The State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV) today again raised the exchange rate by 13 Vietnamese dong, taking it to a record high of VND22,131 per US dollar.

 The State Security Commission of Viet Nam (SSC) issued a decision to fine the Sai Gon Alcohol Beer and Beverages Corporation (Sabeco) for alleged regulatory malpractice on the stock market.

 The agricultural sector will focus on restructuring, developing and promoting ten key products for export, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong said at a meeting held on November 22 in Ha Noi.

Viet Nam has emerged as a powerful manufacturing powerhouse in Asia but “weak logistics activities have limited its trade competitiveness”, the deputy minister of industry and trade said at a logistics forum held yesterday in HCM City.

 The Export - Import Bank of the Republic of Korea (RoK) has approved a loan of 76.93 million USD for Vietnam to upgrade the irrigation systems in the Len and Hoang Mai rivers in the central region.

 Up to 14,539 Vietnamese children were adopted in 2011-2015, with 12,768 fostered domestically and the remainder lived with foreign foster families, said the Justice Ministry’s Department of Adoption. 

Media in Thailand reported on November 24 that their marine police captured two Vietnamese fishing boats with nine fishermen on board for illegally fishing off Narathiwat province in south Thailand. 

 Chris Matlhako, a member of the Politburo of the South Africa Communist Party (SACP), said that the East Sea issue should be resolved by peaceful measures on the basis of international law.

 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc welcomed newly accredited Australian Ambassador Craig Chittick in Hanoi on November 24. 

 The 34th meeting of the Vietnam-Cuba Inter-Governmental Committee wrapped up in Havana, Cuba on November 23 with the signing of three agreements on fostering bilateral ties in economy, science and technology.

The 9th Summit of Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle Area (CLV-9)  focused on how to boost connectivity among the three countries within the cooperation mechanism, said Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen The Phuong.

Vietnam hopes France will expand investment projects in Vietnam, and enhance cooperation in culture and tourism with the country, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc told French newly-appointed Ambassador to Vietnam Bertrand Lortholary.

 The stability and development of Vietnam and Laos as well as of their special relationship is a critical and irreplaceable factor to each country’s national construction and protection.

President Tran Dai Quang has proposed that Italia’s Milan city and Lombardy region support the organisation of Vietnamese cultural and art activities in the locality.

 Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich agreed that the Vietnam - Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has experienced dynamic development since it was formed in 2012. 

VietNamNet Bridge - While exports of gold jewelry to the US, Belgium, France and Australia remain stable, exports to Switzerland have unexpectedly soared by 2,300 percent this year.

VietNamNet Bridge - Earthworms (Perionyx excavates) can easily be used to make biological products and fertilizer for sustainable organic agriculture.

VietNamNet Bridge - The dispute between Da Nang City authorities and professionals who have studied abroad with city funding reveals the problems with the program on attracting talented experts. 

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam has yet to become an industrialized country, but its pollution has already reached serious levels. If it worsens, Vietnam could surpass China in pollution levels.

VietNamNet Bridge - Following an invasion of South Korean barbecue restaurants, Korean food products have been entering the Vietnamese market through retail channels.