VIETNAM TODAY

HCM City to stop using paper documents from 2017

From the beginning of 2017, Ho Chi Minh City will employ only electronic forms of communication using digital signatures for its departments and districts implementing professional exchange in resolving administrative records, putting an end to the use of paper documents.

Plan to turn Son Tra peninsula into tourism destination approved

The Prime Minister has approved overall plans for the development of the Son Tra National Tourism Area in the central coastal city of Da Nang through to 2025 with a vision to 2030.

President to visit Cuba, join APEC forum

State President Tran Dai Quang and his wife will pay an official visit to Cuba from November 15-17 and attend the 24th High-level Week of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum in Lima, Peru, from November 17-20.

Hanoi on a winter night

Hanoi is experiencing the strongest cold spell this year with temperatures of only 15 degrees Celsius outside; however, people continue to earn their living at night.

Police search for dolphin killers

Local authorities in Phu Quoc Island District in Kien Giang Province are searching for five local fishermen whose photos showing them killing a dolphin were shared on Facebook.

HCM City detects five more Zika cases

Five more people have been infected with the Zika virus in HCM City, raising the city’s total number of Zika cases to 34, according to the municipal Department of Preventive Medicine.

NA passes 2017 salary increase

The National Assembly has agreed an increase 7 per cent for annual base salary, pensions, and preferential subsidies for people with meritorious service given to Vietnam’s revolution.

HCM City to upgrade its oldest market

Traders at the 88-year-old Binh Tay Market have started packing things up to move out as the local authorities began work to renovate the oldest market in the city.

Ministry addresses concern about substandard doctorates

The Ministry of Education and Training said it will shut down substandard doctoral training categories in order to improve the quality of PhDs in Vietnam.

Irish President visits Quang Tri province

Irish President Michael D. Higgins and his wife visited the central province of Quang Tri on November 9-10 as part of his State visit to Vietnam.

Hanoi-HCMC flights to depart every 30 minutes

Vietnam Airlines will work with Jetstar Pacific to increase flight frequency on the Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City route, with 34 flights each day from 5.45am to 9.30pm.

Ethnic Mong culture to be feted in Hanoi

Buckwheat flowers from the northern province of Hà Giang will be showcased at Lý Thái Tổ Park in downtown Hanoi during a three-day cultural festival of Mong people starting Friday.

South Korea president's approval rating remains at all-time low: Gallup

South Korean President Park Geun-hye's approval rating remained at an all-time low for a second week amid a deepening political crisis, according to a Gallup Korea poll released on Friday, underscoring the challenges faced by her administration.

Survey finds Vietnamese SMEs paying higher bribes

Nearly half of Vietnamese small and medium-sized enterprises had to pay bribes to officials when operating their business in 2015, according to a survey.

Rare douc population found in Huế

Rangers in Thừa Thiên-Huế Province’s preventive forest have discovered a population of some 78 red-shanked doucs (Pygathrix nemaeus), listed as endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Legislators approve medium-term public investment plan

With 89.88% of "yes" votes, the National Assembly on November 10 passed a resolution on medium-term public investment plan for the 2016-2020 period with a total maximum budget of VND 2 quadrillion (US$ 89.56 billion).

Vietnam opposes Indonesia’s force use against its fishermen

Vietnam strongly protests the use of force by Indonesia’s functional forces against Vietnamese fishermen and their fishing vessels, an official has said.

European music party to delight Vietnamese audiences

The fifteenth European Music Festival, to be held in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City from November 18 to December 3, promises to offer Vietnamese audiences a line-up of spellbinding and enchanting concerts.