Grave air pollution in Vietnam’s cities and towns, especially Hanoi, continues to cause severe health problems for Vietnam’s growing urban population. However, no effective measures have been taken to deal with the situation.

 A gigantic project – worth over $37 billion – to build a synchronous smart city project in northern Hanoi may have to wait some time before being realised, due to an absence of specific criteria for this type of development.

 Dana-Y and Dana-Uc steel factories will have to suspend their operation indefinitely due to violations of wastewater discharge regulations.   

Thanks to Vietnam’s issuing incentive policies to lure investment into the renewable energy sector, more and more foreign investors, especially those from South Korea, have expressed ambitions to join the field.

 Internet-based sharing services such as Grab, Uber, and Airbnb have taken Vietnam by storm in 2017. Various legal concerns still linger, but experts believe that the sharing economy is here to stay.

 Sandy beaches a solid foundation, Techcombank adjusts FOL to 8.54 per cent to approach foreign investors, Growth boosts demand for industrial land, Mekong Innovative Startups in Tourism extends application deadline     

 VietNamNet Bridge – HCM City should have methods to evaluate the actual work effectiveness of civil servants in order to fairly decide salary increases, 

A mass performance in celebration of the Ao dai (Vietnamese traditional long dress) was held along Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street on March 4, attracting 3,000 people from different ages and careers.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese players on Monday began their three-day table tennis exchange with strong athletes from Japan at the Hoa Lu Table Tennis Club in HCM City.

Mong ethnic women in the northern mountainous province of Dien Bien have been competing to see who can crochet the best patterns, attracting a large crowd of spectators in the early Lunar New Year.

The eastern part of the city will still be hot in 2018, while infrastructure works in the western part will attract house and apartment buyers, analysts say.

 The 8th HDBank Cup International Open Chess Tournament is set to take place in Hanoi from March 9-16.

 Vegetarian food lovers or those wishing to detoxify their bodies by vegetarian food should head to Co Noi Vegetarian Restaurant on level 7 of the Bong Sen Hotel in HCMC’s District 1.

 Ko Tam village in Ea Tu commune, Buon Ma Thuot city, has been developed into a seductive tourist destination. Its unspoiled nature and unique culture of the E De ethnic minority people attract many visitors.

 Motorcycle ride-hailing transportation provider Go-Jek from Indonesia has recruited experts to advise for its expansion in Vietnam to break the dominance of Uber and Grab, according to newswire TheLEADER.

 Leading seafood firm Minh Phu Corporation is planning to return to the stock exchange following a lucrative year in business.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Republic of Korea (RoK) offered 10,000 tonnes of rice in humanitarian aid to typhoon-hit residents in Vietnam’s central provinces, 

 Events in Hanoi & HCMC on March 5-11 

Vietnam and the EU are likely to sign the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement soon, Daniel Muller, ASEAN Regional Manager for the German Asia-Pacific Business Association, said in an interview granted to VNA reporters in Germany.

 Nine Vinaconex officials have been on a 10-day trial starting by Hanoi People's Court from March 5 following the Da River water pipeline’s 18 major water leaks caused by low-quality construction.