Vietnam’s Blue Star Distribution JSC is set to sign an agreement with Dao-Heuang Group, one of Laos' top companies, to distribute the latter's coffee products in Vietnam.

The agreement to establish a strategic partnership between Vietnam and Italy created new co-operation opportunities for the parliaments of both countries, National Assembly Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung said.

Low-income buyers will be allowed to mortgage their new houses or apartments to access loans from the VND30 trillion (US$1.3 billion) housing stimulus package.

Vinomarine, the first Norwegian ship equipment production plant in the north of Vietnam, opened in the coastal city of Haiphong on March 20.

The country’s consumer price index (CPI) will register an insignificant increase this month due to low demand, experts have forecast.

Vietnamese masters will take part in the World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships which will be held in Russia next month.

A five-year national plan to prevent bird flu has been approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has approved a project to develop a State-controlled centralised derivatives market, which will begin operating in 2016 and follow international technical standards.

The Department of Public Security has begun formal criminal proceedings of a major drug smuggling incident which occurred on November 16, 2013 at HCM City’s Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

Defending champion Le Quang Liem on March 11 gained momentum at the International HDBank Chess Tournament, after his second victory in HCM City.