Vietnam’s economic freedom index went up 2.3 points compared to last year and reached the overall score of 54, reported the Heritage Foundation in its recently published 2016 Index of Economic Freedom.

 Neither Vietnamese citizen has been detained by Ukraine so far, head of the Foreign Ministry’s Consular Department Ly Quoc Tuan affirmed on February 3.

 The Republic of Korea (RoK) on February 3 confirmed the arrest of a Vietnamese citizen who broke through Incheon international airport security to enter the country illegally.

 Economic ministers from 12 member nations signed the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement in Auckland, New Zealand on the morning of February 4.

 Coach Pham Nhu Thuan of Quang Ninh Coal has finalised his team for the new season after signing a contract with American Rod Dyachenko this week.

 The total state budget revenue in January was 95 per cent of the revenue year-on-year due to about 66 per cent fall in crude oil revenue, the finance ministry said.

Minister of Transport Dinh La Thang yesterday dismissed the General Director of Hanoi Railway Transport Company, Nguyen Viet Hiep, for failing to comply with the Government's policy on the import of machinery, equipment and technological lines used.

 The State Bank of Viet Nam has told commercial banks to accord top priority to supplying cash at automatic telling machines (ATMs) during the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong offered his best wishes to incumbent and former leaders of the Party and State as well as the entire Vietnamese people yesterday on the occasion of the Lunar New Year festival.

 The Vietnam e-Business Index (EBI) 2015 report has revealed great disparity in e-commerce development among localities, particularly in big cities including Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi.

 Hospitals across the country have prepared everything for medical examination and treatment of emergency cases before and during the Tet (Lunar News Year) holiday period.

 The net sale of shares worth 1.25 trillion VND (56.2 million USD) by foreign investors in January contributed significantly to the decline of the stock market last month, data collected by two local bourses.

 Vietnam needs proper measures to turn opportunities created by the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement into reality and cope with any difficulties, an official has said.

 Le Quang Liem has dropped four places to No 37 among active players in the latest world men’s rankings announced by the World Chess Federation (FIDE).

Crowds of people have flocked to Hang Ma Street in the Hanoi Old Quarter to purchase votive objects and decorations for the traditional lunar New Year (Tet) festival.

 Hung Yen police said on February 2 that they had seized a truck transporting 81 pangolins, a rare animal species banned from trading.

 Nearly 700 students from 47 secondary and high schools took part in the American Mathematics Competition (AMC 10/12) held at Chu Van An High School in Hanoi on February 2.

 The heavy lift vessel Rolldock Storm, carrying the Kilo submarine Russia built for Vietnam , arrived at Cam Ranh Port in the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa on February 2 after a voyage from Russia.

 Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong continues to receive congratulatory sent by leaders of foreign countries on his re-election as Vietnam’s Party chief.

 The Lao and the Cambodian Party Central Committees have cabled messages of congratulations to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) over its 86 th founding anniversary (February 3).