The Jarai people in Gron village of the Central Highland Province of Kon Tum believe that the nerby forest is sacred, its trees immortal. They have adopted strict rules to protect the forest, for example punishing those who cut even a small branch for firewood by making them plant 100 new trees.

Farmers in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta have begun this year’s first harvest season of brackish water shrimp, earning strong profits due to high prices and favourable breeding conditions.

The Sài Gòn Transportation Mechanical Corporation (SAMCO) has broken ground for construction of the new Eastern Bus Terminal (Bến Xe Miền Đông) in HCM City’s District 9.

After ten years to carry out the plan of renovating old apartment buildings in Hà Nội, the city now finishes renovating 14 among total 1,516 buildings (equally 1 per cent), a recent seminar has reported, although a number of ideas and specific mechanisms have been proposed and piloted.

Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has approved a target programme to develop a social support system for the period 2016-2020.

Prolonged dry weather has significantly increased the risk of forest fires in the southernmost province of Cà Mau, the provincial Forest Protection Department reported.

Deputy Prime Minister Trương Hòa Bình has asked for stronger coordination among police, border guard, coast guard and customs forces to effectively fight drug crime in the coming time. 

When Bạc Liêu Province withdrew last year a thermal power plant proposal submitted to the Prime Minister, the move was seen as a positive sign, showing greater awareness and willingness to promote green growth.