Northern provinces on landslide alertVietNamNet Bridge – The National Centre for Hydro-meteorological Forecasting yesterday warned northern mountainous provinces that there would be a high risk of landslides for the next couple of days. The landslides are forecast to occur after torrential rains hit northern regions since Saturday night. The highest rainfall was measured to be 174mm per hour in Hanoi that night, flooding a number of local streets and making many roads impassable. This marked the heaviest rain to hit Hanoi since early last summer. Vehicles on an inundated section of Hanoi’s Phung Khoang Street on Saturday night.—VNA/VNS PhotoA woman under torrential rain in Hanoi’s Cau Giay District on Saturday.—VNA/VNS PhotoSource: VNS

Health Ministry mulls alcohol sales banThe Ministry of Health has drafted a law on alcohol abuse, in which it proposes creating a ban on the sale of alcohol during certain hours. The Ministry of Health has drafted a law on alcohol abuse, in which it proposes creating a ban on the sale of alcohol during certain hours. In the second scenario, alcohol sales are legal only between 6:00 and 22:00 except on special streets. According to the Viet Nam Beverage Association, the amount of beer consumption in Viet Nam last year reached about four billion litres. “Supermarkets or big shops are all equipped with machines recording sales, through which we can check what time it is when an alcohol sale is made.

Rio Noguchi wins VN F2 tennis eventVietNamNet Bridge – Japanese tennis player Rio Noguchi won the men’s singles category of the Viet Nam F2 tennis tournament held in Hue yesterday. The winners of men’s singles of Viet Nam F2 tennis tournament. — Photo VTFThe 19-year-old player defeated Nam Ji Sung of South Korea 7-6(5), 6-3 after only 40 minutes in the final. Rio showed his talent in this event after beating many strong rivals to reach the final including No 1 seed Ly Hoang Nam of Viet Nam in the second round and defending champion of Viet Nam F1 tennis tournament, Chun Hsin Tseng in the semi-final. Ly Hoang Nam and Nguyen Van Phuong celebrate winning the men’s doubles of Viet Nam F2 tennis tournament.

Vietnam ranks fourth at AFC Women’s Futsal ChampsVietnam lost to Thailand 2-3 in the penalty shootout, following a goalless draw in the official time to rank fourth in the AFC Women’s Futsal Championship 2018 on May 12, which was held at the Hua Mak Gymnasium in Bangkok. Vietnam vs Thailand in the third-placed match of the AFC Women’s Futsal Championship 2018 on May 12. Vietnam reached the AFC event’s top four. We only lost to them in the penalty shootout. We will start a women’s futsal league in July, so hopefully that will help us develop and find more talent.”-VNA

Lac Hong team triumphs at Robocon Vietnam 2018The LH-ATM team from Lac Hong University in the southern province of Dong Nai won the 2018 Vietnam Robot Contest (Robocon Vietnam) after defeating another team from the same university – LH-Galaxy – during the final game in the northern province of Vinh Phuc on May 13. Lac Hong University team triumphs at Robocon Vietnam 2018Besides a cash award of 50 million VND and a trophy, the winning team became the representative of Vietnam to take part in the ABU Asia-Pacific Robot Contest (ABU Robocon), which is slated for August 26 in the northern province of Ninh Binh. The LH-Galaxy came second, while the third prizes were presented to two teams – SKH4 from Hung Yen University of Technology and Education, and VTEC-SUMMER from Vinh Phuc College of Technology. Vietnam has won the ABU Asia-Pacific Robot Contest six times. The championships were claimed by Ho Chi Minh City University of Science and Technology in 2002, 2004 and 2006, while Lac Hong University won in 2014 and 2017, and Hung Yen University of Technology and Education took the title in 2015.-VNA

Three killed, two others injured in HCM City motorbike robberyAt least three men have been killed and two others seriously injured while chasing after a group of motorbike robbers in Ho Chi Minh City. A group of four robbers came to break the lock of Phuong's scooter. When they were about to take the vehicle away, some local men came to stop them. While struggling to seize the robbers, five men were stabbed. "After injuring the four men, the robbers drove away in two motorbikes," the witness said.

Retail industry sees new pressure in digital eraVietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam has 49 million internet users, or half of the total population, according to Sen Do (sendo.vn), an e-commerce trading floor. In 2017, Sendo.vn had more than 40 million users each month with more than 4 million downloads on both Android and iOS. In 2017, Sendo.vn had more than 40 million users each month with more than 4 million downloads on both Android and iOS. If they have only online sales, they will face barriers related to consumer confidence, shipping and payments. Developing omni-channel sales, heightening awareness about the community, and applying technology are the only choice for retailers in the new digital era.

Vietnam lags behind Thailand in use of blockchain in agricultureVietNamNet Bridge - Agriculture is the livelihood of 70 percent of Vietnamese. Agriculture is the livelihood of 70 percent of VietnameseThai pepper is sold at VND150,000 per kilogram in the world market, while Vietnamese pepper is VND90,000. Deputy director of the Vietnam Agriculture Academy Dao The Anh said that Vietnam’s products will find it difficult to access high value chains if they do not use advanced technology. The use of blockchain technology for data management was recently explained at the 2018 Spring Agriculture Forum. The Lina platform is optimized with a hybrid design, allowing the Lina supply chain to ensure real-time traceability of products, with three key strong points: transparency, optimization, and traceability.

