The Ministry of Education and Training has proposed to exempt tuition fees at public schools for both primary and secondary pupils.

 Ha Cong Tuan, deputy minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, speaks to the Vietnam Economic Times about his ministry’s resolve to make forests a key resource for national economic development.

 Professor Doctor Vu Trong Hong argues that the country’s recent experiences with natural calamities wre caused in part by a failure to link the national strategy on economic development with a plan to prevent environmental disasters.

 Minister of Education and Training Phung Xuan Nha spoke with Vietnam Economics Times about tightening regulations on doctoral training to create qualified human resources.

 Similar threats of being a country bumpkin and so on were, and are, common admonishments delivered by adults, as though farming was an undesirable pursuit, instead of the most essential one for human survival.

 The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment has asked authorities in HCM City and 10 provinces to develop a master plan on effective management of water resources and environmental protection in the Dong Nai River basin.

 Vietnamese weightlifters are ready to compete in the World Weightlifting Championships which is scheduled from November 28 to December 5 at the Anaheim Convention Centre in Anaheim, California, United States. 

 Vietnamese player Ly Hoang Nam dropped in the quarter-final round of the Viet Nam F3 Futures tennis tournament in the southern province of Bình Duong yesterday.

 Irish Aid will grant 578,000 euros (US$685,000 ) to support ten partnerships between Irish and Vietnamese higher education institutions on teaching and research co-operation during 2017-2018.

 Viet Nam has a great opportunity to use information technology in teaching English since 70 per cent of the country’s population use the internet and broadband internet connection is available in every village.

VN’s agricultural sector should focus on developing the economic value of domestic plant varieties by ensuring their output and protecting branding, instead of importing large amounts of other plant varieties. 

 The Minister of Natural Resources and Environment has asked authorities in Ho Chi Minh City and 10 provinces to develop a master plan on effective management of water resources and environmental protection in the Dong Nai River basin.

 Members of the Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption’s Standing Board have agreed on plans to finalise the investigation, prosecution and judgment of 23 corruption and economic cases in 2017 and the first quarter of 2018.

 E-commerce platforms are trying to emulate the famous Black Friday sale in the US with a massive advertising campaign announcing attractive discounts.

 Total lending of the banking sector for securities trading has reached 10 trillion VND (444.4 million USD), according to Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) Le Minh Hung.

The visits to Singapore and Australia by NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan from November 26 to December 2 are of significance, aiming to consolidate Vietnam’s strategic partnership with Singapore and its comprehensive partnership with Australia.

 Sai Gon University and the International Computer Driving Licence (ICDL) Foundation have signed an agreement accrediting the school as the first official ICDL test centre in Ho Chi Minh City.

 Financial technology (fintech) should be used to strengthen regional integration and promote inclusive and sustainable development, speakers said at the 47th ASEAN Banking Council Meeting in Da Nang on November 24.

 Mexico treasures ties with Vietnam, Mexican Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos de Icaza told Vietnamese Ambassador to Mexico Nguyen Hoai Duong at a meeting in Mexican city on November 24.

 The missile frigate KD LEKIU and training ship GAGAH SAMUDERA of the Royal Malaysian Navy arrived in Ho Chi Minh City on November 25, beginning a four-day goodwill visit to Vietnam.