Black Panther film: 'Game-changing' movie takes $1bnMarvel's superhero film Black Panther has taken more than a billion US dollars (£794m) at cinemas worldwide. The film stars Chadwick Boseman as the crime-fighting ruler of Wakanda, a fictional African nation with the most advanced technology on earth. The film has been widely praised as game-changing - including by Michelle Obama - for having a largely black cast and a black director, Ryan Coogler. In terms of Black Panther, no studio can say again, 'Oh, black movies don't travel, overseas interest will be minimal.'" Patty Jenkins, the director who smashed records herself with 2017's Wonder Woman, shared her delight at Black Panther's "incredibly meaningful success".

Former hi-tech police chief arrested over organising large-scale online gambling ringThe public security investigation agency, Phu Tho province's public security department, has issued a decision on starting legal proceedings against and an arrest warrant for a four-month detention of Nguyen Thanh Hoa, former Director of the Hi-tech Crime Police Department, on the charge of organising gambling, the Ministry of Public Security announced on March 11. Nguyen Thanh HoaNguyen Thanh Hoa, born 1958 in Binh Dinh province and currently residing in Hanoi, is a former Major General of the People's Public Security Force and former Director of the Hi-tech Crime Police Department (C50) under the Ministry of Public Security. Earlier the same day, the State President signed a decision to strip Nguyen Thanh Hoa of the title People's Public Security officer. The public security investigation agency, Phu Tho province's public security department is conducting further investigation into the case to clarify the liabilities of involved parties for strict and fair punishment in line with the law. The case involved numerous sectors, localities, and individuals, including members of the public security force, and has drawn special public attention.

Vietnam asks for FIDE’s help in organising big chess tournamentsDeputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has asked the World Chess Federation (FIDE) to help Vietnam with the organisation of big tournaments and refereeing work. He expressed the hope that FIDE’s support would not stop at training chess players but would extend to the sharing of experience in refereeing work and the organisation of big tournaments. The deputy PM requested the Vietnam Chess Federation and the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism to cooperate closely with FIDE to hold chess tournaments, thus stimulating the development of the sport in Vietnam. The FIDE president noted that chess has developed strongly in Vietnam, with many Vietnamese chess players recording outstanding achievements at regional and global events. He pledged that FIDE will further support Vietnam to host big international chess tournaments in the future.

Sua flowers brighten Hanoi's streetsThe beautiful streets of Hanoi can be seen under the white blossoms of sua (Dalbergia Tonkinensis Prain) trees. Sua trees were planted a lot on the streets but they are also very valuable species. Sua timber is used for making furniture, jewellery and medical purposes. Many people refer to this period as a season when clouds of flowers drop to the streets because of its white colour. Some photos of the Hanoi streets under the white sua blossoms:Thanh Nien Street looks different under white sua flowersFlowers blossom by the West Lake The lone sua trees on Hanoi's streetsSua trees in the Old QuarterDtinews

Parkson’s department store model over in VietnamVietNamNet Bridge - Parkson, which was once the leading distributor of branded goods in Vietnam, has had shut down four department stores in recent years, including all of their stores in Hanoi. After 13 years of applying the department store business model, Parkson now has only six stores. After 13 years of applying the department store business model, Parkson now has only six stores. The department store model followed by Parkson gained great achievements, with introduction of many foreign brands. According to Binh, the limited area of department stores (less than 20,000 square meters in most cases), is also a weak point of the department store model.

Work starts on $1-billion industrial zone in Nghe AnDeputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue attended a groundbreaking ceremony for the WHA Hemaraj Nghe An Industrial Zone project in the central province on March 10. Construction begins on WHA Hemaraj Nghe An Industrial Zone project (Source: baonghean)This is an important project to attract investment in the province, marking the success of cooperation between the province and Hemaraj Group in particular and Thai enterprises in general. The project has a total investment of around 22 trillion VND (nearly 1 billion USD), covering an area of over 3,200ha in Nghi Loc and Dien Chau districts. The first phase of the project has an investment of 92.2 million USD and an area of 498ha, aiming to build synchronous and modern infrastructure and prepare empty land to attract investors inside and outside the country. Once operational, the industrial zone is expected to create more jobs and improve incomes for locals, and help shift the local economic structure and increase the proportion of industrial production in Nghe An.-VNA

MrThanh called for joint efforts to achieve higher economic growth as last year’s growth economic efficiency and incremental capital output ratio (ICOR) were still low. Level of growthDespite such difficulties, there are bright prospects for Vietnam’s economic growth in 2018 thanks to leverage for growth of 2017, especially from the private and FDI sectors. Although Vietnam’s economy sees the auspices of further growth in 2018, economists suggest that the growth target of 6.5%-6.7% this year is feasible. The WB, ADB, and Standard Chartered Bank have recently given forecasts with very positive figures for Vietnam’s GDP growth in 2018 at 6.5%, 6.7%, and 6.8%, respectively. The recent message by the Government has shown its determination to achieve a GDP growth rate of 6.7% this year.

