Hundreds of businesses to join Vietnam International Travel Mart 2018Up to 679 local and foreign tourism businesses have been registered to participate in the Vietnam International Travel Mart 2018 which is scheduled to be held in Hanoi from March 29 to April 1. Vietnam International Travel Mart 2017The businesses are from 45 cities and provinces nationwide and 21 countries. Themed around online travel, the fair will include numerous activities encouraging businesses access to and grasp business opportunities presented in the digital era. On this occasion, the Vietnam Tourism Association will hold a seminar on the role of e-commerce in tourism development with the participation of many local and foreign tourism experts. An international street food festival will be also held within the framework of the VITM 2018 with 20 stalls which feature the outstanding Vietnamese street dishes and food from the region.

Three people appear to die of alcohol poisoningThree people in the central province of Nghe An died after drinking alcohol soaked in plants taken from a local forest. According to Nghe An Province’s Department of Health, on the afternoon of March 12, the four people drank the alcohol during a meal at Di’s house. Kham also suffered from breathing difficulties and then vomited, while Van went to bed for after feeling dizzy and passed out. The victims were taken to the district’s medical centre; however, they died just over an hour later. Alcohol, which was also made by Di, was used after ten days being soaked with the plants.

Amazon, Alibaba entry into Vietnam shakes up marketVietNamNet Bridge - The news that Amazon, the world’s biggest online retailer, is arriving in March has stirred up the retail community. Tiki has received hefty invetsmentAlibaba’s network has a strong position in South East Asia, having increased its ownership ratio from 51 percent to 83 percent in Lazada. Amazon, the world’s leading e-commerce player, is planning to enter the Vietnamese market. Amazon has never spent such a big amount of money on a takeover deal.Analysts believe the competition will be stiff when Amazon begins operating in Vietnam. These include familiar names such as The Gioi Di Dong, Sendo, Tiki, Vat Gia, FPT Shop, Dien May Xanh, Adayroi and Nguyen Kim.

FLC Thanh Hóa failed to get the points needed at Mỹ Đình StadiumThe coach of FLC Thanh Hóa let U-23 goalkeeping star Bùi Tiến Dũng play in the match against Bali United yesterday at Mỹ Đình stadium. FLC Thanh Hóa dominated most of the game, but failed to capitalize on chances and break past the effective defense of Bali United. FLC Thanh Hóa gained only one point, giving them 4 points in total and placing them third in the group. FLC Thanh Hóa managed 20 shots, 7 of which were on target, while Bali United made only 4 shots. Nguyen Thanh Hoa, former chief of the cyber-crime unit, had failed to shut down the syndicate after discovering it, and instead offered his protection.

Commemoration for Gac Ma soldiersAn anniversary to commemorate 64 Vietnamese soldiers who died defending Gac Ma (Johnson South Reef ) was held in the central city of Da Nang on March 13. They were soldiers died fighting Chinese forces in the Spratly archipelago on March 14th, 1988. On the evening of March 12, a ceremony to float lanterns was also organised in Cam Nhuong Commune, Cam Xuyen District, Ha Tinh Province as part of activities for the commemoration. A 2.5-hectare memorial site dedicated to 64 navy soldiers was inaugurated in Cam Lam District, Khanh Hoa Province last year. The anniversary to commemorate 64 Vietnamese soldiers who died defending Gac Ma was held in Da Nang City on March 13 Mother of a soldier who died defending Gac Ma, part of the Spratly Archipelago, cried at the ceremony Veterans of the battle on Gac Ma were moved meeting each other again On the evening of March 12, a ceremony to float lanterns was also organised in Cam Nhuong Commune, Cam Xuyen District, Ha Tinh Province as part of activities for the commemorationDtinews

FDI into real estate sector on the sharp riseForeign direct investment (FDI) into Vietnam’s real estate sector has continued rising, showing positive signs for the sector. With the figure, real estate stood third among sectors which lured FDI the most between January and February this year. By the end of 2017, Vietnam attracted a total USD53.1 billion FDI in the property sector, making up 16.7% of the country’s total FDI. Nguyen Hoang, R&D director of DKRA Vietnam, said that the real estate market has mostly attracted FDI through M&A activities. Dr Su Ngoc Khuong, investment director of Savills Vietnam, said “FDI in real estate will help enterprises reduce their dependence on banks.”Le Hoang Chau, chairman of HCM City Real Estate Association, said that FDI is an important investment channel into the real estate sector; however careful consideration should be given whether to go down that route.

Violations at heritage sites rampant in VietnamBuilding unlicensed constructions in protected areas and maintaining and upgrading heritage sites without permits are becoming more common as punishments are still too lax. Unlicensed constructions being built in relic and heritage site are becoming a worrying problem. Recently, a huge illegal walkway was nearly completed at the UNESCO's World Heritage Site Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex in Ninh Binh Province. Deputy Minister Dang Thi Bich Lien directed Ninh Binh authorities to strictly deal with the walkway violation on March 8. He went on to say that local authorities must take responsibility and violators must spend their own money to restore the site.

