Vietnam shooting team aim for medals at ASIAD 2018Vietnamese shooting team will strive to win medals at the Asian Games (ASIAD) 2018 to be held in Indonesia in August, Secretary General of the Vietnam Shooting Federation Nguyen Thi Nhung has said. Vinh and his team will be training in the RoK from April 7-20 and compete at the International Shooting Sport Federation World Cup from April 20 – 30, before playing at the ASIAD 2018. In 2018, the Vietnam Shooting Federation will organise numerous national shooting competitions to horn athletes’ skills and find talents for the national team. More than 200 Vietnamese athletes will compete in 20 of the 40 sports at the ASIAD 2018. In the ASIAD Games in Incheon, the Republic of Korea in 2014, Vietnam won one gold, 10 silver and 25 bronze medals to rank 21.

Vietnam’s economy enjoys auspicious startVietnam’s economy enjoyed a more sustainable growth in the first quarter of the year with a strong economic expansion of 7.38 percent, the best first-quarter performance in the last decade. Nearly 7,900 businesses added 485.5 trillion VND to their capital while 8,449 others resumed operations. Also, domestic production was stimulated by a surge of 9.9 percent in retail sales and revenue of consumption services to more than 1 trillion VND (44 million USD). In the period, non-state investment totalled 138.8 trillion VND (6.1 billion USD), or 41.9 percent of the total investment, much higher than foreign direct investment which made up 26.5 percent. The robust achievements were spurred by sound economic growth in Quarter 4 of 2017, new opportunities from stable economic development and efforts of the business community and drastic state management.

Nearly VND21 trillion for economic, industrial zonesThe Prime Minister has recently approved the Target Programme on investing in infrastructure in coastal economic zones; border gate economic, industrial and high-tech areas, industrial clusters and high-tech agricultural areas for the 2016-2020 period. Between now and 2020, construction on 200 – 250 kilometres of major roads, water drainage and concentrated wastewater treatment facilities in 16 coastal economic zones will be completed. Up to 200 – 220 kilometres of major roads in 21 border economic zones will be built, including nine key border economic areas with huge exports-imports. Others include wastewater treatment facilities for 35 - 40 industrial zones and 30 - 35 industrial clusters in poor and extremely poor areas and rainwater drainage and electricity supply for three high-tech areas and six high-tech agricultural areas. The Prime Minister asked the Ministry of Planning and Investment to appraise and allocate State funding for projects for 2016-2020 and each year, and partner with the Finance Ministry to review the progress of projects under the programme and report to the Prime Minister each year.-VNA

Cabinet meeting: Greater efforts needed to achieve minimum of 6.7% growth in 2018At a regular government meeting in Hanoi on April 2, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc asked cabinet members to expand upon growth scenarios for 2018 in the aim of reaching a growth rate of at least 6.7%. Regarding socio-economic performance in the first quarter of 2018, the PM said that some basic indicators yielded strong results, with GDP in the first quarter reaching its highest growth rate in many years at 7.38%. The industry and construction sectors grew by 9.7%, more than double the rate of the corresponding period in 2017. Average CPI in the first quarter of 2018 soared by 2.66% over the same period last year. The Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) of Vietnam hit 51.6 points in March as announced by Nikkei on April 2, Phuc said.

Compulsory social insurance for expats to go ahead despite firms’ concernsVietNamNet Bridge – A controversial rule requiring foreign workers in Vietnam to make social insurance payments is likely to be put into practice soon, several months after the Government’s issuance of a decree to implement the new provision of the Law on Social Insurance 2014, which came into effect on January 1 this year. Meanwhile, all of them already pay social insurance in their home country. Cost increaseMany foreign enterprises, however, have complained that compulsory social insurance for foreign workers will increase employment costs for enterprises, especially those who have a large number of foreign workers. “Until now, enterprises using foreign workers have already enjoyed certain preferential policies in terms of tax and social insurance,” he said. The implementation of regulation, however, faces a tough road ahead, given the fact that a large number of enterprises have already evaded paying social insurance for their Vietnamese employees, leaving a social insurance debt of trillions of dong.

Illegal logging bedevils central provincesVietNamNet Bridge – Two illegal logging cases were discovered in the central province’s Dong Giang and Nam Giang districts in March, with 77 big trees chopped down. Thanh was blamed by the provincial Party Inspection Committee for his negligence on illegal logging cases in recent years. Thanh said the province will investigate the illegal logging cases and uncover suspected collusion among local rangers and illegal loggers, timber traders and buyers. Tuan said six illegal logging cases were prosecuted, while 20 other cases have been under investigation. Several officials in the district were punished for those illegal logging operations.

