Brand Finance, the world’s leading independent branded business valuation and strategy consultancy, has valued Vietnam’s national brand at 235 billion USD, a year-on-year increase of 16 percent.

 Heritage Space in Hanoi will screen the 1926 Japanese silent film “Kurutta Ippêji” (A Page of Madness) by Teinosuke Kinugasa on October 25.

 Some enterprises and transport cooperatives in HCMC have decided to discontinue several ineffective bus routes due to heavy losses. 

 National highways across the country will need an estimated VND300 trillion (US$12.8 billion) in funding for renovation works over the next 10 years, stated Nguyen Van Huyen, head of the Directorate for Roads of Vietnam.

 A reduction in the number of business conditions and inspection procedures has yet to match expectations, while enterprises in the country continue to voice concern that these conditions and procedures are hindering their businesses.

 Vietnam’s logistics costs currently account for nearly 20.9% of gross domestic product, double that of developed economies and higher than the global average of 14%.

 Honda Vietnam on October 18 publicized its business performance over the past six months, showing its automobile sales surged 102% year-on-year and it held a motorcycle market share of 76.6%.

 The government of HCMC recently issued a list of key industrial and agricultural products that will receive support for their continued growth and domination of the local market, as well as being promoted for exports.

 VietNamNet Bridge – A number of community-based tours have debuted in Don Hamlet in the central province of Thanh Hoa. 

Vietnam is facing a dual burden of malnutrition and obesity, as its rapid development over the past two decades has resulted in the emergence of developed-world health issues without completely eradicating hunger.  

 VietNamNet Bridge – Two hundred teachers and administrators from senior high-schools, colleges and universities in HCM City have met with Finnish experts to discuss the education model in Vietnam.

UNICEF and partners are organising a new challenge calling on young innovators in HCM City and surrounding provinces to design solutions that will improve skills and training for young people, and empower them 

 VietNamNet Bridge – The number of people registering to donate organs after death or brain death across the country has reached over 20,000 so far.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Performances by famous Vietnamese and international belly dancers are on show at the Ahlan International Belly Dance Festival held on October 19-23 in the northern province of Ninh Binh.

Vietnamese tennis player Vu Ha Minh Duc defeated Wang Kaiwei from mainland China in the first round of the Viet Nam F4 Futures – Hai Dang Cup 2018 on Saturday in the southern province of Tay Ninh.

 Diep Van Thanh has been stripped of his post as chairman of the Tra Vinh City People’s Committee in the Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh for committing serious violations while on duty, the local media reported.

Phan Van Vinh, former head of the General Police Department, and Nguyen Thanh Hoa, former director of the Anti-high-tech Crime Police Department are expected to go on trial next month for alleged involvement in an online gambling ring.

 A primary school built with funds from Azerbaijan’s Heydar Aliyev Foundation has been inaugurated in Giap Trung commune in the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang.

 Many experts have raised concerns about the quality of language centres in Vietnam.

 The Ministry of Education and Training has honoured 33 students who achieved high results at international and regional olympic contests.