Vietnam to dispatch more officers to UN peace-keeping missionsVietnam will send more officers, especially females, to participate in the UN peacekeeping operations, said Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. In 2019 or 2020, Vietnam will dispatch a peacekeeping military engineer unit to a suitable mission, the deputy minister added. Applauding the EU’s contributions to peacekeeping, Vinh affirmed that Vietnam will make more contributions to UN peacekeeping operations within its capacity and foreign polices. In peacekeeping, the two sides should intensify the sharing of professional knowledge and experience through training, workshop organisation and exchange of experts to help Vietnam improve capacity and step up affiliation between the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department and peacekeeping training centres of the UN.

Vinhomes makes historic stock market debutVinhomes, the real estate arm of Vingroup JSC, listed 2.68 billion shares on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange on May 16 under the ticker VHM. Vinhomes is now the second largest listed company in the stock market, only behind its parent firm VingroupVinhomes JSC is now the largest real estate developer in the Vietnamese stock market with a gigantic market capitalisation of $13.5 billion. Upon Vinhomes’ listing, the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange (HOSE) saw its total market capitalisation go up by 10 per cent. Vinhomes currently enjoys a 15 per cent market share in the Vietnamese residential apartment sector and 48 per cent in the premium segment. “Companies with strong fundamentals like Vinhomes or Techcombank are likely to lure in capital for the stock market.

SAEZs to spur Vietnam’s economic developmentThe draft Law on Special Administrative-Economic Zones (SAEZs), scheduled for adoption in early next month, reflects Vietnam’s sharp change in mindset in investment attraction, with incentives expected to help lure in investment and boost the country's economic development. “Investors highly appreciate this law as it mirrors Vietnam’s radical change in the mindset of investment attraction,” Phuc said. Under the draft law, Vietnam will allow heads of the zones to hold 126 types of competences in decision making for the development of all sectors in the zones. The sectors include finance, budget, public investment, investment, business, planning, construction, urban, housing and property, natural resources, environment, transport, and industry. Meanwhile, Phu Quoc is concentrated on resort-based tourism, eco-tourism, international exhibitions, commercial and shopping services, asset management services, high-quality healthcare and educational services, and bio-technology.

Vietnam, Australia step up ICT training cooperationThe Australian government is willing to cooperate and share experience with Vietnam in seeking effective measures to adapt to the fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0), said an Australian official. At present, Vietnam has 250 universities and colleges, plus 164 vocational training schools providing ICT training, with about 86,000 students. However, the ICT human resources training quality needs to be improved quickly amid the fourth Industrial Revolution. He expressed his wish that participating experts would clarify great challenges Vietnam is facing in ICT human resources development amidst the impacts of Industry 4.0. At the seminar, participants discussed the impacts of Industry 4.0 on ICT human resources development in Vietnam, ICT training demands, priorities and challenges of Vietnam, and innovative solutions to human resources quality improvement in the digital era in Vietnam.-VNA

Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese artists give silent talk through artImposing landscapes, daily life stories and internal sensations are themes of a joint exhibition between Vietnamese, Japanese and Thai artists. Sewing the Sunset, a lacquer by Cong Kim HoaThe exhibition, entitled Silent Talk, opened on May 15 at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, featuring paintings and sculptures of Wattanachot Tungateja, Mukai Katsumi and Cong Kim Hoa. Coming from three different cultures, the three artists have their own materials and methods of expression. The exhibition will run until May 22 at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, 66 Nguyen Thai Hoc street, Hanoi. A painting in Eart and Sky series by Wattanachot TungatejaA painting in Eart and Sky series by Wattanachot TungatejaAn artwork by Mukai Katsumi (Japan)Thai artist Wattanachot TungatejaVNA

India flyover collapse kills at least 18 in VaranasiAt least 18 people have been killed and dozens trapped in the Indian city of Varanasi after a flyover collapsed, crushing vehicles beneath it. The flyover was still being built when portions of its cement structure fell on the road being used under it. Officials from the National Disaster Response Force said 18 bodies had been recovered so far. India's NDTV also reported that many of those trapped are believed to be construction workers who had been building the flyover. The cause of the collapse is not yet known, and an inquiry has been ordered, NDTV added.

Bac Ha tourism culture week slated for JuneA tourism culture week is scheduled to take place in Bac Ha district in the northwestern province of Lao Cai from June 1-9, under the theme “Colours of the White Highland”. Horse race is always a highlight of Bac Ha tourism culture weekVisitors will have an opportunity to visit the mountainous area Bac Ha, which is dubbed as the “white plateau”, where Tam Hoa plums grow. Additionally, a cycling tournament from Bac Ha (Lao Cai) to Xin Man (Ha Giang) is slated for June 1-3 and a street festival will take place at 8:45 pm on June 2 in Bac Ha town. Chairman of the People’s Committee of Bac Ha district Nguyen Quoc Huy said the week aims to introduce and promote tourism products, handicrafts, culinary culture and other products of the highland ethnic groups in Bac Ha district. With cool weather year-round, Bac Ha has amazing sightseeing such as mighty mountains, beautiful caves and terraced fields.

