Vietnam enjoyed a trade surplus of 2.77 billion USD in the first nine months of this year with export turnover of 128.2 billion USD and import value of 125.4 billion USD.

VietNamNet Bridge - After eight years of focusing on real estate projects in HCMC, real estate developers now tend to eye land in the southwestern region of the country. 

 The Hanoi Municipal Emulation and Reward Council released the list of nine residents to receive the title of outstanding citizens this year on October 4. 

 Matthew, the first major hurricane threatening a direct hit on the United States in more than 10 years, closed in on Florida on Thursday after killing at least 283 people in Haiti on its destructive march north through the Caribbean.

 Vietnam is participating in the fifty-sixth series of meetings of the Assemblies of the Member States of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva, Switzerland, from October 3-11.

 Construction of the Vietnam-Germany University commenced in Ben Cat town in the southern province of Binh Duong on October 6, expected to become an excellent university in Vietnam with high ranking in the world. 

 The HCM City administration has instructed competent agencies to provide all assistance to a company undertaking flood prevention works to ensure there are no delays.

 The Vietnamese Government pledges to eradicate illegal wild animal trading and make every effort to combat all wildlife-related crimes, a Vietnamese official has said.

 Vietnam, UK organisations work to boost bilateral ties, Big Swedish trade mission on Vietnam visit, NA Chairwoman bids farewell to Japanese Ambassador, Standing Committee discusses preparation for NA second sitting

 Minister-Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung fielded questions on hot topics such as the escape of former Party member Trinh Xuan Thanh and the mass fish deaths in West Lake in Hanoi at a press conference on October 4. 

 Vo Van Tuan, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, met with officers of Laos’s border guard force and Bangladesh’s national defence college on October 4, aiming to enhance defence cooperation. 

 The EU - Vietnam Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) officially became effective on October 1 after being passed by parliaments of all EU member countries, according to Vietnam’s trade office in Belgium and the EU. 

Vietnam consistently supports efforts towards non-proliferation and general and complete disarmament, the country’s representative said at the general debate of the First Committee of the UN General Assembly.

 Vietnam’s honorary consulate was inaugurated in New Caledonia on October 5 with Dinh Jean-Pierre as its Honorary Consul General.

President Tran Dai Quang held talks with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani following the welcome ceremony in Hanoi on October 6.

 The National Assembly Standing Committee gave feedback on the draft Law on Support for Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) during their fourth working session in Hanoi on October 6. 

The Independence Order and Friendship Order of Vietnam were presented to collectives and individuals at the Lao Ministry of Public Works and Transport on October 6.

 Minister of National Defence Ngo Xuan Lich received the Thai and Singaporean ambassadors to Vietnam at the ministry’s headquarters in Hanoi on October 6. 

 Hurricane Matthew has killed at least 283 people in Haiti, including dozens in one coastal town that authorities and rescue workers were only beginning to reach days after the powerful storm, officials said on Thursday.

VietNamNet Bridge - Mismanagement and legal loopholes have both lent a hand to enterprises to illegally import prohibited waste.