Vietnamese Painter’s Artworks Set For Auction at Sotheby’sVietNamNet Bridge – Two paintings by the late Vietnamese artist Nguyen Huyen have been sold at a Hong Kong auction for almost US$22,000. Under the hammer: Portrait of an Old Vietnamese Gentlemen by Nguyen Huyen. The artwork went under the hammer yesterday at Sotheby’s Hong Kong auction house. This confirms the large range of influence the Vietnamese art market has around the world, especially in Hong Kong. The decision of auctioning off Huyen’s artworks was made by Sotheby’s after many of his paintings were displayed and sold at an exhibition at Vietnamese Chon’s Auction House.

Saline intrusion attacks Ninh ThuanVietNamNet Bridge – Water and agricultural land in Nhon Hai Commune, Ninh Hai District of the south central province of Ninh Thuan has been contaminated with high saline levels, affecting local production and livelihoods. Water and soil are saline in Nhon Hai Commune, Ninh Hai District of the south central province of Ninh Thuan Province. Aquatic production bases are located in centralised area of Ninh Thuan Province but the water treatment system has not been completed. The communal committee also proposed local authorities finish setting up infrastructure for the centralised aquatic production area, harmonise benefits of agricultural development and environmental protection. He also asked local authorities would assess salinity level in the water and soil to have solutions and help farmers.

Davis Cup begins today in HanoiVietnam is the No 1 seed in Group A of the Davis Cup, Asia/Oceania Zone Group III, which begins today in Hanoi. National champion Pham Minh Tuan practises in Hanoi in preparation for the Davis Cup. Group B gathers together Kuwait, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Syria. Among them, Kuwait, world No 73, is ranked as the top seed. The two winners of the last-four rounds will be promoted to Group II for next season.

Russia wants to see more Vietnamese tourists during World CupFootball-loving Vietnamese tourists can visit Russia with ease for this year’s FIFA World Cup which takes place from June 14 to July 15. Volga River Cruise is one among recommended tours for Vietnamese tourists to discover Russia. “Especially for the championship in Russia, 12 stadiums have been made ready, meeting all modern requirements. Natalia Shafinskaya, director of the centre, revealed the destinations in 11 Russia cities that will host games. “The Russian centre in Hanoi also organises Russian language courses with the theme of tourism and sports to meet the demand of Vietnamese tourists who want to travel to see the World Cup,” she added.

Designer revives brocatelle in VietnamDesigner Viet Hung has started the Hoa Tho Cam Project to popularise traditional brocatelle. "The brocatelle is a traditional material of the Tay, Muong and other ethnic minority groups in the northwest mountainous area to the Central Highlands. After 20 years of researching, I feel confident to introduce brocatelle to the world," he said. "It's great that the brocatelle fashion is being made popular again. To me, it's important to preserve the culture of the Central Highlands,' she said.

Temporary accommodation of late President Ho Chi Minh on Khau Ty hilltop. The working area of late President Ho Chi Minh on Tin Keo hill. A temple in honour of Uncle Ho on the De Mountain Pass in the ATK site. A historic stone stele on Khau Ty hill. A forest of oil palm and hills of green tea at the historical relic site.

Banks expected to record high profits in first quarterThe profits of many domestic banks in the first quarter of this year are estimated to rise higher than that of the same period last year thanks to significant credit growth. After the first two months, Tien Phong Commercial Joint Stock Bank’s (TPBank) profits after provision for risky loans nearly doubled year-on-year to 275.8 billion VND (12.14 million USD). The bank posted outstanding loans at 76.78 trillion VND (3.38 billion USD) and a mobilised capital of nearly 106.2 trillion VND (4.67 billion USD). These targets for 2018 suggest unprecedented high profits for banks in Vietnam. With the above factors, SSI forecast that profits at 14 listed banks including will surge at an average of 32.9 percent in 2018.–VNA

Party chief’s visits expand economic ties with Cuba, FranceParty General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong’s tour to Cuba and France was a success, creating a new impetus to grow Vietnam’s ties with the two countries, especially in economy, according to an official. Vietnam wants France to become a gateway for the country to access the EU, and Vietnam will help link France with the ASEAN. Vietnam is one of France’s leading partners in ASEAN, while France is one of the biggest investors of Vietnam. The two sides will review legal framework to sign the deal as soon as possible, supporting trade, investment cooperation growth and enhancing capacity in production and accessing each other’s market. Vietnam has become the second largest Asian partner of Cuba after China, with two-way trade exceeding 200 million USD.

Vietnam Airlines, VietJet adjust fees upVietnam Airline and VietJet Air announced increases of their ticket prices and services as from April 1. A Vietnam Airlines aircraftVietnam Airlines’ ticket fee for children aged 2 – 12 will equal 90 percent of that for adults, compared to the current 75 percent. Meanwhile, VietJet Air said it will increase the price to change passengers’ names and flight dates for both domestic and international routes. In late 2017, air ticket prices increased significantly due to higher fees and service charges. Economic experts said airlines can introduce higher fares due to market fluctuations, but stressed transparency to ensure consumers’ rights.