By Brian Spence *As I have highlighted several times in this column, Việt Nam now has the second fastest growing economy in the world, after China. You could call Việt Nam ‘start up Việt Nam’. Before significant inward investment will flood into Việt Nam, and flood it will, if the Vietnamese Government continue their crackdown on corruption. This is a bold statement to the world that ‘Việt Nam is open for business.’S&P have recently invited senior leaders in the international business community to join their Việt Nam mergers and acquisition interest group with a view to inward investment into Việt Nam. There are already over 100 registered international CEO’s and senior figures signed up to explore pre-IPO opportunities in Việt Nam.

Unfit in middle age: Are you doomed? Are you someone in middle age who keeps putting off that planned health kick for another day? One paper found that elevated blood pressure in middle age increases the risk of dementia, while another says being frail at this time raises your chances of an early death. Researchers suggested a possible explanation for the link was that raised blood pressure could cause damage from "silent" or mini-strokes which can easily go un-noticed. The key for those who are unfit in middle age is making healthy changes "as soon as possible", says Ilaria Bellantuono, professor of musculoskeletal ageing at the University of Sheffield.

Vietnamese boxer Tran Van Thao ranks 40th in worldVietnamese boxer Tran Van Thao has jumped 51 spots from 91 to 40 in the rankings of World Boxing Confederation in the men’s 52kg category. Vietnamese boxer Tran Van Thao — Photo vothuat.vnIt is the highest ranking ever for a Vietnamese boxer. Thao, nicknamed the Trigger, was awarded Boxer of the Year for 2017 by the World Boxing Council Asia in April in Bangkok after he won the WBC Asia Super Flyweight title last November. In April, the 26-year-old also knocked out Artid Bamrungauea of Thailand in his 10th professional boxing fight in the Oriental and Pacific Boxing Federation’s super flyweight category in Bangkok, Thailand. Thao is training in Sai Gon Sports Club in HCM City to prepare for the Asian Games to be held in Indonesia in August.

Tuyen Quang province moves to promote folk art formTuyen Quang has been recognised as one of the role models in preserving Then singing – a distinctive musical genre of Tay, Nung and Thai ethnic groups in northern mountainous provinces of Vietnam. Tuyen Quang province has placed importance to teaching Then singing, considering this a key and regular task to preserve the folk genre. Such courses have been organised by Tuyen Quang province for many years. Artisan Ma Van Duc, Tan Ha Ward, Tuyen Quang City: “Then songs praise the relationship between people, and between people and nature. Along with teaching, Tuyen Quang province also organised activities to promote Then singing, including a singing festival, an exhibition, workshops and presentation of ancient Then songs.

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc received in Hà Nội on Wednesday newly-accredited Mozambican Ambassador Leonardo Rosario Manuel Pene, affirming Việt Nam’s willingness to send experts in agriculture, education and health care to the African country. The PM agreed that the two countries need to organise a session of the Việt Nam – Mozambique inter-Governmental committee to discuss co-operation. Việt Nam will send a prestigious enterprise in agriculture to Mozambique, he added. Ambassador Pene thanked Việt Nam for sending experts to help Mozambique in agriculture. The diplomat expressed his wish to boost ties with Việt Nam in health care, education and energy.

VN-Index rises nearly 10 points on June 13The VN-Index on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE) gained 9.77 points to stay at 1,030.53 points on June 13 after losing more than 18 points on the previous day. The VN-Index on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE) gained 9.77 points to stay at 1,030.53 points on June 13 after losing more than 18 points on the previous dayMore than 116 million shares worth over 3.89 trillion VND (170.39 million USD) were exchanged on the HoSE on the day. On the Hanoi Stock Exchange, the HNX-Index increased by 0.18 points to settle at 116.66 points, with total transaction value reaching nearly 468 billion VND (20.51 million USD). The HNX30 closed at 210.39 points, a rise of 1.49 points with 15 million shares changed hands for 278 billion VND (12.18 million USD). The UPCOM-Index on the Unlisted Public Company Market (UPCoM) saw a slight increase of 0.2 points to 53.2 points, with 8 million shares worth 260 billion VND (11.39 million USD) traded.-VNA

HCM City earns US$2bn in remittanceRemittance inflows to HCM City in the first five months of this year reached US$2 billion, almost double compared to the first quarter of 2018. Remittances often depend on macroeconomic conditions, the situation of overseas workers as well as services attracting remittances. — Photo baodauthau.vnAccording to Nguyen Hoang Minh, deputy director of State Bank of Viet Nam’s HCM City branch, most of the remittance was invested in production and business instead of being poured into real estate, securities or savings as earlier. Since the beginning of this year, the situation has looked good, with stable remittance flowing into the city and gradually increasing. In recent years, remittances to HCM City has increased by an average of 8 to 10 per cent per year.

