The People’s Court of Ho Chi Minh City opened the first instance trial on February 8 for two former employees of Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade (Vietinbank) for swindling over VND1.085 trillion (US$43.8 million) from five companies.

The Ministry of Construction and the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) have signed a minutes of discussion on the technical assistance project for building policies on social housing in Vietnam in 2021-2030. 

A delegation of the Evangelical Church of Vietnam (North) (ECVN North) visited the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Mass Mobilisation in Hanoi on February 8 ahead of the Lunar New Year festival (Tet).

The National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion (NIHBT) currently has about 16,000 units of blood in its blood bank, including over 6,000 units of blood type O, according to Director Bach Quoc Khanh.

VOV.VN - Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc presented Tet gifts to more than 100 needy workers during his visit to the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak on February 8.

VOV.VN - Voice of Vietnam (VOV) President Nguyen The Ky and  Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Craig Chittick have jointly expressed their desires to foster ties between the two nations and between VOV and Australian media agencies, to expand information sharing and cultural exchanges and mutual understanding.

Start-ups must focus on intellectual property that can enhance their competitiveness, experts said.

VOV.VN - MC Phan Anh, Mrs Vietnam Ao Dai in USA Hai Duong, and model Vo Canh have presented Tet gifts to disadvantaged women in Hanoi.

VOV.VN - Many students gathered at the Hanoi University of Transport on the morning of February 8 to take a free bus ride to their family homes for the traditional Lunar New Year (Tet).

The Noi Bai International Airport will maintain from 50-54 check-in counters and instruct passengers to carry out web check-in, mobile check-in and self check-in at kiosks to serve high demand during Tet (Lunar New Year), a representative of the airport said on February 8.

The jury on February 7 decided to suspend the trial of a civil case between domestic taxi operator Vinasun and Grab, a popular ride hailing service, for one month after hearing statements by representatives of both sides. 

The Embassy of Vietnam in Algeria on February 7 hosted a get-together in Algiers for Vietnamese people who are residing, working and studying in the country to celebrate the Lunar New Year.

VOV.VN - As many as 150 young workers and students who are burdened with financial difficulties will have a chance to reunite with their families on traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) celebration as they have been offered free air tickets to fly from HCM City to Hanoi on February 14.

VOV.VN - Miss Universe Vietnam 2017 H’Hen Nie brought Tet gifts to leprosy patients in Ben San Leprosy Centre in Binh Duong Province on February 6 ahead of the Lunar New Year festival.

VOV.VN - At around 9:00 pm on February 7, a large fire broke out at a five-storey house located on 136 Tran Duy Hung Street in Hanoi, causing considerable damages.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has decided to provide rice as food aid for the northern border province of Cao Bang ahead of the Lunar New Year (Tet), which falls on February 16 this year.

The face of urban areas is expected to see big changes in the future as Vietnamese consumers want more green spaces. 

Chairman of the People’s Committee of southern Tay Ninh province Pham Van Tan has asked Cambodian localities bordering Vietnam to continue implementing cooperative programmes for the interests of the two peoples.

VOV.VN - Vietnamese people believe that in the kitchen of every family there are three Gods, who are responsible for watching over all household affairs. On the 23rd day of the last lunar month, the Kitchen Gods are seen off to Heaven by the owner of the house to report on the family’s doings.

Lessons learned from the strategic mainstreaming of ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) was a good foundation for Vietnam to prepare for climate change, according to Dr. Nguyen The Chinh from the Natural Resources and Environment Strategic Institute. 

President Tran Dai Quang beat the drum to kick off the Xuan Que Huong (Homeland Spring) 2018 festival in the evening of February 7, welcoming a delegation of overseas Vietnamese (OVs) who returned home to enjoy the Lunar New Year (Tet).

A seminar on the inclusion of natural capital in planning infrastructure development was held in Hanoi on February 7.

The Netherlands wishes to cooperate with and support Vietnam in many fields, especially in water management, flood prevention and climate change adaptation, a Dutch official has said.

A training course on the manufacturing, packaging, certification and commercialisation of micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) ended on February 7 in the Saigon Hi-tech Park (SHTP) in Ho Chi Minh City.

The Ministry of Public Security has filed an additional charge of “abuse of position and power while on duty” against Phan Van Anh Vu, also known as Vu “Nhom”, who has already faced two counts.

Deputy Foreign Minister Vu Hong Nam has praised overseas Vietnamese (OVs) for their great contributions to the homeland’s socio-economic development and diplomacy work, and to promoting Vietnam’s reputation in 2017. 

The Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) will allow universities to set admission quotas and take into account the number of visiting lecturers they’ll have based on the number of admitted students, according to the ministry’s newly released draft circular on admissions practices in higher education institutions.

The traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) has arrived early for soldiers and islanders on Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago as ships are crossing rough seas to carry Tet gifts and supplies from all parts of the country to the islands.

Samsung Electronics Vietnam has funded the construction of standard toilets completed with water purification systems for 26 elementary and secondary schools in the northern province of Bac Giang, benefiting more than 13,100 students.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong on February 7 held a reception for a delegation of overseas Vietnamese (OV) who returned home to join the “Xuan Que huong 2018” (Homeland Spring 2018) programme.