Jr NBA returns to Vietnam for the 5th yearJr NBA, the US National Basketball Association (NBA)’s global basketball development programme for boys and girls, has returned to Viet Nam for a fifth consecutive year. “The Jr NBA programme promotes healthy lifestyles through sports from an early stage,” FrieslandCampina Vietnam managing director Arnoud van den Berg said. It will culminate with eight boys and eight girls being named the 2018 Jr. NBA Vietnam All-Stars. They will embark on a unique overseas NBA experience together with fellow Jr. NBA All-Stars from Southeast Asia later in the year. Last year’s Jr. NBA All-Stars from Southeast Asia convened in Shanghai, China, and attended the 2017 NBA China Games, a live NBA game featuring the 2017 NBA Champions, the Golden State Warriors, and the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc begins Australia visitPrime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, his spouse and the Vietnamese high-level delegation arrived at Fairbairn military airport in Canberra in the afternoon of March 14, beginning an official visit to Australia at the invitation of Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc is scheduled to visit the Australian National University and meet with representatives from the Vietnamese community in Australia on March 14. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is to chair a welcome ceremony for the Vietnamese PM on March 15 morning. PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc will also meet with leaders of the Australian Senate and the House of Representatives and pay a courtesy visit to the Governor-General of Australia during the visit. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his spouse ​arrive at Fairbairn military airport in CanberraPrime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and the Vietnamese delegation are welcomed at Fairbairn military airport in CanberraPrime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull are scheduled to sign the Joint Statement on establishing the Vietnam – Australia Strategic Partnership during the visitPrime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and the Vietnamese delegation are welcomed at Fairbairn military airport in CanberraVNA

Doctors warn of drug resistance in children with meningitisVietNamNet Bridge – Meningococcal disease is not new, but recently, drug-resistance in children with meningitis has been increasing, doctors in HCM City have warned. A doctor at Children 1 Hospital, HCM City, checks a child with meningococcal disease. On average, every year, 30-40 children with pneumococcal meningitis are hospitalized at the HCM City Hospital for Tropical Diseases. Meningococcal meningitis and Hib were quite rare because of good immunization, while Ecoli meningitis mainly affects children under three months old. In addition to the rapidly increasing incidence of pneumococcal meningitis, one of the most worrying concerns among physicians today is the resistance of pneumococcal bacteria.

NA talks competition, higher educationThe draft amendments to the Competition Law and Law on Higher Education were discussed at the ongoing 22nd sitting of the Standing Committee of the 14th National Assembly yesterday. The draft amendments to the Competition Law and Law on Higher Education were discussed at the ongoing 22nd sitting of the Standing Committee of the 14th National Assembly yesterday. Accordingly, there are 15 major issues to be addressed, including models and structure of higher education institutions; planning the network of higher education institutions; university rankings; conditions for ensuring the quality of tertiary education; autonomy and accountability for the quality of training in higher education institutions. Although the Higher Education Law has been in effect for five years, some guidelines have been issued for just a year. Chairman of NA Law Committee Nguyen Khac Dinh requested that the compiling committee review the content of the Law on Higher Education, Law on Education and other related laws to ensure the synchronisation of the legal system.

HCM City seeks more metro line fundingHCM City’s metro lines are facing various issues with procedures, disbursement, and cost overrun. On-going construction of Metro Line 1 in HCM CityThe HCM City Urban Railway Management Board recently asked the city people's committee to give VND1trn (USD44m) in advance to pay contractors working on the Metro Line 1 this year. A member of the HCM City Urban Railway Management Board said at first the city hired a local consultancy company to do the pre-feasibility study report. HCM City People's Committee said the currency exchange, minimum wage increase, and inflation also played important parts in the cost-overrun. Metro Line 2 also experienced a similar cost-overrun from USD1.37bn to USD2.17bn after being reviewed by foreign consultants.

Quang Trung software city introduces smart urban area modelQuang Trung Software City (QTSC) in Ho Chi Minh City introduced its pioneering model of building a smart urban area using modern technology on March 13. Quang Trung Software CitySet to be the country’s first smart urban area model, the city now accommodates more than 20,000 people living and working on a site of 43ha. QTSC Director Lam Nguyen Hai Long said the city is fully equipped with housing, restaurants, schools, medical stations, businesses and entertainment areas. It spends nearly 10 billion VND on smart technology each year, partly funded by firms based in the city. Next year, QTSC will continue using technologies to build smart offices, automatic irrigation and corporate internal governance system.

Peer to Peer lending increasingly popular in VietnamVietNamNet Bridge - Peer to Peer, or P2P lending, became more popular over the last year with the establishment of many online lending companies. Analysts said with the advantages of the model, plus current conditions in Vietnam, P2P could replace black credit, or lending at very high interest rates, which is illegal in Vietnam. Some P2P lending companies in Vietnam are said to have abundant capital as they have received foreign capital. The interest rates quoted by the companies were around 10 percent per annum, but real interest rates were 40 percent. In Vietnam, interest rates applied by some online lending institutions are up to 50-70 percent per annum.

PM Phuc meets New Zealand Speaker of House of RepresentativesPrime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc had a meeting with New Zealand’s Speaker of the House of Representatives Trevor Mallard on March 13 during which both leaders agreed that the two countries’ legislations should maintain traditional cooperation and close coordination at international and regional parliamentary forums. New Zealand’s Speaker of the House of Representatives Trevor Mallard presented a gift to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at their meeting in Auckland on March 13. PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc is on an official visit to New Zealand from March 12-14. PM holds phone talk with New Zealand’s Governor-GeneralPrime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc talks on phone with Governor-General of New Zealand Dame Patsy Reddy. Due to the pre-set working agenda, the Governor-General could not have a meeting with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.