2018 is considered a successful year in controlling inflation as the average consumer price index (CPI) rises by 3.54 percent from 2017 and 2.98 percent from last December, meeting the CPI growth target of under 4 percent.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chaired the Government’s regular meeting on December 27, during which he shared that Vietnam’s GDP growth rate rose 7.08 percent in 2018 – the highest ever in the past 11 years.

 The number of young Vietnamese people aged from 16-30 is estimated at 23.3 million in 2018, accounting for 24.6 percent of the country’s population, down 0.6 percent against the previous year.

 Track and field athlete Bui Thi Thu Thao, who won a gold medal for Vietnam at the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia in August, has overcame other rivals to become the most outstanding athlete of Vietnam in 2018.

VietNamNet Bridge - A survey has found that Vietnamese youth spend VND13 trillion a month on snacks. 

Many parents have urged schools to install CCTV (closed circuit television) cameras in classes to prevent teachers’ abuse of students, but experts say the it will not solve the problem.

VietNamNet Bridge - Experts from BKAV Corporation, the Vietnamese cybersecurity firm, have predicted that malicious codes using AI may turn up in Vietnam in 2019 under the form of PoC (proof of concept). 

VietNamNet Bridge - Experts have found a link between urbanization and the increased risk of flooding from heavy rainfall.

 The Viet Nam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT), the country’s largest telecom operator, plans to spend US$1 billion on mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in technology enterprises.

 The State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC) has made inappropriate investments that led to inefficient use of State capital, according to the State Audit of Vietnam (SAV).

 The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) is drafting a decree for imports of 56,284 tonnes of raw tobacco (HS code 2401) under a tariff quota in 2019.

 Vietnamese pharmaceutical companies are optimistic about the business prospects of the sector, with nearly 80 per cent of firms anticipating an annual industry growth rate of more than 10 per cent.

VietNamNet Bridge - With stable growth rate of 8 percent per year in the last few years, the domestic wooden furniture market is a magnet for foreign brands.

VietNamNet Bridge - Property developers are seeking money from other sources as bank loans are drying up.

 Over 1,500 cameras have been installed at many level crossings, driver's compartments, and stations in an attempt to limit train accidents.

 Vietnamese companies kicked off 149 new projects overseas in 2018, with total capital of $376.1 million, according to the latest report from the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) released on December 24.

 A strong cold air front is forecast to hit the northern region from December 27 and will send temperature below 10C, according to the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting.

 Two tourists have died and another left injured when a boat overturned in Nha Trang Bay.

 Hanoi Vice Chairman Nguyen The Hung has asked related agencies to deal with congestion hot spots to reduce traffic jams to less than 30 minutes in 2019.

 Exports of footwear, suitcases and bags of all kinds are estimated at 19.5 billion USD in 2018, according to the Vietnam Leather, Footwear and Handbag Association (LEFASO).