Vietnamese regulations trip up US professorVietNamNet Bridge - Truong Nguyen Thanh, a Vietnamese-born US professor, has left Vietnam for the US after being turned down for the post of rector of Hoa Sen University. Prof Truong Nguyen ThanhThanh was a professor at University of Utah before coming to Vietnam to work as vice rector of Hoa Sen University. After one year, Thanh was appointed by the school’s board of management to the post of rector. However, Thanh did not meet the requirements stipulated in the Higher Education Law to be appointed a rector of a university. Thanh was a professor at University of Utah before coming to Vietnam to work as vice rector of Hoa Sen University.

HCM City increases civil servants’ salariesIncreasing civil servants’ salaries was among the notable improvements made by HCM City since agovernment resolution that gives the city more control over its governance was approved by the National Assembly four months ago. Increasing civil servants’ salaries was among the notable improvements made by HCM CityBeginning in early April, the city’s administrative agencies assessed the work of all civil servants in the city and decided to pay them higher wages, depending on each individual’s assessment. The city said it would increase their annual income by around 0.6 times this year, and pledged to increase civil servants’ salaries by 1.8 times by 2020The municipal People Council has also approved the total number of 12,345 civil servants working at administrative agencies in HCM City this year. Together with salary reform, the city authorities approved new parking fees for cars on streets. Tam said better pay would encourage civil servants to work harder and more effectively, while higher parking fees would foster an awareness of the need to keep orderly streets and pavements.-VNA

Over 1,600 triathletes race in Ironman 70.3More than 1,600 athletes from 56 countries, including 620 Vietnamese, took part in the triathlon race Ironman 70.3 Vietnam 2018 in the central city of Da Nang on May 13. Ironman 70.3 Vietnam 2018 attracts more than 1,600 athletes. From a one-day event that was held in 2015, three years later, the Techcombank Ironman 70.3 Vietnam 2018 has been expanded into a multi-day event, with many categories and activities for families to join. Nguyen Le Quoc Anh, CEO of Techcombank, said the Techcombank Ironman 70.3 Vietnam 2018 has contributed to developing sports movement and promoting tourism of Da Nang and Vietnam to the world. Huynh Van Hung, Director of the municipal Department of Culture and Sports, said the municipal People’s Committee has decided to turn Techcombank Ironman 70.3 Vietnam into a quinquennial event of the city.

National festival reflects diversity of Then signing artThe sixth national festival of the art of Then singing and Tinh gourd lute of the Tay, Nung and Thai ethnic groups officially opened in Ha Giang city, the northernmost province of Ha Giang, on May 13. A performance of Then singing with Tinh gourd lute at the festivalAfter the opening ceremony, arts troupes from 14 provinces participating in the festival performed Then singing accompanied by Tinh lute. These performances were deeply imbued with traditional cultural identities of Tay, Nung and Thai ethnics. The festival from May 12 to 14 gathers more than 500 artisans from the 14 provinces nationwide. Each Then and Tinh melody and dance reflect the aspirations of Tay, Nung and Thai people, and they are precious cultural heritage contributing to the diverse culture of Vietnam, she added.

RoK doctors continue free surgery programme for VietnameseDoctors from the Republic of Korea (RoK) will continue the “Change Life” programme, which provides free cosmetic surgery for young Vietnamese people with facial defects, said Dr. Chon Yong-hun, Vice President of the Vietnam-RoK Friendship Association. Vietnamese Ambassador to the RoK Nguyen Vu Tu pose for a photo with participants of the "Change Life" programmeDuring an interview granted to Seoul-based Vietnam News Agency correspondent, he said he and his colleagues have decided to implement the programme to help Vietnamese young people with facial defects to have brighter future. Vietnamese Ambassador to the RoK Nguyen Vu Tu said the charity programme will foster the stronger relationship between Vietnam and the RoK. He also voiced his hope that the programme will be expanded so that more Vietnamese people will receive free surgery in the future. The programme has so far provided surgery for nine Vietnamese youths.-VNA

Domestically made dairy products have upper hand over importsVietNamNet Bridge - Domestic dairy production has been increasing rapidly, while the proportion of imports in total domestic consumption is on the decrease, which is good news for Vietnam’s dairy industry. Domestic dairy production has been increasing rapidlyThe imports have decreased as domestic dairy producers are scaling up their production to better satisfy domestic demand. Domestic dairy producers tend to expand their cow farms to better control the material supply and ease the reliance on material imports. Vinamilk is developing its organic products, while other companies focus on developing alternative dairy products from vegetation. Quang Ngai Sugar has black sesame soya milk and green tea milk, while IDP has corn milk products.

Red Flamboyant Flower Festival kicks off in Hai PhongA gala night was held at the Opera House Square in the northern port city of Hai Phong on May 12 as the first out of more than 50 activities within the Hoa Phuong Do (Red Flamboyant Flower) Festival. Of note, Hai Phong ranked ninth among 63 cities and provinces nationwide in the provincial competitiveness index in 2017, up 19 places as compared with 2015. The gala night themed Hai Phong Vuon Ra Bien Lon (Hai Phong reaching out to the sea) demonstrated the city’s determination to carry forward traditions and utilise its potential to develop and integrate into the world. Over the last seasons, the Flamboyant Flower Festival has become a recognised festival of the port city, symbolising and praising its people and land. Renowned as the city of flamboyant flower, Hai Phong is a peaceful city of wide boulevards dovetailed with organised tree rows.