Vietnam-Canada relations to expand: officialThe attendance of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the G7 Outreach Summit and his visit to Canada as invited by his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau is expected to expand the cooperation between the two countries, according to Donald Bobiash, Assistant Deputy Minister for Asia-Pacific at Global Affairs Canada. One of the biggest milestones in the bilateral ties was the official visit to Vietnam by Prime Minister Trudeau in 2017, during which the two nations’ leaders signed an agreement to lift bilateral ties to a comprehensive partnership. The invitation of Prime Minister Trudeau to Prime Minister Phuc to attend the summit demonstrates the desire of Canada to boost better relations with Vietnam, Bobiash said. The official also expressed his impressions of Vietnam’s economic growth – which is estimated at more than 6 percent annually. The CPTPP will expand two-way trade flows by reducing tariffs on Canadian exports, particularly agricultural products.

Credit growth reaches 5.8%Credit growth in the first five months of this year reached 5.8 per cent, Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue said. The credit growth was lower than the 6.53 per cent rise in the first five months of 2017 but higher than that of the same period in the previous years. Right at the beginning of 2018, based on economic growth and inflation control targets, State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV) set this year’s credit growth at 17 per cent, lower than 18.17 per cent in 2017. Besides asking credit institutions to target lending to the priority sectors, SBV has so far directed them to avoid too much focus on real estate and securities customers and maintain credit growth in the sectors within safe limits. “Credit expansion should go hand in hand with strict supervision to ensure loans are used for their intended purpose and do not add to bad debts,” SBV said.

Traffickers getting high-tech using phones to lure girlsVietNamNet Bridge – Human traffickers are getting more sophisticated – using high tech methods such as mobile phones and social media accounts to target young girls in remote mountainous areas leaving enforcements agencies with a mountain to climb to keep the girls safe. A customs official gives out flyers about women trafficking to ethnic women in the northern province of Lao Cai. They developed new techniques such as using mobile phones or social networks to approach the victims. The two girls lived in Chu Lin Village in Lao Cai District’s Sa Pa Town. Luckily, the girl’s parent suspected the man and asked for help from local border soldiers and she was rescued.

Vietnam hopes to develop multi-faceted cooperation with MicronesiaVietNamNet Bridge – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on June 7 held a reception for Speaker Wesley W. Simina of the Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia, who was leading a high-ranking delegation on an official visit to Vietnam from June 5-15. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (r) receives Speaker Wesley W. Simina of the Congress of the Federated States of Micronesia on June 7. “The visit is hoped to chart a new chapter for cooperation between the two parliaments in particular, and the two countries in general,” said Wesley W. Simina. Wesley W. Simina expressed his hope to boost cooperation and twinning relations between Micronesian and Vietnamese localities. “Vietnam wants to share its experience in cooperation in areas with potential, like agriculture, aquaculture, seafood processing, industrial tree plantation, tourism development, education and training,” he affirmed.

VTV almost reaches deal for World Cup 2018 broadcasting rightsVietnam Television (VTV) claims to have almost finalised negotiations with Infront Sports & Media for buying broadcasting rights of the upcoming World Cup 2018. According to a VTV representative, the two sides have planned to meet in Hanoi to sign the deal. Vietnam Television (VTV) claims to have almost finalised negotiations with Infront Sports & Media for buying broadcasting rights of the upcoming World Cup 2018. Earlier, local football fans worried about the possibility that VTV would not have been able to buy broadcasting rights planned to fly to neighbouring countries such as Laos, Cambodia and Thailand to watch World Cup. VTV will allow other television channels to share the broadcasting rights, but this must be approved by FIFA.

Lucrative dividends on offer this JuneLucrative dividends presented by a number of listed firms throughout the month are expected to make their tickers more appealing to investors. NKG aims to maintain a similar dividend payout ratio this year, in both cash and bonus share format. On June 26, Vinamilk—Vietnam’s top dairy producer—will pay its remaining 2017 dividend in cash with the ratio of 15 per cent. After the share distribution, the company’s charter capital will come to VND21.240 trillion ($944 million) from the current VND15.170 trillion ($674 million). Danang Chemical Industry JSC (ticker DCI in UpCOM) has announced paying 2017 dividend at a record ratio of 288 per cent.

Land sales in HCM City dropSales of land plots have decreased significantly in HCM City in the last 10 days in districts 2, 9 and Thu Duc, where so-called land fever had broken out over the last few months. In addition, sales of land plots in the city’s districts 12, Binh Tan and Binh Chanh have declined recently. The Government decision that has made it more difficult to divide land for sale has also contributed to the decline in land sales, according to Viet. Investors have become cautious in buying big land plots to divide land for sale to secondary buyers. Nguyen Van Trung, a broker in Binh Thanh District, told Viet Nam News: “Land prices have increased over the last decade, especially in recent years.

