Forest products surpasses seafood in export valueThe export value of forest products from early this year until May 24 surpassed that of seafood products to become the leader in the agro, forests and seafood export group. In May, the export value stood at $663 million, reported Thoi bao Tai chinh Viet Nam (Vietnam Financial Times) newspaper. MARD also confirmed that forest product exports accounted for 22 per cent of the agricultural sector’s total export value. The forestry industry had high export value but low import value, which resulted in a trade surplus. To promote the export of forest products, MARD is currently promoting a programme of development and protection forestry.

Audio-visual performance 4DOORS in Hanoi tonightHeritage Space and DomDom will present “4DOORS”, the second concert of the experimental musical performance series “Beyond Sound 2018” on May 25. This time will be an audio-visual performance, a product of collaboration between Autonomicon - an international group represented by Denis Trusov, and new age artists from DomDom. The project tells about the gloomy borderline states of the human psyche, desperate situations, unbearable and existential loneliness inherent in every human being. A Hub for Experimental Music and Art, DomDom was created in 2012 as the first independent interdisciplinary center dedicated to Vietnamese experimental music and its collaboration with other art forms. Run by artist Kim Ngoc and her husband Xuan Son, DomDom has been playing an essential role in Vietnamese arts and music scenes.

New show for tourists to open in Da LatVietNamNet Bridge – The first ever entertainment show for tourists will open soon in the Central Highland city of Da Lat. Stage design of "Da Lat – A Miracle Night" show. — Photo thanhnien.vnThe new show, called “Da Lat – A Miracle Night”, is run by the CNT Company and can accommodate up to 400 people. It will be performed at the present location of April 3 Cinema, in Hoa Binh area, in downtown Da Lat. Da Lat, the capital of Lam Dong Province, is located 1,500m above sea level on the Langbian Plateau in the southern part of the Central Highlands region.

Heritage, spiritual tour of central province launchedVietNamNet Bridge – Saigontourist has launched a tour called Heritage and Spiritual Journey to the central province of Quang Tri. Con Co Island in Quang Tri Province. — VNS File PhotoThe province is renowned for its breathtaking landscapes, exotic culture, spiritual values, and friendly people. Travellers from HCM City will land in Hue City, visit the Imperial Citadel and enjoy Hue specialties before going to the neighbouring Quang Tri Province. On the first day in Quang Tri they will visit the ancient citadel built in 1827 by King Minh Mang.

Illegal mineral exploitation challenge for island authorityVietNamNet Bridge – Illegal mineral exploitation in Phu Quoc District in Kien Giang Province has defied the local government for many years, reported online newspaper vov.vn. Police are at the scene of an illegal sand exploitation on Phu Quoc Island. Referring to measures to counter illegal mineral exploitation, he said the police would cooperate with other authorities to supervise mineral exploitation in the district. He added that traffic police would enhance patrolling to monitor illegal exploitation and transportation of minerals. However, local people say that illegal exploitation activities are being carried out more discreetly and artfully to avoid the authorities.

Via close consultation with multinational corporations, the programme will also evaluate business opportunities and competitiveness of participating suppliers. Anh said there are only about 300 supporting industry firms in automobiles manufacturing nationwide. VASI Vice Chairwoman and General Secretary Truong Thi Chi Binh suggested support industry firms devise long-term strategies, enhance connectivity and actively join the global supply chain. The enterprises were chosen based on their interest in sourcing locally and assisting local companies in finding business opportunities. “Good corporate governance helps improve business performance and contributes to the prosperity of the economy in general,” Dien said.

Dull future for Central Highland resettlersVietNamNet Bridge – When authorities of the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai decided to build the Ayun Ha irrigation system in 2000, hundreds of local residents in Phu Thien District’s Chu A Thai Commune were relocated to a new resettlement area. Children play in a village in the Central Highland province of Gia Lai. The 70 residents of the Heg Village are among those who left the resettlement area to return to their hometown. They have three options: travelling 6km to neighbouring Chu Se District, 8km to the resettlement area, or 15km to the Mang Yang District to see the doctors there. “We will cling onto it as long as we can.”Located on top of the Cheng Leng Mountain is the Plei Cheng Leng Village of some 20 households; the oldest one has been there for over 20 years.

Circus performance, folk games promise excitementVietNamNet Bridge – A new circus performance will be showcased promising to bring excitement and drama to audiences, especially children, according to artist Tong Toan Thang, deputy director of the Viet Nam Circus Federation. A new circus performance will be showcased promising an exciting show for audiences. — Photo courtesy of the Viet Nam Circus FederationEntitled ‘A Forest of Fairies’, the story is about a princess with miraculous hair. There are five shows a day performed at the Viet Nam Circus Federation, 67 Tran Nhan Tong Street, Hanoi. International folk games celebrated in museumResidents of Hanoi, particularly children, will have the chance to enjoy and learn about various folk games from around the world at the Viet Nam Museum of Ethnology in Cau Giay District.

