During his visit, the head of FIFA met with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien on the morning of February 8. The FIFA president receives a warm welcome from VFF officials, Vietnam’s women’s national football team, and the U23 squad. The FIFA president holds a meeting for nearly one hour with VFF leaders, discussing issues related to the future development of football in Vietnam. As the head of FIFA, Mr Infantino commits to provide assistance to VFF for the continued improvement of the nation’s football. After the meeting, Mr Infantino takes a tour of VFF facilities and the youth football training centre.

Neu pole erected at Hue Imperial Citadel to mark beginning of TetA ceremony to plant Neu pole (a tall bamboo tree with red garment strips used to ward off evil spirits during Tet) was organised at Hue Imperial Citadel in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue on February 8. Neu pole erected at Hue Imperial Citadel - Illustrative imageThe 15-metre bamboo pole was carried by a group of men dressed as soldiers under the Nguyen Dynasty in a procession from the Hien Nhon Gate through the Thai Hoa Palace to arrive at the Ancestral Temple, where it was erected. The erection of the Neu pole on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month marks the beginning of Tet. During 143 years of reign (1802 – 1945), the Nguyen Dynasty held an annual ceremony to plant the Neu pole at the Imperial Citadel. The Neu pole is also believed to ward off ghosts and demons from entering the community during Tet.

Bui Vien pedestrian hours to be lengthenedAuthorities in District 1 in HCM City have proposed to expand and lengthen the opening time of the Bui Vien Pedestrian Street. District 1 authorities have also recommended opening the street on Friday evening as well, instead of just from Saturday to Sunday evening at present. A District 1 People’s Committee survey indicated that most local people agreed with the street expansion as well as raising its operation time. Bui Vien Street is estimated to welcome 600- 800 visitors and the figure even reaches up to more than 1,000 on holidays. The 1.4-kilometre street was pedestrianised on August 2, 2017.

Inspectors concentrate on food additivesVietNamNet Bridge – Producers and businesses are only allowed to use food additives permitted by the Ministry of Health to ensure products have no negative impacts on users’ health. An MoH inspection team checks food safety and hygiene at Phuc An Food Company in the Mekong Delta province of Tay Ninh. The decree also regulates the granting of certificates on food safety and hygiene, state inspections of imported and exported products, food labelling and food advertising. Negative impacts associated with exposure to toxic food additives can include acute food-poisoning and cancer, according to experts. Nguyen Thanh Phong, director of the Viet Nam Food Administration, said the inspectors would pay great attention to food origin, additives and preservation substances.

Over 100 Vietnamese workers hospitalised with food poisoningVietNamNet Bridge – Over 105 workers from Vietnam Jin Chang Shoes Company Limited in the southern province of Bình Dương were hospitalised with food poisoning after having lunch on Tuesday, reported Vietnam News agency. Workers receive treatment for food poisoning at Binh Duong General Hospital, after having lunch at Vietnam Jin Chang Shoes Company Limited. — Photo kenh14.vnThe workers fell sick an hour after having lunch at the factory. As the number of workers showing the symptoms continued to rise, the company’s management rushed them to Binh Duong General Hospital and Binh Duong Medic Clinic. Binh Duong health officials have collected food samples from the private company Thap Toan, which provides meals to Jin Chang Shoes, for investigation.

Vietnam’s pharmacy industry sees rapid growthVietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam is now an attractive drug market with new policies designed to create a healthy, competitive market for manufacturers. The figure is lower than the average growth rate of 15.6 percent in 2012-2016, but still higher than the 6-9 percent growth rates seen in pharma-emerging countries, and the 4-7 percent average growth rate in the world, according to IMS Market Prognosis. Prescribed drugs now account for 74 percent of total spending on drugs, according to BMI with the growth rate of 15.9 percent in 2012-2016, and the expected growth rate of 11.9 percent per annum. A report found that health insurance coverage has increased from 65 percent in 2012 to 85.3 percent by the end of October 2017. It is expected that 90 percent of people will take health insurance policies by 2020.

