VSIP invests US$200 million in Thai Binh

Design of the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park in Thai Binh Province. Photo: thaibinhtv.vn

The Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) Joint Venture plans to invest a total investment of VND4.93 trillion (US$200 million) in a 344-hectare industrial park project in Thai Thuy District, the northern province of Thai Binh.

The project aims to attract high-tech, energy-saving and clean technology projects with selective investment to avoid outdated, polluting technologies in the industrial park.

Paper social insurance book to be replaced by electronic version by 2026

The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs has planned in the draft of the revised law on social insurance to issue electronic social insurance books from January 1, 2026 while paper versions will be issued on request. The timeline for electronic insurance is half a year after the law comes into force.

Paper cards will be issued only at the employee's request, and both versions will have the same legal validity.

Vietnam exports over 3,000 tons of star anise to India

In the first five months of the year, Vietnam exported 3,360 tons of star anise to the Indian market, taking the largest share, followed by the US with 399 tons, and Bangladesh with 140 tons, according to the Vietnam Pepper Association. From January to May, Vietnam exported nearly 5,500 tons of star anise with an export value of $27.5 million, down 14.7% in volume and 29.9% in value from the same period last year.

Prosi Thang Long was the largest exporter, accounting for 19.4% of the market share with 1,064 tons, followed by Tuan Minh with 300 tons, Nedspice Vietnam with 277 tons, Senspices with 216 tons, and Hong Son Vietnam with 195 tons.

17th Vietnam International Fashion Week kicks off this week

The 17th Vietnam International Fashion Week will take place from June 12 to 16 in Ho Chi Minh City, bringing together 16 designers and popular brands from Vietnam and other countries. The fashion week includes an opening party on June 12 at the Reverie Saigon Hotel and consecutive fashion shows at the Military Zone 7 Sports Center.

The designers include Vo Cong Khanh (Vietnam), Maria Giovanna (Italy), Frederick Lee (Singapore), and Lee Chung Chung (South Korea).

Vietnamese physics team wins gold medal at Asian Physics Olympiad

All eight Vietnamese students participating in  the 2024 Asian Physics Olympiad held in Malaysia on June 3-10 won medals, including one gold by Than The Cong, a 12th grader from Bac Giang Specialized Upper Secondary School, one silvel, and six bronze for other team members, according to the Ministry of Education and Training. 

More than 200 students from 27 countries and territories participated in this year's competition, which was first held in 2000.

Free Vietnamese classes organized to preserve national culture and language

A free online Vietnamese language teaching program was launched on June 9 for nearly 230 young Vietnamese in the UK. The program aims to preserve Vietnamese language and culture among young overseas Vietnamese.

The first phase of the program will last 15 months with 16 classes held on Sundays. The teaching teams include 32 teachers from the University of Languages and International Studies (ULIS), under the Vietnam National University-Hanoi (VNU-Hanoi).