The US continued topping the list of 200 countries and territories importing Vietnamese goods in 2016, with a total import value of over 34.8 billion USD, according to the Government’s portal.

 Vietnamese shares may advance in 2017, analysts say, cautioning that market conditions can get volatile with international events of 2016 continuing to exert unpredictable impacts on Vietnam.

 HCM City hopes to incorporate 50,000 new companies this year (2017) so that there are 500,000 operational ones by 2020, Chairman of the city People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong has said.

 Vietnam’s index of industrial production (IIP) rose by 7.5 percent this year, much lower than the 9.8 percent growth seen in 2015.

 Vietnam’s index of industrial production (IIP) rose by 7.5 percent this year, much lower than the 9.8 percent growth seen in 2015.

 The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has reaffirmed its determination to pursue a proactive and flexible monetary policy in 2017.

 Vietnam gained trade surplus of 2.68 billion USD in 2016, the General Department of Customs reported.

Over $2.81 billion was spent on the upgrading and construction of transport infrastructure in the Central Highlands over the last five years, significantly contributing to the local socio-economic development.

 During the three-day calendar New Year 2017 holiday, the country saw 93 traffic accidents which killed 79 people and injured 54 others, according to the Traffic Police Department.

 Vietnam had 8,978 communes and 79,899 hamlets as of July 1, 2016, representing decreases of 93 and 1,005 respectively from five years ago, according to the preliminary outcomes of the latest rural, agricultural and fisheries survey.

 The Liberal Democratic Party of Japan (LDP) wants to boost affiliation between its youth division and Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, said Suzuki Keisuke, Director of the LDP’s Youth Division.

 The Embassy of Vietnam in India held a ceremony in New Delhi on January 1 to mark the fifth anniversary of Vietnam – Bhutan diplomatic ties (January 19, 2012-2017).

VietNamNet Bridge - The best moneymakers in Vietnam saw their assets in business and investment activities in 2016 increase to very high levels.

VietNamNet Bridge - The dong/dollar exchange rate remained stable for most of 2016 thanks to important government and State Bank policies, and resources of the national economy.

VietNamNet Bridge - As the shortage of clean water for irrigation has become serious, local authorities are trying every possible way to bring clean water to fields.

VietNamNet Bridge - Though skeptical about the 6.7 percent GDP growth rate target, economists still believe Vietnam will be among Asia's fastest growing economies.

VietNamNet Bridge - Many Vietnamese university students plan to give up studying and develop businesses of their own, even though they are still living on their parents’ money.

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam’s textile & garment sector will maintain current growth if the US withdraws from the TPP, analysts say, but the growth would be higher if the TPP is approved by the US.

VietNamNet Bridge - In the context of limited domestic resources, attracting foreign capital to banks is seen as a viable solution to bank restructuring.

“The program on building terraced hydropower plants on small rivers is a wrong decision. It is the root cause of floods,” said Vu Trong Hong, former Deputy Minister of Water Resources, now chair of the Vietnam Water Resources Association.