Education ministry calls for safety in schoolsVietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) has sent a document to leaders of provinces and cities requesting them to secure order and security in schools. The ministry called for strengthening of order in schools and implementation of a code of conduct in all educational institutions. It said close coordination among schools, students’ families and local governments was essential in building a safe, healthy and friendly learning environment. Feedback on the issue can be submitted to the ministry by post, phone (0888.598.666) or email (tiepnhanthongtin@moet.gov.vn). The school has 60 teachers and school staff for 1,500 students.

Robotics, high-tech treatment improves medical care in VNVietNamNet Bridge – High-tech treatments have become an efficient coworker for doctors in diagnosis and treatment in Vietnam, Tran Vinh Hung, the director of Binh Dan Hospital, said at a conference held in HCM City on Saturday. Binh Dan Hospital’s annual scientific conference highlighted the latest high-tech techniques in surgery and medical treatment. “Applying advanced techniques to improve diagnosis and treatment should be done now and in the future,” Hung said. Hung said that scientific and technological progress had helped doctors and experts in the health sector exchange the latest medical knowledge with local and overseas medical staff. As many as 106 presentations were given at the conference, including topics related to urological problems, men’s diseases, emergency aid, cancer, and the latest techniques in imaging diagnosis, anaesthetics and recovery.

No Vietnamese victim reported in car crash in GermanyNo Vietnamese citizen was confirmed among the victims in the car crash in Münster city in the German west state of Nordrhein-Westfalen as of 22:00 on April 7 (local time), according to the Embassy of Vietnam in Germany. The embassy said it has been working closely with German authorities and the oversea Vietnamese community in Germany on the incident if any overseas Vietnamese person involved. According to State Minister of Internal Affairs Herbert Reul, the mini-bus driver is believed to be a German national, 49, who was not an extremist and had mental issue. Security has been tightened in Münster and other cities. The German Government has sent condolences to the families of the victims in the incident.-VNA

Moody’s give positive ratings to three commercial banksMoody’s Investors Service has upgraded the long-term local-currency bank deposits ratings and local- and foreign-currency issuer ratings of three banks of Vietnam from B2 to B1. Moody’s Investors Service upgrad​es the long-term local-currency bank deposits ratings and local- and foreign-currency issuer ratings of three commercial banks, including Techcombank. The banks include Asia Commercial Joint Stock Bank (ACB), Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MBBank) and Vietnam Technological and Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Techcombank). Moody’s also raised the baseline credit assessment (BCA) for these three banks from b2 to b1. At the same time, Moody's has affirmed the long-term local- and foreign-currency deposit and issuer ratings of Vietnam Prosperity Joint Stock Commercial Bank (VPBank) at B2, and upgraded the bank's BCA to b2 from b3.

Vietnam has over 5,400 craft villagesVietnam is home to 5,407 operating craft villages nationwide, according to the Vietnam Craft Village Association. Vietnam is home to 5,407 operating craft villages nationwide, according to the Vietnam Craft Village AssociationThe information was revealed at a seminar on applied art and design of craft products recently held by the association and the University of Industrial Fine Art. Of the figure, there are 1,748 villages recognised by the Government’s criteria, generating jobs for 10 million labourers and raking in about 1.7 billion USD. However, many of handicrafts have simple designs, so they have lower competitiveness in the international markets. At the event, participants proposed linking traditional craft villages with art schools, as the schools could provide on-site human resource training and new designs for the villages.-VNA

Sugarcane farmers in Mekong Delta suffer losses due to low pricesMany farmers in the Mekong Delta have suffered losses in the 2017-2018 sugarcane crop because of low prices. In Cu Lao Dung district, sugarcane on many fields has become over-mature but their owners cannot find buyers. However, in recent years farmers have been hit by low prices and lack of demand. Local processors blamed the low demand on the low prices of sugar. With the low sugarcane prices and demand, many farmers in the Mekong Delta region have begun to switch to other crops.

Uber sells stake to Grab after launching ‘e-hailing culture’ in VietnamVietNamNet Bridge - Competing with traditional taxis and avoiding tax, Uber gained ill fame during its operation in Vietnam. However, it helped energized the taxi market and create an ‘e-hailing’ culture. Uber launched e-hailing culture in VietnamIn June 2014 in HCM City, Uber joined the market. Its taxi fee was around half of traditional taxi firms. To compete with Uber and Grab, traditional taxi firms also began providing hi-tech services.

Vietnam LED market should focus on low-end segment: scientistsVietNamNet Bridge - The domestic LED (light-emitting diodes) market has been developing rapidly but chaotically in recent years. The LED market has been developing rapidlyNguyen Phan Kien from the Hanoi University of Science & Technology said that until 2014-2015, LED development in Vietnam had gone slowly. LED lamps are now made by Vietnamese companies Rang Dong Rang Dong Light Source & Vacuum Flask JSC and Dien Quang Lamp. However, Bac said that the LED market is now in chaos with uncontrolled product quality, origin and price. LED lamps are now made by Vietnamese companies Rang Dong Rang Dong Light Source & Vacuum Flask JSC and Dien Quang Lamp.

