2017 ended with mixed insights on market dynamics in the following years. Developers, buyers, and lessors are chasing after investment opportunities before the market shifts.

 Economists are optimistic about foreign investment in Vietnam, both foreign direct investment (FDI) and foreign portfolio investment (FPI), in 2018 and upcoming years.   

 President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea has praised Vietnam as a key partner and invaluable friend in an interview with Nhan Dan Newspaper ahead of his state visit to Vietnam from March 22-24. Below is the full text of the interview.

 Le Diep Kieu Trang (38) will manage the development of the biggest social network in Vietnam, Facebook.

Vietnam Engine and Agricultural Machinery Corporation (VEAM) will list 1.328 billion shares on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange (HSX).   

Two out of eight wholly foreign-owned banks in Vietnam are from South Korea. Besides banks, many other South Korean corporations have contributed capital to, or cooperated with, Vietnamese banks.

 Three national hi-tech parks in Hoa Lac, HCM City and Da Nang have attracted 218 investment projects with a registered capital of nearly US$10 billion, creating jobs for about 50,000 workers.

 The State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV) can take early intervention measures against weak credit institutions in the supervision process from July this year, according to a new SBV regulation.

VN is integrating increasingly with the global economy, having signed the CPTPP this month and discussing four other free trade agreements, the annual Economic Scenarios Conference heard in HCM City on Monday.

 Start-ups will be given support from the State budget in localities with no more than 30 per cent of total investment mobilised from investment funds.

 The Ministry of Transport (MoT) will transfer its rights to purchase shares additionally issued by the Vietnam Airlines Corporation through auction at the Ha Noi Stock Exchange.

 The Ministry of Health has called for an urgent investigation into an apparently false rumour about the death of a mother and her child in HCM City while having a natural birth at home.

 A truck carrying an elephant without proper safety measures surprised drivers on a highway in Ha Tinh Province.

Along with Carlsberg, the Danish Brewer holding 17.3 per cent stake in Habeco, numerous foreign investors are looking to acquire a stake in Vietnam’s third-largest brewer in order to increase their market shares.

 Convenience store chains are on their way to conquer fast-growing ASEAN markets, but they get little love in Indonesia, the region’s largest market.

Decree 54 and the draft circular that guides its implementation compiled by the Ministry of Health have both raised controversy: foreign investors say the regulations break Vietnam’s WTO commitments.

 Viet Nam’s U15 PVF easily defeated Thailand’s Police Tero 5-1 in the opening match of the U15 ASEAN Dream Football Tournament, held at the SCG Muangthong United Practice Field.

 The Vietnamese embassies in many countries held ceremonies on March 20 to pay respect to former Politburo member and former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, who passed away on March 17 at the age of 85.

Former PM Phan Van Khai passed away on March 17 but he lives in the heart of the people, especially those in HCMC, as a child of Cu Chi who made great contributions to the development of the city and the country.

 Vietnam-Italy economic and cultural relations