Increasing the localization ratio and reducing production costs are vital issues for Vietnam’s automobile industry. As Vietnam is one of the worlds’s largest tungsten producers, it could be material that could help revive the auto industry. 

 After years of trying, Vietnam’s first pilot development of a public-private partnership transport project is at an impasse, making future ventures down this road uncertain for foreign investors until the issuance of a relevant law.

VietNamNet Bridge - The massive development of resort projects in coastal areas has led to a breakdown in tourism planning, affecting marine resources and the environment, as well as the security of tourism destinations.

 One of transport sector’s current goals is to develop waterway transport to reduce pressure on road transport. Hoang Hong Giang, Director of Inland Waterway Department, talks about strategies for developing the sector.

The Vietnam Economic Times interviewed Chairman of the State Securities Commission, Tran Van Dung just prior to the April 16-20 Investment Promotion Conference in South Korea.

 Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has called for tough punishment for faking medicines and medicinal supplements which poses risks to human health.

 The Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Women’s Beach Volleyball Championship will kick off in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on April 20.

 The upcoming visit to Vietnam from April 19-20 by Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi is expected to strengthen bilateral ties and tighten the Vietnam-Myanmar comprehensive cooperative partnership.

 A General Statistics Office of Vietnam economist Bui Trinh has opposed the Ministry of Finance's proposal to impose a tax on houses valued from VND700m (USD30,700).    

 A primary school teacher in Hanoi has been arrested after being accused of sexually abusing nine third-grade pupils.  

 Vietnamese start-ups have invested US$129 million in fintech and the industry is forecast to continuously attract heightened investor interest next time, according to the Ernst & Young (EY) ASEAN FinTech Census 2018.

The State Bank of Vietnam has ordered financial institutions and other organisations providing payment brokerage services not to conduct cross-border transactions in cryptocurrency.

 With growth of up to 22 percent forecast this year and firms with bright prospects, Vietnam’s steel industry has high potential to reach many markets if it overcomes difficulties in trade defence lawsuits and high import volume.

 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has agreed with the proposal of the French consultant company ADP-I to build a new passenger terminal south of Tan Son Nhat aiport in Ho Chi Minh City as part of the airport expansion plan.

 Vietnam will use three new vaccines in the national expanded vaccination programme (NEVP) this year, heard a workshop held by the Ministry of Health (MoH) on April 16.

 A former police officer of a department under the Ministry of Public Security was sentenced to eight years in prison on charges of espionage and property plundering.

 Taxi firm Vietnam Sun Corporation (Vinasun) plans to cut its full-year revenue for the fourth time for 2018 due to rising competition from foreign ride-hailing firms.

 The Ha Noi Stock Exchange has approved the Ha Noi Textile Garment Company (Hanosimex) to list 20.5 million shares on Unlisted Public Company Market (UPCoM) on April 19.

 An automated customs control system for exports and imports was launched at Ha Noi’s Noi Bai International Airport on April 16.

VietNamNet Bridge - To improve their competitiveness, Vietnamese livestock companies have been told to restructure their production and supply chains.