To boost the private sector’s global competitiveness, Vietnam needs to reform its business environment.

 Amid a growing interest in Vietnam from global garment and technology companies, foreign logistics firms are expanding cross-border transport services between Vietnam, China, and other countries in the region to meet the growing demand.

 The 10th session of the 14th National Assembly Standing Committee commenced in Hanoi on May 15.

 Vietnam's annual retail sales growth projected to reach 11.9 percent

 The Vietnam Social Security (VSS) has shared the database of 24 million households buying health insurance with the Ministry of Health, a move aimed to better health insurance management and health care activities.

 Air pollution in a key Chinese region surrounding Beijing worsened in the first four months of this year, despite tough new campaigns to enforce green regulations and punish offenders, 

 Ho Chi Minh City’s leader and Diane Farrell, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Asia at the US Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration had a meeting in the southern hub on May 15 to discuss smart city development.

 Rising sea levels have exacerbated saline intrusion and coastal erosion in Vietnam, but farmers can make the best out of a bad situation by shifting from agriculture to aquaculture, raising brackish water shrimp.

 Vietnamese masters occupy top three positions after four round matches at the Asian Continental Chess Championships’ Women’s Category in China on May 15.

 Vietnamese grandmaster Le Quang Liem had the honour to represent Vietnamese students by carrying the country’s flag at Webster University’s graduation ceremony in the US last weekend.

 Three Vietnamese fishermen working on Singapore’s Le Tong Patriot ship received emergency aid at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH) after they suffered severe burns from a fire on board on May 6.

President Tran Dai Quang spoke at the Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue on APEC Toward 2020 and Beyond on May 16.

The Asia-Pacific region’s software and web developers will participate in a 24-hour app challenge focused on building products that address a persistent regional challenge: how can more micro and small businesses start exporting to foreign markets?

VietNamNet Bridge - Though China is the biggest export market for Vietnam, most of the exports go through unofficial channels. 

 Viet Nam U15 team beat Malaysia 2-1 in the third match of the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) U-15 Women’s Championship in Laos on May 14.

 A group of 17 tourists from Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province who were on a field trip to Da Nang were admitted to the city’s General Hospital on Sunday night, suffering from food poisoning.

Businesses that failed to update Microsoft Windows-based computer systems that were hit by a massive cyber attack over the weekend could be sued over their lax cyber security, but Microsoft Corp itself enjoys strong protection

 VietNamNet Bridge – The central city has launched Han Da Nang Princess, a five-star cruise ship offering tours of the Han River.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The winners of last weekend’s Viet Nam’s K-pop Festival will have a chance to attend the K-pop World Festival 2017 in Changwon, South Korea this September. 

 Myanmar wishes that Vietnamese businesses will increase their investment in the country, Speaker of Myanmar’s Parliament and House of Nationalities Mahn Win Khaing Than told Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.