Vietnam wants India and Pakistan to settle existing issues in their bilateral ties by peaceful means, Foreign Ministry’s spokesman Le Hai Binh said during a regular press conference in Hanoi on October 13. 

 The fourth meeting of the Vietnam – Germany Strategic Management Group was held in Hanoi on October 12.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Born with a strong desire to paint, Le Truong Giang lost his chance to become an artist due to his disability resulted from a bomb explosion in a rural district in the central province of Quang Binh.

A survey on foreign invested enterprises’ (FIEs) observance of the laws on environment showed that 60 percent of FIEs had waste water with toxic concentrations higher than the permitted levels, while 23 percent had concentrations 5-12 times higher.

VietNamNet Bridge - While Hanoi has proposed a trial policy to develop into a large entrepreneurial center, HCM City has drawn up five projects to realize the ambition of becoming Vietnam’s Silicon Valley.

The map of tourist destinations in the north of the Central Highlands has now had a fresh face—Dak Nong Province. Saigontourist Travel Service Co. has launched a two-day HCMC-Dak Nong tour starting from VND1.779 million,

 VietNamNet Bridge – As the country moves toward deeper integration, banks are striving to improve their information and technology systems in order to catch up with new trends and to ensure customer safety.

 Vietnam is wasting trillions of VND paying 700,000 civil servants who are barely working, according to the National Assembly Committee on Social Affairs.

 VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnamese investors still cannot reap fruits from real estate projects in foreign markets.

 Beachside and resort properties in Vietnam have huge potential and investors are targeting foreigners and overseas Vietnamese as their biggest customers.

 As an important occasion for the Dao Do (red Dao) ethnic community in the northern province of Yen Bai, the harvest festival has been preserved for hundreds of years. 

 VietNamNet Bridge – The nitrous oxide-filled balloons, known as funky balls, have recently inspired a “fever” amongst youngsters in Ha Noi, although experts have issued warnings of addictive affects and negative impacts on the nervous system.

 Vietnamese businesses have been advised to study the Viet Nam – Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) free trade agreement so that they can capitalise on opportunities to boost exports to EAEU-member countries.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The capital city’s administration has resumed the project to cut grass and trim plant following a three-month cancellation over complaints of unnecessary expenditure.

 A law on renewable energy is needed to ensure sustainable and effective development of renewable energy, according to Dr. Duong Duy Hoat from the Institute of Energy Science. 

 State-owned enterprises (SOEs) remain the biggest tax payers in Vietnam as they make up nearly 60 percent of the total value of corporate income tax paid by the top 1,000 enterprises of tax contribution (V1000) in 2016. 

 The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) on October 12 seized a boat with 20 Vietnamese fishermen onboard for allegedly entering waters 26 nautical miles from Tanjung Sedili to the southeast.

 The Vietnam Red Cross Society was selected to represent national organisations in Southeast Asia to host a meeting marking International Day for Disaster Reduction in the central province of Quang Nam on October 13. 

 Vietnam is playing an active and constructive role in the Francophone community, Secretary-General of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) Michaelle Jean said and wished the country will contribute more to the community. 

 Diwali, the Indian festival of lights, will be held in Ho Chi Minh City on November 5.