Hanoi is upgrading Doan Mon (Main Gate) at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel as part of periodical maintenance.

 As many as 77 penmen will join the 2017 Calligraphy Writing Festival at the Literature Lake at Temple of Literature, Hanoi from January 21 to February 11.

 Vietnam has become an attractive destination for Chinese and Taiwanese solar panel makers who want to make use of tax advantages to export to the US and Europe, according to Dau Tu (Investment) newspaper.

 Prime Minister (PM) Nguyen Xuan Phuc left for Davos, Switzerland on January 17 to attend the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) that takes place from January 17 – 21.

 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has expressed his desire to assist Vietnam in implementing managerial personnel training projects.

 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe concluded his official two-day visit to Vietnam on January 17. 

 Vietnam wants Japan to become its biggest investor, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said at the two countries’ business talk in Hanoi on January 17, as part of an official visit to Vietnam by Japanese PM Shinzo Abe.

Ginger jam village in Kim Long ward, Hue city in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue is at its busiest time now as the Lunar New Year festival (Tet) is drawing near.

 Ho Chi Minh City has decided to promote its geographic information system (GIS), to prevent infectious diseases, said Le Hong Nga, Deputy Director of the city’s Preventive Medicine Centre.

Japanese Prime Minister’s spouse Akie Abe visited disabled children who are receiving treatment at Hanoi Rehabilitation Hospital on January 16.

 The Vietnam-Azerbaijan Inter-Governmental Commission on Economic-Trade and Science-Technology Cooperation convened its first session in Hanoi on January 16, aiming to boost ties across trade, oil and gas, education-training, tourism and culture. 

  The official visit to Vietnam by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has made headlines in Japan on January 17.

 The VND has strengthened against the US dollar unexpectedly in the first two weeks of trading in 2017.

 The State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV) will control inflation under 4 per cent and stabilise the macro economy to reach a GDP growth of 6.7 per cent, as well as ensure a safe operation for the banking system, a high ranking official of SBV said.

 The Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MBB) has appointed vice-chairman of its board Luu Trung Thai as its general director, with effect from Monday.

Da Nang City will establish four new industrial parks (IPs) by 2020, Ho Ky Minh, deputy chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, said.

Vietnamese firms are mostly optimistic about their business results for 2017, driven by the improved macro-economy coupled with Government efforts to improve the business climate and remove obstacles. 

The Ministry of Finance has proposed, in a draft law, to almost triple the environmental protection tax on oil and gas consumption from the current VND3,000 (US$0.13) to VND8,000 per litre. 

 Viet Nam Textile and Garment Group (Vinatex) on Monday signed a strategic co-operation agreement with Japanese firm Itochu, witnessed by PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe in Ha Noi.

VietNamNet Bridge - Most of the brands to be franchised in Vietnam in the coming years will be in food, education and healthcare, analysts say.