The Vietnam National Swimming Championships 2016 officially kicked off at My Dinh National Sports Complex in Hanoi on October 18. 

VietNamNet Bridge - The image of Vietnamese people queuing up at the cash register at Zara on opening day showed that the young fashion industry faces new challenges.

 The Canadian Navy’s ship, HMCS Vancouver, with 36 officers and 200 crew members on board arrived in Ho Chi Minh City on October 18, beginning its four-day visit to Vietnam.

 The central province of Quang Nam on October 18 organised an oil spill response exercise at the Chu Lai – Truong Hai Port with the participation of hundreds of specialised vehicles and relevant forces. 

 The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines said it has canceled 14 flights to the port city of Hai Phong on October 19 due to storm Sarika. 

VietNamNet Bridge - After a month of intensive treatment, the male patient has Whitmore’s disease, or Melioidosis, a rare infectious disease, has recovered. 

 President Tran Dai Quang held a reception in Hanoi on October 18 for Palestinian Ambassador Saadi Salama, during which he affirmed Vietnam’s consistent stance of supporting the Palestinian people’s just struggle for basic national rights. 

 President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan praised Pratibha Mehta, UN Resident Coordinator in Vietnam, for her activities and initiatives to support the Southeast Asian nation in various areas.

 Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong described strengthening the Party and fighting corruption, wastefulness and other bad deeds as a key and long-term task during his meeting with voters of Hanoi’s Tay Ho district on October 18.

 Law making will dominate the agenda of the second session of the 14 th National Assembly (NA) scheduled for October 20-November 23. 

 The Experts’ Working Group on Humanitarian Mine Action of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+) will convene their fourth conference in Hanoi on October 20, the Defence Ministry told the media on October 18. 

 Defence Minister Gen. Ngo Xuan Lich paid a floral tribute at the Thai embassy in Hanoi on October 18, expressing his sympathy with the recent passing of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej. 

 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc hosted a delegation of Japanese businesses led by Yoichi Kobayashi, Chairman of the Mekong-Japan Business Cooperation Committee from the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) in Hanoi on October 18. 

VietNamNet Bridge - Real estate developers said they are having to answer many questions from buyers about roads and flooding in areas where apartments are located. 

 The Ministry of Industry and Trade has removed the inspection of formaldehyde content in textile and garment products that cause many difficulties to enterprises.

 Two local steel giants are in a race to build steel complex projects, while foreign investors have stayed away due to surplus steel in the market and capital concerns.

 VietNamNet Bridge - Today, Vietnam and the United States jointly commemorated the start of the second and final phase of thermal treatment at the Danang Airport.  

VietNamNet Bridge - The ban on private tutoring at schools in HCMC has been lifted by municipal authorities amid strong opposition to the ban from teachers and parents.

The fourth session of the 14th National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee concluded in Hanoi on October 18 after six days of working.

If fishermen are well trained, equipped with knowledge about defense and well supported by functional forces, they will become an active militia protecting the sovereignty and national interests of Vietnam on the sea.