The Asian Science Park Association (ASPA) convened its 21st annual conference in Ho Chi Minh City on October 20, gathering over 400 participants from across the globe.

 There is more room for Vietnamese women in engineering and technology, which used to be a traditionally male industry. In fact, female engineers and technicians carry a distinct advantage to pursue a viable career.

 Nguyen Trong Dong, director of the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, announced on October 19 that cars will have to be washed before entering Hanoi city centre in order to prevent pollution.

The US Mission to ASEAN and Underwriters Laboratories announced Dr. Nguyen Thi Hiep as the winner of the third annual ASEAN-U.S. Science Prize for Women, sponsored by ASEAN, the U.S. Agency for International Development and UL.

 The second Vietnam IT Outsourcing Conference 2017, the largest of its kind in Vietnam, opened at Quang Trung Software City in HCM City on October 19.

 Internet submarine cables linked to Viet Nam will be fixed on October 24, said the Viet Nam Posts and Telecommunication Group, one of the largest Vietnamese internet providers.

 According to a report from the BKAV Technology Group, 15 million computers in Vietnam were infected with viruses in the third quarter of 2017, with half of them infected via USB connections.

 Hanoi will roll out action programmes and plans to improve air quality in the city based on the outcomes of a French-funded air quality assessment project, said a municipal leader. 

 Amid growing interest from foreign investors, Vietnam will soon consider cutting 50 per cent of personal income tax for employees in high-tech industries, paving the way to attracting more foreign investment in the sector.

 The Culture and Nature Reserve of southern Dong Nai province will work with investors to build a wildlife safari inside the reserve in Ma Da commune, Vinh Cuu district.

 The Ulatech Joint Stock Company launched a car-hailing app for smartphones called “ULA” in the central city of Da Nang on October 14.

 More people have rushed to Son Tra Peninsular in Danang City to capture photos of red-shanked douc langurs, raising concerns that this would affect their living environment.

 Alibaba Chairman Jack Ma will come to Hanoi early next month to attend an e-payment service forum. 

The Asia-America Gateway (AAG) submarine cable encountered a technical trouble at 7:00 on October 12, losing signal connection with the Hong Kong (China) station, affecting Vietnam’s international internet links.

 Some 400 delegates from 20 countries and territories will attend the 21st Annual Conference of the Asian Science Park Association (ASPA) scheduled for October 19-21 in Ho Chi Minh City. 

 The Ministry of Science and Technology will propose solutions to the Government to renovate specialised inspection activities in order to create a favourable environment for the business community.

 Vietnamese and foreign scientists are exchanging outcomes of mycological researches at the Asian Mycological Congress 2017 that opened in Ho Chi Minh City on October 11. 

 The highest number of cyber-attacks on Vietnamese websites originated from the United States and China, according to a report.

 The HCM City  People’s Committee has approved the 1/2000 scale plan for the city’s second science and technology park to be built in District 9 at a cost of around VNĐ4.3 trillion (US$188 million).

Vietnam has collected $48.4 million from forest environment service fees from water suppliers, hydropower companies and tourist agencies, accounting for 66.3 percent of the yearly plan.