The overview of VN President's visit to IndiaVietnamese President meets with Indian counterpartVietnamese President Tran Dai Quang (R) and his Indian counterpart Ram Nath KovindVietnamese President Tran Dai Quang met with his Indian counterpart Ram Nath Kovind at the Presidential Palace in New Delhi on March 3 evening, as part of his three-day State visit to India. President Quang suggesting both nations increase education among their younger generations about the bilateral relationship so that they could preserve and uphold the fine tradition. Later on March 3, President Quang and his spouse attended the opening ceremony of the Vietnamese culture days in India. At the business forum, President Quang witnessed a ceremony to launch the direct air route between Vietnam and India. The article affirmed the Vietnamese leader’s visit is a good follow up to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Vietnam in 2016.

Vietnam takes first steps towards establishing super committeeVietNamNet Bridge - Though advocating the establishment of a super committee to manage state capital in enterprises, economists remain divided on how exactly it should be done. As such, the total amount of state capital the super committee will take responsibility for will be extremely huge. So, it will be a difficult task for the super committee to run the enterprises in an optimal way. Lan pointed out there could be protest from people who lose their benefits because of the super committee, or those who don’t like instructions from the super committee. If so, how will the super committee be able to control enterprises?

Vietnamese President begins State visit to BangladeshPresident Tran Dai Quang and his spouse begin a three-day State visit to Bangladesh from March 4-6 at the invitation of Bangladeshi President Mohammad Abdul Hamid. President Tran Dai QuanVietnam and Bangladesh officially established diplomatic relations 45 years ago (February 11, 1973). Vietnam has always attached importance to and wanted to further develop its friendly and cooperative relations with Bangladesh. President Tran Dai Quang’s visit affirms Vietnam’s consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation and diversification of international relations, including attaching importance to strengthening bilateral ties with Bangladesh. The visit is also expected to boost two-way trade in the near future.

CCOP Sub-committee set up to coordinate geosciences programmesDeputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung has signed a Decision on the establishment of a Vietnam sub-committee of the Coordinating Committee for Geosciences Programmes in East and Southeast Asia (CCOP). Under the decision, the sub-committee will represent the Government to join activities of CCOP and serve as a coordinator of activities from Vietnam’s agencies and units in the framework of CCOP’s operation. It will be responsible for building a detailed plan on scenarios, contents and its level of participation in CCOP. The sub-committee will work to timely detect sensitive issues related to territorial sovereignty, thus effectively fighting and reserving legal and legitimate national rights and interests of Vietnam in necessary cases. Besides, it will monitor the implementation of research projects and programmes concerning geology, geophysics, mineral and water resources, energy, geological heritage, geological park, geological change and environment; as well as join regular meetings and other activities of COOP.

Gun salute welcomes President Tran Dai Quang in New DelhiVietnamese President Tran Dai Quang and his spouse were greeted with a 21-gun salute at an official welcome ceremony at the Indian Presidential Palace in New Delhi on March 3 morning (local time). PM Modi affirmed that the State visit by President Quang reflects Vietnam’s commitments to bolstering the countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership. President Tran Dai Quang said the two countries reiterated commitments and high political determination to further deepen Vietnam-India relations as well as exchanged major orientations to enhance cooperation across the board. Also on March 3, President Tran Dai Quang, his spouse and entourage paid floral tribute to India's national hero Mahatma Gandhi at the Raj Ghat Memorial. Indian President Ram Nath Kovind (R) welcomes his Vietnamese counterpart at the official welcome ceremonyPresident Tran Dai Quang and his spouse are respectively greeted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind of IndiaThe Vietnamese leader is on a State visit to India from March 2 to 4From left: the spouse of President Tran Dai Quang - Nguyen Thi Hien, President Tran Dai Quang, Indian President Ram Nath Kovind, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra ModiPresident Tran Dai Quang reviews the guard of honour at the official welcome ceremony in New Delhi on March 3Following the welcome ceremony, President Tran Dai Quang had talks with Narendra Modi at the Indian Prime Minister's OfficeThe talks between Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang and Indian Prime Minister Narendra ModiPresident Tran Dai Quang and Prime Minister Narendra Modi chairs a joint press conference to announce the outcomes of their talksPresident Tran Dai Quang and Prime Minister Narendra Modi witness the exchange of cooperation documents signed during the visitPresident Tran Dai Quang and Prime Minister Narendra Modi witness the exchange of cooperation documents signed during the visitPresident Tran Dai Quang and Prime Minister Narendra Modi witness the exchange of cooperation documents signed during the visitVNA