Vietnam loses to Japan at Asian CupVietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam’s national women’s football team lost to reigning champions Japan 0-4 in the opening match of Group B of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Jordan 2018 on Saturday. Vietnam vs Japan in the opening match of Group B of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Jordan 2018 on Saturday. Vietnam lost to Japan 0-4. Japan continued to threaten, but Vietnam managed to stem the tide, somewhat, and survived until half-time without falling further behind. Two minutes later, Vietnam had a chance to have the opener, but midfielder Nguyen Thi Tuyet Dung didn’t beat goalkeeper Ayaka Yamashita.

Balancing conservation, economic development in Hoi AnVietNamNet Bridge - Rapid tourism development has put pressure on local infrastructure and environment in the UNESCO-protected town of Hoi An. Tong Quoc Hung, deputy head of Hoi An Culture and Information Sub-department, said if the ancient town loses its soul, it would no longer be a heritage site. Now, residents stay up late at night to serve tourists and get up late the next morning. The Hoi An ancient and peaceful town is home to many temples, pagodas and the ancient homes that bear its very unique mark. RELATED NEWSAPEC finance and bank deputies meet in Hoi AnRain, waves and rising seas erode Hoi An beachesKim Chi

Excess loans to be permitted beginning May 1Credit institutions and foreign banks will be allowed to grant loans to some prioritised borrowers in excess of lending limits regulated by law beginning next month. Credit institutions and foreign banks will be allowed to grant loans to some prioritised borrowers in excess of lending limits regulated by law beginning next month. Credit institutions are requested to make excess loans in conformity with the law, in which the loans must not exceed four times the borrowers’ equity capital. According to the National Financial Supervisory Commission, outstanding loans in the banking system, as of the end of March, were estimated to have risen by 3.5 per cent against December last year, of which loans in Vietnamese dong increased by 3.3 per cent and accounted for 91.9 per cent of total outstanding loans. The rate applied for medium- and long-term loans was 9.3 per cent to 11 per cent.

Students’ award-winning ideas, creativity lauded by scientistsVietNamNet Bridge - Scientists have been surprised by students’ creativity and practical ideas, including a non-Braille book reader for the visually impaired and a smart garbage can. Scientists have been surprised by students’ creativity and practical ideasThe device includes a small camera mounted on a 3D box specifically designed to be wearable on the hand. Smart garbage canTran Gia Huy, a student in Da Nang, showed his smart garbage can at an event for high school students. The smart garbage can automatically move to dumping grounds after it becomes full. RELATED NEWSVN student wins US invention prizeHigh school students win top prizes at tech creativity competitionsMai Thanh

Saigon Heat lose to Alab PilipinasVietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam’s Saigon Heat lost to San Miguel Alab Pilipinas 85-96 in the play-off round of the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) at the CIS Arena in HCM City on Saturday. Saigon Heat vs San Miguel Alab Pilipinas in the play-off round of the ABL at the CIS Arena in HCM City on Saturday. There was little to separate the two teams in the first quarter, with the visitors just edging it 27-28. In the next phase, the Heat fought back strongly with many three-point shots but Alab Pilipinas still finished the half four points ahead with the score at 42-46.. The Heat made every effort through Esho, captain Akeem Scott and David Arnold, but it wasn’t enough, and the match finished 85-96.

Farmers in Dong Thap province bet on tra fishDong Thap province, already the largest tra fish producer in the Mekong Delta, has further increased the breeding area this year because of the high prices the fish is fetching. A tra fish farm in Dong Thap province’s Thanh Binh district. So far this year nearly 300ha of tra ponds have been harvested, with output being more than 100,000 tonnes, up nearly 5 percent year-on-year, according to the Dong Thap Fisheries Sub-department. In more than 60 percent of the breeding areas farmers have adopted quality standards such as global GAP or VietGAP. With tra fetching high prices, many farmers in Dong Thap are digging ponds even in unzoned areas to breed the fish.

Investors, retailers squeeze into prepared food marketVietNamNet Bridge - VinaCapital has invested $32.5 million in Ba Huan, a poultry egg producer, while Kido plans to join forces with a Thai partner to make bottled milk tea and herbal drinks. Before VinaCapital poured VND760 billion into Ba Huan, Vinh Thanh Dat Food JSC, a rival of Ba Huan, launched a series of instant food with eggs. Ba Huan, established as a poultry egg supplier, has also joined the processed food market. However, it was Sai Gon Food which first exploited the fresh food market. RELATED NEWSVietnam concerned about big firms taking over retail chainsCan ‘underwear giant’ squeeze into the retail market?