Vietnam treasures defence ties with Myanmar: Deputy MinisterVietnam attaches importance to defence ties with Myanmar , said Deputy Defence Minister Sen. Lieut. Deputy Defence Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh (R) and Colonel Aung Kyaw OoVinh assured the guests that the Vietnamese Defence Ministry will always create favourable conditions for Aung Zeya to fulfill his assigned tasks. He spoke highly of Aung Kyaw Oo’s contributions to boosting Vietnam – Myanmar defence ties during his tenure. Aung Kyaw Oo, for his part, thanked the Vietnamese Defence Ministry for supporting him during his tenure. Aung Zeya expressed his wish to contribute to Vietnam – Myanmar ties.-VNA

Vietnam’s foreign reserves reach $63 billionThe State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) has continuously bought in hard currencies in the past few months, raising the country’s foreign reserves to a record high of 63 billion USD. SBV has bought in 32 billion USD worth of hard currencies in the past more than two years. Experts attributed the stability to reasons such as SBV’s flexible central rate management mechanism, which ensured that the domestic foreign exchange market was less affected by global factors. The rise in the country’s foreign reserves was reported in the context of the foreign exchange rate in the domestic market being relatively stable. According to the central bank, liquidity of the domestic foreign exchange market was good and met the demands of local organisations and individuals.-VNA

Vietnam exporters must self-verify origin from 2019Viet Nam’s exporters must self-verify the origin of their products that they export to the European Union (EU) from 2019 to be qualified for Generalised System of Preferences (GSP). With the aim of integrating further into the global economy, Viet Nam has joined many free trade agreements (FTAs) that have the self-certification mechanism of origin. Self-certification of origin is a mandatory requirement of the EU for some countries, including Viet Nam. Hai said the ministry would assist enterprises by organising seminars that would provide information on the self-certification mechanism of origin and the training courses for enterprises in self-certifying the origin of goods. At present, the ministry has concentrated on developing a circular guiding enterprises to self-certify the origin of goods exported to the EU.

Vietnam wins bid to supply rice to PhilippinesVietnam has won a bid to supply 130,000 tonnes of rice to the Philippines after the National Food Authority (NFA)’s auction on importing 250,000 tonnes. According to NFA, Vietnam will supply 50,000 tonnes of 15 percent broken rice to the Philippines at 526.5 USD per tonne and 80,000 tonnes of 25 percent broken rice at 517.5 USD per tonne. The deadline for the supply of rice from Vietnam and Thailand is May 16 for 25 percent broken rice and June 30 for 15 percent broken rice. This result was possible in the beginning of the year when Vietnam won contracts to export rice to large markets. The first auction was in January, where Vietnam won a bid to supply 141,000 tonnes.

Brands from past make comebackMany well-known consumer brands of the past are making a comeback in Viet Nam, indicating a new-found confidence on the part of local companies to take on multinational rivals. The company is setting up a production line and distribution channel for the relaunch after a gap of one and a half years. The revival has caused some consternation because the company is in real estate and not in the consumer goods sector. Da Lan toothpaste is another name from the past that is enjoying a renaissance. The product, along with other consumer goods made by International Cosmetics Company (ICC), has been sold mainly in rural areas.

Experts find solutions for high-tech agricultureVietNamNet Bridge – Localities need to set up plans for hi-tech agricultural areas in accordance with regional growing and climate conditions. In order to reduce vulnerability to climate extremes and disasters, high-tech agricultural production is essential. Setting up high-tech agricultural areasTran Van Khoi, acting director of the National Centre for Agricultural Extension, said that localities needed to develop high-tech agricultural areas suitable for each province and region. Duong Hoa Xo, deputy director of the HCM City Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, emphasised that it was important to plan suitable areas for high-tech agriculture. Xo said that capital was the most difficult problem for most people who want to develop high-tech agriculture.

LINE app to return to Vietnam? VietNamNet Bridge - LINE expects to make a comeback to Vietnam through its investment in webtretho.com. LINE left Vietnam to focus on its four key markets in Asia – Japan, Thailand, Taiwan and Indonesia. It has 168 million users a month in the four markets which bring $1.5 billion in revenue. According to The Next Web, by July 2017, Facebook had had 57 million users in Vietnam.

