The visit of President of the French National Assembly (NA) Claude Bartolone to Vietnam marks an important milestone in Vietnam-France relations, said Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong on March 20.

 Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has suggested Vietnam and Japan focus on addressing difficulties and boosting trade promotion to increase Vietnamese agricultural and aquatic exports to Japan.

 Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh will attend the first Lancang-Mekong Cooperation leaders’ meeting and the Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan province, China, from March 22-24.

The youngest Youth Ambassador of SOS Children’s Village, 11-year old Capri Everitt from Vancouver, Canada, raised her pure, innocent voice to sing the Vietnamese national anthem at SOS Children’s Village in Da Nang

VietNamNet Bridge - The water sources around the red mud reservoir at the Tan Rai bauxite plant in Lam Dong district is polluted, leaving local people lacking clean water shortage.

VietNamNet Bridge - Decree 06 on management, provision and use of radio and television services, which would take effect on March 15, sets up limitations on the number of foreign TV channels on pay-TV.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Drought and salt intrusion has worsened and damaged a large shrimp farming area in the Mekong Delta since the beginning of this year, causing material shortage for export processing plants

 VietNamNet Bridge – Cam Luong Commune in Cam Thuy District in the northern province of Thanh Hoa has been known by visitors nationwide for Luong Ngoc Stream, also known as “God fish stream” by Muong ethnic minority in the area.

 RoK limits Vietnam guest workers again, Emergency aid delivered to drought-hit provinces, Mekong Delta improves post-harvest rice quality, President backs hi-tech plans to offset drought, Giant cranes made in Vietnam shipped to central port

VietNamNet Bridge - While thousands of businesses have had to struggle to survive the recession, many businesses have been prospering. With VND100 in capital, they can make VND110 in net profit. 

 VietNamNet Bridge – Viet Nam has succeeded in stabilising the foreign exchange rate, but the rate of dollarisation has not decreased as expected, experts said in a meeting on Monday.

An alarming increase in the number of labour related accidents since the beginning of this year has emphasised the importance of improving awareness of the responsibility of employers, employees and the public about labour safety.

Supported by stable economic growth and the upturn of the market, Vietnam’s resort and hospitality segment is expected to see a surge in investment capital this year.

  Japanese investors are increasing their presence in Vietnam’s real estate sector by teaming up with domestic partners.

 Vietnam will need around US$148 billion to invest in developing the national electricity grid and resources (not including electricity projects invested under the BOT model) in the 2016-2030 period. 

 The families of three Vietnamese men are calling for help from the government to save their sons who have been held by Somali pirates for four years.

VietNamNet Bridge – HCMC - based Phuong Nam Printing Co. Ltd. will release the photo book “Son Doong – A hidden paradise” in both Vietnamese and English. 

 VietNamNet Bridge – In the Xanh market in Kim Lien, Dong Da District, Hanoi, female traders dance while selling vegetables and meat.

 All train services to and from HCMC have been disrupted since the Ghenh Bridge in the southern province of Dong Nai collapsed at noon on March 20 after it was hit by a barge transporting 800 tons of sand.

VietNamNet Bridge - Contrary to predictions, businesses have remain unruffled though they have been told to stop borrowing money in foreign currencies in the second quarter.