Parkson Vietnam dogged by ill fortuneVietNamNet Bridge - Bad luck still clings to Parkson as the Malaysian group continues to report losses and unsatisfactory business results in Vietnam. Parkson in Vietnam is dogged by ill fortuneParkson has announced the shutting down of Parkson Flemington in HCM City. The SSSG (same store sales growth) rate of Parkson Vietnam was minus (-) 13.6 percent in the 2017 fiscal year which ended on June 30, 2017, just below Myanmar and other remaining markets. Parkson has announced the shutting down of Parkson Flemington in HCM City. Leaving the Hanoi market, Parkson said the move was a step to implement its strategy to optimize business performance in Vietnam.

Vietnamese universities of international stature - a distant dream? Also by that time, 23 state-owned universities had been allowed to operate under the autonomy policy. By the end of April 2017, of 169 state-owned schools, only 58, or 34 percent of total schools, had school councils. Also by that time, 23 state-owned universities had been allowed to operate under the autonomy policy. The dream of building universities of international stature remains far away.

Transportation in Mekong Delta awaits policy breakthroughVietNamNet Bridge - Up to 70 percent of total goods are transported by land in Vietnam, leading to transportation costs that have increased by 10-60 percent. More importantly, the operation of the international route in Mekong Delta would have generated a new transport corridor, helping to ease overloading in HCMC. Up to 70 percent of total goods are transported by land in Vietnam, leading to transportation costs that have increased by 10-60 percent. Ship operation costs at Tan Cang – Cai Cui are higher than in HCMC and shipping firms do not want to use the port. Newport Lines's domestic service has reduced the frequency of calls at Tan Cang-Cai Cui since the day the Decision 3863 took effect.

Room rental rates in HCM City increasesVietNamNet Bridge – Room rental rates in HCM City have significantly increased after the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday, causing inconveniences for university students and labourers. A block of rental houses for workers in District 2 of HCM City. Due to the rising number of university students and labourers coming back to HCM City to study and work after a long break, the demand for room rentals has skyrocketed. Four university students from the Sai Gon Technology University encountered a similar difficulty, searching for rooms in Binh Chanh District’s Binh Hung Commune. In order to support university students and labourers, People’s Committees of District 8, 9, 12, among others have organised multiple activities.

Retail stores lose out to convenience storesSmall retail stores in HCM City are losing customers as convenience stores have boomed in the recent years. Retail stores in HCM City lose customers to convenience storesConvenience stores such as Circle K or Vinmart can be found everywhere in Ho Chi Minh City. Those stores have air conditioning and even free wifi for customers which small retail stores lack. Change has not just been seen in the city's centre, there are also a large number of convenience stores in the suburbs. The products are varied and I trust their quality more than in the retail stores."

The event, themed “I Love Vietnam”, was part of activities for the ongoing fifth Ho Chi Minh City Ao Dai Festival. She looked stunning in a light pastel blue Ao dai. An old woman in an elegant red Ao dai performed at the event. As part of the event, 200 scholarships and fabric for Ao dai were presented to poor students with outstanding academic results. Many second-hand Ao dai were donated to less fortunate women.

Leading seafood firm Minh Phu Corp plots return to stock exchangeLeading seafood firm Minh Phu Corporation is planning to return to the stock exchange following a lucrative year in business. An awaited returnThe upcoming annual general shareholders’ meeting of Minh Phu Corporation scheduled to take place on March 9 will cast vote on whether to list the corporation. Minh Phu, one of Vietnam’s top seafood firms, voluntarily left the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange on March 31, 2015, stating that it needs time to restructure its business and find suitable foreign partners. At the time of leaving, Minh Phu’s stock stood at VND122,000 ($5.36), meaning the firm’s capitalisation was VND700 billion ($30.8 million). To prepare for the official comeback, Minh Phu has floated its shares on the Unlisted Public Company Market last October, quoting prices at VND79,000 ($3.47) apiece.

HCM City plans infrastructure projects in 2018VietNamNet Bridge – Relocating households living near canals, renovating old apartments and developing transport infrastructure are among major projects the HCM City aims to carry out in 2018, according to the city’s authorities. Relocating households living near canals is one of HCM City’s major infrastructure projects in 2018. — VNA/VNS PhotoHCM City still has more than 20,000 households living on and along canals, mostly in District 8, which must be relocated. According to the department, HCM City has 474 old apartment buildings built before 1975. Tuyen asked the transport department to focus on developing waterway traffic and public transport, boosting metro projects, and building a railway system around harbours to provide good transit.

