Government okays Vietcombank stake sale to foreign investorsAfter the government green-lighted Vietcombank to sell the state-owned stake to foreign investors, the bank is expected to sell a total of 10 per cent, commensurate with over 350 million shares, in a separate issuance and/or through public auction to a limited number of foreign investors. Countless foreign investors expressed interest in a slice of VietcombankA representative of Vietcombank noted that the share auction would take place in the first half of 2018. Currently, the Japan-based retail and corporate bank seized a 15 per cent stake at Vietcombank, and is planning to further expand its ownership at the state-owned bank. Over the past eight months, Vietcombank's share price surged to VND72,000 ($3.18) per share, which in turn would heat up the upcoming bidding for the state-owned bank's stakes. However, thanks to the striking recovery in the bank's business performance, BIDV's share price skyrocketed by 50 per cent in the last two months, sending off inviting signals to potential foreign investors.

Poor mountainous villages struggle to pay debtsVietNamNet Bridge – Receiving billions of dong in compensation, several residents in Nuoc Trong water reservoir project area, Tay Tra District’s Tra Tho Commune, Quang Ngai Province, thought they’d be able to escape debts they had accrued through high interest loans. A resettlement area in Nuoc Biec Village in Tra Tho Commune.Cor ethnic people in Tra Tho Commune are now suffering usury’s consequences. — Photo baoquangngai.vnTre Village in Tra Tho Commune was home to many Cor ethnic people. In reality, however, the compensation of VND600 million ($26,352) was just enough to pay the old debt as Tap made an oral contract and was forced to pay high interest. Ho Tan Vu, head of Tra Tho Commune People’s Committee, said that although local authorities had warned against usury, Cor people could not resist the temptation of surprisingly generous lenders.

Vietnam wins bronze at Karate 1-Premier LeagueVietnamese athlete Nguyen Thi Ngoan bagged the bronze medal in the women’s 61kg category at the Karate 1-Premier League 2018 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Nguyen Thi Phuong ranked 7th while Nguyen Thi Hang was knocked out in the 1/8 rounds after being trounced 1-4 by Feracci Alexandra. Last year, Ngoan earned a gold medal at the Karate 1-Premier League in Halle/Leipzig, Germany. It it was the first gold medal in the history of Vietnamese karate at the world tournament. The Vietnamese female karate team had the misfortune to lose Malaysia by the close score of 2-3.

Hundreds of forest violation cases reported in Gia LaiVietNamNet Bridge – Authorities in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai are struggling to find solutions to address deforestation and development violations, which are rampant in many localities across the province. He acknowledged that local forest rangers lacked skills in forest management. The division would review the work of the individuals responsible for local forest protection at stations in the recent cases of deforestation, he said. The forest rangers in the locality said the struggle with illegal loggers involves bloodshed. To prevent deforestation, local authorities have prepared many plans for forest protection and have raised public awareness on the forest protection law.

Parents send children to pre-school classesMany parents in big cities are rushing to send their children to nurseries opened by private schools, aiming to help them prepare for first grade. Newton Grammar School has launched two pre-first grade courses with the fees of VND4.4 million (USD200) each. For many schools, after the courses, children will be selected directly for the first grade without having to pass entrance tests. Parents bring their children to such classes because they are worried that their children may fall behind. Demand at some private primary schools is very high and the schools select their intake even at an early age through testing.

RoK First Lady meets Vietnamese studentsFirst Lady of the Republic of Korea Kim Jung-sook has received 15 Vietnamese students in the presidential Blue House ahead of her husband President Moon Jae-in’s visit to Vietnam slated for March 22 – 24. First Lady of the Republic of Korea Kim Jung-sook and Vietnamese students in a group photoBeginning the conversation by saying hello in Vietnamese, Kim introduced the RoK’s writing script and major socio-economic development features to the students. The First Lady joyfully talked about the Vietnamese students’ interest in her country’s educational system and their decision to further their studies here. On behalf of the Vietnamese students, Ta Le Huyen, who is studying at the Kyung Hee University, briefed the First Lady on Vietnamese student communities in the RoK. Dung said she expects the RoK Government to further facilitate learning and post-graduate conditions for Vietnamese students, and the Vietnamese Government to come up with more policies to help students obtain suitable jobs upon returning home.-VNA

Top five foreign investors in Vietnam’s real estate announcedSingapore, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Japan and Hong Kong (China) are the largest foreign real estate owners in Vietnam, according to a survey recently published by CBRE Vietnam. A corner of My Dinh II urban area, Nam Tu Liem district, HanoiInvestors from Thailand, China and the US are expected to invest more in Vietnam’s realty market in the near future. According to experts, domestic investors have bought more since 2017, leading to competition with foreign investors with supply limited. Residential land leads in terms of supply and transaction volume while housing and land for developments are most popular. At the same time, real estate funds will seek to buy stakes in major realty companies.-VNA

