Tourism booms during lunar New Year holidayTourism in central and southern regions have reaped the benefits of the week-long Lunar New Year holiday (February 14 - 20), reporting an impressive surge in the number of visitors. People visit the Can Tho city flower street on its opening day during the week-long Tet holiday. The site offered free entrance to visitors on the first three days of the lunar year (February 16-18). The city’s tourism revenues during the holiday topped 75.8 billion VND (3.3 million USD), up 10 percent from last year. Binh Duong province announced that its popular Dai Nam tourism site attracted nearly 150,000 tourists during the period, a seven-fold increase compared to normal days.

European Parliament urges acceleration of signing of EVFTAMany members of the European Parliament have urged acceleration of the completion of documents and relevant procedures for the signing and ratification of the Free Trade Agreement between Vietnam and the EU (EVFTA). Vietnam – EU trade turnover hit a new height in 2017 at nearly 52 billion USD. The EU is now one of the top five foreign investors and also the largest non-Asian investor in Vietnam with 2,000 projects worth 22 billion USD. The European Commission is expected to work with Vietnam to complete documents of the EVFTA before the end of March for official submission to the European Council. The agreement will be submitted to the European Parliament for ratification in the last six months of 2018.-VNA

Traffic accidents fall during Lunar New Year holidayNo traffic accidents involving coaches and ships were recorded during the traditional Lunar New Year festival from February 14-20, according to the National Traffic Safety Committee. There were less traffic congestions in major roads leading to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and key routes. Preliminary report by the Office of the Ministry of Public Security showed that there were 29 traffic accidents nationwide on February 20, including five in roads, killing 16 people and injuring 34 others. The Ministry of Health’s Administration of Medical Services reported that as many as 37,376 people came to hospitals for check-ups due to traffic accidents during the period, 12,630 of them were hospitalised, mostly in the third and fourth days of the Lunar New Year. In Hanoi, Hai Phong, Da Nang, Can Tho and Ho Chi Minh City, there were several jams in roads leading to firework setting venues, pagodas and temples.-VNA

Stocks set to rise further after TetViet Nam’s stock market is expected to rise further after the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday and even throughout 2018, boosted by positive macro economic development as well as support of foreign traders. The UPCOM Index on the Unlisted Public Company Market (UPCoM) inched up 1.83 per cent to finish at 58.5 points. The market leaders were large-cap stocks of PetroVietnam Gas (GAS) (4.4 per cent), Vingroup Joint Stock Company (VIC) (3 per cent), Viet Nam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade (CTG) (3.8 per cent), JSC Bank For Investment And Development Of Viet Nam (BID) (2.6 per cent) and Hoa Phat Group Joint Stock Company (HPG) (3.1 per cent). According to Tran Van Dung, Chairman of the State Securities Commission (SSC), in 2017, Viet Nam recorded impressive economic growth with many macro-economic indicators set by the Government were achieved. This resulted in stable liquidity and interest rates, helping listed bankers improve significantly their financial quality, strongly dragging up the stock market.

Deforestation continues as agencies blame each otherReporters recently departed from Border Guard Station No 741 of the Dak Lak Provincial Border Guards, and after an hour, reached the area where forests have been destroyed, located in sub-zone 408 of Yak Don National Park. A report from the Yok Don National Park showed that on January 26, the Forest Rangers’ Unit No 8, during patrol, discovered deforestation in sub-zone 408. Illegal loggers have been using motor saws in Yok Don National Park and felling dozens of precious trees for a long time. Pham Tuan Linh, deputy director of Yok Don National Park, admitted that the park’s management board, as the forest owner, has to take responsibility for the deforestation. Therefore, it is not the national park which must take major responsibility in this case, he said.

Walmart shares fall 10% as online sales slowWalmart shares suffered their biggest percentage fall for more than three decades on Tuesday after reporting disappointing online sales figures for the Christmas period. Online sales were 23% higher in the three months to December. The retailer said its online revenues totalled $11.5bn last year, but it lost money on those sales. While sales at Walmart's US stores rose by a better than expected 2.6% in the fourth quarter, net profit sank 42% to $2.2bn (£1.6bn). Asda, Walmart's UK supermarket, reported a 0.5% rise in like-for-like sales - its third consecutive quarter of sales growth.

HCM City’s farm production shoots upThe average production value per hectare of agricultural land in Ho Chi Minh City has increased year after year even as the area shrank, according to the municipal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Vegetables bring revenues of 1-1.4 billion VND per hectare annually; orchids, around 2 billion VND; dairy cows (at a scale of 20 head per household), 800 million VND; shrimp, 2.7-3 billion VND per hectare; and ornamental fish, 10-12 billion VND per hectare. According to the department, vegetables were grown on a total of 17,270ha, 12.4 percent up from 2016, with the output rising 14.3 percent to more than 419,410 tonnes. The city exported 18.2 million ornamental fishes for 20 million USD, a year-on-year increase of 21.2 percent, it said. This year, the farm sector would strive to raise average production per hectare to 500 million VND and grow agro-forestry and fisheries by 6 percent, the department said.

