PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc to attend Mekong River Commission SummitPrime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc will lead a Vietnamese delegation to attend the third Mekong River Commission (MRC) Summit in Siem Reap, Cambodia on April 4-5. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan PhucThe attendance will come at the invitation of Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen. The 4.800km - long Mekong River flows through China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. In 1995, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam signed an Agreement on the Cooperation for the Sustainable Development of the Mekong River and set up the Mekong River Commission (MRC) as a replacement for the Mekong Committee. The third MRC Summit is themed “Joint Efforts and Partnership towards Achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals in the Mekong”.-VNA

Vietnamese fashion brands wither away as designs remain stagnantVietNamNet Bridge - The appearance of foreign fast-fashion brands in Vietnam has dealt a strong blow to Vietnamese brands. Vietnamese fashion brands, such as Foci of Nguyen Tam Fashion Company, NinoMaxx of Thoi Trang Viet, BlueExchange of Xanh Co Ban Fashion, and PT2000 of Pham Tuong 2000 Company, once controlled the domestic market in early 2000. “Vietnamese fashion companies need more money and a character of their own,” said Le Tien Truong, CEO of Vinatex, when asked how to help Vietnamese brands survive the competition with foreign brands. RELATED NEWSHow are Vietnamese fashion brands faring? Domestic fashion brands seek foothold in $3.5 billion marketMai Nam

Real estate market to prosper thanks to stock upswingVietNamNet Bridge - The Vietnamese stock market is in the “most optimistic situation in the last 11 years”, according to analysts. Analysts said the listing can bring big benefits to real estate firms, and that now is the golden time for them to list as the stock market has been prospering. In August 2017, Netland acquired 95 percent of shares of Danh Khoi Real Estate JSC, one of the major real estate distribution company. Analysts said the listing can bring big benefits to real estate firms, and that now is the golden time for them to list as the stock market has been prospering. RELATED NEWSWhat’s behind the strong performance of the stock market in 2017?

Property developers eye SEZs: new real estate trend in 2018VietNamNet Bridge - Van Don, Bac Van Phong and Phu Quoc - three special economic zones (SEZs) – are new destinations for large real estate developers. Real estate developers in the three SEZs are listed among the investors to enjoy big incentives in tax, land and customs procedures. The State will also exempt land and surface water rentals for resort real estate projects which can meet certain requirements. Real estate developers in the three SEZs are listed among the investors to enjoy big incentives in tax, land and customs procedures. Great opportunities for real estate developersAccording to Le Hoang Chau, chair of the HCMC Real Estate Association, real estate developers have been eyeing the three zones for many years because of the beautiful landscapes and coastline.

OBM, ODM modes considered for Vietnam’s textile and productionVietNamNet Bridge - Foreign-invested enterprises have organized production according to the OBM mode (original brand manufacturer), in which they undertake all important phases of the production chain, from design and production to distribution. Analysts said if Vietnamese enterprises followed the ODM (original design manufacturer) and OBM modes, they would be able to increase the profit margin by 30-40 percent or even 100 percent. Experts commented that in order to enhance Vietnam’s position in the global value chain, Vietnamese enterprises have no other choice than to change the production method. According to the Vietnam Textile & Apparel Association (Vitas), 70 percent of enterprises are still following OEM and 20 percent follow FOB. Vietnamese enterprises need to take the initiative in building a supply chain with emphasis on input material supply.

Vietnamese CEOs at multinationals – who are they? More Vietnamese have been appointed to important positions at multinationals recently in the so-called ‘personnel localization movement’. From 2007 to 2008, when the global financial crisis occurred, many Vietnamese names appeared in the key personnel structure of multinationals. More recently, Pham Hong Hai became the first Vietnamese CEO at HSBC Vietnam, while Pham Van Dung became CEO of Ford Vietnam. These Vietnamese CEOs at multinationals have spent many years living and working overseas.

Hanoi to pilot running observatory in JuneThe Vietnam National Space Centre (VNSC) will start the pilot run of its observatory and space centre in Hanoi’s Hoa Lac high-tech park in June, 2018. The first photo taken by the telescope at the Vietnam National Space Centre (VNSC)'s observatory and space centre in Hanoi’s Hoa Lac high-tech park (Photo: VNSC )The observatory is equipped with a space telescope of 0.5m in diameter inside a dome that is 12m in diameter. VNSC Director Associate Prof. Dr. Pham Anh Tuan said the observatory will serve basic studies on optical astrophysics, and disseminate knowledge of the universe in the community. The observatory is one of the two observatory projects in Vietnam, costing a total of 120 billion VND (5.3 million USD). The other one is placed on Hon Chong islet in Nha Trang city, the central province of Khanh Hoa.-VNA

