The high-level court in HCMC on December 5 opened an appeal trial on the case of former Deputy Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam Dang Thanh Binh in connection with the economic losses of over 15 trillion VND at the Vietnam Construction Bank. 

 Vietnam Airlines said it will add nearly 1,800 more seats on flights between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City on December 6 and 7 to make it easier for football fans to travel to Hanoi for the semifinal return leg between Vietnam and the Philippines.

 Events in Hanoi and HCMC on December 3-9 

Jin Jong Oh, the four-time Olympic shooting champion from the Republic of Korea, met with Vietnamese shooters at the National Sports Training Centre in Hanoi on December 3.

 VietNamNet Bridge – In a rather sudden and widely applauded move, HCM City authorities have issued regulations forcing the city’s folk to start separating their solid waste at source.

VietNamNet Bridge - Though the number of Vietnamese cruise travelers remains modest, foreign cruisers and Vietnamese travel firms continue to develop cruise tours as they believe in the potential of the market.

 Mai Tuan Anh, the Vietnamese representative at Manhunt International 2018, was awarded the fourth runner-up title in the grand finale of the male pageant in Australia on December 2.

Vietnamese representative H'Hen Nie has released her stunning bikini photo collection as she is set to compete in the Miss Universe 2018 beauty pageant in Thailand.

 Foreign direct investment (FDI) commitments in the first 11 months totaled US$30.8 billion, equivalent to 93.2% of the same period last year, according to the investment ministry.

 French festival ‘Baladeen France’ will take place close by the Ly Thai To Statue and pedestrian streets near to Hoan Kiem lake in Hanoi from between December 14 and 16.

Several works composed or performed by artists and musicians from Southeast Asian countries will be featured in the Connecting Heritage Concert “Verdant Luxuriance” at L’Espace in Hanoi on December 18, starting at 8 pm.

 The Vietnamese beer market is becoming a game for great foreigners, with many Vietnamese brands wiped out or struggling to stay afloat.

 Miss Vietnam Tieu Vy has found herself among the top 5 in the Beauty With A Purpose competition held at the Miss World 2018 beauty pageant.

 The coastal area of Son Tra Peninsular in the central city of Danang’s ecosystem has faced a serious degradation over the past decade due to human activity.

 Hanoi authorities are seeking new investors for a floating lotus-shaped theatre project.

 Thousands of young people in HCM City have lined up over the past few days in order to take the TOEIC test as fast as they can before new updates are implemented next year.

 Vietnamobile has decided to discontinue its “Thanh SIM” prepaid plan from January and focus instead on “Sieu thanh SIM” prepaid SIM cards.

 The founder of Viet Nam’s largest steelmaker Tran Dinh Long has been knocked off the Forbes list of the world’s billionaires after shares in Hoa Phat tumbled 30 per cent from the peak recorded in March.

The cement production industry may face increasing pressure from an anticipated excess of supply over demand, although the industry posted good sale results this year.

 Public-private partnerships, better use of technology, and improved value-chain linkages are needed to ensure the sustainable development of the coffee industry, experts said at a meeting on December 4 in HCM City.