Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked centrally-run agencies to create all favourable conditions for the capital city of Hanoi to develop its transport infrastructure to ease traffic 

 Vietnam-Japan strategic partnership

 A contest to design a logo for the 2017 APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) forum announced its winner in Hanoi on January 16.

 The relations between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) have been strengthened and developed in all areas, notably the economy, over the past years, said Vietnamese Ambassador to the RoK Pham Huu Chi.

 A senior Party official has said the visit to Vietnam by Deputy Speaker of Hungary’s National Assembly Gergely Gulyás shows the Hungarian people’s sentiments towards their Vietnamese peers.

 President Tran Dai Quang acknowledged Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s role in and devotion to nurturing the Vietnam-Japan extensive strategic partnership at a meeting in Hanoi on January 16.

VietNamNet Bridge - Cement as well as oil and gas shares were popular in 2014, bank shares in 2015, and steel shares in 2016. What about 2017?

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe have reached high consensus on major orientations and specific measures to push forward the bilateral extensive strategic partnership. 

VietNamNet Bridge - The role of Vietnamese scientists in the country’s development and people’s livelihoods was especially apparent in 2016.

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam imports 2,000 tons per annum of Carbendazim, a toxic substance believed to cause cancer.

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam added two more US dollar billionaires in the last several months. Nearly 10 other dollar billionaires are awaiting recognition.

VietNamNet Bridge - The Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) has set stricter requirements for doctorates, hoping that changes in the new regulations will shift the quality of PhDs to the regional level.

Myanmar National Tele & Communications, a JV between Viettel Global, Myanmar National Telecom and Star High on January 14 officially received a licence to begin offering nationwide telecommunications services under the Mytel brand name.

 The Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (VCB) and the Asia Commercial Joint Stock Bank (ACB) issued a total of $452 million worth of bonds in 2016.

Buddha’s hand fruit, or finger citron, a special product in Dac So commune, Hoai Duc district, Hanoi are believed to have a spiritual meaning symbolizing good fortune to every family when the Lunar New Year festival or Tet comes.

HCM City’s streets in Districts 1 and 3 are beautifully decorated with flowers and colourful lights welcoming the fast-approaching Lunar New Year (Tet) festival.

 Vietnam has expanded its participation in activities of the World Economic Forum (WEF) during recent years.

 Saigon Heat found their first win in the ASEAN Basketball League after defeating Kaohsiung Truth 99-86 on January 14 on their home turf in HCM City.

 Vietnam will continue to supply up to 1.5 million tonnes of rice per year to the Philippines as the rice trade agreement between the two countries has been extended to December 31, 2018, according to Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade.

 The Electricity of Vietnam mobilised 2.96 billion USD worth of official development assistance and preferential loans last year.