More Asian black bears in captivity in Lam Dong releasedAuthorities have consecutively rescued two Asian black bears in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong within a week, according to the Education for Nature Vietnam (ENV). An Asian black bear in Cat Tien National Park (Source: https://www.tienphong.vn)The bear rescue centre in Cat Tien National Park managed by the Free the Bears organisation on June 12 received an Asian black bear held in captivity for 18 years, ENV said. Previously, on June 6, the Free the Bears organisation also received an Asian black bear and handed over it to the centre. Lam Dong province’s Forest Protection Department staff have worked hard to persuade and encourage locals to voluntarily release bears. Vietnam is home to the Asian black bear and sun bear, which have been listed as vulnerable species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.-VNA

Fake World Cup brings real happiness to Vietnamese football fansVietNamNet Bridge – The World Cup kicks off in a few days time, but fans of the beautiful game here in Vietnam can get their hands on the trophy - well almost. At Vuong Hong Nhat’s pottery workshop – Photo: VNNAt Vuong Hong Nhat’s pottery workshop you’ll find it more crowded than usual. The reason is he’s making replicate versions of the trophy that will be lifted by the World Cup winners next month. Thousands of the gypsum cups have been created at Nhat’s workshop in Bat Trang ceramic village in Hanoi’s Gia Lam District. The subsequent trophy, called the "FIFA World Cup Trophy", was introduced in 1974.

Kind German tourist saves lost kid in Ca mountainous passA German tourist saved a 7-year-old kid in the central province of Phu Yen who got lost in Ca mountainous pass while he was driving a motorbike in the night from Da Lat Town in the highlands province of Lam Dong to Quy Nhon. Kainz and parents of the lost kid (Photo: SGGP)The young tourist at the age of 20 had used google translated to find way to the border guard to seek assistance. Kainz stopped to comfort the girl and drove the kid to border guard station for assistance. Because Kainz doesn’t know Vietnamese, he stopped many vehicles asking them to help him to the nearest border guard station. One of drivers agreed to lead the German man to the border guard station.

Another mass fish death in lakes near Ha Long BayMass fish deaths have been found in lakes near the UNESCO world heritage site of Ha Long Bay. Fish die en mass in the lakes near Ha Long BayThe dead tilapias have drifted the shore along with rubbish, creating a bad smell and affecting local people. More seriously, the lakes discharge water directly into Ha Long Bay. Hoang Quang Hai, vice chairman of Ha Long City People’s Committee, said that local authorities will check the detention basin. The pollution at the basin will affect the environment at Ha Long Bay as there are some pipes connecting them.

Natural disaster forecasting to be mappedNatural disaster forecasting in Vietnam will focus on frequent incidents such as typhoons, droughts, landslides and floods from now until 2020, according to a new decision of the Government. Decision No 705, signed on June 7 by Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung, approved the natural disaster forecasting programme to assess, map and update regions with high risks of catastrophes, especially those occurring on a regular basis, namely typhoons, floods, salinisation, droughts and so forth. With an aim to prevent and overcome natural disasters, the programme focuses on vulnerable areas in lands, seas and islands. Natural disasters have been on the rise in Viet Nam for the past 10 years, reported dantri.vn. According to MARD, 2017 was considered the peak of natural disasters, causing 385 deaths and a significant loss of VNĐ60 trillion (US$2.65 billion).

PM to attend ACMECS 8, CLMV 9 in ThailandPrime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc will lead a Vietnamese delegation to the 8th Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy Summit (ACMECS 8) and the 9th Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam Summit (CLMV 9) in Bangkok, Thailand from June 15-16. It was established in April 2003 under the initiative of then Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Vietnam officially joined the summit in 2004 during the first ACMECS ministers’ meeting, which was held in Thailand in November that year. The CLMV is an open cooperation mechanism aiming to promote potential and advantages of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, and call for support from other ASEAN countries as well as partners for the four countries. The CLMV Summit was first held in 2004.-VNA

Workers urged to stay calm, vigilant over manipulation of extremistsPresident of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour Bui Van Cuong has called on all trade union members and workers to stay calm and vigilant over manipulation of extremists and not to let others take advantages of their patriotism. President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour Bui Van Cuong calls on all workers to stay calm and vigilant over manipulation of extremists in his letter on June 11. Many extremists have made use of this issue to manipulate workers in some localities into gathering in large numbers and acting aggressively. These actions have caused traffic jams and seriously affected people’s life and business as well as social security and safety. The top legislator called on people nationwide to keep calm and trust the Party and State.

Hanoi: 1,200 people to join yoga performanceAs many as 1,200 people in the capital city of Hanoi will join a yoga protocol performance at the Indoor Athletics Palace in Nam Tu Liem district on July 16 in response to the International Day of Yoga, which falls on June 21. The information was revealed by Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Parvathaneni Harish at a press conference on the fourth International Day of Yoga 2018 (IDY 2018) in Hanoi on June 11. In addition to the yoga protocol performance, to be led by an Indian yoga instructor, the programme will also feature an Indian musical concert by a band from northeastern India. Yoga is a 5,000-year-old physical, mental and spiritual practice originating in India, which aims to transform both body and mind. June 21 has been declared by the UN General Assembly Resolution 69/131 as International Day of Yoga.