More than 56,000 new-borns have been registered birth certificates and issued citizen identification numbers after two months of implementing the law on civil status and citizen ID card, which took effect since early this January.

 Vietnam and Russia have signed an intergovernmental Protocol on supporting the production of motor vehicles in the Southeast Asian country.

 National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung delivered a draft working report of the legislature (13th tenure) during its plenary session in Hanoi on March 22.

 Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung reported on the Government’s and his performance during the 2011 – 2016 term to the National Assembly deputies at the ongoing last meeting of the 13th parliament on March 22.

 President Truong Tan Sang presented a report reviewing his performance as the State leader for 2011-2016 during the second day of the legislature’s last meeting on March 22.

The Vietnam Outstanding Young Face Award is a prestigious prize granted annually by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union’s Central Committee to young people who make outstanding achievements and dedication.

 VietNamNet Bridge - Dozens of hydropower plants now lack water for operation because of drought. Many plants have to stop working to discharge water for agricultural production.

VietNamNet Bridge - After the 12th National Party Congress, the incumbent National Assembly Chair, the President and the Prime Minister are no longer the members of the Party Central Committee.

 The Saigon Union of Trading Cooperatives (Saigon Co.op), the owner of the Co.opmart supermarket chain, has qualified for the second round of the highly competitive bid for Big C Vietnam operations owned by French retailer Casino.

On March 18, the HCM City Department of Food Safety issued a fine of VND146 million ($6,549) to South Korean fast food store-Lotteria Vietnam and three of its restaurant units due to violating food safety regulations, according to nld.com.vn.

 Ho Chi Minh City police, relevant forces and units have made great effort to combat crimes, which are happening in a complicated and sophisticated manner, causing great concerns for citizens and visitors.

 About 35 million Vietnamese, equivalent to one-third of its population, have accounts on Facebook, according to a recent report from the company.

 Vu Thi Hang secured a berth to compete at the coming Olympics in Brazil on March 20.

 Vietnamese game developers and lecturers of Uppsala University’s Department of Game Design in Sweden met yesterday in Hanoi to share their experiences on computer game design.

 The local cashew industry has seen a spike in cashew prices, marking a 10 year record high, mostly due to increasing global prices.

The Ministry of Construction has asked the Central Bank to extend the terms of the government’s VND30 trillion property support package after many homebuyers expressed concern about the end of the package on June 1 this year.

 The ten winners of the 2015 Outstanding Vietnamese Youth awards were announced at a ceremony to mark the 85th anniversary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCMCYU) on March 21.

 The Government has asked the National Assembly (NA) to approve an area zoned for rice cultivation of over 3.76 million hectares, by 2020, to guarantee national food security.

 Authorities of the northern border province of Quang Ninh seized two Vietnamese and one Chinese in three cross-border drug trafficking cases in Dan Tien pier, Mong Cai city on March 19 and 20.

 The effective cooperation between Vietnamese and Chinese Ministries of Public Security has helped maintain order and security in their respective countries, senior officials said during talks in Hanoi on March 21.