“It is gonna give Vietnam advantages”, he told Vietnam News Agency’s correspondent on the eve of the official signing ceremony. Besides, there is a large of Vietnamese community in Canada, they will help because they would know what the business opportunity is in Vietnam. Besides this, it is an opportunity for Vietnam’s firms to develop new export items, sign valuable export contracts, and promote a wide range of Vietnamese food and agricultural products. At the expo, Vietnamese firms displayed products such as fruits and vegetables, seafood, cod-liver oil, organic pepper, seedless lemons, rice products, Phu Quoc sauce, various biscuits and juices. Earlier, Vietnamese products were exported to Japan in the form of semi-finished products; however, recently, Vietnamese enterprises have focused on investment and technology cooperation with Japanese enterprises, helping Vietnamese products meet the quality standards of the Japanese market, Minh added.

Foreign-invested auto manufacturers shift to selling imported modelsVietNamNet Bridge - Foreign-invested auto companies in Vietnam are stopping domestic production and shifting to importing cars to sell in the market. An analyst said that foreign-invested automobile manufacturers have repeatedly claimed that policies would pave the way for car models, especially those made in two Indonesia and Thailand, to flood Vietnam. Nguyen Minh Dong, an automobile expert, said auto manufacturers are becoming sellers. Big auto manufacturers several years ago spent hundreds of million of dollars to set up factories in Thailand and Indonesia, which targeted the Vietnamese market. Nguyen Minh Phong, a renowned economist, commented that even though foreign auto companies have been enjoying many preferences, they are not willing to develop the Vietnamese auto industry.

Real estate firms ready to face tightened lending requirementsReal estate firms need to scale up efforts to cope with more stringent lending requirements from banks from this year as well as the upcoming influx of new supply. According to Ngo Quang Phuc, deputy general director of Ho Chi Minh City-based Him Lam Land, most real estate businesses currently focus on four major capital sources: equity capital, joint venture (JV) capital, capital raised from customers, and capital raised from banks. “Dynamic businesses need to always be prepared when it comes to capital sources. Amid finite equity capital and more stringent lending requirements, firms must take initiative with the remaining sources,” Phuc said. Identifying market risks, lots of real estate firms have paid heed to enriching capital sources to reduce borrowing costs.

Over 2,000 youngsters respond to Earth Hour Campaign 2018More than 2,000 youngsters in Ho Chi Minh City gathered at a ceremony in the city on March 10 to launch the Earth Hour Campaign 2018. Overview of the launching ceremony of the campaignThe campaign aims to raise public awareness of protecting the environment and the green planet. Singer Isaac, the ambassador of the campaign, said that in response to the campaign, he will persuade his family, neighbours and fans to take specific measures to preserve the environment. Earth Hour is an initiative of the World Wildlife Fund. So far, about 7,000 cities in 172 countries and territories have responded to the campaign.

Vietnamese flavours in kitchens worldwideVietnamese food has made its mark on the world cuisine map. Vietnamese cuisine is held in such high regard thanks to its harmony of fresh and subtle flavours and the unique tastes and specialities of different regions in the country. A top destination for gastronomersVietnamese food is becoming well-known worldwide and reinforcing its position on the world food map. Similarly, with a passion for Vietnamese food, Didier Corlou, the French chef of Sofitel Metropole, has promoted Vietnamese dishes worldwide and has written a book about culinary art, as well as the unique flavours, herbs and spices found in Vietnamese dishes. I have my Vietnamese chef head my Ba Mien kitchen and he leads the team in producing quality Vietnamese dishes.

Ba Be Lake in Bac Kan Province is the largest natural lake in Vietnam. Tourists can go boating around the lake as they discover beautiful sights and enjoy traditional dishes. Thac Ba Lake in Yen Bai Province is one of Vietnam's largest artificial lakes. Lak Lake is one of the largest fresh water lakes in Vietnam. Tourists can even take in a spot of elephant riding around the lake and amazing traditional cuisine.

Administrative reform must be transparent: Government OfficeAdministrative reform must be transparent and concrete, and “ambiguous language” that bureaucrats can ‘exploit’ must be absolutely avoided. The order was made by the Minister, Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung during a meeting yesterday for the advisory council for administrative reform to outline tasks for 2018, with the participation of representatives of State agencies and the business community. Vu Tien Loc, Chairman of Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, called 2017 a “bumper season for administrative cutbacks,” referring to the trimming of 5,000 administrative procedures. “In administrative reforms, enterprises and business associations should have an ‘authoritative voice.’ Increasing dialogue between the business community and the reform council is the best way to come up with beneficial optimisation,” Loc said. The Government Office, however, has only received 8 responses from 16 relevant ministries or agencies.

Vietnam’s steel and aluminum pose no threat to US manufacturers: MinistryThe steel and aluminum imports from Vietnam only serve the purpose of civil construction, not being used for infrastructure construction or security-defence industry, and as such do not compete directly with manufacturers of the United States, announced the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) on March 9. Accordingly, a number of steel and aluminum products imported to the US will be subject to a 25% tariff and a 10% tariff, respectively. The MOIT continued to affirm its stance that steel and aluminum imports from Vietnam do not provide direct competition for US manufacturers. The volume of steel and aluminum imports from Vietnam only accounts for a negligible share of the US’s total steel and aluminum import volume, so it cannot be a threat or a cause of damages to the steel and aluminum production industry of the US, the ministry said. It stated that the newly issued policy would directly impact US consumers and the US industries that use steel and aluminum products as input materials for their production.