Three Vietnamese tourists, who were seriously injured in a roadside bomb attack in Egypt in December 2018, are to leave hospital to travel home on January 9.

 Over the past year, most investment funds in Viet Nam’s equity market have seen negative growth in net asset value per share (NAVPS) due to the poor performance of the market indices.

 Under a new regulation, commercial banks will have to switch 30 per cent of their current magnetic strip ATM cards – more than 25 million in total – to chip cards by the end of this year to enhance safety and service quality.

The State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV) has resumed the purchase of US dollars from commercial banks after a six month break thanks to favourable conditions in the country’s foreign exchange market. 

 The Turkish Ministry of Trade has announced it is conducting a final review on potential anti-dumping duties on textured polyester yarn imported from a number of countries, including Viet Nam.

 Up to 53.6 per cent of information technology (IT) companies said they hope to increase their workforce by 10-30 per cent this year.

 Cassava processors are facing difficulties due to a raw material shortage and, especially, tightening of overland imports and erection of barriers to imports of farm produce by China, their largest export market.

 Shipping routes along the coast of Vietnam have played an increasingly large role in transporting goods from the north to the south of the country in recent years, helping ease the burden on road transport.

VietNamNet Bridge - More than 10 years ago, high-end hotels and resorts were the biggest consumers of candles. Now, the demand from middle-class consumers is increasing.

 Vietnamese national football team’s player Nguyen Quang Hai has been named one of the top 15 best footballers in Asia in 2018 following a vote by Fox Sports Asia and Titan Sports.

 The fourth Raisina Dialogue, which kicked off in New Delhi capital city of India on January 8, is dealing with important issues facing the international community at present. 

 Right after the Vietnam-Iraq match at Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi of the United Arab Emirates, Fox Sport Asia said Vietnam suffered heartbreak as Iraq snatched last-gasp victory.

 The State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC) reported after-tax profit of 8.25 trillion VND (356 million USD) in 2018, 52 percent higher than the annual target.

VietNamNet Bridge - Many households in Lam Dong province cherish the dream of developing medicinal herb growing areas to preserve precious remedies and improve their income.

 The Ministry of Health (MoH) organised a workshop in Hanoi on January 8 to launch a national action plan on the eradication of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, hepatitis B and syphilis in the 2018-2030. 

 In Vietnam, several firms have taken the initiative in approaching and implementing NEMs, Mai said, adding that Vingroup’s production of VinFast cars and Vsmart smartphones are typical examples.

 Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh received US Ambassador to Vietnam Daniel Kritenbrink in Hanoi on January 8, highly valuing his guest’s role in promoting the two countries’ comprehensive partnership.

 A coach carrying 23 teachers and students plunged into a ravine while driving across Hai Van Pass in Thua Thien-Hue Province on January 8, leaving one student dead and many others injured, the local media reported.

 A leader of PetroVietnam Exploration Production Corporation (PVEP) has been arrested for abuse of power in a headline-grabbing economic mismanagement case at Hanoi-based Ocean Commercial Bank (OceanBank).

The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is expected to help raise Vietnam’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 1.3 percent, according to an official of the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI).