Experts say ransomware continues attacking businesses, and that cryptocurrency mining malware has appeared on websites in Vietnam, while spyware is attacking Android smartphones.

VietNamNet Bridge - Residents are complaining about columns of smoke from burning stacks of straw in the Hanoi suburbs. 

VietNamNet Bridge - HCMC has received approval from the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) for its plan to compile textbooks for use at general schools in the city. 

The People’s Court in Mekong Delta’s Can Tho City sentenced one foreigner and three Vietnamese to prison for cheating 37 people of some VND5.3 billion (US$235,500) via social network Facebook.

 The WhiteHat Grand Prix 2017 under theme of "Vietnam Heritages" was officially opened in Hanoi capital yesterday with the participation of 277 leading network security and software teams from more than 50 countries in the world. 

 The central highlands province of Lam Dong has almost completed all preparations for the 7th Da Lat Flower Festival to be taken place from December 23-27.

 Japanese-American violinist Tamaki Kawakubo gives a performance themed “Melodies of happiness” at Hanoi Opera House on January 17.

 Pedagogy schools are facing financial difficulties as they have to subsidize for training expenses when the government’s subsidization is not enough.

 Government officers and workers will enjoy a 7-day holiday for the 2018 Tet (Lunar New Year), from February 14 - 20, 2018 (on December 29- January 5 of the lunar calendar).

 The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has proposed a project on expansion of Noi Bai Airport at the cost of VND620 billion ($27,292,623).

 US travel site Insider calls town in northern Yen Bai province "a hidden gem" for its terraced rice fields.

 Despite facing difficulties, the garment and textile sector is expected to export products worth US$31 billion this year, a year-on-year increase of 10.2%, and the outlook is bright for next year too.

 Representatives from local authorities in the northwestern, central agencies on tourism and travel enterprises gathered at a workshop in Lao Cai on December 16 to discuss measures for strengthening linkage to promote and develop tourism products.

 The Central Inspection Commission (CIC) has found multiple violations committed by Party committees in Thanh Hoa, Quang Nam, Vinh Phuc and Dak Nong provinces.

 Viet Nam is one of the world’s fastest growing e-commerce countries, Lai Viet Anh, deputy director of Viet Nam E-commerce and Information Technology Agency (Vecita) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said.

 Vietnam has lost thousands of billions of dong in taxes as foreign enterprises, especially large-scale ones, refuse to pay based on the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement.

 Not long after Vietnam's Law on Foreign Investment came into effect in 1987, the food and beverage processing industry emerged as a potential sector with many hundred-million dollar projects. 

 The processing and manufacturing industry is always the most attractive FDI segment, accounting for 45 per cent of total registered investment capital. However, Vietnamese enterprises are stuck on the lower rungs in the global supply chain.

 Banks are worried that Chu Lai Soda Processing JSC (Chu Lai Soda) will default on its VND2 trillion ($88.1 million) debt as the soda processing factory has been forced to suspend its operations since August 2016 due to violations in discharge.

 President of the Moroccan House of Representatives Habib El Malki is paying an official visit to Vietnam from December 16-22.