Real estate stocks are expected to return to the spotlight in 2018, as the sector recovers from its chronic issues and firms gear up for major merger and acquisition deals.

 In addition to VND200 billion needed to upgrade 22 stadiums, HCMC will invest over VND15 trillion (US$660 million) in Rach Chiec sports complex and Phan Dinh Phung sports center to host the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31) in 2021.

VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnamese enterprises made hefty investments in automobile manufacturing projects in 2017, with the aim of becoming an automobile production center in SE Asia.

The opening of the first IQ8 gasoline station in Hanoi marks a new stage for Vietnam’s retail gasoline sector.

 One young Vietnamese engineer aims to build the first Vietnamese-made robot and already provides robotics to the local manufacturing sector.

 In such a village in the central coastal province of Phu Yen the beauty of apricot blossoms, one of the typical flowers of Vietnam in Tet holiday is attracting visitors.

 For multinational companies and foreign investors doing business in Vietnam, experts advocate minimising the FX risk through hedging, knowing that the dong may be steady today but may move unexpectedly tomorrow.

 Polestar Inc, a firm specializing in oil and gas transport in Texas in the U.S., wants to acquire a 49% stake in Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical Company (BSR), the operator of Dung Quat Oil Refinery.

 Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Viet Nam (Vietcombank) reported a pre-tax profit of more than VND11 trillion (US$482.5 million) in 2017.

 Members of the Vietnam Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (VAMM) sold more than 3.2 million motorcycles in 2017, marking a year-on-year increase of 4.8 per cent.

 F&N Dairy Investments Pte Ltd has registered to purchase 14.5 million shares in Vietnam Dairy Products JSC (Vinamilk) in a bid to raise its ownership in Vietnam’s largest dairy producer.

 VietNamNet Bridge – The Department of Performing Arts ordered the organising board of Miss Ocean 2017 to dethrone Le Au Ngan Anh, winner of the beauty pageant, for failing to satisfy the requirements of the contest.

 The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has issued warnings to 15 commercial banks as they have offered too much credit for some high-risk sectors, news website Dan Tri quoted SBV deputy governor Dao Minh Tu as saying on January 9.

 The Ministry of Home Affairs is consulting relevant ministries and agencies over a plan to raise the monthly base salary from the current VND1.3 million to VND1.39 million (US$61.2) for public officials and employees as well as armed forces.

The People’s Committee in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang has recognised the Nam Du Archipelago and Lai Son Island in Kien Hai District and Hai Tac Archipelago in Ha Tien Town as local tourist zones.

The housing market in HCM City's western part has recently become attractive, especially apartments in the affordable segment costing around VND2 billion (US$87,000), analysts said.

 PetroVietnam Power Corporation (PV Power) will hold two roadshows to introduce the investment opportunity in the company’s initial public offering (IPO), scheduled on January 31 on the Ha Noi Stock Exchange.

 Military-run telecommunications company Viettel Group was officially renamed Viettel Military Industry and Telecoms Group and recognised as the national defence and security enterprise with 100 per cent State-owned capital.

 Vietnam has recently made the list of the 10 happiest countries in the world in 2017, according to the 41st Annual Global End of the Year Survey conducted by Gallup International Association.

 VietNamNet Bridge – Firecracker smuggling is on the rise as the Tet (Lunar New Year) approaches.