Bien Hoa Industrial Park to closeThe southern province of Dong Nai has been working with agencies on a project to turn Bien Hoa I Industrial Zone into a commercial and service centre. Dong Nai province’s authorities expect to turn Bien Hoa I Industrial zone into a commercial and service area. The Bien Hoa I Industrial Zone has 80 businesses, 40 of which have a land-lease contract until 2051. According to Sonadezi, the total cost of the project is 15 trillion VND (658 million USD), including 2.4 trillion VND for construction and equipment, 7.5 trillion VND for compensation and clearance, and 1.3 trillion VND for supporting businesses and labourers. Millions of people in Bien Hoa city and neighbouring southern provinces are affected by the polluted water from the Dong Nai River.

Various activities mark 128th birthday of President Ho Chi MinhVarious activities were held nationwide to mark the 128th birth anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh who devoted his whole life for Vietnam’s struggle for national liberation and national reunification. An art performance at the Sen Village Festival 2017In the late leader’s hometown at Sen village, Kim Lien commune, Nam Dan district of the central province of Nghe An, the “Le hoi Lang Sen” (Sen Village Festival) took place from May 16-19 to express the local people’s love and respect for the leader. Meanwhile at the Nha Rong port in Ho Chi Minh City, where Ho Chi Minh boarded a ship to begin his journey to seek a way to savage the country in 1911, an exhibition was held, showcasing nearly 200 photos and documents highlighting President Ho Chi Minh’s role in patriotic emulation movements. President Ho Chi Minh, known as Nguyen Tat Thanh then, spent about one year teaching at Duc Thanh school from 1910 to early 1911. President Ho Chi Minh (1890-1969), was the founder of the Communist Party of Vietnam.

Mexico’s Honorary Consul makes debut in Ho Chi Minh CityThe Embassy of Mexico in Vietnam held a ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City on May 18 to introduce the Honorary Consul of Mexico to HCM City, Vu Minh Anh, and inaugurate the Honorary Consul’s office in the city. Honorary Consul of Mexico to HCM City Vu Minh AnhMexican Ambassador to Vietnam Sara Valdes Bolano emphasised that the Honorary Consul’s Office is important in boosting the bilateral relationship between Mexico and Vietnam, including the ties in trade, investment, culture and tourism. She underlined the potential for cooperation between the two countries, and urged the Honorary Consul to work as a bridge connecting localities of Mexico and Ho Chi Minh City, while supporting Mexican citizens in the Vietnamese city in consular matters. Vu Minh Anh, a Vietnamese German entrepreneur, said the top priority during his term is to promote trade links and cultural-tourism exchanges between Mexican localities and Vietnam in general and Ho Chi Minh City in particular. According to the city’s Department of External Affairs, there are around 120 Mexico citizens residing in Vietnam, half of them in Ho Chi Minh City.

National Assembly to convene 5th session on May 21The 14th-tenure National Assembly’s fifth session will open in Hanoi on May 21, with eight draft laws and one draft resolution expected to be passed during the event which will last for 20 working days. Phuc said that the fifth session takes place in the middle of 2018 – an important year of the 2016-2021 tenure. Therefore, the session’s working agenda is of significance, contributing to continued successful implementation of the Party, National Assembly and Government’s resolutions, as well as rapid and sustainable socio-economic development. According to the NA General Secretary, the legislative body will continue to reform the question-&-answer activity at the upcoming session in the direction of increasing dialogue and face-to-face debate. A new feature of the upcoming session is that the NA will issue a general resolution covering all issues discussed and decided at the session, he added.-VNA

Info database needs public supportThe Digital Vietnamese knowledge system, an ambitious Government funded open database similar to Wikipedia, now boasts more than 10,000 articles, alongside 3.5 million question and answers following its launch in January. Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam chairs the meeting by the Steering Committee for the Vietnamese digital knowledge system on May 17 in Hanoi. Of the articles, 3,177 have been published in a ’tree of knowledge’ section, which gathers information on a range of subjects and makes it available for public use. The steering committee of the database said at a recent meeting that 15 ministries and State agencies have compiled their ‘list’ of data to be made available on the system’s site (itrithuc.vn). Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, chairman of the steering committee, said that the success of the project can only be possible with the collective effort of the whole of society.

Vietnamese logistics firms remain small, overpowered by foreign servicesVietNamNet Bridge - A Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI) report has found that most domestic logistics firms are small or very small with limited financial capability. Vietnamese logistics firms are small and very smallNinety percent of businesses have registered capital of less than VND10 billion and only 1 percent of businesses have more than VND100 billion. Foreign logistics firms in Vietnam have big clients as they are parts of multi-national groups which sign contracts with large shipping lines, and have modern management technology. Vietnamese firms only undertake simple jobs such as inland transport, customs agents and storehouse services. Vietnam has a Commercial Law and legal documents related to Vietnam’s logistics development.

Vietnam’s ornamental fish swimming in foreign-made tanksVietNamNet Bridge - According to the HCMC Fisheries Sub-department, 16.25 million ornamental fish were exported in the first 10 months of 2017, an increase of 14.5 percent compared with the same period last year. Ornamental fish produced in HCMC are exported to 52 markets, including the European market which consumes 60 percent. HCMC plans to export 20 million ornamental fish and earn $20-25 million in export turnover in 2017 before it gains turnover of $40-50 million by 2020. There are about 300 fish production facilities in the city which breed 17 species of popular fish and can produce 135 million fish a year. RELATED NEWSHCM City to export 40m ornamental fishHCM City casts a bigger net for ornamental fish marketMai Chi

Mini bonsais worth thousands of US dollarsWith his exotic refinements and artistic ability, bonsai artisan Lam Ngoc Vinh in Hoc Mon District, HCMC has created numerous wonderful mini bonsais. Mini bonsai trees are less than 15 centimeters tall. It takes four and a half to seven years for a mini bonsai to become an artwork. An exotic bonsai shall be selected from thousands of trees. A mini bonsai that Vinh imported from Japan.

