The free trade agreement (FTA) between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) became effective on December 20, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT)’s press release on December 19.

 Vietnam has become Uber’s fastest growing market globally, excluding China, since it was launched a year ago, the company announced on December 16.

Saving remains a priority among Vietnamese consumers but many are increasingly keen to buy products and services they like.

Many Japanese investors have left China for Vietnam where they believe they can have a more attractive investment environment. However, they have not chosen Vietnamese enterprises for their global supply chains.

More than 106,300 new ".vn" domain names were registered in the first 11 months of this year, bringing the total number of ".vn" domain names to 343, 370, a year-on-year increase of 16.4 per cent.

The Vietnam Association of Pay TV (VNpayTV) has just sent a letter to the MP & Silva Company asking for negotiations over the broadcasting rights for English Premier League for the 2016-2019 period with 10 TV stations in Vietnam.

Vietnam has never given up its automobile dream, even though it has failed to implement an auto industry strategy in the last two decades.

 The Ministry of Finance (MoF) has announced it has prepared plans to cope with the fall in global oil prices but is yet to release any specifics.

 Businesses in the agriculture sector, especially breeding, would be most vulnerable to the effects of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) with bigger partners.

A string of investment preference policies on corporate income tax, land lease, finance, export, as well as loss carryforward have been introduced with a view to luring investors to encouraging investment areas and fields.

 Hanoi People's Committee launched a Facebook page at the beginning of December and said it would establish a presence on other social networks to better promote its policies and connect with the public.

 VietNamNet Bridge - Situated at an altitude of nearly 1,400 meters above sea level, Suoi Giang in Van Chan district, Yen Bai province is the home to the oldest tea trees in Vietnam.

 HSBC consolidated all of its business in Vietnam into HSBC Bank (Vietnam) Ltd. (HSBC Vietnam) and liquidated the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, Hanoi Branch (HBAP Hanoi) on December 16.

VietNamNet Bridge - Foreign invested enterprises (FIEs) account for less than 25 percent of total number of footwear enterprises, but make up 77 percent of total export value. 

Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Thanh Hung has sought clarity from the Department of Information Security on the Information Security Law, passed on November 19.

 Top Vietnamese badminton player Nguyen Tien Minh moved into the quarter-finals of the Mexico Grand Prix this morning (December 18).

 Vietnam’s economy has started to thrive while most of Asian economies is slowing economically and moving towards consumer-led growth, the Standards & Poor (S&P) fund said in its recent report.

 Non-teaching staff in Vietnamese schools such as librarians, security guards and janitors often find it difficult to get by with their measly pay and work benefits, despite working the same hours as their teaching colleagues.

VietNamNet Bridge - Many investors have entered the e-commerce market with strong determination and powerful financial capability, but then later have left quietly.

 Heavy lift vessel Rolldock Sea, carrying the fifth Kilo submarine that Russia built for Vietnam, has left St. Petersburg for Cam Ranh port in central Vietnam, Sputnik International reported on December 17.