The ninth HDBankCup International Chess Tournament kicked off in Ho Chi Minh City on March 7, drawing more than 300 players from 28 nations and territories.

 Saigon Heat suffered an unlucky loss to Mono Vampire by a score of 89-83 in the ASEAN Basketball League (ABL) on Wednesday at Stadium 29 in Bangkok, Thailand.

 Thousands of locals and tourists joined the first ever Pác Bó Returning to Roots Festival held at the Pác Bó revolutionary base in Ha Quang District, the northern province of Cao Bang on Wednesday.

 An exhibition of photographs shot by female members of the HCM City Photographers’ Association is open to celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8.     

Quang Ba, Hanoi’s biggest flower market is becoming busy before International Women's Day on March 8.

 Domestic and foreign visitors will be treated to free coffee at the seventh Buon Ma Thuot coffee festival to be held from March 9-16 in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak.

 The Viet Nam premiere of multimedia concert Streaks (or Vet in Vietnamese) will take place on Saturday, March 16 at L’Espace.

 An international drug trafficking ring has been busted by police in Thai Binh province.

 New outbreaks of African swine fever have been reported in the northern provinces of Hoa Binh and Dien Bien.

 Owner’s equity in non-life insurance companies was estimated to amount to a total of VND26.280 trillion (US$1.14 billion) last year, a 4.8 per cent rise against the previous year, according to statistics released by the Ministry of Finance.

 Listed real estate ­companies in Vietnam are actively seeking out ­foreign investment for their portfolios.

 “Anywhere working” could be the key to improving the livability of HCMC, which is predicted to become the second fastest growing city economy in Asia within the next three years, new research has found.

 The Ministry of Construction will collaborate with the National Assembly Legislation Committee to launch inspections into the management and operation of apartment buildings in HCMC by end-March, VietnamPlus reported.

 Over the last 60 years, during war and peace, generations of border soldiers have fulfilled the tasks assigned by the Party and state.

After the lunar New Year, the Vietnam’s stock market has continuously advanced, gaining more than 80 points or more than 8 percent since the beginning of February.

VietNamNet Bridge - The Vietnamese furniture market is a promising industry, estimated to have value of over $4 billion, according to the Handicraft and Wood Industry Association of HCM City (Hawa). 

 Gau Tao festival is the most important festival for Mong ethnic people. It is held annually in early spring to express gratitude towards gods and to pray for a prosperous and lucky year.

 The Big Fat Quiz Movies night will be held from 6.30pm to 8.30pm on March 21 at the Hive Saigon in 94 Xuan Thuy, Thao Dien, HCM City’s District 2.

 For the first time, the ambiance of the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, the biggest carnival in the world, is being brought to Hanoi to satisfy all of your senses with sight, sound and taste.

 A Violin Solo Recital will feature Kim Il Yang at a concert at 8pm on March 16 at the Erato School of Music and Performing Arts on 107 Tôn Dật Tiên Street in HCM City’s District 7.