Ha Long Bay’s water under threatsVietNamNet Bridge – The water environment in the world-renowned Ha Long Bay has been under tremendous pressure from the growing socio-economic activities in the area. Cruiseships operating in the Ha Long Bay, the UNESCO-recognised heritage site in the northern province of Quang Ninh. Wastewater discharge from these cruiships has been identified as a serious threat to the bay’s water environment. Ha Long Bay is not just a purely tourist site. When Vietnam is preparing documents to seek the third recognition of Ha Long Bay as the world heritage site from UNESCO, it’s highly important that the water resources in the area is put under tigher control.

Water pollution alert sounded nationwideVietNamNet Bridge – Water found in some 71 per cent of Hanoi’s wells is contaminated with higher than permitted levels of phosphate. The overexploitation of water nationwide increases the level of arsenic in groundwater, exceeding the permitted level of 10mg per litre. The research by the institute also showed that in many cities, lakes contain waste water, blocking the water flow. Researchers said that until now, the damage caused to human health and livelihoods due to water pollution has not been assessed. Therefore, financial compensation on losses caused by water pollution and the subject of compensation have not been regulated.

Hanoi earns $349 million in land auctionsVietNamNet Bridge – Hanoi earned VND7.955 trillion (US$349 million) from auctioning land-use rights last year, pushing the total revenue it earned from land up to VND37 trillion ($1.62 billion). — VNA/VNS PhotoLand-related revenue, including land leases, land fees and land auctions, accounted for 15 per cent of the city’s total budget last year. This indicates land users have provided information about the origins and use of the land, which authorities have reviewed and approved. Certifications were granted to land users of over 196,000 land plots, the usage of which was declared for the first time last year. Last year, the city authorities approved over 2,000 projects on land eviction, land allocation, land lease or changes in land-use purpose.

Hanoi to build wholesale market for vegetablesVietNamNet Bridge – Hanoi’s People’s Committee has assigned the provincial authority and sector of Me Linh District to conduct a survey and suggest a location for the construction of a wholesale market. So far, as many as 2,000 tonnes of turnips have been harvested from 20 hectares of farmland. The Department of Industry and Trade was asked to support farmers in building their own brand and tracking the origin of their vegetables. He has assigned the Departments of Natural Resources and Environment and Planning and Architecture to select the location for a wholesale market in Me Linh District. The city, together with the investors, will build a wholesale market for vegetables and flowers for the local people to bring their agricultural products for consumption, he said.

VN actively joins multi-lateral parliamentary diplomatic activitiesNational Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan will attend the 138th Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly (IPU-138) and related meetings in Geneva, Switzerland, from March 24-25. Through the IPU, the bilateral relations between the Vietnamese NA and other nations’ Parliaments were set up and strengthened. In October 2007 at the 117th IPU Assembly also in Geneva, Switzerland, for the first time Viet Nam’s NA was elected to the IPU Executive Committee - the forum’s highest agency. In April 2015, the country hosted the 132nd IPU Assembly, where the Ha Noi Declaration was adopted, contributing to devising the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development. Viet Nam’s presence at the IPU-138 aims to assert commitments to actively joining in multi-lateral parliamentary diplomatic activities and uphold the role and status of the Vietnamese NA at the IPU, contributing to enhance the State’s joint diplomatic efforts for national benefits in line with the regional benefits.

Devotion Award 2018 winners announcedPop and soul sensation My Tam was announced as the winner in two significant categories at the Cong Hien (Devotion) Music Awards – Singer of the Year and Album of the Year – during a gala night held in Hanoi Opera House on March 22. My Tam wins Singer of the Year and Album of the Year titlesThe singer’s win follows the huge success of her recently-released album, Tam 9, which sold over 12,000 copies. “It has been 13 years since I stood at a prestigious music awards ceremony. The gala dazzled fans with performances by artists including singers Thanh Lam, Dang Duong, My Tam and Duong Hoang Yen. The annual Devotion Music Awards began in 2004 to promote Vietnamese music and honour artists who have made significant contributions to the industry.

Quang Ninh tops in provincial competitive indexThe northeastern province of Quang Ninh, for the first time ever, became the most competitive locality in the country, topping Vietnam’s Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) 2017. According to the report, Quang Ninh was followed closely by Da Nang (70.1 points) and Dong Thap (68.8 points). “The PCI report has been very influential in promoting transparency and good economic governance in Vietnam. According to Dau Anh Tuan, Director of the VCCI’s Legal Department, the 2017 PCI report witnessed impressive reform efforts by local government across the country. The 2017 PCI survey revealed optimism among the private and foreign business communities helped raise their economic prospects.

HCM City apartment building fire kills 13As many as 13 people died and 28 others were injured when a blaze burned an apartment complex at No. 1648 Vo Van Kiet street, District 8 of Ho Chi Minh City in early morning of March 23, reported local authorities. The Fire Fighting Police Department of the city sent 34 fire trucks and 200 police to the site to control the blaze and rescue stuck people. According to Senior Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Thanh Huong from the department, most of the 13 victims died from suffocation. Carina Plaza is a high-end apartment complex including three buildings with 15-21 storeys and 736 apartments.

