Many schools in the mountainous areas in the central region have closed as the temperature dropped to 4 degrees.

 Some 4-8 million Vietnamese people are suffering from xerophthalmia – a progressive eye disease caused by vitamin A deficiency that can dry out tear ducts and eyes.

 Travellers to the Mekong Delta should visit Tra Su cajuput forest in An Giang Province to enjoy its beautiful landscapes and serenity.

 Kien Giang players won the women’s doubles title at the National Best Tennis Players Tournament, Vietravel Cup 2017.  

 The Transport Corporation Hanoi  (Transerco) on Thursday introduced two new bus routes to strengthen links with suburban areas.

 A worker died after an antenna tower in the Mekong Delta province of Vinh Long collapsed on Thursday.

 The General Department of Land Management under the Ministry of National Resources and Environment has decided to launch an inspection into land management and usage in five provinces and cities in 2018, Youth newspaper reports.

 The United Nations (UN) should build a long-term and comprehensive strategy to prevent conflicts and maintain global peace, said Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, head of Vietnam’s Permanent Mission to the UN. 

Up to 76 foreign investors were granted stock certificates by HCM City Development Bank (HDBank) at a ceremony held at the bank’s head office on Thursday.

VietNamNet Bridge - Amazon is pursuing a two-step strategy to enter the Vietnamese e-commerce market. 

 Maximum credit growth this year is forecast to be just 18-19 per cent, meaning that the banking system will not use up the increased room of 21 per cent.

 Vietnam’s exports are expected to reach more than US$212 billion for the first time this year, much higher than the $176 billion recorded last year.

 Vietnam and Laos issued a joint statement during the official friendly visit to Vietnam by General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and President of Laos Bounnhang Vorachith from December 19-21.

The Ministry of Education and Training has published a new draft circular on secondary and high school recruitment. One significant change is to allow secondary schools with applications exceeding enrolment quotas

 VietNamNet Bridge – HCM City will see a sharp increase in MICE (meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions) tourists in 2018, according to the local Department of Tourism.

A decree guiding the execution of the law on foreign trade management is being crafted in a way that the age requirements for used machine imports will be eased.

The Ministry of Public Security has proposed charging Trinh Xuan Thanh, former chairman of PetroVietnam Construction Corporation (PVC), for misappropriation at  Petrovietnam Power Land JSC (PVP Land).

Aside from Nguyen Van Binh Book Street, book enthusiasts and budget-conscious readers will have a new choice this month as a 3,000-square-meter bookstore has come into operation on the second floor of the Garden Mall in District 5, HCMC.

 Vietnamese-born actress Le Thi Hiep, who starred in the war-themed movie “Heaven & Earth” directed by Oliver Stone, died in Los Angeles, U.S. on December 19 at the age of 46 due to stomach cancer.

Over the past few days, the chilly weather has been enveloping HCMC with the temperature falling to 20 degrees Celsius or below early in the morning and late at night.