Da Nang’s software park has been recognised as a centralised information technology centre – the third of its kind after two in Hanoi and HCM City – following Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s decision on December 7. 

 Thai Binh Province People's Committee has proposed a VND3.9trn (USD172m) public-private partnership coastal road project to the Ministry of Transport.

 E-commerce giant Amazon is proceeding with its ambitious business plan in Viet Nam, following Alibaba’s footsteps, said Nguyen Thanh Hung, chairman of the Viet Nam E-commerce Association (VECOM).

 Japanese enterprises raised four problems they face while doing business in Viet Nam in a dialogue with the Advisory Council for Administrative Procedure Reform on Wednesday.

 The new law on securities should allow full foreign ownership at public companies and investment funds, according to members of the Viet Nam Business Forum’s (VBF) working group on capital market.

The Australian Government on December 14 launched the pilot Logistics Industry Reference Council to promote industry linkages with vocational education and training in partnership with its Vietnamese counterpart.

 Experts gathered at a workshop in Hanoi on December 14 to seek measures to enhance water resources security amid climate change and energy development in the Mekong Delta region.

By October 20, implemented foreign direct investment (FDI) had reached $14.2 billion and foreign portfolio investment (FPI) $4.7 billion, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).

The Vietnam Steel Association will coordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade to protect the legitimate rights and interests of local steelmakers who were recently accused of tax evasion by the US Department of Commerce.

 The Ministry of Construction is preparing to propose huge changes in construction regulations in order to improve the climate for construction and real estate business.

 The Vietnam National Petroleum Corporation (Petrolimex) and PetroVietnam Oil Corporation (PVOil) on December 15 officially supplied E5 RON92 bio-fuel for sale nationwide to replace RON 92 petrol, 15 days before a Government deadline.

 Coach Park Hang-seo of Vietnam and Zoran Jankovic of Thailand said winning a friendly tournament is not important but they want to win the third-place match on December 15 in Buriram.

 The tropical depression active east of the Philippines has picked up strength and become typhoon Kaitak.

 The National Assembly Standing Committee on December 13 agreed in principle on the Government’s regulations on galleries and exhibitions as well as the establishment of Ninh Cuong township in the northern province of Nam Dinh.

 Vietnam shipped abroad nearly 5.2 million tonnes of rice worth over 2.27 billion USD in the first 11 months of this year, surpassing the figure of the entire 2016 at 4.9 million tonnes, according to the Vietnam Food Association.

 The 19th meeting of the 14th National Assembly’s Standing Committee closed on December 14 after three working days.

 The Presidential Office announced six new laws at a press conference on December 14. 

 General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and President of Laos Bounnhang Vorachith will pay an official friendship visit to Vietnam from December 19 to 21.

 The Vietnam Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei is actively coordinating with officials from China’s Taiwan to carry out search and rescue activities and update information on Vietnamese workers trapped in a fire in Taiwan on December 14.

 The Four Paws Foundation has re-released three bears, including one male and two females, weighing over 100kg each, to a semi-natural area in Ninh Binh.