Mozart’s great symphony to be performed in VietnamThe Symphony No. 41 of Mozart will be performed in VietnamThe concert will be conducted by Meritorious Artist Tran Vuong Thach, a talented and experienced conductor, who is also director of the theatre. It is the longest piece of music Mozart ever composed. The work – with another name “Jupiter Symphony”, is considered as one of the best known symphonies in the music history of human. Mozart was able to use his mastery and conviction to express sorrow, humor, or joy in his works of music.

Vietnam expects stronger foreign investment flow in CPTPP periodVietNamNet Bridge - Economists are optimistic about foreign investment in Vietnam, both foreign direct investment (FDI) and foreign portfolio investment (FPI), in 2018 and upcoming years. With CPTPP, Vietnam will have more opportunities to export farm produceCan Van Luc, a finance expert, said that CPTPP will have a big impact on three business sectors in Vietnam, including trade, service and investment. Japan, Australia and New Zealand have recently boosted investment in Vietnam, which is expected to increase in the time to come, especially from Australia and New Zealand. Regarding FPI, Luc said the stock market witnessed strong foreign cash flow in 2017 with foreign investors’ net purchases reaching $1.7 billion in the year. I think the foreign investors’ net purchases will be $2.5-3 billion this year after reaching $1.7 billion last year,” Luc said.

Argentina imposes 31% duty on VN’s ceramic tilesArgentina’s Ministry of Production has issued a decree to apply an anti-dumping duty of 31.15 per cent on ceramic tiles imported from Viet Nam. Argentina imposes 31% duty on ceramic tiles imported from Viet Nam. The anti-dumping duty on imported ceramic tiles from China, India, Malaysia and Brazil are 27.7 per cent, 75.8 per cent, 32 per cent and 48.2 per cent, respectively. On August 18, 2016, Argentina began an anti-dumping investigation on ceramic tiles imported from Viet Nam, India, Malaysia, Brazil and China. Ceramic tile is the fourth Vietnamese product investigated by Argentina, after spokes, motorbikes and air-conditioners.

Viet Nam, Australia sign pact to develop macadamiaThe Viet Nam Macadamia Association (VMA) and Australia Macadamia Society have signed a co-operation agreement to develop the macadamia industry of the two countries. The Viet Nam Macadamia Association (VMA) and Australia Macadamia Society signed a co-operation agreement to develop the macadamia industry. Nguyen Duc Huong, vice chairman of VMA, said the association had promoted macadamia development, thus helping people in the Central Highlands and western north to escape poverty. Studies also showed that macadamia cultivation was suitable for the western north region. He also said the government should have detailed studies on applying technologies and building technical standards in planting, processing and preservation on a par with international standards to develop macadamia not only for the local market but also for exports.

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc wraps up visits to New Zealand, AustraliaPrime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc arrived in Hanoi early in the morning March 19, concluding his official visits to New Zealand and Australia where he also attended the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit, at the invitation of his New Zealand and Australian counterparts Jacinda Andern and Malcolm Turnbull. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern (R) receives Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his spouseDuring his trip to New Zealand from March 12-14, PM Phuc had a series of activities in Auckland – the largest city of the country. PM Phuc held talks with New Zealand PM Andern, during which the two leaders discussed orientations to deepen the bilateral comprehensive partnership. PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) and Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull signed the Joint Statement on establishing the Vietnam – Australia Strategic PartnershipPM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull signed the Joint Statement on establishing the Vietnam – Australia Strategic Partnership. The outcomes of the summit would be important development orientations for the ASEAN-Australia strategic partnership in the new period, it wrote.

Safeguard duty on fertilisers divides expertsOn March 7 the Ministry of Industry and Trade issued Decision No.686/QD-BCT with safeguards against the import of diammonium phosphate and monoammonium phosphate fertilisers. On March 7 the Ministry of Industry and Trade issued Decision No.686/QD-BCT with safeguards against the import of diammonium phosphate and monoammonium phosphate fertilisers. Some experts agreed with the decision, saying farmers should not be afraid of the possibility of an increase in fertiliser prices after the safeguard measures are implemented. Bad debt burden persistsLast year was a good one for Việt Nam’s banking sector with many lenders reporting big profits and lower bad debt ratios. Despite their great performance with regard to bad debts, banks have been warned by experts that their bad debt burden would continue this year.

Socail News 18/315 years of community football program in Thua Thien-HueThe recent success of Vietnam’s squad at the Asian Football Confederation U23 Championship is expected to attract strong investment to the development of youth football in Vietnam. At a recent conference on tourism development, provincial leaders and businesses agreed that the city should diversify nighttime entertainment. Vietnamese students surpass Chinese peers to top regional education rankingA new report shows Vietnamese students perform best academically in East Asia and the Pacific and surpass even some from developed countries outside the region. By third grade, however, Vietnamese students are way ahead of their low- and middle-income peers in math. Vietnamese students also came 22nd in mathematics and 32nd in reading.

