Corruption cases in 2017 have so far cost over VND1.35 trillion (US$59.4 million) in damages, of which VND158.8 billion, US$314,000, four houses and one apartment have been retrieved.

Vietnam’s population and housing census is conducted every ten years on April 1 and the fifth survey will be conducted in 2019, aimed at meeting national targets and several indicators for sustainable development.

 An interoperable smart card system will be introduced for public transport in Hanoi, with support coming from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

 The Ministry of Finance (MoF) plans to cut import taxes on automobile parts in line with WTO rules, according to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA).

 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc praised Austrian Ambassador Thomas Loidl for his contribution to Vietnam-Austria relations during a reception in Hanoi on September 7.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc said he will instruct competent Vietnamese agencies to coordinate with their Egyptian counterparts to accelerate the implementation of commitments reached by the two countries’ leaders. 

 Despite having fallen to the fourth position in terms of foreign direct investment in the first eight months of 2017, the real estate sector remains the second-biggest recipient of this type of investment to date.

 Strict penalties were levied on three contractors for fraud during the bidding process of two projects running under Vietnam Inland Waterways Administration as the main investor and funded by the World Bank.

Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung will be the chairman of a special state evaluation council to evaluate the feasibility study report of the Long Thanh International Airport project

 Reliance Industry Company from India decided to co-operate with PetroVietnam to restart Dinh Vu polyester plant located in the northern city of Haiphong.

 The Ministry of Finance (MoF) has announced changes in the Law on Corporate Income Tax (CIT) to better regulate and monitor the level of equity and taxable income for firms operating in Viet Nam.

 Carlsberg Breweries A/S has introduced its new representative for a vacancy on the Board of Directors of Hanoi Beer, Alcohol and Beverages Corporation (Habeco), aiming to increase its controlling rights.

 One of Vietnam’s leading ocean shipping companies, Vietnam Ocean Shipping JSC (Vosco), a subsidiary of Vietnamese shipping group Vinalines, has been operating with massive losses.

 The Vietnamese version of the book Napoleon: The Great, a New York Times bestseller written by veteran British historian and journalist Andrew Roberts, was presented to the Vietnamese public in Hanoi on Wednesday.

 South Korean Literary (KL) Management will introduce and popularise the Vietnamese novel Những Ngã Tư Và Những Cột Đèn (Crossroads and Lamposts) at Book Fair Frankfurt in October.

Four films from Belgium’s Mons International Love Film Festival (FIFA Mons) will be screened free of charge in Hanoi from September 8-11.   

 The Vietnam Administration of Forestry in partnership with USAID announced the establishment of an elephant sanctuary in central Quang Nam province on September 7.

 Many visitors and tourism firms have complained about the VND400,000 (USD17.60) package to enter the Hanoi Opera House.

Ash and slag waste from thermal power plants in Quang Ninh Province is contaminating the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay.

Da Nang has made a proposal to change the function of six projects, and reduce the scale of 10 others, in accordance with the master plan on the Son Tra National Tourism Complex in the Son Tra Peninsula.