Bai Dinh is Vietnam’s largest pagoda. The highlight of Bai Dinh pagoda is the night time view of 13-storey Bao Thien tower. Bai Dinh pagoda festival opens on the 6th day of the first lunar month and lasts until March. Visitors have the chance to discover giant bronze Buddha statues during the night time tour of the pagoda. Concluding the tour, visitors can enjoy coffee on the summit of Dinh Mountain while enjoying the cool and quiet ambience of Bai Dinh pagoda at night.

Top ranked university of Russia ready to welcome Vietnamese talentsVietnamese Ambassador to Russia Ngo Duc Manh had a meeting with of Vice Rector of the Lomonosov Moscow State University (MGU), the top ranked university in Russia, Sergey Sakhrai in Moscow on March 2, discussing new cooperation directions. Ambassador Manh, a former student of MGU, highly valued the school’s training quality, adding that he wants to expand opportunities for Vietnamese undergraduates and postgraduates to study at this top university of Russia. Sergey Sakhrai noted only the students with the best academic results are admitted to MGU, and the two sides need specific agreements so that Vietnamese students can enroll in the university. There are only few Vietnamese students at MGU at present, but it is ready to welcome talented Vietnamese with outstanding achievements in learning and research. At the meeting, the two sides mentioned a project on providing legal knowledge aid for Vietnamese students.

Vietnamese Ambassador hails ASEAN-US cooperative tiesThe US’s growing cooperative relations with Asian countries, including those from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), in various fields, will significantly contribute to regional peace, security and development cooperation. Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Pham Quang VinhVietnamese Ambassador to the US Pham Quang Vinh made the remarks while addressing a Lunar New Year meeting held by the US-Asia Institute (USAI) in Washington, D.C. on March 2. The USAI was established in 1979 with a view to fostering the US’s rapports with the Asian-Pacific region at the governmental, parliamentary, and people-to-people levels. In 2017, the USAI presented a medal to Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh in recognition of his remarkable contributions to the development of ASEAN-US relations on the occasion of the 50th founding anniversary of the bloc and the 40th anniversary of ASEAN-US diplomatic ties. McKeague thanked the Vietnamese government and people for supporting humanitarian assistance activities and said he is scheduled to visit Vietnam this month to promote mutual trust and bilateral collaboration in the field.-VNA

Dong Thap offers diverse tourism productsLocated in the Mekong Delta region, Dong Thap province has numerous sites of interest with diverse tourism products and services, each with its own appeal. A highlight in the local tourism map is Dong Sen Thap Muoi (lotus field) in Thap Muoi districtMost popular tourist attractions could be named as Tram Chim national park, Xeo Quyt relic site, Gao Giong and Dong Sen Thap Muoi eco-tourism sites, Sa Dec flower village, and dozens of community-based and homestay destinations. Visiting the boundless cajeput forest in the Plain of Reeds (Dong Thap Muoi) by boat is really an interesting excursion. A highlight in the local tourism map is Dong Sen Thap Muoi (lotus field) in Thap Muoi district. In 2017, Dong Thap welcomed over 3.3 million tourists, earning 684 billion VND (30.3 million USD) in revenue, showing a year-on-year increase of 178 percent and 215 percent respectively.-VNA

When public loos matterPublic toilets have been a neglected part amid development changes in Hanoi, with just above 370 ones currently operating to serve its 7.7 million residents and a large number of domestic and foreign visitors. A public toilet on Hai Ba Trung street, HanoiThe shortage of public toilets in the capital city has forced many to struggle to find a proper place to feel “relief”. For the existing public toilets, maintenance and hygiene is also an issue, hindering access to the scarce service. To serve increased demand of the public, particularly during holidays and major public events, the local authorities have erected temporary restrooms, but they just solved the problem in short terms. By the end of 2017, only 165 toilets were completed, of which 98 have opened to the public.

