Here are the leading news stories about Vietnam you should not miss today, May 31:

Politics

-- It is crucial that Asian countries strengthen regional cooperation and build trust among one other so that an Asia of peace, prosperity and sustainable growth can be developed, Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung said at the 22^nd Asia Future Conference in Tokyo on Monday.

-- The Royal Australian Navy’s HMAS Anzac frigate, carrying 251 crew members and soldiers, docked at Nha Rong Port in Ho Chi Minh City on Monday for a four-day friendly visit to Vietnam and the People's Navy of Vietnam.

Society                                                      

-- Using mobile phones when driving will result in fines from VND600,000 (US$26.79) to VND800,000 ($35.71), according to a new government decree that takes effect on August 1.

-- More than a dozen flights departing from and arriving at Tan Son Nhat International Airport were delayed as a heavy rain hit Ho Chi Minh City on Monday afternoon.

-- Police in the central province of Quang Tri on Monday successfully rescued an eight-year-old boy from a kidnapper, a carpenter who has worked for the kid’s father for a decade.

-- Electricity went out in 18 districts in Ho Chi Minh City on Monday as a 500kV transmission line, the backbone of Vietnam’s national grid, encountered a technical issue at around 7:45 pm.

-- Many streets in Ho Chi Minh City were inundated following a heavy downpour on Monday afternoon.

Business

-- Vietnam was the world’s second largest source of spam mails in the first quarter of this year, accounting for 10.3 percent of unwanted emails sent across the globe, only behind the U.S., according to Kaspersky Lab’s Q1 report on spam and phishing.

-- Vietnam posted an average trade surplus of some $19.25 billion with the Group of Seven countries on an annual basis, according to the General Department of Vietnam Customs.

-- Low-cost carrier Vietjet is selling hundreds of thousands of super-saving air tickets priced from only zero dong during its ‘3D Summer’ promotion, lasting from May 31 to June 2.

Lifestyle

-- A series of activities to celebrate the International Children’s Day are taking place at the Ho Chi Minh City Book Street on Nguyen Van Binh Street in District 1 on Tuesday and Wednesday.

-- Vietnamese star singers Thanh Lam and Tung Duong held a charity music show in Hanoi on Monday night, raising VND1.75 billion ($78,125) for a fund to help people affected by flood in the Mekong Delta.

Sports

-- Vietnam will play Syria in a friendly game at Hanoi’s My Dinh National Stadium at 6:00 pm today, May 31.

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