2017 was an eventful year for international cooperation at the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting, helping the centre improve its severe weather forecasting capacity.

 Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue has approved the Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT)’s restructuring plan for 2018-2020.

The export turnover of 353,000 tonnes of cashew in 2017 touched 3.52 billion USD, the highest level ever recorded, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

 The government will strive to reduce and simplify half its of current existing conditional business requirements in 2018 in an effort to improve Vietnam’s business climate to boost growth.

Vietnamese people spend USD354m on snacks in 2017, according to the market research company Statista.   

 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has requested Quang Nam Province’s authorities to provide a report on a local $120-million soda plant which has been halted just some months after becoming operational.

 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has recently assigned socio-economic development targets to the ministries of Planning and Investment, Agriculture and Rural Development, Industry and Trade, Public Health, and Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs. 

 The HCM City People’s Court has dismissed a suit by the Dutch-based ride-hailing company Uber International Services Holding against the city tax department seeking remedy against a claim for back taxes.

 Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue has approved the equitisation plan of Viet Nam Southern Food Corporation (Vinafood 2).

 State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV) made a net cash injection of VND18 trillion (US$792 million) into the economy in the past week.

 The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) will enhance trade promotion programmes and give more support to businesses to increase their competitiveness in the local market in 2018.

 Viet Nam’s Ly Hoang Nam defeated No 3 seed Reboul Fabien of France in the quarterfinals of the Hong Kong F6 Futures tournament yesterday.

 Following the completion of legal procedures, American David Harrison Arnold of Saigon Heat has become a resident of Viet Nam and will now be classified as a local player in the team at the ongoing ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) 2018.

 Former striker of the national U22 and U23 teams, Nguyen Huu Khoi, signed a one-year contract with South Korean K3 League team Siheung City FC on Thursday.

 People in temporary custody or detention are now allowed to read scriptures and express their religious beliefs, according to a decree recently issued by the Government.

 Police of the southern city have uncovered a major illegal poker ring, involving wealthy players, taking place in an upscale apartment in Binh Thanh District in HCM City.

 HCM City has agreed to set up a working group to help investors navigate regulations and tweak policies where needed as part of efforts to ensure it can achieve the industrial growth target of 7.8 – 8.2 per cent this year.

 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has called for strict punishments for organisations and individuals who commit violations in land-use and management.

 The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will support the construction of 300 houses in the central provinces of Khanh Hoa, Phu Yen and Quang Nam, which were seriously affected by typhoon Damrey in 2017.

 Shares extended gains on the two national stock exchanges as rising capital inflow was poured into the banking and energy sectors on high Q4 earnings expectations and positive development on the global oil market.