghe An and Ha Tinh at around 1 am on July 17, bringing strong wind and heavy rains to the region and is gradually weakening on its way westwards.

 Protected marine areas (MPAs) in the country face the serious threats of pollution, dynamite and electric shock fishing and haphazard infrastructure construction for tourism.

 Vietnam’s telecom revenue is estimated at 213.36 trillion VND (9.36 billion USD) in the first six months of the year, excluding Viettel’s business overseas, equal to 47.41 percent of the plan for the year.

 Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh spoke highly of the role of the Vietnamese community in Singapore in connecting the two countries during a visit to the Vietnamese Embassy in Singapore on July 15.

 Hanoi these days shines with vibrant summer flowers, including lotus. Different from other vivid flowers, lotus has its own uniqueness, helping cool the hot summer air in the capital.

 The tourism sector is tasked to lure 13-15 million foreign visitors this year. However, the increase in the number of visitors to Vietnam has put the sector under pressure to ensure the quality of tourist destinations.

 The 24th Mua he xanh (Green Summer) Volunteer Campaign kicked off in Ho Chi Minh City on July 16, attracting over 60,000 youngsters.

 Commercial banks have performed well in the first half of 2017 (H1), and business results show that many have already met more than half their annual profit targets.

 Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung held working sessions with authorities, business community and Harvard University in Boston city, the US state of Massachusetts during his visit from July 12-14. 

 The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) is devising a scheme to export high-skilled labourers abroad to tackle domestic unemployment.

VietNamNet Bridge - The skills of Truong Thanh Khoan, a farmer in Dong Nai province, to create agarwood from the do tram tree (aquilaria crassna) has been described as ‘second to none’. 

 Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong will pay a State visit to Cambodia from July 20-22 at the invitation of Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni.

 Israel Book Day, the first of its kind, opened on Hanoi book street on July 16 as part of celebrations for the 25th anniversary of Vietnam-Israel diplomatic ties (July 12). 

 The 31st Golden Racket table tennis tournament opened on July 15 at Nguyen Du Gymnasium in Ho Chi Minh City.