VIETNAM TODAY

A ceremony was held yesterday morning to mark the start of the nation's first science complex in the south central province of Binh Dinh.

The WB expects Vietnam’s economic growth to hover around 6-6.2 percent in 2015, underpinned by further recovery in domestic demand, robust private consumption and investment growth.

Nearly 3,200 residents in the northern Philippines were forced to evacuate as floods inundated the region spurred by heavy monsoon rains, said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on July 20.

Clemency will be granted to around 16,000 – 17,000 prisoners on the occasion of the 70th National Day (September 2), making it the biggest-ever, said Head of the General Department for Enforcement of Criminal Sentences and Judicial Assistance Nguyen

Sales of automobiles rose in most segments during the first half of the year in comparison with the same period last year.

Minister of National Defence General Phung Quang Thanh is healthy and scheduled to return home, said Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army, Lieutenant General Vo Van Tuan on July 20.

A group of 725 gigantic po mu trees (Fokienia hodginsii), some more than a 1,000-years-old, in central Quang Nam Province's Tay Giang District has been included on the national heritage register.

Nguyen Thuy Doan, the reigning Miss Deaf Vietnam, was crowned Miss Deaf World 2015 second runner up at the conclusion of the international pageant held on July 18 at the Top Hotel in Prague.

The Argentina-Vietnam Cultural Institute (ICAV) and the Vietnam Embassy in Argentina co-hosted a roundtable seminar on the war in Vietnam as part of activities marking the 70th anniversary of August Revolution and National Day.

Construction of a road extension in Hanoi’s Cau Giay District has isolated tiny plots of potentially valuable land, one owner asking VND1bn for a lot measuring just 1.7 square metres.

Crowds of Vietnamese people in Singapore gathered at a fund-raising gala dinner to donate to the Orchid Scholarship Fund reserved for outstanding Vietnamese children in need.

The Cuban flag was raised at the US State Department Monday, in a historic gesture to mark renewed diplomatic ties between Havana and Washington as embassies were reestablished in their respective capitals.

Visa exemptions for five more countries in Europe should result in a rise of visitors by 50 percent over the next three years, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism said.

Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan hosted a reception for the spouse of the US Vice President, Jill Biden in Hanoi on July 19.

PM Nguyen Tan Dung will be visiting Thailand on July 23 at the invitation of Thai PM Prayut Chan-ocha to further strengthen the bilateral relationship.

Tran Anh Tuan of HCM City's Tan Binh District, who has a Dong A Bank ATM card, recently had to pay VND5,500 for making an internal funds transfer.

The Binh Thuan Province administration has instructed officials to resolve the environmental issues plaguing the Vinh Tan No 2 thermal power plant following local protests against its discharge of untreated waste.

More than 80,000 students are taking part in an annual voluntary campaign that kicked off in Ho Chi Minh City on July 19.

Organisers of the annual fashion TV reality show Viet Nam's Next Top Model 2015 surprised the press and guests while introducing this year's top 14 models in an unusual way during a recent press meeting.