The Decree No. 13/2019/ND-CP on preferential policies for science and technology businesses takes effect from this March 20, bringing about various new opportunities for these firms.

VietNamNet Bridge - Experts last year predicted that many automobile manufacturers in Vietnam would have to shut down after the ASEAN tariff fell to zero percent in 2018. 

 The Czech Republic is considering the facilitation of visa grant for Vietnamese nationals to the country for working and business purposes, has said Czech Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Lukas Kaucky.

 At least five workers have been killed and four others injured when a wall at a construction project suddenly collapsed in the southern province of Vinh Long on Friday morning.

 The government of HCMC has approved a project proposed by the Department of Transport to upgrade the flood-prone Nguyen Huu Canh Street in Binh Thanh District, with total funding of VND473 billion (over US$20 million).

 Foreign investment in Vietnam is forecast to surge significantly in 2019 as many foreign investors, including big names, are showing their big interest in the country.

 Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son will lead a Vietnamese delegation to attend the High-level UN Conference on South-South Cooperation in Buenos Aires, Argentina from March 20-23. 

 Vietnam and Cambodia have signed three cooperation agreements on postal services and telecommunications, information security and digital signature.

 The 31st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games are scheduled to begin in Vietnam in November 2021, attracting about 7,000 athletes to compete in 36 sports.

 The 74th General Assembly and Congress of the International Military Sports Council (CISM) will take place in late April at the Military Zone 7 in Ho Chi Minh City.

 Police in the northern mountainous province of Son La said on March 14 they have caught a man smuggling a large amount of opium and meth pills.

 An expert has recommended people take regular check-ups to detect kidney-related diseases as an estimated 5 million people in Vietnam suffer from kidney issues, and the number rises by about 8,000 each year.

VietNamNet Bridge - The Education Publishing House has finally stated that it will not raise textbook prices for the 2019-2020 academic year. 

VietNamNet Bridge - The draft on national standards on good practices in fish sauce production now being compiled by the agriculture ministry has been facing strong opposition from traditional fish sauce workshops and experts.

A solemn ceremony was held in Truong Sa (Spratly) Archipelago on March 14 to commemorate the heroic martyrs who laid down their lives in Gac Ma battle on March 14, 1988.

 Even though the Vietnamese property market is dominated by Singaporean and South Korean developers, Japanese investors are trying to climb closer to the top spot. Bich Ngoc reports.

 Listed companies on the Ha Noi Stock Exchange (HNX) reported their profits grew 11.4 per cent year on year to reach VND19.93 trillion (US$855.6 million) in 2018.

 Pork sales at supermarkets and food stores have increased sharply as more and more customers are opting to buy the meat with clear origins due to the outbreak of African swine fever.

 The Government is considering withdrawing a proposal from the Ministry of Finance (MoF) to increase environmental taxes on fuel products to the maximum of VND8,000 (US$0.35), stating the move requires further consideration.

 The Viet Nam Golf Tourism Association (VIGTA) will be officially founded on March 29.