A cold snap has been forecasted to affect the northern region from tomorrow, December 6.

 The Ministry of Industry and Trade will raise electricity prices after the Electricity of Vietnam Group reported losses of trillions of VND.

Sabeco early this week announced that it received an official letter from the State Securities Commission dated Monday approving unrestricted foreign ownership at the largest beverage company in Viet Nam.

Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Ha Kim Ngoc paid last respects to former US President George H.W. Bush, in the Capitol Rotunda, Washington DC, on December 3 (local time).

 National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan met with representatives from Vietnam-RoK families in Busan on December 5 as part of her ongoing official visit to the Republic of Korea.

 The 2019 national population and housing census will cover more than 95 million people and 25 million households, said Director General of the General Statistics Office (GSO) Nguyen Bich Lam.

 The high-level court in HCMC on December 5 opened an appeal trial on the case of former Deputy Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam Dang Thanh Binh in connection with the economic losses of over 15 trillion VND at the Vietnam Construction Bank. 

 Vietnam Airlines said it will add nearly 1,800 more seats on flights between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City on December 6 and 7 to make it easier for football fans to travel to Hanoi for the semifinal return leg between Vietnam and the Philippines.

Jin Jong Oh, the four-time Olympic shooting champion from the Republic of Korea, met with Vietnamese shooters at the National Sports Training Centre in Hanoi on December 3.

VietNamNet Bridge - Though the number of Vietnamese cruise travelers remains modest, foreign cruisers and Vietnamese travel firms continue to develop cruise tours as they believe in the potential of the market.

 Foreign direct investment (FDI) commitments in the first 11 months totaled US$30.8 billion, equivalent to 93.2% of the same period last year, according to the investment ministry.

 The Vietnamese beer market is becoming a game for great foreigners, with many Vietnamese brands wiped out or struggling to stay afloat.

 Vietnamobile has decided to discontinue its “Thanh SIM” prepaid plan from January and focus instead on “Sieu thanh SIM” prepaid SIM cards.

 The founder of Viet Nam’s largest steelmaker Tran Dinh Long has been knocked off the Forbes list of the world’s billionaires after shares in Hoa Phat tumbled 30 per cent from the peak recorded in March.

The cement production industry may face increasing pressure from an anticipated excess of supply over demand, although the industry posted good sale results this year.

 Public-private partnerships, better use of technology, and improved value-chain linkages are needed to ensure the sustainable development of the coffee industry, experts said at a meeting on December 4 in HCM City.

 Many foreign investors are showing increasing interest in Vietnam and want to enter the market through M&A.

NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan hailed contributions by Honorary Consul General of Vietnam in Busan-Gyeongnam region Park Soo-kwan to the Vietnam-Republic of Korea (RoK) ties while receiving him on December 4.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc has issued decisions on disciplinary measures against two government officials after the Inspection Commission punished the two for their violations of regulations in connection with Mobifone’s acquisition of AVG.

 The Vietnamese and Russian ministries of defence held their fourth defence strategy dialogue in Moscow on December 3, affirming that defence cooperation remains a pillar in the two countries’ relations.