VN Index hits new record highVietnam’s benchmark VN Index marginally surpassed the record high of 1,170 points on March 22 as energy stocks remained upbeat and insurers and agriculture firms performed strongly as well. The VN Index on the HCM Stock Exchange edged up 0.26 percent to end at 1,172.36 points, posting a nine-day increase of 4.3 percent in total. The benchmark index narrowed its growth from the intraday gaining pace of 0.94 percent, which helped the VN Index rise to the 1,180-point level. Rising oil prices and growing energy stocks remained the most important factors that boosted the benchmark index over its former all-time high of 1,170 points. On the opposite side, the benchmark index suffered strong investor selling when it touched the intraday peak of 1,180 points.

Japan presents Hanoi school Smart Education solutionsJapan’s Wanokai International Culture Association presented Nguyen Du Secondary School in downtown Hanoi a set of Smart Education solutions, worth 12 billion VND (528,000 USD), during an event on March 22. 2018 marks the 45th year of the two countries’ diplomatic ties, a milestone for both sides, Inamine Hidenobu, a Wanokai representative, remarked at the event. To foster the cooperation between Vietnam and Japan, the Wanokai presented the Smart Education solutions to Nguyen Du School in the hope that they will be widely applied in the city in the future, he said. Tsuruo Ogawa, technical director of Jib Media Co., Ltd., Japan's NHK Television said, Smart education solutions support a hi-tech education with the use of advanced equipment and software for teaching, learning and management. It also plays a significant role in promoting the two nations’ diplomatic ties, he noted.-VNA

Vietnam posts trade surplus of $2.92 billion in 2017Vietnam’s trade surplus hit a record high of 2.92 billion USD in 2017, according to a report released by the Ministry of Industry and Trade in Ho Chi Minh City on March 22. The surplus was mainly with developed countries like the US and Australia, and the EU. Vietnam has 29 groups of items whose export revenue exceeded 1 billion USD, 20 groups with export turnover of above 2 billon USD and eight groups with export value of more than 6 billion USD. The annual report provides accurate information on the country’s trade for management agencies, policymakers and businesses. He called on the ministry to include more information on trade protectionism and barriers, and offer solutions and recommendations to overcome them.

HAGL lose to FC Seoul at int’l U19 football eventVietNamNet Bridge – Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) lost to FC Seoul of South Korea 1-2 in the opening match of the International U19 Football Tournament yesterday. Both coach Guillaume Graechen of HAGL and Myung Jinyoung of Seoul used their best line-up in this game to earn three points for a strong start. However, only two minutes later, Park Geon Joon made his name with a goal to level the score of 1-1. The team, who finished third in the same event last year, aimed to take the trophy of this international event. The tournament has attracted the participation of six teams including HAGL, Chonburi, FC Seoul, Mito Hollyhock of Japan and Vietnam U19.

Vietnam, RoK look to increase two-way tradeMinister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh and Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Paik Un-gyu sought measures to complete the two countries’ trade goal of 100 billion USD by 2020 during their talks in Hanoi on March 22. They agreed on the need to continue working closely in building joint action programmes in industry, trade and energy while coordinating in designing and carrying out effective policies and measures to promote bilateral economic and trade partnership. The RoK will continue assisting Vietnam to train high-quality human resources for industry, oil and gas, and renewable energy. According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, trade between Vietnam and the RoK jumped from 500 million USD in 1992 to 61.5 billion USD in 2017, making the RoK the second largest trader of Vietnam after China. In 2017, two-way trade reached 61.5 billion USD, up 41 percent year on year, including Vietnam’s exports of 14.8 billion USD, a rise of 30 percent over 2016 and its imports of 46.7 billion USD, up 45.3 percent year on year.

U15 PVF enter quarter-final of ASEAN eventVietnam’s U15 PVF team entered the quarter-final of the U15 ASEAN Dream Football Tournament, held at the SCG Muangthong United Practice Field on March 21. Vietnam’s U15 PVF team (Photo: zing.vn)The team topped Group C with nine points after three wins. Earlier, they bested Thailand’s Police Tero 5-1 and Kamatamare Sanuki of Japan 5-0. The Vietnamese side were in Group C with Police Tero, Nakhon Ratchashima and Kamatamare Sanuki of Japan. U15 PVF finished third in the same event last year.-VNA

RoK President Moon meets Vietnam’s U23 football teamPresident of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Moon Jae-in and Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam engaged in an exchange with Vietnam’s U23 football team - the runner-up of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) U23 Championship, and its RoK head coach Park Hang-seo in Hanoi on March 22. This is the first official visit to Vietnam by President Moon Jae-in. Welcoming President Moon and his spouse’s meeting with the team, Deputy PM Dam underscored that cooperation between the two countries in sports has been encouraging over the past years. For his part, President Moon expressed his impressions of the Vietnam U23 team’s high record at the AFC U23 Championship under the training of head coach Park Hang-seo. U23 Vietnam surprised the world when they only lost out in the last minute of the final match to Uzbekistan at the AFC U23 Championship in China.