Vietnamese cities and provinces have been rushing to seek licences for large-scale and costly seaports to cash in on growing interest among domestic and international investors and rising trade, triggering concerns over a supply-demand imbalance.

 Power Generation Corporation 3 (EVNGenco 3) of Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) will put VND6.6 trillion ($290.6 million) worth of shares on sale at its initial public offering (IPO) and offer stakes for strategic investors.

 Below are the ten most noteworthy “ups-and-downs” of the Vietnamese stock market over the course of 2017, from the launching of a brand new market to unprecedented criminal prosecutions and billion-dollar state divestitures.

 After nearly eleven months of thorough preparation, the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange (HSX) finally scheduled the debut of a new securitised option called covered warrant (CW) for March 2018.

 A Ministry of Construction circular requiring state-funded construction projects to use eco-friendly building materials is expected to lure foreign investors into this sector, bringing with them equipment and products new to the market. 

Amid concerns over US anti-dumping measures and anti-subsidy rates on corrosion-resistant and cold-rolled steel from Vietnam, local steelmakers are finding their way to self-reliance.

  Vietnam’s determination to build an enabling and action-oriented government to serve people and enterprises was reflected in its 2017 administrative reforms.

 VietNamNet Bridge – English fluency targets set by a national project are too high and not backed by sufficient inputs, experts say.

 VietNamNet Bridge – A tollbooth in the southern province of Soc Trang was forced to open for free for all vehicles twice on Sunday following severe traffic jams deliberately caused by drivers protesting the station.

One month ahead of the lunar New Year Festival or Tet, fishing villages in Ca Mau are busy preparing their special product for Tet market: dried siamese gourami or Trichogaster pectoralis.

VietNamNet Bridge - A number of startups successfully called for millions of dollars from foreign investors in 2017.

 A Navigos Search survey and report on benefits and Tet annual bonuses in 2017 found that 64.3 per cent of employers believe that good benefits affect employee engagement.

 The Ministry of Finance (MoF) expects to keep this year’s State Budget deficit at 3.7 per cent of the GDP, below the 3.9 per cent mandated by the National Assembly.

 Shrimp exports increased sharply last year and the trend will continue this year, according to the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

 VietNamNet Bridge – The National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion (NIHBT) has called on people to donate blood as the institute is in dire need of blood type O.

The Hanoi People’s Court began the trial of Dinh La Thang and his accomplices accused of wrongdoings at PetroVietnam Construction Joint Stock Corporation (PVC) on January 8.

 Vietnam's stock market is forecast to keep rising in the short term but a few corrections may be necessary to re-balance the market after a long rally.

 Vietnam’s coach Park Hang-seo on January 7 announced the names of 23 players who will compete in the upcoming Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U-23 Championship finals.

 The Ministry of Transport has submitted the draft of a new circular that includes regulations for passenger transport (by car) through software such as Uber and Grab.

 The government has geared up for the divestment of State-owned capital from many large State-owned enterprises (SOEs) this year, according to the Ministry of Finance.