RoK President to pay State visit to VietnamPresident of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Moon Jae-in and his spouse will pay a State visit to Vietnam from March 22-24. President of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Moon Jae-inThe visit will be made at the invitation of Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang, announced the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to Vietnam’s General Department of Customs, two-way trade between Vietnam and the RoK hit 61.5 billion USD in 2017, a year-on-year increase of 41.3 percent. Vietnam’s exports to the RoK reached 14.8 billion USD, while its imports from the East Asian country stood at 46.7 billion USD, up 30 percent and 45.3 percent against 2016, respectively. The RoK was the second largest foreign investor in Vietnam last year, just behind Japan, with total registered capital of 8.49 billion USD.

Local consumers spend heavily on snacks and beerVietnamese consumers have great demand for snacks and beer, according to a newly-released report by the global marketing research firm Nielsen. The document combines Nielsen data on snacks and beer with macro-economic indicators and forecasts to identify these growth markets. Beer consumption in Vietnam topped four billion liters last year, representing a year-on-year rise of 6%, according to the Vietnam Beer Alcohol Beverage Association. Other global giants have also been racing for stakes in Hanoi Beer, Alcohol and Beverages Corporation (Habeco), another local brewery. As a result, companies compete to capitalize on the market’s growth.

VTVcab to hold $263mn IPO in AprilViet Nam Television Cable Corporation Limited Company (VTVcab) will float nearly 42.3 million shares in its initial public offering (IPO) on April 17 on Ha Noi Stock Exchange. At an initial bidding price of VND140,900 ($6.18) per share, the company is valued at nearly VND12.4 trillion ($543 million). The time for the IPO is in line with the Prime Minister’s directive which asked the company to hold an IPO by June 30, 2018. Investors are expected to pay approximately VND6 trillion ($263 million) for the IPO shares. From the cable television system, VTVcab has expanded services to satellite digital TV and the latest, online television service.

Up to 6 storms, tropical depressions affect mainland in 2018Among 12-13 storms forecast to enter East Sea, up to six are forecast to directly affect the mainland in 2018, according to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecastings. Among 12-13 storms forecast to enter East Sea, up to six are forecast to directly affect the mainland in 2018. The central region will be the most affected area. Meanwhile, the central region will witness an increase of 15-30 percent in rainfall during April-May and September-October and that in November-December will be much lower than past years. Water levels in the Thao River, Lo River and the lower part of the Hong River will fall 20-30 percent from April-June.

Cherry blossom festival set for late this month in HanoiThe Japanese cherry blossom festival is slated for March 23 to 26 in the capital city of Hanoi, as part of cultural exchange activities to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Vietnam. Visitors are seen at the 2017 cherry blossom festival in HanoiThe Japanese Embassy in Vietnam said in a statement that nearly 30 cherry trees and 10,000 blossom branches will be on display around Ly Thai To Statue Square in Hoan Kiem District during the festival. The event will also feature 20 food pavilions and multi-cultural dances, including Yosakoi – a traditional Japanese dance, and traditional Vietnamese art forms such as hat xam (traditional songs performed by blind artists in the North) and ca tru (ceremonial songs). Data from the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) shows that the country last year welcomed nearly 798,000 Japanese visitors, rising 7.8% against a year earlier. This year, the country is eyeing to welcome more than one million Japanese tourist arrivals.

VN, Australia upgrade ties to strategic partnershipVietnamese PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull have decided to upgrade the two countries’ Enhanced Comprehensive Partnership to Strategic Partnership, making Australia the 12th Strategic Parner of Viet Nam. The two PMs showed their pleasure at the vigorous developments of the Viet Nam-Australia relationship which is featured with increasing political trust and share of strategic interests, creating a firm premise for the two countries to upgrade the bilateral ties to Strategic Partnership. PM Malcolm Turnbull affirmed Australia will expand training assistance for Viet Nam to join the United Nations peacekeeping operations. The two PMs sign the Strategic Partnership between Viet Nam and Australia. He informed Kim the results of his talks with Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull, especially the official establishment of the Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

Vietnam, Australia issue Joint Statement on setting up strategic parternshipThe following is the full Viet Nam-Australia Joint Statement issued on the occasion of PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc's ongoing official visit to Australia. The Viet Nam – Australia Plan of Action 2016-2019 remains in effect and will be renewed on the signing of this Joint Statement. Australia recognises the significant achievements of Viet Nam in reducing poverty and its aspirations to develop its economy further. We strongly support Australian and Vietnamese students to study in Viet Nam and Australia, including through the New Colombo Plan, and Australian and Vietnamese scholarships. We commit to promote the effective implementation of the Viet Nam - Australia Work and Holiday program.

