A kaleidoscope of European cultures has been brought to Hanoians through the Europe Days 2018 programme which opened in Hanoi on May 4.

 Although the 2017 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices of the US Department of State recognised Vietnam’s achievements in protecting human rights, it still made some assessments that are not objective.

 More than 300 photos by Swiss photographer McFreddy, capturing the daily life in Vietnam from 2005 – 2017, are on display at Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts until May 15.

 Vietnamese top tennis player Ly Hoang Nam beat Kazuki Nishiwaki of Japan in the quarter-finals of the men’s singles of the Vietnam F1 Futures tennis tournament in Hue on May 4.

 The People’s Committees at districts, wards and communes must mobilise all resources and take drastic measures to prevent dengue fever, said Director of the municipal Department of Health Nguyen Tan Binh.

 The European Union National Institutes for Culture (EUNIC) in collaboration with Embassies of the EU member states opened the eighth European Book Days in Hanoi on May 5.

 National Assembly Vice Chairman Uong Chu Luu met with Romanian Deputy Prime Minister Ana Birchall in Bucharest on May 4 to discuss bilateral cooperation in diverse areas. 

 The export value of fruit and vegetable in the first four months of 2018 has exceeded earnings from crude oil for the first time ever, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

 Vietnam’s fishing output in the first four months of 2018 totalled nearly 1.08 million tonnes, an increase of 2.7 percent from a year ago thanks to favourable weather conditions and increased fish population.

 The northern coastal province of Quang Ninh has been working to mobilise resources for the building of a blueprint on the establishment of the Van Don Special Administrative-Economic Zone. 

 The Mekong Delta has consistently recorded the highest average provincial competitiveness index (PCI) among six regions nationwide since 2014, said the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI). 

About 80 percent of students have problems that they want to share with others and want a private space in the school to seek help and talk about their problems.

 There are 58 real estate companies listed on the stock exchange that have a total debt of nearly VND332 trillion ($14.6 billion).

VietNamNet Bridge - Issuing international bonds means borrowing foreign capital at high interest rates. If capital cannot be used effectively, this will increase the public debt burden.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam’s swift breeding industry has the potential to compete with regional producers if it meets quality standards, 

 VietNamNet Bridge - Dr. H. Kim Bottomly, a distinguished immunobiologist and prominent scientist,  has been elected as the new chair of the Fulbright University Vietnam Board of Trustees. 

 The Hanoi People’s Committee has sent a document to the Ministry of Construction and relevant ministries asking for evaluation of a smart town project having an investment of over US$4 billion.

 Danang should adopt solutions to deal with pollution at beaches, which is caused by trash and untreated wastewater.

 Ho Chi Minh City authorities are adopting measures in a bid to complete the traffic infrastructure especially in the eastern gateway.

VietNamNet Bridge - Educators and adults have finally begun paying more attention to school counseling needs after reports of a number of suicides of students.