Vietnamese youths to join army this monthTens of thousands of young people nationwide will say goodbye to their families and friends to join the military service in ceremonies held across the country from March 3 to 7. (Source: anninhthudo.vn)A see-off ceremony for the newly-recruited soldiers is scheduled to take place in the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang on March 3. Meanwhile, military units have been requested to prepare facilities for training new soldiers, and ensure material and spiritual life of the soldiers. Military service in Vietnam is compulsory for Vietnamese males between 18 and 25 (extended to 27 for those who applied for a delay to obtain higher education degrees) years of age. The revised Law on Military Service that took effect on January 1 2016 opened the door for Vietnamese women to join military service on a voluntary basis.-VNA

Da Nang: New frog found in Son Tra Nature ReserveA new amphibian was discovered by a group of scientists and biologists in the Son Tra Nature Reserve in the central city of Da Nang following researches between 2012 and 2018. A corner of the Son Tra Nature Reserve, 10km from Da Nang. The reserve is seen as one of the most biodiverse areas in VietnamAccording to the latest report from the institute, the 4,439ha Son Tra Reserve, 600 metres above sea level, listed 370 animal species and 1,010 plant species. The reserve, 10km away from Da Nang, has 43 plant species listed as endangered in Vietnam’s Red Book and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). More than 237 herds of the endangered red-shanked douc langurs (Pygathryx nemaeus) with over 1,300 individuals are living in the Son Tra Nature Reserve.

Stock market: shares up as more money pumped in propertyShares recovered solidly after falling sharply in the morning session on March 2 as cash poured into the real estate sector. Financial-banking and real estate stocks were the best-performing among the 20 sectors in the stock market, with the banking and real estate indices advancing 0.26 percent and 1.21 percent, respectively, according to vietstock.vn. Money flow focused on real estate stocks and construction firms. Foreign investors were net sellers of 127.37 billion VND worth of shares in VIC (53.6 billion VND), VCB (27.2 billion VND) and KBC (25.8 billion VND). In addition, they bought a net of 7.2 billion VND on the HNX.-VNA

Vietnamese businesses open the door to foreign investorsVietNamNet Bridge - More and more Vietnamese manufacturers are calling for foreign investment to implement their business expansion plans. Vietnamese manufacturers are calling for foreign capitalSome analysts recently voiced their concern about the trend of selling Vietnamese businesses to foreigners, warning that it would result in the disappearance of Vietnamese brands. He said if Vietnamese businesses fear hostile takeovers or loss of control, they will not be able to enter large markets. Japan, with plastics import value of $10 billion a year, is hoped to be a potential market for Vietnamese plastics manufacturers. Meanwhile, investments can bring benefits to Vietnamese businesses which need capital and experience from international groups.

Kon Tum midwife changes minds, saves livesVietNamNet Bridge – Old habits die hard, but Y Ngoc, 38, from Dak Sao Commune in Central Highlands Kon Tum Province’s Tu Mo Rong District is determined to make a difference in her village’s reproductive healthcare for women. Midwives are taught to examine and monitor fetal development and assist in delivery at health clinics. In other cases, the newborn could not breathe and then died or the mother had hemorrhage,” said Nguyen Thi Dieu Anh, deputy director of Kon Tum Province’s Reproductive Health Care Centre. Training courses should be organised regularly with a view to enhance the knowledge and professional skills of village birth attendants. She hoped that the problems would be solved so that they could make more contributions to the health care service for mother and child.