VietNamNet Bridge – In Vietnam, up to 77% of men drink alcohol compared to 44% in Africa, 73% in Europe and 48% on average in the world.

 Vietnam will step up improving the investment climate and hopes to see Japanese firms increase investments in agriculture in the coming time, a Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development official said.

 VietNamNet Bridge - Due to the decline of agriculture and mining, the economic growth rate of Vietnam in 2016 forecasted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has been adjusted to 6 percent.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The recent incident at Song Bung Hydropower Plant has alerted Vietnam to reconsider the construction of so many hydroelectric plants, which have been compared to “timebombs”.

As trade is expected to increase between Southeast Asian countries and between them and the world, there will be more opportunities for logistics services providers in the region.

VietNamNet Bridge - Scientists believe that the current three-crop-a-year production policy will not help farmers escape poverty, and will only worsen saline intrusion in the Mekong Delta.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Nearly 800 cheo (traditional opera) artists from traditional troupes nationwide are performing at the Cheo National Festival 2016 in the northern province of Ninh Binh.

 Vietnam is expected to see the highest growth within ASEAN through 2017, thanks to its strong performance in manufacturing and foreign direct investment.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Small businesses should not sell low-quality food products that come from unclear sources, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said to fruit vendors in the capital’s Hoan Kiem District early this morning.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Hundreds of representatives from various ethnic groups will participate in cultural activities organised at the Viet Nam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism between November 18 and 23.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Referee Nguyen Ngoc Chau of Binh Duong won the 2016 Golden Whistle Award, the Viet Nam Football Federation announced on September 27.

 So far this year the State Bank of Vietnam has bought over 10 billion USD in foreign exchange, increasing the country’s reserves to a record high of more than 40 billion USD.

 The fate of the long-delayed Vina Universal Paradise Trade and Service Complex (Vina Universal Paradise), invested by Tan Tao Group subsidiary Vina Film Studio and Tourism Zone Investment JSC, will be decided within a week.

  Microsoft Viet Nam and Vietnam Silicon Valley (VSV) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on supporting and developing information and technology application for the country's startup community on September 26.

  A grandmother and her granddaughter drowned yesterday while taking their buffalo to a grassy area near the Dao River in the central Ha Tinh Province.

 The Ministry of Education and Training and Belgian Development Agency are working to improve the capacity of the local workforce by improving management and professional skills of both individuals and organisations.

  Nguyen Tran Duy Nhat took gold for Vietnam in Muay Thai at the 5th Asian Beach Games (ABG5) after beating Wang Wengfeng of China in the men’s lightweight (57-60kg) final in Da Nang on September 26. 

  Scientists from the Institute of Oceanography in Nha Trang city, the southern central province of Khanh Hoa, have built artificial reefs to aid coral recovery off the coast of Bang Thang cape in Nha Trang Bay. 

 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has accepted a proposal to set up a quick response force in Hanoi to deal with food safety problems. 

 The Vietnamese Embassy in Japan is working closely with Japanese agencies and relevant units to ensure the legitimate rights and interests of a Vietnamese citizen who recently died in the host country.