Standard & Poor's affirmed its ‘BB-' long-term and ‘B' short-term sovereign credit ratings on Vietnam late last week, with the outlook on the long-term rating being stable.

Despite macroeconomic challenges, spending in Vietnam for IT services increased by 9.9% to US$446 million in 2013, according to the International Data Corporation (IDC).

To develop its support industries, HCM City needs to identify the main sectors and focus on training, technology, and incentives for their development, experts told a seminar on attracting investment in the sectors last week.

It has been difficult getting back to normal life for Iain McNamara and his peers after their one-year trip through 22 countries.

The second Vietnam Mountain Marathon will kick off in September expecting to attract a large number of global participants.

Ministries and related sectors should closely follow the development of rice markets at home and abroad and expand trade promotion activities for increasing Vietnamese rice exports.

The country attracted US$6.85 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first half of this year, down 35% as compared to same period last year.

FIDE master Nguyen Anh Khoi is leading the U12 category at the Asian Youth Chess Championship which is ongoing in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Six junior players from Thua Thien-Hue community Football For All in Vietnam (FFAV) project, will join the Football for Hope event in Brazil, between July 3 and 10.

The European Union (EU) has committed EUR542 million (US$736 million) in official development assistance to Vietnam this year, and the level of aid would also be maintained for the coming years.