Whether Vietnam has a competitive power market remains a controversial question. The Central Institute of Economic Management (CIEM) believes that the current market must not be competitive as Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) still holds the monopoly.

 Every year, towards the beginning of December, many fields in Hanoi and surrounding region come alive with a brilliant carpet of yellow, orange and gold.

The latest 100 collections of silk scarves from famous silk centres in Van Phuc, Nha Xa, Tan An, Hoi An and Ly Silk have been introduced at Hoi An Silk Village in celebration of Christmas, and will last through lunar Tet holiday in February.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The domestic foreign exchange market on Thursday, Dec 17, remained relatively stable after the United States (US) Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point.

Three of the four Deputy Secretaries of HCM City Party Committee previously worked at the HCM City Youth Union. One is a doctor of economics and two others hold master's degrees in philosophy and law.

 Hanoians are increasingly turning to renting pretend Santas during the festive period.

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam has one of the most accessible wi-fi networks in the world, but security risks exist.

VietNamNet Bridge - Higher education is not always a guarantee of success, but many people are willing to spend a lot of money to gain an advanced degree, making the education sector a highly profitable business field for investors.

The 13th meeting of the 11th Party Central Committee, which opened on December 14, will discuss personnel planning for the 12th Party Central Committee, Political Bureau, and Secretariat of the CPV Central Committee and Central Inspection Commission.

 Badminton player Nguyen Tien Minh failed in the quarter-finals of the Mexico Grand Prix on Saturday.

 Dang Quang Anh won the U10 category at the Kids Golf World Championship in Palm Resort Golf&Country Club in Malaysia.

 A photo exhibition of the beauty and lifestyle of HCM City, taken by veteran photographer Phan Tam Thai, is opening at the city's Photography Association.

VietNamNet Bridge - Agriculture is an investment field which promises high risks but low profitability, just 3-4 percent.

 The Viet Nam National Coffee Corporation (Vinacafe) will be equitised in 2017, following a directive of the government on restructuring the HCM City-based company.

 VietNamNet Bridge - According to the land management agency of Ngu Hanh Son District, Da Nang City, nearly 250 plots of land along the coast of Da Nang are owned by Chinese under the names of Vietnamese.

 The free trade agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) became effective on December 20, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT)’s press release on December 19.

 The Mexican Defence Ministry wants to launch cooperation channels in new fields with Vietnam, including facilitating visits to share information and experience, its Secretariat Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda has said.

 Vietnam and China hosted respective ceremonies to launch a joint survey of a 386.7 sq.m section of waters, as agreed earlier, off the mouth of the Gulf of Tonkin on December 19.

 National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung will lead a high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese legislature to pay an official visit to China on December 23-27.

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnamese representative at 2015 Miss World pageant Tran Ngoc Lan Khue, 23, won the World Designer Award during the Saturday finale, held in Sanya, China's Hainan Province.