VietNamNet Bridge - The decision to resume the exploitation of Thach Khe, the biggest iron mine in SE Asia, and the biggest ever open-cast mine, has yet to be determined. 

 The rate of compulsory social insurance contribution by the employer to the fund for occupational accidents and diseases will be reduced by half a percentage point from June 1, 2017.

 Japanese supermarket operator Aeon has plans to set up 500 grocery stores in Vietnam by 2025, according to a Nikkei Asian Review report.

 Vinalines will launch its initial public offering (IPO) this December, and become a shareholder-owned concern in January next year.

Vietnamese officials from three ministries will inspect a giant aluminum stockpile at a foreign company’s factory in Ba Ria Vung Tau to determine if it has been moved to Vietnam as part of a tariff evasion scheme, the government has said.

 The city’s health department has urged district-level authorities and relevant agencies to take preventive measures against the outbreak of dengue fever.

 Starbucks Viet Nam on Friday opened its first Starbucks ReserveTM Coffee Bar in Ha Noi, the first of its Reserve experience bars in Viet Nam.

 The number of days with harmful air quality in Hanoi increased in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period of last year, according to a study conducted by the Hanoi-based Green Innovation and Development Centre (GreenID).

 The Vietnam Drug Administration has asked the HCM City Department of Health to report on a case in which 20,000 tablets for leukaemia treatment expired because of cumbersome procedures.

 Microsoft on Thursday informed employees in Viet Nam it is enhancing its family leave benefits to ensure they have time to care for the people who matter most in their lives.

 A strategy is being developed to promote domestic trade by 2025 with a vision to 2035.

 The Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) of Vietnam dipped to 54.1 in April, a slight decline from March’s 22-month high of 54.6, reported Nikkei on May 3.

 There are currently about one million Vietnamese domain names issued and Viet Nam is among the top countries in terms of internationalised domain name distribution in the world, according to Government portal chinhphu.vn.

 Le Hoai Quoc, president of Sai Gon Hi-Tech Park (SHTP), has granted an investment certificate to BSB Investment & Development Co Ltd for the construction of the first silica and nano silica plant in Viet Nam.

 Nineteen Zika virus cases have been reported in HCM City since the beginning of the year, according to the city Preventive Health Centre.

 The HCM City University Medical Centre has treated 20 people with May-Thurner syndrome (MTS) by using endovascular procedure.

Korean conglomerate Lotte Group got the go-ahead from the HCM City People’s Committee on Wednesday to develop the Thu Thiem Eco Smart City in District 2.

 Twenty countries registered to participate in the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)’s symposium for the Asia-Pacific region on response to climate change, to be held in Ho Chi Minh City from May 11-13.

 About 200 brands have been franchised in Vietnam over the last decade, but the franchise of Vietnamese brands is just in the initial stage at present, insiders said at a workshop in Ho Chi Minh City on May 4.

 Minister and Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung clarified issues relating to farm produce consumption, especially pork which recently saw its prices slumping during the government’s regular press conference in Hanoi on May 4.