Museum displays embroidery items by Vietnamese women soldiersVietNamNet Bridge – The Southern Women’s Museum of HCM City has launched a contemporary exhibition featuring embroidery items made by Vietnamese women soldiers who were imprisoned during the American war. Two fans made by Le Thi Huong, who was imprisoned at Tan Hiep in 1971, which are embroidered with poems on freedom. — Photo from tuoitre.vnThe Embroidery Memorabilia of Women Revolutionaries exhibition showcases 100 items including handkerchiefs, fans, baby clothes, and paintings. Nguyen Thi Hong Tham, director of the museum, spoke at the event’s opening ceremony on May 23. “Women across Vietnam in general and women in the South made great contributions to the country’s liberation.”“Despite being imprisoned, women revolutionaries showed their love for the country and their beloved people and trust in a victory through their embroidery works,” said Tham.

FDI from the US into Vietnam remains modestVietNamNet Bridge - At many political and economic events, American officials and businesses all have said that they believe the US would be the top investor in Vietnam in the near future. But this has yet to happen. The US is the ninth biggest foreign investor in VietnamVietnam has been continuously praised by the international organizations as an attractive destination point for investors. Increasing bilateral investments is the topic of discussion at all meetings of heads of states. The ninth position is not a worthy position for the US.Nguyen Mai, chair of the Vietnam Foreign Invested Enterprises’ Association (VAFIEs), said: “The investments from the US and Europe are still modest if compared with their FDI in other countries and in ASEAN countries.”Meanwhile, Vietnam has been continuously praised by the international organizations as an attractive destination point for investors.

When will Vietnam’s e-commerce players stop “burning money”? Vietnam’s e-commerce websites are still receiving heavy investment to develop despite big losses, but when will these projects stop losing? The Vietnamese e-commerce market is one of the leading markets in the region for investment. According to Nielsen, the annual growth speed of the e-commerce market is 22% and is expected to hit US$10 billion in annual revenue by 2022 from the current US$4 billion. The Vietnamese e-commerce market shows huge potential for development and receives great attention from new investors.

Phan Thi Mo to compete at World Miss Tourism AmbassadorPhan Thi Mo will represent Vietnam to compete at World Miss Tourism Ambassador beauty pageant, which is scheduled to take place in Thailand late July. Phan Thi MoThis year, the pageant has attracted the participation of more than 60 beauties from different countries across the world. She has finished in the top 5 at Miss Vietnam World 2010, top 10 in Miss Asia USA, and top 5 in Miss Vietnam 2012. In 2017, Vietnamese representative Lien Phuong won first runner-up of World Miss Tourism Ambassador 2017. A recently-established pageant based in the US, World Miss Tourism Ambassador is not only a beauty arena, but also a channel for promoting tourism, culture and tourism services of any country that sends a delegate to this contest.

Real estate sees a rise of M&A dealsThe Vietnamese real estate market has seen large-scale investments over the year’s first four months, with a surge of substantial merger and acquisition deals and funding into projects. The country’s real estate sector attracted US$455 million between January and April, accounting for 12.8% of the country’s total foreign direct investment (FDI) capital during the period, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI). Last week the Republic of Korea’s Daewon Thu Duc House became the latest in a wave of foreign-backed developers investing in the property market. According to reports from MPI, investment in real estate was focused on the southern market, Commercial Real Estate Services reported. The Republic of Korea was the top foreign investor in Vietnam between January and April, followed by Japan.

Ministry vows to curb city centre high-risesThe Deputy Minister of Construction Le Quang Hung said on May 23 that they would have strict measures to limit the construction of high-rise buildings in the centre of Hanoi and HCM City. Tran Quoc Thai, deputy director of Urban Development Agency, said the Ministry of Construction was reviewing the national urban planning and would submit a report to the prime minister by the end of the year. In the past recent years, Hanoi and HCM City have experienced unbalanced development as most projects are located in the centre. They have to better control the urban development plan in order to reduce congestion on ring roads. The Ministry of Transport was asked to work with local authorities to draft a new resolution and submit to the prime minister by June 30.

Vietnam hosts 2018 ASEAN-Japan cyber security drillThe Viet Nam Computer Emergency Response Centre (VNCERT) hosted the 2018 ASEAN-Japan Information Security Drill in Ha Noi, central Da Nang and HCM City on Wednesday. According to statistics of VNCERT, Viet Nam recorded 4,035 cyber attacks this year up to May 19, with 2,661 defaming incidents, 776 malware attacks and 608 phishing scams. Therefore, drills on information security in response to relevant issues should be regularly organised, Hung said. They also exchanged reports on ongoing events, provided warnings and offered strategies to mitigate the loss while sharing their experiences in responding to cyber attacks. It has detected millions of IP addresses infected and controlled by host computers outside Viet Nam.