Party chief presents Golden Star Order to Cuban leaderGeneral Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong has presented the Golden Star Order to First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) Central Committee and President of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers of Cuba Raul Castro Ruz. General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong presents the Golden Star Order to First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee and President of the Council of State and the Council of Ministers of Cuba Raul Castro Ruz. Speaking at the ceremony, Raul Castro highlighted the time-tested relationship between the two countries. Raul Castro thanked the Vietnamese Party, State and people for the noble prize, and described it as a vivid manifestation of the bilateral special solidarity. The Cuban leader expressed his wish that Vietnamese people, under the leadership of the CPV, will obtain greater achievements in national construction and development, and that the Cuba-Vietnam will continuously yield fruits.-VNA

Taste of Australia to highlight music, wine pairingThe Australian embassy and consulate in Viet Nam will host the third Taste of Australia programme next month (April). Taste of Australia ambassador and celebrity chef Luke Nguyen demonstrates how to cook lamb cutlets with cháo (Vietnamese porridge). The annual celebration of Australian food, beverages, cuisine, and culture around Viet Nam is led by Taste of Australia Ambassador and renowned chef Luke Nguyen. This year the event would be bigger as it celebrates the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Karen Lanyon, Australian Consul-General in HCM City, said. For the first time Australian music would be a focus of the programme, she said.

I aspired to bring the quintessence of national folk music to the world many years ago. It can be said that, national music has granted a global ‘artist visa’ to me, creating opportunities for me to live, work and study in the top music environment in Europe. When creating art works, I mixed the principles of national music and western arts, creating a unique difference in familiar folk songs, which has been appreciated in foreign countries. I will set poems to music, harmonise songs and sing with singer Ha Linh, with the accompaniment of traditional instruments and electronic music. The second one, which is contemporarily unnamed, will consist of compositions for traditional Vietnamese musical instruments.

In the global scale, the project contributes to the UN sustainable development goals, particularly the goal number four on quality and goal number 17 on global partnership and cooperation. His daughters are eligible for loans of VND28 million from the social policy fund when they become university students. The survey also revealed that around 70 percent of surveyed migrant workers did not have employment contracts, meaning lack of access to work benefits such as social insurance, health insurance, sick leave, and annual leave. Meanwhile, Elisa Fernandez, Head of UN Women Vietnam Office, highlighted that discrimination and inequality fuel social instability and income disparities. Its contribution is expected to be an important instrument to Vietnam’s accomplishment of commitments to the Paris Agreement, as well as the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.

The effort was a major task for the agencies to better cope with natural disasters this year, he said. “Any officer who lacks knowledge of coping with natural disasters that lets any resident go hungry or thirsty during natural disasters, must take responsibility,” Phuc said. Although the country had made many efforts, the damage suffered from natural disasters was still huge, he said. Cuong said first, the committee would build a plan at both national and local levels to cope with natural disasters, with safety during natural disasters for public works included. In a related movement, the National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Centre warned that natural disasters’ developments this year would become more complicated.

HCM City takes steps to ensure fire safety at apartment buildings, high-risesVietNamNet Bridge – Fire-fighting police in districts throughout HCM City are working with investors and managers of apartment buildings to strengthen fire-prevention measures at all high-rises and apartment buildings in the city, following a fire at the Carina Plaza apartment complex in District 8 that killed 13 people and injured 50 on March 23. The ministry has urged developers, builders and partners to follow technical standards for construction of apartment buildings. According to the department’s figures, seven apartment buildings in the city that do not follow fire-safety regulations have people living in them. Today, the committee is holding a conference on fire prevention and fighting at apartment buildings and high-rises. Fire-safety handbooks will be provided to all households in the city, especially in apartment buildings.

Captain dies at flight take-offThe captain of a Taiwanese Mandarin Airlines flight died from a stroke right before takeoff at Tan Son Nhat Airport. The 35-year-old Taiwanese captain received first aid from the airport's medical team while being rushed to the 175 Hospital. But doctors at the hospital said he died from cardiac infarction before arriving at the hospital. A source told the Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper that the captain's health certificate was valid until October 31, 2018. 162 passengers boarding the flight has been transferred to another flight which departed at 6 pm that day.

Ta Phin monastery is a recommended place for visitors on the road from Ta Phin tourism village to the downtown of Sapa. Visiting Sapa during spring and summer, visitors will be immersed in the stunning colours of various flowers. In those months Sapa becomes a colourful paradise of pure white apricot and pear flowers, bright yellow and purple orchids, and soft pink roses. Ta Phin commune is home to an authentic herbal bath made in the uncompromising herbal traditions of the Red Dao ethnic group. A famous cuisine in Sapa is thang co (an indigenous hot pot cooked from horse meat, herbs, and spices).