The tourism industry has contributed more and more to the Vietnamese economy as the number of foreign arrivals continued to soar sharply in the first quarter of 2017, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit.

Vietnam has climbed eight levels to 67th in rankings of competitive tourism destinations and also found its way into the Top 4 countries with the most-improved scores during the last two years in many categories.

Nguyen Le Hoai Anh, a 12th grader from Lao Cai, was awarded by the provincial People’s Committee, on April 17, for winning a full scholarship from Stanford University (US) worth VND 6.5 billion (US$ 286,000). 

 Deputy Minister of Transport Nguyen Hong Truong asked authorities of provinces where Uber and Grab were providing services to develop a comprehensive evaluation of the operation of the car-hailing services firms.

 Shareholders of PV Gas (GAS) has approved the company’s plans to lower its business targets in 2017 by 15-27 per cent year-on-year, given the global instability and volatile oil market.

 Vietinbank has not completed acquiring PGBank as the two sides have not finished all required procedures and got approval from the authorities.

 The U20 squad arrived in Dusseldorf, Germany today (Apr. 17) for a training camp to prepare for the FIFA U20 World Cup 2017 set to transpire in the Republic of Korea between May and June 2017.

 VietNamNet Bridge - Saigon is as a small world with a multi-cultural feeling. Besides Pham Ngu Lao and De Tham streets for western backpackers, a Japanese street exists on Le Thanh Ton Street in District 1.

 Thousands of football fans flocked to the Hang Day Stadium in Hanoi on April 17 to see with their own eyes the UEFA Champions League trophy and their Dutch idol Clarence Seedorf.

Pergola, Huong Dong Noi Café and HP ICE Lounge coffee shops are ideal for people in HCM City to take a summer retreat.

VietNamNet Bridge - The top five beauties of Miss Grand International 2016 are now in Vietnam to promote the 2017 competition set for later this year in Quang Binh and HCM City of Vietnam.

 Nineteen year-old Dinh Thi Huong Thao has been awarded a US$300,000 scholarship to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US.

 Deputy Foreign Minister Vu Hong Nam has made a three-day visit to Cameroon as special envoy of President Tran Dai Quang to boost ties between the two countries, especially in trade and investment.

 Opportunities to invest in Vietnam’s solar energy sector are abundant after Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc issued a decision to encourage the development of solar power projects. 

 The Miss Grand International (MGI) 2017 will run from October 5 to 26 in Ho Chi Minh City, Quang Binh and Phu Quoc of Kien Giang province, and is expected to attract tourists to these destinations.

 The Central Highlands region is mobilising resources to prevent forest fires as it is the peak of the dry season, which begins in November and ends in April every year.

VietNamNet Bridge - The total expenses for logistics services in Vietnam are estimated at 21 percent of GDP, much higher than 9-14 percent in developed countries.

 A year on from the sea environment incident caused by Formosa, the tourism industry in the central province of Quang Binh is gradually recovering. 

 A two-day international conference on information science and technology opened in central Da Nang city on April 17. 

 The Traditional Musical Instrument Solo and Ensemble Festival is taking place in the central province of Thanh Hoa.