VIETNAM TODAY

Vietnamese Government wants energy-efficient buildings

Vietnam is going through a construction boom, with apartment and office buildings mushrooming, and energy efficiency is imperative, Nguyễn Công Thịnh, head of the Ministry of Construction’s science, technology and environment department, told a seminar in HCM City.

Anti-corruption official criticised for avoiding media scrutiny

An official from the Government Inspectorate is being heavily criticised after being recorded giving a speech on how to avoid reporters during inspections.

Defence Minister visits India, meets Modi

Defence Minister General Ngo Xuan Lich, who is on a visit to India from December 4-7, has met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi who said that India wishes to maintain and boost friendship and cooperation with Vietnam.

Vietnamese swimmer disqualified from FINA world champs

Vietnamese top swimmer Nguyen Thi Anh Vien on December 7 was ousted from the FINA World Swimming Championships (25m), which is taking place in Ontario, Canada.

Northwestern province prepares for flower festival

The northwestern province of Dien Bien is gearing up for the Ban (Bauhinia variegate) Flower Festival, which is scheduled to take place from March 11-14, 2017.

Government plans rice farming changes due to new climate

The Vietnamese Government is taking drastic measures in restructuring agricultural production to adapt to climate change, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong said.

Only 1% of firms invest in agriculture: minister

Only one per cent of total enterprises in Vietnam has invested in agriculture, and 55 per cent of these are small scale, capitalised at under VND5 billion, said Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong.

Vietnam ranked 8th in PISA 2015 science performance

Vietnam ranks 8th out of 72 countries in terms of its scientific performance, according to a report by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Frantic rescue after quake kills 54 in Indonesia's Aceh

A strong undersea earthquake rocked Indonesia's Aceh province early on Wednesday, killing at least 54 people and sparking a frantic rescue effort in the rubble of dozens of collapsed and damaged buildings.

What's on December 5-11 (Daily updated)

Gun man robs bank in Hue City

A BIDV bank branch in Hue City was robbed by an armed man at about 5pm on December 6.

Earthquake rocks Indonesia's Aceh province, several dead

A strong undersea earthquake rocked Indonesia's province of Aceh early Wednesday, causing several deaths and buildings to collapse in a district near the epicenter.

Indonesia releases 37 Vietnamese fishermen

The Vietnamese Embassy in Indonesia, in coordination with Indonesian agencies, sent 37 Vietnamese fishermen back to Vietnam on December 6.

School for overseas Vietnamese in Cambodia inaugurated

The Vietnamese Embassy in Cambodia and the Vietnamese Cambodian Association in Kampong Chhnang has inaugurated a school for overseas Vietnamese in the Cambodian province’s Boribo district.

SBV fixes monetary policy management for 2017

The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has announced its key orientation of monetary policy management and banking operations in 2017.

Asia’s largest-capacity cable line to become operational

The Asia Pacific Gateway (APG) submarine fiber optic cable line will be operational in Vietnam, according to the Vietnam Post and Telecommunication Group (VNPT).

Bitcoin to be legally regulated in 2018

The Vietnamese government is carrying out a project to complete the legal framework for managing and handling digital assets, virtual currency and digital money.

Vietnam's GDP to grow at 6.3 per cent for 2017-2018

Vietnam’s medium-term outlook remains favorable, and its growth prospects may improve to 6.3 per cent from 2017-2018, according to the World Bank’s latest Taking Stock report.

High-quality train to connect Hanoi-Lao Cai

A high-quality train will be put into operation for tourists from Hanoi to Lao Cai, Sapa, Ba Ha and other tourist destinations in Lao Cai Province in the first quarter of 2017.