VIETNAM TODAY

The French cruise ship Le Soleal set sail from Saigon port, Ho Chi Minh City, on February 6, finishing an eight-day voyage from Hai Phong city to the southern hub for 200 passengers.

The Vietnamese government may cut around 100,000 state officers by 2020, according to a draft regulation.

The southern coastal province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau granted investment licences to nine new projects, including two foreign-invested worth 61 million USD, on February 8.

Completion of a draft law on sea and island resources and environment will be the main priority of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment's General Department of Sea and Islands this year.

The northern border province of Quang Ninh will host the annual Japanese cherry blossom festival to promote cultural exchange between Vietnamese and Japanese localities.

Even though officials were banned from using state vehicles for personal use, many vehicles have been spotted at festival grounds during working hours.

The 18th session of the Human Rights Council UPR working group on February 7 approved the Vietnam National Report 48 hours after it was presented and examined in Geneva.

The much-awaited Yen Tu Festival will open on February 9 in the northern province of Quang Ninh.

Minister of Finance Dinh Tien Dung opened the lunar new year’s first transaction session on February 7 with a hopeful assessment of the security market’s future.

Many localities nationwide on February 7 launched the New Year tree planting festival – an annual activity initiated by late President Ho Chi Minh.

The director of the Higher Education Department said that the recent suspension of new admissions for 207 university courses was aimed at increasing the quality of education.

The opening ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics got off to a shaky start in Sochi on Friday when an illuminated snowflake that was supposed to transform into the fifth glowing white Olympic ring failed to do so.

Many enterprises in HCM City are facing a serious lack of labourers after Tet, as many employees quit to seek new and better jobs.

The US magazine ArchDaily has presented its 2014 “Building of the Year” Award to architect Vo Trong Nghia and his Binh Thanh House design in HCM City.

The capital city of Hanoi has set to increase the number of its trade villages to 1,500 from now to 2015 in a bid to create jobs for at least half of its rural workers.

State President Truong Tan Sang has called on Vietnamese people to plant and protect forests for a sustainable ecological environment.

McDonald’s inaugurated a restaurant in HCM City on February 7, making its first presence known in Vietnam.

Thailand’s largest retail conglomerate – Central Group – is expanding into Vietnam with the opening of a Robinsons Department Store in Hanoi in March.

Ho Chi Minh City will need over 13 trillion VND (611 million USD) to build and repair roads this year, a local newspaper reports, citing information from the municipal Department of Transport.