Booming cities and vigorous urbanisation are challenging Vietnam’s future, according to a business conference titled "Smart Cities" held in Hanoi on September 27.

 The World Economic Forum’s latest global competitiveness list, released on September 27, ranked Vietnam 55th overall, up five places from last year and 20 from five years ago.

 The Government has approved a plan to simplify administrative procedures, citizenship papers and databases related to population management run by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA).

 VietNamNet Bridge – The chief accountant of the State-owned petrol behemoth PetroVietnam (PVN) has been arrested as the police expand their investigation into the case of Trinh Xuan Thanh’s, 

 Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, who helped usher in the 1960s sexual revolution with his groundbreaking men’s magazine and built a business empire around his libertine lifestyle, died on Wednesday

 There are more than 7.7 million domestic dogs in Vietnam but just 41 per cent of them are vaccinated.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Schools with 500 students or more should set up kitchens to make food for them to reduce the risk of food poisoning, HCM City officials have suggested.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The dengue fever epidemic in Ha Noi may peak for the second time this year in October and November, experts have warned.

 Executives from Facebook, Alphabet Inc’s Google and Twitter have been asked to testify to the U.S. Congress in coming weeks as lawmakers probe Russia’s alleged interference in the 2016 U.S. election, 

 The German Embassy in Hanoi on Wednesday officially refuted rumours that the European country temporarily stopped issuing visas for Vietnamese nationals.

 The investigation security agency of the central province of Nghe An’s Police on September 27 arrested Nguyen Viet Dung for conducting propaganda against the State.

 The first International Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS)/Sensors Conference took place in Ho Chi Minh City on September 27.

 Vice Secretary of HCM City Party Committee Vo Thi Dung on September 27 hosted a reception for President of the Global Summit of Women Irene Natividad who is paying a working visit to Vietnam.

International organisations and development partners committed to supporting Vietnam in implementing projects that make the Mekong Delta more resilient to climate change impacts.

 Nghinh Ong Festival, an event for fishermen to show their respect for the whale and gratitude for a bumper catch, will return to Can Gio district of Ho Chi Minh City in October with a bigger scale.

 Ho Chi Minh City will organise its first ever international marathon on November 26, Bui Ta Hoang Vu, Director of the municipal Department of Tourism said on September 27.

 Two Vietnamese businesswomen won prizes of the second APEC Business Efficiency and Success Target (BEST) Award presented in Hue city on September 27.

 The 10th version of the Hue Festival in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue will highlight the five local UNESCO-recognised World Heritage items, according to the festival’s organising board. 

VNS spoke to Hermen Borst, deputy Delta commissioner of the Netherlands’ Delta Programme, on the sidelines of an international conference held in Can Tho on Sept 26-27 on sustainable and climate-resilient development of the Mekong Delta. 

 VietNamNet Bridge – Nha Trang delicacy banh uot Dien Khanh is often missed by visitors, who often only know of the province for its numerous beaches.