Thirty years have elapsed since Vietnam ratified the Foreign Investment Law in 1987. Foreign investors committed to invest $312.9 billion by the end of 2017, of which $170 billion was disbursed.

 Vietnam’s benchmark VN Index marginally surpassed the record high of 1,170 points on March 22 as energy stocks remained upbeat and insurers and agriculture firms performed strongly as well.

 The northeastern province of Quang Ninh, for the first time ever, became the most competitive locality in the country, topping Vietnam’s Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) 2017.

 The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) signed a cooperation agreement with the Republic of Korea (RoK)’s Football Association (KFA) in Hanoi on March 22.

The Party, the NA, the President, the Government, the VN Fatherland Front, the funeral organising board and the family of late PM Phan Van Khai have expressed thanks to individuals and organisations for their tribute to the former leader. 

 Sovico Holdings Company registered to purchase nearly 13.7 million shares of Vietjet Aviation Joint Stock Company (VJC) between March 26 and April 25.

A prison term from 18 to 19 years has been proposed for Dinh La Thang, former chairman of PetroVietnam, who was accused of wrongdoings in the group’s investment of over US$35 million in OceanBank.

Many international friends have fond memories of former PM Phan Van Khai, one of the first Vietnamese leaders who was active and determined to expand external relations and boost international integration.

 The robust economic development and improved living standards have turned Vietnam into one of the most promising markets for food and beverage consumption in the region.

Korean President Moon Jae-in and Vietnamese Deputy PM Vu Duc Dam engaged in an exchange with Vietnam’s U23 football team - the runner-up of AFC U23 Championship, and its head coach Park Hang-seo in Hanoi on March 22. 

Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh and his Korean counterpart Paik Un-gyu sought measures to complete the two countries’ trade goal of 100 billion USD by 2020 during their talks in Hanoi on March 22.

Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology and KOICA on March 22 co-organised a ground-breaking ceremony for Vietnam-Republic of Korea Institute of Science and Technology in Hanoi-based Hoa Lac High-Tech Park. 

 Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi has been ranked 82nd among 500 airports worldwide surveyed by the UK–based aviation consultancy Skytrax.

 Vietnam’s U15 PVF team entered the quarter-final of the U15 ASEAN Dream Football Tournament, held at the SCG Muangthong United Practice Field on March 21.

 Vietnam’s trade surplus hit a record high of 2.92 billion USD in 2017, according to a report released by the Ministry of Industry and Trade in Ho Chi Minh City on March 22.

VietNamNet Bridge - Domestic brands are expected to have opportunities to prosper in the local market amid the massive arrivals of foreign brands.

VietNamNet Bridge - With nearly 3,000 startups, Vietnam is entering a startup boom similar to Europe’s in the 2010-2011 period, according to Max Scheichenost, the co-founder of 15 startups. 

To deal with the increasingly serious problem of plagiarism, several top-tier universities in Vietnam have begun to use software to discover plagiarized work.

 A project that turns the southern metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City into a ‘smart city’ has begun, aiming to bring multiple benefits to local residents. 

 Vietnam’s import tax on complete built-up units from ASEAN was reduced to zero percent as from Jan. 1 this year under the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement. The accord helps reduce the prices of imported cars, meeting consumers’ aspiration.