Vietnam has a chance to enter the final of the M-150 Cup friendly football tournament in Thailand after Uzbekistan tied with Myanmar 2-2 in Group B activity on December 11.

 Phan Van Tuan of Vietnam took gold for the second day in a row after winning the men’s 800m surface at the Asian Junior Finswimming Competition on December 12 in China.

 Vietnam is in Group A at the Asian Futsal Championship 2018, according to an announcement by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) on December 12.

 Against global recession and financial crisis, Vietnam’s retail industry has cemented its position in the economy as an effective bridge between producers and consumers, actively orienting buyers towards domestic products.

 People have gathered in the central province of Bac Lieu to attend the 9th Southern Folk Music and Songs Festival of the Provinces of Soc Trang, Bac Lieu and Ca Mau.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade on December 11 announced that an investor has registered to hold at least 25 percent of Sabeco, of which the Government is going to sell stake equal to nearly 5 billion USD.

 Shares performed well on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange on December 12 on the efforts of energy and beverage stocks following news about the State’s divestment from largest brewer Sabeco and a jump in oil prices.

 Vietnam’s U19 team drew 1-1 with Myanmar in the first match of the Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper’s International U21 Football Tournament in Can Tho on December 12.

 The business community will define the future of the Vietnamese economy in the coming decades and serve as an important driving force to achieve prosperity, stated Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

 Asia-Middle East-Western Europe (SMW-3) submarine cable troubles are expected to be fixed between December 21-26, 2017 instead of December 10 as planned, according to a representative from the Vietnam Post and Telecommunication Group (VNPT).

 Nguyen Thien Nhan, Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party’s Committee, has called on US technological groups and companies to expand their investment and cooperation in the city. 

 The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) is collecting feedback for a decree on gold trading, which will include a monopoly for the central bank on accepting gold deposits.

 Permanent Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son asked ministries and agencies to focus on realising outcomes reached during the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week.

 President of the Moroccan House of Representatives Habib El Malk and his spouse will pay an official visit to Vietnam from December 16-22.

 The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has transferred documents of the Khaisilk scandal to the police for investigation after it discovered signs of criminal violations.

 The northern port city of Hai Phong will reduce fees by 20 percent for using infrastructure, service facilities and public utilities at its ports from the beginning of 2018.

 The number of e-visa issues for foreigners entering Vietnam has seen dramatic growth month on month, said Major General Le Xuan Vien, head of the Immigration Management Department in a press conference on December 12.

The State Treasury reports that it has fulfilled 84 percent of the year’s capital mobilization plan, but only 8.5 percent of the disbursement plan has been implemented. 

Startups in the agriculture sector are focusing on making products and ignoring projects on seed production.

VietNamNet Bridge - La Nina has returned this year but it won’t have a strong impact, according to the Central Hydrometeorological Forecasting Center.