Symposium talks information technology amid Industry 4.0Visitors to the IT Techmart 2018 in HanoiA symposium on information technology (IT) amid the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) took place in Hanoi on May 16, looking into features, opportunities and challenges of Industry 4.0 and development orientations for the IT sector in Vietnam. According to experts and economists, Industry 4.0 is driven by the strong development of digital technology, in which IT plays a critically important role. Technologies in Industry 4.0 are inevitable technological trend to which Vietnam must adapt to keep up with developed countries around the world, they noted. Advanced technologies and solutions in Vietnam and other countries were introduced to update participants about the features, opportunities and challenges of Industry 4.0. The symposium, part of the IT Techmart 2018, was organised by the National Agency for Science and Technology Information under the Ministry of Science and Technology.

Vietnamese ‘golden boys’ at Asian Physics Olympiad share three traitsVietNamNet Bridge - All of the high school students who won gold medals at this year’s Asian Physics Olympiad (APO) have parents who work as teachers, prefer playing sports and usually do housework. Tran Duc Huy and his gold APO medalAsked why he studies physics, Huy said it is an interesting science which explains phenomena in nature. Physics has many applications in modern life and it serves as the platform for new technologies in the 21st century. He passed the entrance exams to physics major classes of two prestigious schools – the Lam Son High School for the Gifted in Thanh Hoa province and the Hanoi High School for the Gifted under the Hanoi University of Natural Sciences. RELATED NEWSVietnam bags four golds at 19th Asian Physics OlympiadSanta Claus-themed letter wins national UPU contestNguyen Thao

Lack of transparency in research discourages scientistsVietNamNet Bridge - Even in poor conditions, young scientists in Vietnam are still able to produce internationally recognized research. However, they are discouraged by the lack of transparency in the scientific research environment. However, they are discouraged by the lack of transparency in the scientific research environment. However, ‘playing dirty’ and ‘stealing scientific research achievements’ continue in Vietnam’s research environment. Most young scientists who return to Vietnam from overseas study are concerned about the lack of machines and equipment.

Local health station struggles burden nat’l systemVietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam’s grassroots healthcare system is failing to win public trust, resulting in overcrowding at provincial-level hospitals and hampering efforts to ensure universal health coverage in the country. UHC means ensuring that all people can access essential quality health services without facing financial hardship. Linkages and cooperation between social health insurance and commercial health insurance should be strengthened. Synchronous measures are needed to control insurance abuse and fraud and to ensure the health insurance fund is balanced. Momoe Takeuchi, team leader of WHO’s Health System Development group, said that the health insurance allocation to primary health care providers should be increased to 30 per cent of total health insurance funds over the current 4 per cent.

Local authorities have become ‘reluctant’ to license textile and dyeing projects because of the concern about pollution. While they compete fiercely with each other to attract investment projects to their localities, they tend to ignore textile and dyeing projects. Local authorities have become ‘reluctant’ to license textile and dyeing projects because of the concern about pollution. While they compete fiercely with each other to attract investment projects to their localities, they tend to ignore textile and dyeing projects. The Vietnam Textile & Apparel Association (Vitas) is concerned as more localities are not licensing textile and dyeing projects.

Established singer Tan Minh, director of the Thang Long Theatre talks about his plans on how to conduct the theatre in the future. Established singer Tan Minh, director of the Thang Long Theatre talks about his plans on how to run the theatre in the future. According to the strategy to develop culture industry in the 2020-2030 period, theatres in Hanoi have to reach a turnover of US$5 million per year. But salaries will be changed in the future depending on the theatre’s turnover. Financial autonomy will challenge all theatres in Hanoi, not just this one, but I know that many theatres have succeeded in carrying out financial autonomy.

Facebook privacy: MEPs to press ZuckerbergFacebook has confirmed its chief executive will meet leading members of the European Parliament to discuss privacy concerns in Brussels. Paris tripThe French president is also set to meet Mr Zuckerberg in Paris on 23 May. Mr Zuckerberg will not, however, be visiting the UK. A spokeswoman for Facebook was unable to say whom else Mr Zuckerberg would meet or where he would travel while in Europe. "I will not attend the meeting with Mr Zuckerberg if it's held behind closed doors," tweeted Guy Verhofstadt.

Top seed Ly Hoang Nam defeated in F3’s first roundVietNamNet Bridge – No 1 seed Ly Hoang Nam suffered another shock loss at the Futures tennis tournament on home turf after being eliminated from the first round of the F3 event in Hue yesterday. Ly Hoang Nam loses in the first round of Vietnam FE Futures in Hue. — Photo VTFThe Vietnamese player was defeated 1-6, 4-6 by Son Ji-hoon of South Korea, a player that Nam has beaten previously. He will play the second round against No 2 Karunuday Singh of India today. They will meet Kittirat Kerdlaphee and Palaphoom Kovapitukted of Thailand in the second round.