Vietnam leaves impression at tourism fair in CanadaVietnam’s booth attracted thousands of visitors at the 24th Travel and Vacation Show in Ottawa, Canada, which was held from March 17-18. Overseas Vietnamese students and the Vietnamese Embassy in Canada have also contributed to the bilateral relations by joining various cultural exchange programmes in the country, he added. Several activities was organised at the fair, such as introduction of local foods, a conference on ASEAN culture and “ASEAN Happy hour,” an activity jointly held by ASEAN embassies in Canada. The fair was also part of the 45th founding anniversary of Vietnam-Canada diplomatic ties, said Vietnamese Ambassador to Canada Nguyen Duc Hoa. The Ottawa Travel and Vacation Show is the biggest tourism exhibition in Canada.

Australia bushfire: Dozens of buildings feared lost in TathraMore than 70 homes and buildings are feared to have been destroyed in a bushfire in Australia, authorities say. The bushfire in Tathra, New South Wales, following hot and windy conditions -- Photo: SIMONE WARDThe fast-moving fire engulfed the New South Wales (NSW) coastal town of Tathra late on Sunday local time. Authorities said locals were evacuated to a nearby town and there were no reports of anyone missing. In Tathra, about 450km (280 miles) south of Sydney, four people were treated for smoke inhalation and one firefighter was injured, authorities said. In September, Australians were warned to prepare for a dangerous bushfire season after one of the driest winters on record.

Artist explores the soul through distorted facesVietNamNet Bridge – Portraits expressing people’s loneliness and misery are on display at an ongoing exhibition by visual artist Nguyen Cong Hoai. Emotions: Portraits expressing people’s loneliness and misery are on display at the on-going exhibition of visual artist Nguyen Cong Hoai. With the title Ngot, Ngop (Suffocated), the exhibition comprises 18 portraits of people who are suffering pressure and torment. He is known for portraits expressing people’s complicated inner feelings. Inner life: A visitor considers artworks by Nguyen Cong Hoai at the exhibition.

Texas explosions: New Austin blast 'may be tripwire-activated'Police in Austin, Texas, have warned the public that a fourth explosion there may pose a new threat. Police have sealed the area around the scene of the blast -- Photo: REUTERSThey said they were investigating reports the explosion, which injured two people, was activated by tripwire. The police they say they are working under the belief that the explosions are connected. The latest blast came hours after officials announced a new $100,000 (£71,000) reward for information. He added: "We do believe that this was a bomb that exploded, but it was not similar to previous explosions.

Hoi An debuts VN’s largest outdoor visual arts showVietNamNet Bridge – The show Hoi An Memories, the largest outdoor visual arts performance ever in Vietnam, debuted yesterday at Hoi An Impression Theme Park in the central province of Quang Nam. The colourful and musically dazzling night show, with a cast of nearly 500 actors and actresses, recalls the memories of Hoi An as a prosperous trading port over a 400-year period. — VNS Photo Thu HangThe colorful and musically dazzling night show, with a cast of nearly 500 actors and actresses, recalls the memories of Hoi An as a prosperous trading port over a 400-year period. The show is a key component of the Hoi An Impression Theme Park that will open in the second quarter of this year. The 10-hectare theme park in Hoi An includes indoor and outdoor theatres, shopping and entertainment complexes, and 200 hotel rooms.

VN stocks gain further, boosted by property stocksVietnamese shares were positive on Monday morning, led by real estate stocks and positive investor confidence. Among the strongest gaining property developers were Vingroup (VIC), Dat Xanh Real Estate Service and Construction Corp (DXG) and Novaland (NVL). The market breadth was positive with 202 gaining stocks against 184 declining ones, while 115 other stocks ended flat. The stock market was boosted by the growth of real estate stocks. Among the strongest gaining property developers were Vingroup (VIC), Dat Xanh Real Estate Service and Construction Corp (DXG) and Novaland (NVL).

Large forested area in Quang Binh destroyedA large area of forest in the central province of Quang Binh has been found to be illegally destroyed for timber. The area is in Tuyen Hoa District’s Thanh Hoa Commune. Authorities in Tuyen Hoa District have detected up to 429 pieces of wood, equal to 97 cubic metres, logged at different places in the forest; but the majority was found still on site in the forest. The wood mount is being transported to Khe Nung Forest Protection Board. The forest plays a very important anti-flash flood role for not only Tuyen Hoa but also Quang Trach District and Ba Don Town in Quang Binh Province.

In the personal care product segment, five leading manufacturers are all multinationals, Unilever, P&G, Unicharm, Kimberly Clark, Colgate Palmolive and Unza. The fact shows that Vietnamese have higher confidence in foreign brands than in domestic brands. As for home care products, Lix is the only Vietnamese company dominant in the urban market. The fact shows that Vietnamese have higher confidence in foreign brands than in domestic brands. P/S is not the only Vietnamese cosmetics brand falling into foreign hands.