GLOBE NEWS ·VIETNAM NEWS

Authorities mitigate impact of falling oil price to State budget

The government will implement comprehensive measures to meet next year's annual state budget collection target of VND911.1 trillion (US$42.774 billion), notwithstanding the insignificant effect of the global oil price decline.

President receives new ambassadors

President Truong Tan Sang yesterday received newly-accredited ambassadors from the US, Panama and Qatar, who presented him with their credentials.

Cold spell hits northern region

Localities in northern mountainous provinces have instructed farmers to protect their cattle from the ongoing cold spell, which is forecast to last until late this week.

Workers left trapped in tunnel collapse

Twelve workers were trapped when a tunnel collapsed yesterday at the Da Dang-Dachomo hydropower project in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong.

Politics & Laws

Viet Nam, UAE to boost trade ties

Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc held talks with his United Arab Emirates (UAE) counterpart Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi yesterday during which both sides agreed to beef up their bilateral partnership in all fields, especially trade, investment, finance and banking and labour co-operation.

• PM to attend Mekong summit in Thailand
• President receives new ambassadors
• Commander of US Pacific Fleet welcomed in Ha Noi

Society

Terminal 2 ready to open at Ha Noi airport

Noi Bai airport's new international terminal will open on December 31 after a brief trial run from December 20- 25.

• Health ministry launches online public services
• Hydropower project comes to a halt
• Report finds some progress in gender equality

Economy

EVN plans to increase power prices

The Electricity of Viet Nam (EVN) has proposed to increase the power price by an average 9.5 per cent from this month.

• Firms instructed to replant forests
• Authorities mitigate impact of falling oil price to State budget
• VN set to license three credit rating firms by 2025

Life & Style

New discoveries made at Thang Long Citadel announced

Previously, scientists had only found relics from two dynasties at Thang Long Royal Citadel, but this year they had a major breakthrough when they were able to identify objects from several more dynasties at the historical site.

• Thai ethnic group festival to showcase culture
• Thai Nguyen hosts South Korean Days
• Vietnamese guidebook wins American award

Sports

Miura given free rein over squad selection

Coach Toshyia Miura and the Viet Nam Football Federation (VFF) agreed to rejuvenate the national team for the future tournaments.

• Robbie Fowler visits Viet Nam
• National U19 football event to kick off
• Tam wins final Trans-Viet stage

Environment

City programme separates organic, inorganic waste

The HCM City People's Committee has instructed authorities in six districts to separate solid waste at source into organic and inorganic for recycling.

• Hue students learn about climate change
• Rare pheasant spotted in central province
• Construction ministry backs switching to unbaked bricks

Your Say

Would an information centre next to Hoan Kiem (Sword) Lake improve tourists' experience of Ha Noi? 2   

The plan to build a 13m-tall information and culture centre next to Hoan Kiem Lake, the most iconic landmark of Ha Noi, drew a lot of criticism from the Vietnamese public.

Op-ed

Report on public servants stretches credulity

We are used to raising our eyebrows quizzically whenever a rosy report is put out by some Government agency or the other, but we also understand that a bloated bureaucracy is not likely to be very self-critical.

Travel

Films, TV draw intrepid travellers to remote Vietnamese landscapes

Sung La village, located on Dong Van plateau in the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang, became a popular tourist destination after it was featured in the 2006 film Chuyen Cua Pao (Pao's Story).

Expat Corner

DJ stays in Ha Noi for bun cha

If someone asks Vaughan Evans about his favourite thing in Viet Nam, he will name bun cha without a doubt.