Da Nang city among world’s 10 best placesDa Nang city is one of the top 10 best places in the world for foreigners to live in 2018, according to the international tourism magazine Live and Invest Overseas (LIO). Da Nang city is one of the top 10 best places in the world for foreigners to live in 2018, according to the international tourism magazine Live and Invest Overseas (Photo: Live and Invest Overseas)Da Nang city is the only Vietnamese destination in the list. “Da Nang is third-largest city in Vietnam behind capital Hanoi and business hub Ho Chi Minh City. Were it not for the skyscrapers, bridges, malls, endless stream of motorbikes and the whir of air conditioners, today’s Da Nang could easily be 1960s Da Nang”, the magazine wrote. The online marketplace and hospitality service Airbnb also announced a list of the world’s top 10 destinations for 2018, in which Da Nang ranked fifth in booking surges of up to 255 percent.-VNA

West Lake’s famed peach blossoms on the moveVietNamNet Bridge – Nhat Tan peach blossoms, once the pride of Hanoi’s West Lake, are now blooming vigorously in Lam Ha District in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong where hundreds of people moved from the capital. An authentic Nhat Tan peach blossom has special characteristics, including a round canopy with dense buds and denseley scattered blooms. Taking care of peach blossom trees after they have been sold is another part of Lơoi’s craft. “The cultivation of Nhat Tan peach blossoms in the hills takes me to Nam Ban Town in Lam Ha District every year. That spring, the peach blossom tree became such a gorgeous reminder of Hanoi that it surprised Nam Ban residents.

VNPT sells finance subsidiary to SeABankVietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) sold its finance subsidiary Post and Telecommunication Finance Company Ltd (PTF) to SeABank at a recent auction. Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group sold its finance subsidiary Post and Telecommunication Finance Company Ltd to SeABank. According to Hung, VNPT sold PTF to SeABank at a higher price than the asset valuation it gave. Founded in 1998, PTF is Vietnam’s first finance company, wholly owned by VNPT, with a chartered capital of 500 billion VND. According to PFT’s financial statements, its profits in 2015 and 2016 were 21 trillion VND and 19 trillion VND, respectively.

72 wild animals rescued in JanuaryAt least 72 wild animals were released in their natural habitat in the first month of the year, according to Education for Nature Viet Nam (ENV). Some of these animals were rescued by people and some by police after busting cases of animal trafficking. Illegal breeding of wild animals in homes and restaurants have been prevalent in the country. Besides selling and advertising to shops and restaurants, traffickers use social networks to sell wild animals to avoid detection by authorities, said ENV. Last year, ENV recorded 65.2 per cent cases of violation of wild animal protection related to trading and advertising.

Buses bring Tet closers to disadvantaged studentsThe programme, organized by Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union in the city, has helped bring Tet closers to poor students. Tuyet Trinh is a student from Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy. Le Ba Minh from Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology shared "My family is near the poverty line and was affected by recent floods. On this occasion, the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union in Ho Chi Minh City will provide 8,000 part-time jobs for these youngsters. The “spring buses” have helped bring a cosy spring, and Tet atmosphere to the poor students, helping them have a meaningful Tet and a joyful year ahead.-VNA

He also thanked the Vietnamese Party, Government, army and people for helping Cambodians escape the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime. Born on February 2, 1917, former Party General Secretary Do Muoi assumed the position as the Party leader from June 1991 to December 1997. Party chief welcomes overseas Vietnamese home for TetParty General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong meets overseas Vietnamese on February 7. Homeland Spring is an annual event held by the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs. This year, thousands of overseas Vietnamese have registered to participate in the programme which includes various traditional Tet practices.

Foreign capital flow was behind the strong rise of the stock market in 2017The high GDP growth rate, the government’s new policies and foreign capital flow are the three factors behind the strong rise of the stock market in 2017. The sharp increase of foreign capital flow in 2017 helped push the VN Index by 48 percent and HNX Index by 46 percent. The cash flow from foreign investors continued to be a psychological support for the market with a total net buying of VND7.136 trillion. VanEck Vectors Vietnam ETF (V.N.M ETF), one of the two biggest ETF in Vietnam, has raised $25 million so far this year. Meanwhile, Db x-trackers FTSE Vietnam ETF (FTSE Vietnam ETF) has issued another 60,000 fund certificates, raising the total number to 9.52 million units.

Food may influence cancer spreadThere is mounting evidence the food on your plate can alter cancer's growth and spread, say Cambridge scientists. SpreadThe study, conducted at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, took place on mice with an aggressive form of breast cancer. Normally they would die in a couple of weeks as the tumour spread throughout the body. Prof Charles Swanton, Cancer Research UK's chief clinician, said: "Interestingly, the drug L-asparaginase is used to treat acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, which is dependent on asparagine. "It's possible that in future, this drug could be repurposed to help treat breast cancer patients."

Phan Van Anh Vu faces extra charge of abuse of positionThe Ministry of Public Security has filed an additional charge of “abuse of position and power while on duty” against Phan Van Anh Vu, also known as Vu “Nhom”, who has already faced two counts. Phan Van Anh Vu​ was arrested on January 4 after being deported from Singapore. The Security Investigation Agency issued an arrest warrant for Vu on December 21, 2017. He fled to Singapore but was then deported for violated the Immigration Act of Singapore. Vu was arrested upon his arrival in Vietnam on January 4.-VNA