Whitebook 2018: Vietnam – an attractive destination for foreign investmentVietnam has many competitive advantages when it comes to being an attractive destination for foreign investment, according to the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuCham)’s Whitebook 2018. In terms of investment, European investors poured US$915.5 million into 151 projects in Vietnam. whitebook 2018: vietnam – an attractive destination for foreign investment hinh 1 Addressing the event, EU Ambassador Bruno Angelet, head of the EU delegation to Vietnam, said 2017 has been a fantastic year for Vietnam in terms of macroeconomic performance. From an investment perspective, Vietnam managed to attract nearly US$30 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI), a 44.2% rise over 2016. Such conditions make Vietnam an attractive destination for foreign investment.

WB:Vietnamese schools achieve significant educational progressThe East Asia and Pacific region has seven of the top ten performing education systems in the world, with schools in China and Vietnam showing significant progress, according to a new World Bank report released on March 15. Up to 40 percent of them attend school in education systems whose students are ahead of the average students in OECD countries. These schools are not only in wealthy countries such as Singapore, Korea and Japan, but also in middle-income countries such as China and Vietnam. Another key finding of the report is that across the region, household incomes do not necessarily determine children’s educational success. It also found that schools throughout the region increased preschool access, including for the poor, and have adopted student learning assessment into their educational policies.

Policemen suspected of taking bribes temporarily suspendedVietNamNet Bridge – Some traffic policemen in Hanoi were suspended from work after they were caught taking money from violators, said Dao Vinh Thang, head of Ha Noi’s Traffic Police Division on Tuesday. An image from a video recorded by Tien Phong (Vanguard) newspaper on Tuesday shows a traffic offender placing a green bank note inside a traffic policeman’s work documents. The footage showed traffic offenders giving VND100,000-200,000 (US$4.4-8.8) in cash to some of the policemen, while some offenders placed the money in the work documents of the policemen. According to Tien Phong newspaper, these activities were recorded at three police stations. Speaking to the newspaper, Thang said the policemen shown in the video had been temporarily suspended from work.

Brain back-up start-up 'will be the death of users'A start-up that claims it will one day allow people to back-up their brains admits it will come at the ultimate price: death. The product is "100% fatal", the team behind it told MIT Technology Review. "Imagine a world where you can successfully map and pinpoint a specific memory within your brain," the site reads. According to MIT Technology Review, the team has consulted lawyers familiar with California's relatively new laws on dignified end-of-life measures. According to MIT Technology Review, 25 people have already done so.

Le Quang Liem close to leading group at HDBank OpenDefending champion Le Quang Liem is close to the leading group of the HDBank International Chess Open Tournament after winning the seventh game in the morning session on March 14. Le Quang Liem of Viet Nam wins seventh game at the HDBank Chess Open. — Photo of organisersGrandmaster (GM) Liem defeated GM Ivan Rozum from Russia after 73 moves in the Master category. He is only 0.5 points short of being in the leading group, which includes Vietnamese International Master (IM) Le Tuan Minh and GM Mareco Sandro from Argentina. However, he lost his top spot to Sandro who also had six points but scored better parameter after seven matches.

Construction ministry cracks down on pollutionConstruction investors are often totally indifferent to the storm of dust, construction waste and general filth their projects unleash on the general public. The Ministry of Construction has taken an action as drastic as the neglect of these investors and their greedy firms. To control the environmental pollution at the construction sites, the Ministry of Construction issued the Circular No. “In any country, there are certain sanctions to control the construction site’s environment. In particular, the process of digging and transporting construction materials, often with high-capacity diesel engines, have emitted harmful gases such as SO2, NOx, CO, affecting the health of people living around construction areas.—VNS

Russian contemporary ballet to be performed in HanoiDancers from the Vietnam National Opera and Ballet (VNOB) will perform The Firebird ballet in a contemporary style featuring Vietnamese folk dance at Hanoi Opera House on March 15-16. Dancers Phan Van Luong and Dam Han Giang in The Firebird ballet. The Firebird by Russian composer Igor Stravinsky was first performed in Paris in 1910. The Vietnamese version was choreographed by Swedish Lars Andersen under cultural co-operation between Vietnam and Sweden. The Vietnamese version features the leading role played by a ballet dancer and not a ballerina as in the original.

Female Indian motorcyclists arrive in VietnamA group of four female motorcycling enthusiasts from India have reached Vietnam as part of their journey to cover UNESCO World Heritage Sites in seven nations along Mekong River. Their 17,000-km expedition, which started on February 11 from Hyderabad of India, covers India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Bangladesh in seven weeks. On their arrival, the motorcyclists were welcomed by Parvathaneni Harish, India’s Ambassador to Vietnam. The indispensable companions of the four women riders in the expedition are four 400cc bikes manufactured by India-based two-wheel manufacturer, Bajaj Dominar. They are expected to leave Vietnam on March 16 and reach India on March 27.-VNA