Bangladeshi newspaper highlights Vietnamese President’s visitBangladesh’s daily English-language newspaper The Daily Star has carried several articles emphasising the importance of Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang’s three-day State visit to Bangladesh from March 4 at the invitation of President Mohammad Abdul Hamid. Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang and his Bangladeshi counterpart Mohammad Abdul Hamid at the welcome ceremonyThe newspaper quoted President Tran Dai Quang as saying in an interview granted to the Bangladeshi press that Vietnam and Bangladesh have a time-honoured friendship based on historical similarities and shared values of independence, peace, cooperation and development. “Bangladesh and Vietnam are enjoying economic cooperation, with trade reaching 609 million USD in 2016 from only 93 million USD in 2009. It reported that some 100 business representatives from top Vietnam companies accompany the Vietnamese president in the visit to Bangladesh. They will interact with their Bangladeshi counterparts and explore trade and investment potentials in Bangladesh.

The art of crocheting traditional costumes in the Mong ethnic minority in northern Dien Bien Province has been recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage, the competition, held in Sa Long Commune of Muong Cha District, aims to celebrate the event. The competition attracts a large number of highly skilled local people. Currently, there are only a few old artisans who continue to preserve the tradition of sewing such elaborate patterns. The local leaders of Dien Bien Province are making efforts to safeguard the future of the craft. The competitors are totally focused and can spend a long time completing their products.

Water quality in Hanoi’s lakes improves after cleaningThe water quality in Hanoi’s lakes, including 86 in the inner city and 44 on the outskirts, earmarked for renovation has improved markedly after months of dredging and cleaning, experts have announced. The water in the lake [Ngoc Khanh Lake] is cleaner and less smelly," said Vu Khac Hoa, a resident of Hanoi’s Ba Dinh district, who lives near Ngoc Khanh Lake. Test on water samples taken at these lakes revealed that lakes contained an excessive amount of pollution, compared to national standards. By the end of last year, the company was assigned to dredge and clean Hoan Kiem Lake. Pham Tung Lam, head of the Management Board of Hoan Kiem Lake, said the polluted mud layer disappeared when the dredging process had finished.

New policy supports kid credit cardsVietNamNet Bridge – Beginning March 3, 2018, persons who are between 15 and 18 years old can open debit cards, credit cards and prepaid cards without the need to provide proof of income’s sources, according to the State Bank of Viet Nam. “I will never let my children open credit cards with overdraft lines when they are under 18 years old as I do not know what they’ll spend,” she said. Therefore, my children are not allowed to have their own credit cards,” he said. An officer of the State Bank of Vietnam, moreover, stressed that the decree was a solution to reduce cash payments. “Vietnam will promote payment without cash in the near future, therefore, rather than preventing their children from using credit cards, parents can set spending limits by transferring a fixed amount of money to their accounts to easily control their expenditures,” he said.

Chickenpox breaks out in the northVietNamNet Bridge – A chickenpox outbreak is currently peaking in northern region due to prolonged cold weather, medical experts have warned. - VNA/VNS Photo Phuong VyThe Infectious Diseases Department of Ha Noi-based Bach Mai Hospital received hundreds of adult chickenpox patients this season, which spans the transition from winter to spring. Doctor Do Duy Cuong, head of Bach Mai Hospital’s Infectious Diseases Department, said that chickenpox is transmitted through respiratory system. Doctor Cuong said that the chickenpox virus might be removed by a type of drug called Acyclorvir. According to Health Preventive Department of Health Ministry, nearly 40,000 chickenpox cases were recorded nationwide last year, increasing almost 50 per cent over the previous year.

Bangladeshi PM: Vietnamese President’s visit lifts bilateral ties to new heightBangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has granted an interview to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) on Bangladesh-Vietnam relations and President Tran Dai Quang’s State visit to Bangladesh from March 4-6. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina: The people of Bangladesh and Vietnam have similarity in their struggle for independence. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina: Both Bangladesh and Vietnam are pursuing for rapid economic growth. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina: We are pursuing rapid economic development. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina: Bangladesh maintains warm and friendly relations with Vietnam.

President Tran Dai Quang’s first activities in BangladeshVietnamese President Tran Dai Quang hosted a reception for Bangladeshi Minister of Foreign Affairs Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali right after his arrival in the capital city of Dhaka on March 4 afternoon for a three-day State visit to the South Asian country. President Tran Dai Quang (R) receives Bangladeshi Minister of Foreign Affairs Abul Hassan Mahmood AliMinister Mahmood Ali recalled the sentiments the Bangladeshi people have always extended to their Vietnamese counterparts, and believed that President Quang’s visit will usher in a new chapter in bilateral relations. President Quang thanked the Bangladeshi State for its solemn welcome for the Vietnamese delegation and congratulated Bangladesh on its recent achievements. Later on the same day, President Quang, his spouse and entourage visited the Vietnamese embassy’s staff and representatives of overseas Vietnamese who are living, working and studying in Bangladesh. The President also proposed overseas Vietnamese in Bangladesh to unite together and contribute more to the home country and the bilateral relationship.