VIETNAM TODAY

Ho Chi Minh City welcomed the five millionth foreign visitor of 2016 at Tan Son Nhat International Airport on December 24.

Prejudice and legal regulations cause major difficulties for non-State universities in Vietnam, chairwoman of the management board of Hanoi-based Thang Long University Hoang Xuan Sinh said.

Commercial trade growth for the Asia Pacific Region slowed to 2.3% in 2015, far below the expectations of 2.7% that had been forecast, said the Asian Development Bank in a recently released report.

The National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting issued a storm warning on December 23 that Nock-ten, a very strong typhoon has formed in the eastern sea area of the Philippines and is heading towards the East Sea.

Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has called for the involvement of the entire political system and the public in the fight against drug crimes, which have recently shown complicated developments.

Vietnam still cannot take advantage of its 3,200 kilometers of coastline, 6,500 kilometers of rivers, 126 river ports, 2,300 passenger ports and 4,800 berths.

There has been a strong wave of migration within Vietnam over the last three decades, a recent workshop held by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the General Statistics Office (GSO) heard.

Thai police rescued two baby orangutans in a sting operation after undercover officers arranged to buy the primates over a mobile phone messaging app from wildlife traffickers for nearly $20,000, officials said.

Vietnamese citizens may be allowed to enter a new casino at the Van Don Special Administrative-Economic Zone in northern Quang Ninh province on a trial basis.

President Tran Dai Quang extended Christmas greetings to Catholic dignitaries and followers during his visit to the Catholic Church under the Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh City on December 23.

Large crowds of South Koreans were expected to march in the streets on Saturday, calling for the permanent removal of impeached President Park Geun-hye and extending the historically biggest protest movement in the country to Christmas Eve.

China’s launch of a regular air route to the airport on Phu Lam in Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago seriously violates Vietnam’s sovereignty over the archipelago, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Hai Binh said.

Deputy PM, FM Pham Binh Minh called for enhancing sustainable use and management of Mekong water resources in a harmonious and responsible manner to ensure sustainable development of the region.

Another 14 artefacts and groups of artefacts have been recognised as national treasures, including the mummified statues of 17th century Zen masters Vu Khac Minh and Vu Khac Truong.

Vietnam’s national men’s football team ranks 134th in the latest FIFA rankings recently released.

The government will keep inflation below 5% in 2016, said Politburo member and Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue at the meeting of the National Steering Committee for Price Management in Hanoi.

24 people are killed and 60 others injured in road accidents every day in Vietnam, Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh revealed at a Hanoi conference.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong hosted a reception for head of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Liu Qiba who was leading a Chinese delegation to attend the 12th theory conference between the Communist

The image of Hanoi is expected to reach 420 million families across the globe via the Cable News Network (CNN).