Low-cost carrier Jetstar Pacific on October 18 announced the opening of four new international routes to Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Taipei. 

 Construction of a centre for natural resources conservation and fauna and flora rescue has begun in Thua Thien-Hue, a central province with rich biodiversity. 

 Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha has promised that Vietnam will successfully implement commitments in greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction and climate change mitigation. 

 Ho Chi Minh City authorities on October 18 announced a Zika outbreak on communal and ward scale. 

 The Vietnam National Swimming Championships 2016 officially kicked off at My Dinh National Sports Complex in Hanoi on October 18. 

 Artists from the Vietnam National Opera and Ballet will perform the romantic ballet “Giselle”at the Hanoi Opera House on October 21 and 22. 

VietNamNet Bridge - The image of Vietnamese people queuing up at the cash register at Zara on opening day showed that the young fashion industry faces new challenges.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Com young sticky rice flakes - one of Ha Noi’s culinary specialties - has long been close to Hanoians’ hearts. Like the city where it was born, com is elegant, fresh and simple.

 The Canadian Navy’s ship, HMCS Vancouver, with 36 officers and 200 crew members on board arrived in Ho Chi Minh City on October 18, beginning its four-day visit to Vietnam.

 The central province of Quang Nam on October 18 organised an oil spill response exercise at the Chu Lai – Truong Hai Port with the participation of hundreds of specialised vehicles and relevant forces. 

 The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines said it has canceled 14 flights to the port city of Hai Phong on October 19 due to storm Sarika. 

VietNamNet Bridge - After a month of intensive treatment, the male patient has Whitmore’s disease, or Melioidosis, a rare infectious disease, has recovered. 

 President Tran Dai Quang held a reception in Hanoi on October 18 for Palestinian Ambassador Saadi Salama, during which he affirmed Vietnam’s consistent stance of supporting the Palestinian people’s just struggle for basic national rights. 

 President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan praised Pratibha Mehta, UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam, for her activities and initiatives to support the Southeast Asian nation in various areas.

 Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong described strengthening the Party and fighting corruption, wastefulness and other bad deeds as a key and long-term task during his meeting with voters of Hanoi’s Tay Ho district on October 18.

 Law making will dominate the agenda of the second session of the 14 th National Assembly (NA) scheduled for October 20-November 23. 

 The Experts’ Working Group on Humanitarian Mine Action of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+) will convene their fourth conference in Hanoi on October 20, the Defence Ministry told the media on October 18. 

 Defence Minister Gen. Ngo Xuan Lich paid a floral tribute at the Thai embassy in Hanoi on October 18, expressing his sympathy with the recent passing of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej. 

 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosted a delegation of Japanese businesses led by Yoichi Kobayashi, Chairman of the Mekong-Japan Business Cooperation Committee from the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) in Hanoi on October 18. 

Vietnam has lowered its GDP target for this year to 6.3-6.5% from an initial 6.7%. The National Assembly's Economic Committee has admitted it would be difficult for the country to achieve 6.5% GDP growth for 2016.