VietNamNet Bridge – The HCM City Magic Club’s 44 magicians, most of whom work for traditional art theatres and circus troupes, will begin performing this week in the city.

 The EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement will offer direct opportunities to Vietnam to upgrade its textile and garment sector.

 According to the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA), Vietnam will have to cut 669 tariff lines to zero percent in January 2018.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Nguyen Thuy Linh won the Yonex Italian International badminton tournament on December 17.

 Local people in Danang City's Ngu Hanh Son District are complaining about the slow re-opening of roads to the beaches which have been blocked by beach-side resorts.

Cycling machines attached to a water filtration system have been installed on the bank of Hoang Cau Lake in Hanoi. These have not only helped local people to do their exercise, but also keep the lake clean.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Sanna Khanh Hoa have earned a ticket to compete in the final of the Toyota Mekong Club Championship 2017.

 A series of projects belonging to real estate giants such as Vingroup, Bitexco, Geleximco, and the BIM Group will be included in the inspection plans of the Ministry of Construction (MoC) in 2018.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Following HCM City’s lead, Hanoi authorities are installing fences along sidewalks in a pilot programme to prevent vehicles from encroaching them.

 The central city of Da Nang has called for VND1.5 trillion (US$66.3 million) investment in five high-tech farms to create a centre for hi-tech-farming in the central and central highlands region.

 Moody’s Investors Service on Friday affirmed major ratings for two Vietnamese banks, BIDV and Martitime Bank.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Transport has provided an explanation on the controversial toll collection policy on National Highway 5.

A three-day official friendly visit to Viet Nam by Bounnhang Volachith, the Lao Party general secretary and national president, is expected to boost diplomatic and economic co-operation between the two sides.

 The country’s cement surplus this year could be 30 million tonnes and reach 35 million tonnes by 2020 if Viet Nam does not export cement.

Trade development in the Cambodia-Laos-Viet Nam Development Triangle Area remains modest and unsynchronised, failing to match the potential for strategic co-operation between the three countries, speakers said at a forum on Monday.

 New strategies to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) must strengthen linkages with domestic enterprises as a lacuna that cannot be ignored anymore, experts say.

 Saigon Heat defeated Mono Vampire 110-94 at the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) at the CIS Arena in HCM City on December 17.

 The first 11 months of 2017 witnessed a boom in foreign investment in Vietnam, which surged up 53.4 percent year on year to reach 33 billion USD of new capital.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The beautiful landscapes of Vietnam’s sea and islands of Vietnam, lives of islanders and the marine economy are featured in an exhibition that opened on Thursday in Hanoi.

 About 25 percent of CEOs or board directors in Vietnam are women, surpassing the figures for Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.