Hanoi discovers many unlicensed nurseriesVietNamNet Bridge - The Hanoi People’s Council’s supervisory board has discovered a high number of unlicensed nursery classes and VND12,000-15,000 meals. Le Thu Hang, an inspector, said though Vietnam has many legal documents regulating the establishment and operation of nursery classes, unlicensed and substandard classes still exist. In Kim Chung commune in Dong Anh district, where there is an industrial zone, many private nursery classes have been set up to satisfy high demand. “Seventy nursery classes were unlicensed, but I think the real number of unlicensed classes is much higher,” she said. RELATED NEWSHCM City to strengthen management at private nurseriesMigrant workers mistrust quality of care at private nursery classesMai Thanh

South’s largest wild bird market known for its inhumane slaughtering methodsVietNamNet Bridge - The road section on Highway No 62 that runs through Thanh Hoa Town in Thanh Hoa district in Long An Province has become noted for its wild animal markets. Bao Ve Rung Va Moi Truong reporters recently reached the Thanh Hoa wild bird market late in the afternoon and were ‘received warmly’ by D.N, the owner of a restaurant. The road section on Highway No 62 that runs through Thanh Hoa Town in Thanh Hoa district in Long An Province has become noted for its wild animal markets. In the past, Thanh Hoa wild bird market was a small farm produce market which sold goods to drivers or travelers. Now, it is the largest bird market in the south.

Vietnam’s art market grows, needs transparencyAfter one year of establishment, auction houses Chon’s in Hanoi and Ly Thi in Ho Chi Minh City have really been helpful for Vietnam’s art market to go through “pubescent” and grow up. Vietnam’s art market grows, needs transparencyWithin past 20 years, international art experts assessed that Vietnamese art was very promising, however, it must grow up one day. Leading expert on Vietnamese paintings Wang Zineng said that Vietnamese art has been well-known in the globe since 2014. In his essay on the Vietnam’s art market in middle of 2017, art researcher Nguyen Dinh Thanh wrote “In 2013, for the very first time the globe’s art market collected EUR 1 billion and EUR1.5 billion in 2014 up tenfold during ten years. Therefore, Mr. Thanh proposed the Vietnamese government to issue regulations on transparency of the domestic art market, encouragement and protection of artists, anti- tax evasion…SGGP

Cao Bang: Nang Hai festival named national intangible heritageThe ethnic Nang Hai festival in the northern province of Cao Bang has been recognised as a national intangible cultural heritage. The festival features a photo exhibition on the festival, a food festival, folk games, and a music gala. Nang Hai is a traditional festival of the Tay ethnic minority, which reflects their praying for favourable weather, bumper harvests, and happy life. The Nang Hai festival was an opportunity for the community to sing as way of inviting their goddesses to earth, helping them cultivate a bumper crop. Its recognition as a national intangible cultural heritage was an acknowledgement of local efforts in preserving and promoting the traditional cultural value.-VNA

Unscheduled inspection of fire safety regulations conducted in HCM CityAn inspection team of officials from the construction and public security ministries, and the HCM City People’s Committee on May 7 examined fire safety measures in apartment and high-rise buildings in the city. At the Giai Viet Apartment Building on Ta Quang Buu street in District 8, the team discovered infrastructure limitations affecting firefighting. The team will continue to conduct unscheduled inspections on buildings in the city. HCM City is one of seven localities in the country holding unscheduled inspections of fire-safety regulations in buildings. The inspections have been carried out in the wake of a serious of fires occurring at apartment buildings recently in HCM City and other cities.

Referee denies Hoang Anh Gia Lai a winVietNamNet Bridge – Hoang Anh Gia Lai was denied a V. League win against Sanna Khanh Hoa after a referee awarded a controversial penalty to the latter in the dying moments yesterday. Striker Nguyen Van Toan of Hoang Anh Gia Lai (left) vies for a ball against Sanna Khanh Hoa’s players during their V.League match on Sunday. Hoang Anh Gia Lai aggressively rejected Kien’s decision but he did not change his mind. Hoang Anh Gia Lai are at ninth place. Captain Nguyen Van Quyet levelled nearly 20 minutes after the interval.

Nestle pays Starbucks $7.1bn to sell its coffeeNestle has announced that it will pay Starbucks $7.1bn (£5.2bn) to sell the company's coffee into homes. The Nescafe and Nespresso owner will own the rights to market Starbucks' coffee, which it says generates $2bn in annual sales. Nestle chief executive Mark Schneider described it as a "significant step". Mr Schneider, who in 2016 became the first outsider to run Nestle in almost 100 years, is attempting to boost the company's profit through expansion. Last year, Nestle paid an estimated $425m for a 68% stake in Blue Bottle Coffee, a California-based company that sells coffee to customers online and has a number of shops in the US and Japan.

Kilauea: Hawaii volcano destroys dozens of homesThe eruption of the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii has destroyed 26 homes and is threatening hundreds more, with new fissures opening overnight on Sunday. Authorities say the fire has destroyed 26 homes on the island and is threatening hundreds more -- Photo: EPANearly 2,000 people have so far been evacuated. New fissures and vents opened overnight in the Leilani Estates area, where lava leapt up to 230ft (70m) into the air. Kilauea is one of the world's most active volcanoes and has been in constant eruption for 35 years. Fissures and vents in the Leilani Estates area have spewed lava around homes -- Photo: EPASource: BBC