Read what is in the news in Vietnam today:

Society

-- Authorities in Ky Son District, Nghe An Province, north-central Vietnam have suspended the chairman of a local commune, who was arrested by police in Vinh City last week as a suspect in a drug trafficking ring involving 35kg of drugs and four heroin bricks.

-- A truck crashed into a roadside grocery store in Ky Son District, Nghe An Province on Sunday, killing six people.

-- Police in Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam announced on Sunday that they are collaborating with those involved and consolidating the case file to address an incident in which a man threatened an environmental worker with a sword after being asked not to pick flowers in a park near Tram Huong Tower.

Business

-- A recent report from Singapore-based United Overseas Bank (UOB) raised its forecast for Vietnam’s gross domestic product (GDP) growth this year to seven percent, up from the previous estimate of 6.6 percent.

-- Ride-hailing company Grab Vietnam explained that recent difficulties in booking rides in Ho Chi Minh City are due to longer wait times for drivers to pick up passengers and complete trips, especially during rush hours, and increased demand for travel ahead of Tet (Vietnamese Lunar New Year).

Lifestyle

-- The Mieu Bay Ba troupe from An Giang Province in southern Vietnam clinched the championship at the District 5 International Lion and Dragon Dance Competition held in Ho Chi Minh City on Sunday night, outshining strong competitors from both domestic and international stages, including Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.

-- A tourist area in Sa Dec Flower Village, Dong Thap Province, southern Vietnam has been offering over 3,000 free ‘bánh tét’ (cylindrical glutinous rice cakes) to visitors for more than two weeks.

Sports

-- The founding congress of the Vietnam Kendo Federation was held in Hanoi on Sunday, marking the rapid growth of the traditional Japanese martial art in Vietnam in recent years.

-- “Barcelona came from an early goal down to beat Real Madrid 5-2 in the Spanish Super Cup final on Sunday, scoring four goals in a dominant first half and surviving having their goalkeeper sent off to clinch a record-extending 15th trophy,” Reuters reported.

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