Korean artists resumes mural project in fishing communeVietNamNet Bridge – Ten Korean artists have resumed painting a mural in the coastal Tam Thanh Commune in Tam Ky City of Quang Nam Province. Selfie stop: A tourist takes photo next to a base of a wall painting in Tam Thanh commune. Nearly 100 old houses were decorated with colourful murals by Korean artists. Wall art: A tourist selfie with a fishing market painting in Tam Thanh Commune. Golden sands: Beach painting on an old wall of a house in fishing Tam Thanh Commune in Tam Ky City.

President hosts UAE, Mozambican, RoK AmbassadorsPresident Tran Dai Quang hosted separate receptions for Ambassadors of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Mozambique and the Republic of Korea (RoK) after receiving their letter of credentials on May 17. President Tran Dai Quang (R) receives UAE Ambassador Obaid Al DhaheriWelcoming UAE Ambassador Obaid Al Dhaheri, President Quang expressed his satisfaction with positive development in bilateral relations. The UAE is currently one of the leading trade, investment and labour partners of Vietnam in the Middle East. President Tran Dai Quang (R) hosts Mozambican Ambassador Leonardo Pene (Source: VNA)Receiving Mozambican Ambassador Leonardo Pene, President Quang wished him a successful working tenure to contribute to enhancing friendship and multi-faceted cooperation between Vietnam and Mozambique. RoK Ambassador Kim Do-hyun (R) presents credential letter to President Tran Dai QuangMeanwhile, at his reception for RoK Ambassador Kim Do-hyun, President Tran Dai Quang said he is delighted at strong development in the bilateral relations.

Making fat profits, banks pay big dividendsVietNamNet Bridge - Most commercial banks have announced plans to pay big dividends, but there are some banks which have not paid dividends over the last 10 years. Smaller banks had profits lower than VND1 trillion in Q1, but witnessed growth rates of several times. Most commercial banks have announced plans to pay big dividends, but there are some banks which have not paid dividends over the last 10 years. While joint stock banks offer big dividends, large state-owned banks only offer modest one-digit dividends. US$1=VND22,000RELATED NEWSTop-tier banks overthrown, junior banks rise upCommercial banks report high profits in 2017Mai Thanh

Tribute paid to President Ho Chi Minh on birth anniversaryA delegation of the Party, State, National Assembly, Government and Vietnam Fatherland Front paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum in Hanoi on the occasion of his 128th birthday. The same day, a delegation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also laid a wreath at President Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum. A delegation of the Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee and Fatherland Front of Hanoi paid respect to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum. A delegation of the Ministry of Public Security paid floral tribute to President Ho Chi Minh. A delegation of the Ministry of National Defence paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh.

Mexican defence chief receives new Vietnamese AmbassadorMexican Secretary of National Defence General Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda has received the new Vietnamese Ambassador to Mexico Nguyen Hoai Duong. Mexican Secretary of National Defence General Salvador Cienfuegos Zepeda (L) receives Vietnamese Ambassador to Mexico Nguyen Hoai DuongExpressing admiration for Vietnam’s heroic history as well as the country’s current reform course, he said that Vietnam and Mexico share many similarities as both nations experienced struggles for independence and have strong love for peace and justice. On the occasion, the Mexican defence chief also asked Ambassador Duong to send his invitation to visit Mexico to Vietnamese Defence Minister Ngo Xuan Lich. General Zepeda vowed to support the Vietnamese Embassy in reinforcing the partnership between the two countries as well as defence ministries. Earlier on May 7, Ambassador Duong presented his credentials to Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto.-VNA

TV series on Sai Gon in 1950s is a big hitVietNamNet Bridge – Every night on Viet Nam Television’s VTV1 channel, thousands of viewers are watching a new show about Sai Gon’s lifestyle in the 1950s. Fifties life: A scene in My Nhan Sai Thanh (Beauties of Sai Gon), a 49-part series on the lives of Sai Gon women, including the intelligentsia and farmers, in the 1950s. — Photo courtesy of the producerThe 49-part series, My Nhan Sai Thanh (Beauties of Sai Gon), portrays the lives of Sai Gon women, including the intelligentsia and farmers. "I hope audiences can see her beautiful mind and the brave character of southern women," she said. My Nhan Sai Thanh is showing at 8.45pm on VTV1 from Monday to Wednesday.

US hospital ship docks in Nha Trang, begins humanitarian programmeThe US Navy’s hospital ship USNS Mercy docked in Nha Trang port, the central province of Khanh Hoa on May 17, beginning its Pacific Partnership Programme 2018 (PP18) from May 17 – June 2. US Navy’s hospital ship USNS MercyApart from the US and Japan, PP18 includes the UK, Canada, France, Australia, Sri Lanka, Chile, Peru and several local, regional and international organisations. It aims to strengthen national capacities and medical preparedness for disaster response. Commissioned in 1986, the USNS Mercy is called “super hospital” of the US Navy. It is also the second time the programme has come to Nha Trang, following the first in 2008 with USNS Mercy taking part.