The PetroVietnam Power Corporation (PV Power) sold all 468.37 million shares it offered at the initial public offering (IPO) at the Hanoi Stock Exchange on January 31, raising nearly 7 trillion VND (308 million USD).

 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc appreciated the United Nations’ assistance for Vietnam in implementing Millennium Development Goals while receiving UN Coordinator of the Scaling Up Nutrition Movement Gerda Verburg on January 31.

Over 2,160 cattle were killed or starved to death as of January 30 as a result of the cold spell that was raging across mountainous areas of the north, central and Central Highlands regions.

Courts at all levels handled over 438,625 out of the total 491,384 cases received, or 89.3 percent, in 2017, the Supreme People’s Court said at a press conference on January 31 in Hanoi. 

 Vietnamese shares ended January 31 on a negative note, driven by the financial-banking, energy and brokerage sectors.

 WeFit is a well-known gym-sharing application that helps gyms run more efficiently. With a smart phone, users can enjoy the benefits of many different gyms, at a time of the day which fits their schedules best.

As Tet draws near, most peach trees are, thankfully, not blooming early - thanks to the cold. With more than 10 days to go to the Year of the Dog, ornamental wholesalers are rushing to peach-blossom gardens in Hanoi

VietNamNet Bridge - Commercial banks say that people are converting dollar into dong and investing dong in securities.

“Many Vietnamese people don’t know anything about blockchain, but are still willing to pour millions of dollars into ICO (initial coin offering) ,” the founder of Vietnam Blockchain Developers Nguyen Sy Thanh Son said recently.

 As more high-rises have been built in urban areas, more trees have been chopped down and the green space has shrunk.

Twenty-three state-owned universities are following the autonomy policy on a trial basis under a government resolution. However, they say they don’t have the right to make decisions on personnel and budgeting. 

 An update on the securities law this year focuses on nine targets in the hope of giving a boost to the development of the securities market as well as the broader financial sector.

The State Audit Office of Vietnam has pointed out shortcomings by the Ministries of Industry-Trade and Finance in overseeing fuel prices in the 2015-2016 period, especially in the provision of information, news website Dan Tri reports.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Wildlife protection has become stricter under policies outlined in amendments to the Penal Code that took effect on January 1, 

 Vietnam expects to have a sex rate at birth of 112.8 boys per 100 girls and an average population of 94.7 million in 2018, heard a conference held by the General Office for Population - Family Planning in Hanoi on January 30. 

Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung has asked the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, and relevant agencies to make a pre-feasibility study for a project on building a North-South express rail route.

 Asian online insurance and financial products comparison site GoBear will set up a new regional software development team in Ho Chi Minh City next month.

 Credit card holders will not be allowed to withdraw cash at card readers of domestic points of sale (POS) from March this year, said the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV).

 A grand ceremony was held at the Thong Nhat (Reunification) Palace, Ho Chi Minh City on January 31 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the General Tet Offensive in the spring of 1968. 

 VietNamNet Bridge – After a five-day ban, under 12-seater cars were allowed to go to Cat Ba Island via Got-Cai Vieng Ferry in the northern city of Hai Phong.