Tribute paid to late Prime Minister Phan Van Khai: two-way respectThe late Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, as one of the country’s leaders during that tender time when Viet Nam started to open itself to the world following the launch of drastic economic reforms, left an indelible mark in the socio-economic development of the country. Respect for expertsLate Prime Minister Phan Van Khai visited the Vietnam News Agency's office in HCM City in 2015. During his time as Prime Minister, Khai worked directly with the expert panel, not through any intermediary. Open to the pressDuring his premiership, Phan Van Khai always supported the press and advocated for the fight for the truth and multiple perspectives. Luckily, just minutes after, Prime Minister Khai agreed to make public all information about the progress of the SARS epidemic in Viet Nam,” she said.

Lack of steady income a worry, say freelancersHuy Phat, a 30-year-old translator based in HCM City, has been working as a freelancer for five years since it gives him the flexibility for scheduling his leisure activities that an eight-to-five job cannot. Having more flexibility and freedom is one of the biggest advantages of freelancing but the lack of an assured income remains a big concern for many freelancers. Getting a steady income remains a big concern for her. “Though every type of work has its own advantages and drawbacks, surely a full-time job brings you a steady income along with health insurance and other benefits. The survey polled 11,324 freelancers and freelance considerers (who consider working as freelancers) across 22 markets globally including 1,602 from the four Southeast Asian markets.

South Korean President to exchange with VN U23 teamSouth Korean President Moon Jae-in will meet Viet Nam’s under 23 football team during his visit to Viet Nam from March 22-24. Coach Park Hang-seo and the U23 team. The South Korean president will visit the Viet Nam Football Federation, head coach of Vietnamese U23 team, Park Hang-seo and members of the U23 team on March 22. Coached by South Korean Park, the Vietnamese team shocked the continent by finishing second at the AFC U23 Championship in China in January. Viet Nam will face Jordan in the qualifying round of the Asian Cup 2019 on March 27.

Noo Phuoc Thinh to represent Vietnam at Hong Kong Asian - Pop Music FestivalPop star Noo Phuoc Thinh will be the Vietnamese representative at this year’s Hong Kong Asian – Pop Music Festival to be held on March 23. Pop star Noo Phuoc ThinhPop star Noo Phuoc Thinh will represent Vietnam at the Hong Kong Asian – Pop Music Festival 2018 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre on March 23. Thịnh, 30, said: “I’m proud to represent Vietnam at the Hong Kong Asian – Pop Music Festival and have a chance to introduce Vietnamese music to Asia and the world. I promise it will be unique.”The festival will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Noo Phuoc Thinh, real name Nguyen Phuoc Thinh, began his music career in 2009.

Hundred year-old incense village in Hung YenThe two-century-old Cao village in the northern province of Hung Yen is one of the largest incense making villages in Vietnam. Cao village incense with medicinal ingredients has a natural smell and is safe for users. Incense smells different depending on the amount of ingredients used and the way they are mixed," said Dao Duc Trieu, an incense maker in Bao Khe commune, Hung Yen city. Making incense requires consideration in every single stepNguyen Thi Hang, another incense maker in the village, said her family produced about 20,000-30,000 incense sticks per day. The incense sticks connect people with their deceased family members, reminding them of their roots.-VNA

English football coaches train kids in VNTwo coaches from British football club Tottenham Hotspur FC, the runner up in the 2016-17 Premier League, have arrived to hold camps for 8 – 10-year-olds in HCM City. English football coaches train kids in Viet Nam. On Sunday, Danny Mitchell and Anton Blackwood taught 400 children six basic skills: foundation, passing, kicking, high-speed movement with the ball, goal protection, and one on one and two on two tackling. The 12 best kids were chosen for a seven-day international football training course in Phuket, Thailand, in June. On March 25, 400 children in Hanoi will take part in a similar event.

Lavrov’s visit to Vietnam was postponedThe visit of the foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov in Viet Nam, which was to begin Monday, has been postponed, according to Viet Nam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov. The visit was postponed for unexpected reasons, the ministry said, adding that the specific time of the visit will be provided later. Viet Nam and Russia established diplomatic ties on January 30, 1950. The two countries are working together to raise the figure to US$10 billion by 2020.— VNS

Logistics decree underwhelmsWhile signalling a breakthrough improvement in the local logistics service market, Vietnam’s new regulations have raised concerns over e-commerce among EU investors. “At the moment, foreign investors in the logistics sector have yet to see an expansion of market access rights. At the same time, they have to abide by the regulations on specific logistics services regulated in the decree’s Article 3. In spite of the concerns, the Vietnam Logistics Business Association (VLA) and lawyers have issued positive statements on the new decree. The logistics business has proven its indispensable importance in supporting and facilitating other industrial business activities.