Here are the leading news stories of today, August 21:

Politics

-- General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong, along with a delegation of high-ranking officials, is scheduled to begin his visits to Indonesia, from August 22 to 24, and Myanmar, from August 24 to 26, which are aimed at fostering mutual trust and bilateral cooperation.

Society

-- A 31-year-old Taiwanese passenger was arrested by customs officers at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City on Sunday for carrying military equipment including gun parts, bullet shells, and grenade shells on his way to Kaohsiung.

-- The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport is expected to open an auction for advertisements on 2,082 buses, with potential revenue estimated at VND200 billion (US$8.79 million).

-- A traffic police officer in Hanoi was hospitalized for emergency treatment after being hit by a motorbike while performing his duty near Thanh Tri Bridge in Hoang Mai District on Sunday.

Business

-- Although the Mid-Autumn Festival is over a month away, several businesses in Ho Chi Minh City have begun their mooncake sales with prices slightly higher than last year.

-- The Airports Corporation of Vietnam has said it will carry out two projects to improve the capacity of Phu Bai International Airport in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue.

Sports

-- Vietnam has won its first gold medal at the 2017 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) after its wushu athlete, Duong Thuy Vi, finished first in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.

-- Vietnam beat the Philippines 4-0 in the men’s football category at the 2017 SEA Games on Sunday.

Lifestyle

-- Thousands of people gathered at Bui Vien Street on Sunday evening to be a part of the official opening of Ho Chi Minh City’s second walking street. The road is scheduled to become a pedestrian path from 7:00 pm to 2:00 am on weekends.

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