Double-decker buses fail to arouse HanoiThe capital has given the cold shoulder to Hanoi City Tour Hop on-Hop off’s double-decker buses. The reason behind this languid interest is the too-high ticket price, reported VIR. Hanoi City Tour Hop on-Hop off was launched in Hoan Kiem lake. Photo: hanoi.gov.vnvtc.vn quoted the representative of Hanoi Transport Corporation (Transeco), the developer of Hanoi City Tour Hop on-Hop off, as saying that 300 customers travelled on the double-deckers in the first two days. According to tourism website viator.com, double-decker fares in England fluctuate from $16.38 to $156.99, which is much higher than the price in Vietnam.

Jetstar Pacific has all flight plans submitted onlineVietnam’s low-cost airline Jetstar Pacific has been approved by the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (CAAV) to implement online submission of flight plans based on the 4.0 technology platform at all 16 domestic airports it operates. The approval by CAAV allowing for pilots to submit flight plans online while staying in the cockpit helps reduce much time for flying procedures. Therefore, it is not necessary for pilots to visit the flight procedure room to submit a flight plan. The airline’s project on online submission of flight plan has been deployed on a trial basis since last June, with the support of the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam. Jetstar Pacific operates 128 daily flights with a total 160,000 seats to 16 domestic and six international airports.

Nguyen Thi Chi to compete in Miss Asia WorldThe Performing Arts Department under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has officially granted license to model Nguyen Thi Chi to compete in the Miss Asia World scheduled for June 9-29 in Beirut, Lebanon. Nguyen Thi Chi, 27, born in Vinh Long province, is 1.72m tall and 48kg in weight with body measurement of 86 - 58 – 90. She has been selected to compete at the international beauty pageant thanks to her dynamism and professional performance. Chi will join the fashion show of traditional costumes, talent show, photoshoot and interview. Miss Asia World has been organized since 2016 with the participation of contestants from Asian nations, the Middle East and Europe.

Dengue fever may make a comebackVietNamNet Bridge – Dengue fever may still turn into an epidemic, although the number of cases from the beginning of the year has decreased significantly compared to the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Health (MoH)’s Preventive Medicine Department. A health official kills mosquitoes to prevent an outbreak of dengue fever. — VNA/VNS Photo Duong Chi TuongAs many as 20,522 cases of dengue fever, including four deaths, were reported this year across the country, the department said. The MoH will set up eight teams to inspect the prevention and control of dengue fever in 16 key provinces and cities. Last year, Vietnam witnessed a boom in dengue fever, with 181,054 cases of infection and 30 deaths reported across the country, mostly in Hanoi and HCM City.

High CPI increase raises concerns about inflation in 2018VietNamNet Bridge - The CPI soared by 0.55 percent in May as reported by the General Statistics Office (GSO), a six-year high. The CPI soared by 0.55 percent in MayMeanwhile, the government wants the inflation rate in 2018 to be below 4 percent. Do Thi Ngoc from GSO attributed the sharp increase in CPI in May to the pork price rise and the petrol price increase of VND1,010 per litres after two adjustments. In principle, the world’s oil price increase will have big impact on Vietnam’s CPI. Since Vietnam’s petroleum prices depend on the world’s oil prices, the petroleum price adjustments are unavoidable.

Three workers die in accidents in Quang NinhVietNamNet Bridge – Two builders died while one was injured at a construction site in Bai Chay Ward, Ha Long City Wednesday afternoon when a 600-cubic-metre water tank broke, falling on them. Two fatal work accidents happened in northern Quang Ninh Province on Wednesday. — VNA/VNS PhotoIn the evening of the same day, a miner was buried alive while working in a coal pit for the Duong Huy Coal Company in Cam Pha City. Ha Van Nhan, 33, from northern Bac Ninh Province, was reportedly installing mobile hydraulic loaded shields at the coal pit when a layer of coal at the top of the pit collapsed and buried him. Last September, two miners from the Duong Huy Coal Company died in a similar accident.

The deputies also listened to a report on the revised Law on People’s Police. In the afternoon, the deputies discussed in groups the revised Law on People’s Police. The Government leader noted that there were some misunderstandings about the land lease issue in the bill and clarified that the land lease will only applicable during a certain period, and will be considered every year, not for an endless duration. “We have gathered people’s ideas and presented them to the NA for discussion, ensuring that people’s voice is heard. The NA will decide the land lease period,” he added.

VN singers record cover songsVietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese singers are doing cover versions of popular songs and offering them for free on YouTube. Hits: Lam Truong, a popular singer in the 2000s, will launch a music project called Lam Truong 9PM Live on his YouTube channel today, featuring his all-time favourite songs. “I’m excited for my beloved fans to hear old and new songs, and to share stories about life,” Truong said on a teaser about Lam Truong 9PM Live. Tran Thanh Hien, 34-year-old mother in Dong Nai Province, said: “I’m a big fan of Lam Truong. The show consists of three seasons over the last three years, with a total of 30 music videos introducing popular songs in an acoustic style.