Vietnam National Symphony and Orchestra (VNSO) will play Vietnamese and world masterpieces at a concert at Hanoi Opera House on January 1.

The Dien Hai Citadel in the central city has been recognised as a National Special Relic, one of 10 approved by the Prime Minister early this week.

A drawing exhibition on safe vegetables opened on December 27 in Hanoi in an aim to promote the reliability of agricultural products in the northern region of Vietnam.

Attractive holiday tours are giving residents and visitors a wide range of choices to see the most beautiful, interesting and historical parts of the country. Major cities, hotels and resorts, meanwhile, are holding Xmas and countdown parties to welcome the New Year with indefatigable cheer.

The world football governing body, FIFA, has recognised four Vietnamese referees to reach the Elite 2018 level.

The insurance market has maintained a high growth rate of 21.2 per cent in 2017, gaining revenue of VND105.61 trillion (US$ 4.65 billion), a senior finance ministry official has said.

Vietnam needs to develop a supply chain for clean and safe farm produce, an important step to increase sales, prevent price slumps and promote safe agricultural production, experts say.

Most of the domestic auto industry went into a tizzy when Decree 116 tightening controls over the import and assembly of cars was issued in October, and days away from its official implementation, the worries and divisions remain.

A dramatic change in market trends and the "fourth" industrial revolution are forcing Vietnamese enterprises to gradually apply new technologies to production.

Vietnam has remained an attractive destination for foreign investors in 2017 with total FDI capital registered in the country hitting a record high of US$35.88 billion, up 44.4% against last year.