Cancer drugs could treat rare blood-vessel disorderResearchers have found the genetic cause of a blood-vessel disorder that can cause deadly bleeds and stroke. And they now believe targeted cancer drugs may be able to treat it. There are several licensed cancer drugs that target the faulty RAS-MAPK pathway. The discovery means doctors now have the potential to treat AVMs with cancer drugs. A clinical trial of the targeted cancer drugs is planned.

Young artist bring folk painting to lifeYoung artists are joining hands with others to preserve traditional culture. They are conducting a project to bring folk painting to fashion. The shop distinguishes itself from surrounding ones by the products that are deeply embedded with traditional culture. Each postcard, bag and item of clothing is made with folk painting patterns. Lam uses the colours that suit the youngsters’ taste, which make it easier for the folk paintings to blend into modern life, she added.-VNA

Vietnam elected as Chair of Group of Francophone AmbassadorsVietnam was elected as Chair of the Group of Francophone Ambassadors (GAF) in Switzerland in 2018 during the 8th meeting of the group in Bern on February 19. Vietnamese Ambassador to Switzerland Pham Hai BangAt the meeting, Swiss Ambassador Anne Lugon-Mounlin said that the Swiss Department of Foreign Affairs completed its two-year tenure as the first Chair of the GAF and nominated Vietnam as its successor. Vietnamese Ambassador Pham Hai Bang pledged that Vietnam will work hard for the development of the GAF, while connecting members of the International Organisation of Francophone (OIF). Firstly, Vietnam will coordinate with other members to organise activities within the framework of the Francophone Week in Switzerland in March, said the ambassador. Bang also asked for support from the Swiss Department of Foreign Affairs and heads of diplomatic agencies of the member nations, and especially Ambassador Anne Lugon-Mounlin, to help Vietnam successfully assume the role as the GAF Chair.

State agencies resume operation since February 21State employees and workers will return to work on February after a week-long lunar new year (Tet) holiday. During the holiday, “Xong dat” (first footing) is a typical Tet tradition in Viet Nam that has been passing down through generations. The tradition has always been associated with hopes for a fruitful year ahead. The elderly normally congratulate kids on becoming a year older by presenting them with brand new coins or small banknotes put in small red paper envelopes which symbolize luck and good fortune. Of the above figure, over 10,000 people flocked to the Temple of Literature, which was considered the first national university in Viet Nam.

A decade for star apples to enter US pays offAfter 10 years of negotiation, Vietnam has finally been the only export country permitted to sell star apple to the United States, one of the pickiest markets worldwide. It can be said that the first shipment of star apples to the United States by lateDecember, 2017 tookVietnam 10 years constantly negotiatingto get permission of the United States’ Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Time changed, more than 3000 farmers also know how to adapt by participating in preparedness training courses for exporting star apples to the United States. According to experts, the change in mindset may result in improvements in exporting many fruits other than mangoes and star apples. Tien Giang is now home to 1100 hectares of the fruit with 500 hectaresof Lo Ren Vinh Kim high yield star apples which produce some10,000tonnes each year.

Among those who participate in the procession are local women who are 51 years old calledLocal people are excited to see the processionThe firecrackers were carried through the main road in the village by 300 men who are less than 50 years old. From early morning, local men carried firecrackers of 6 and 5.8 metres long, which were decorated with dragons, unicorns, tortoises and phoenixes to the village traditional house. The giant firecrackers would be taken to the village commune house in a procession. On every 4th day of the lunar New Year, Dong Ky villagers hold a firecracker procession to celebrate General Thi​en C​uong, who is the tutelary god of the village and the one who led locals to fight foreign invaders. The annual firework procession festival takes place in ​Dong K​y Village (Dong Quang, T​u S​on, Bac Ninh).

Quang Ninh province to go vibrant with Yen Tu spring festivalThe Yen Tu Spring Festival will open on February 25 (the 10th day of the Lunar New Year), in Uong Bi city, the northern province of Quang Ninh, kicking off the National Tourism Year hosted by the locality. Dong pagoda located on the peak of Yen Tu mountainsKey events held within the festival include the opening ceremony, Cherry Blossom and Yen Tu yellow apricot blossom festival and Hang Son Pagoda Festival. He founded the first Vietnamese School of Buddhism called “Thien Tong” or Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen on the 1,068m-high Yen Tu Mountain. Yen Tu became a major Buddhist Centre and King Tran Nhan Tong became its first leader under the religious name Dieu Ngu Giac Hoang Tran Nhan Tong. He ordered the construction of hundreds of religious buildings on Yen Tu Mountains for teaching and following a religious life.

It seems that the Fourth Industrial Revolution or Industry 4.0 has yet to affect Hue and her friends. They do not know what deep impacts Industry 4.0 has on the world economy. 26-year-old Phan Phuong Duc, a maths teacher at the combined primary and secondary Ngoi Sao Hanoi School, is not well-grounded in Industry 4.0 either. In the wake of the movement of of applications and technologies toward Industry 4.0, Vietnam needs to set forth employee support policies in a timely manner, to aid those vulnerable to the adverse impacts of Industry 4.0. He now desires to benefit from Industry 4.0 by learning to improve his technical skills.