VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam’s rice export turnover has been increasing year after year, but most exports continue to be raw and pre-processed products, experts say.

 With budget collection likely to be constrained due to the loss of import duties and tariffs as Vietnam continues to open up its trade doors, the country’s budget deficit is likely to remain wide, reported a research firm.

 Hanoi’s People’s Committee is seeking approval from the Ministry of Transport for continuing to open parking lots under four bridges until 2023 as a solution to the shortage of parking spaces in the city.

 The number of the invading Chinese army was more than the figure of American troops at its peak during the Vietnam War (550,000) and the number of the French expeditionary force in the first Indochina war (250,000).

 Saigontourist Travel Service Company, a unit of Saigontourist Holding Company, is offering a three-day-two-night tour to Con Dao, a well-known archipelago 120 nautical miles from HCMC, using high-speed passenger boats.

 The result of an inspection into fee collection at HCMC-Long Thanh-Dau Giay Expressway on February 18 shows that some 39,000 vehicles traveled on the expressway that day, while the revenue of the entire expressway amounted to VND3.3 billion.

 Nha Trang-Khanh Hoa Tourism Association on February 20 signed a deal with 10 travel firms to maintain fair prices for tours to Nha Trang Bay in a bid to fight unfair competition among tour operators, the local media reported.

 The European Commission (EC) had earlier announced it would dispatch a working team to Vietnam last month to review the country’s efforts to handle illegal fishing. 

 The Standing Committee of the National Assembly opened its 31st session on February 21 under the chair of Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan.

Today the 2019 National Football Championship, V.League 1-2019, will officially kick off with the first-round opener between Thanh Hoa FC and Becamex Binh Duong at Thanh Hoa Stadium. 

 Con Dao Express 36, a newly launched high-speed passenger ship, on February 21 encountered technical problems 15 minutes after departing from Cau Da wharf in Vung Tau City.

 Viet Nam imported nearly 11,700 cars worth more than US$273 million in the first month of this year, marking the fifth consecutive month with a volume of at least 10,000 units.

 The Tà Xùa Adventure Run is scheduled to take place on February 23 and 24 in Bắc Yên District, Sơn La Province.

 German band MAM will perform at Viet Nam Youth Theatre tonight (February 21) to kick off the New Music series in Hanoi, which includes concerts, workshops and artist residencies.

 Street dance groups consisting of students from 23 high schools across Hà Nội will compete at the HighSchool Best Dance Crew 2019 - The Warrior Return on March 3.   

 Two people were killed and one was injured in a road accident on Thăng Long Boulevard in Thạch Thất District, Hà Nội on Thursday morning.

 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Wednesday instructed the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), relevant agencies and localities to take prompt measures to control African swine fever (ASF) in Viet Nam.

 German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas on February 20 described the ongoing visit by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh as laying a foundation for both countries to develop bilateral strategic partnership.

 Metfone, the Cambodia-based affiliate of the military-run telecom group Viettel, has sustained its share of 48 percent, also the biggest, in the local telecom market after operating here for a decade.

Argentine President Mauricio Macri has affirmed that Vietnam is an important partner of Argentina and his visit to the country aims to consolidate bilateral relations.