Overview of Vietnamese economy in H1 2017

 Students of the RMIT University Vietnam won the second prize of the “Accor Take Off! 2017” competition, an international competition on innovative ideas of Accor Hotel recently held in Paris, France. 

 The Vietnam Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 52.5 in June from a 14-month low of 51.6 in May, the latest survey from Nikkei’s IHS Markit showed on July 3.

 Pottery art in Bau Truc Village, Ninh Thuan Province has been recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

 Despite a public uproar, the Ministry of Finance has shown no signs of backing off its plan to hike the environmental protection tax on fuels by VND3,000-8,000 a liter, double or triple the current level.

 All mobile phone numbers will have 10 digits only next year, meaning 11-digit numbers now in use will be reduced by one digit.

The People’s Procuracy of My Duc district, Hanoi has issued an indictment to prosecute 14 former officials and leaders of Dong Tam commune and the district for land violations.

VietNamNet Bridge - According to the Foreign Investment Agency (FIA), foreign investors have poured capital into 19 of 21 business fields so far this year, of which real estate ranks second with investment capital of $53 billion.

Vietnam and the UN have signed the new Government of Vietnam - UN Joint One Strategic Plan (OSP) for the 2017-2021 period.

The 40 most valuable companies in Vietnam have a total revenue of $5.4 billion, which is a 20 percent increase compared to 2016. This is the second time Vinamilk tops the list, with a brand value of $1.7 billion. 

 Hanoi authorities have approved a document to guide the implementation of a regulation on parking areas for local buildings.

Flood management, traffic congestion, environmental pollution and food safety are some of the issues which authorities of HCM City need to tackle over the second half of this year, 

The HCM City People’s Committee on Monday asked Nha Be District authorities to take urgent measures to prevent landslides on the left bank of the Giong Canal – Kinh Lo River in Hiep Phuoc Commune.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The investor of Nui Coc Lake Dam in the northern province of Thai Nguyen was told yesterday to speed up work of repairing the facility.

 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s visit to Germany from July 5-8 is expected to contribute significantly to fostering the two countries’ relations, said Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Doan Xuan Hung.

 The U.S. government has sought to intervene in Apple's (AAPL.O) appeal against an EU order to pay back up to 13 billion euros ($14.8 billion) in Irish taxes, 

The Upside Down House in the southern city of Vung Tau is the country’s quirkiest and funniest tourist attraction for all ages and generations.

A multi-million-dollar restoration of the Saigon Notre-Dame Basilica, a piece of Ho Chi Minh City history, has gotten underway.

 Vietnamese Grandmaster Le Quang Liem had draws in both the sixth and seventh round of the World Open 2017 chess tournament in the US.

Teams from six Asian countries will highlight the VTV Women’s Volleyball Cup that gets underway July 8 at the Hai Duong Competition Hall in the northern city of Hai Duong, according to a press conference.