Vietnam News
Vietnam : New media restrictions tighten controls on independent journalism
Two new legislative amendments passed by Vietnam’s parliament will pose significant safety risks for journalists, with media outlets forced to disclose their sources and further controls on content through amendments to the country’s state secrets law. The International Federation of…
Ho Chi Minh City plans 157 monitoring stations to combat pollution
Ho Chi Minh City plans to install 157 air quality monitoring stations to track pollution trends, provide early warnings of health risks, and support the creation of new emission control policies.
Siemens Mobility joins high-speed projects in Vietnam
VinSpeed, part of the Vietnamese Vingroup, and Siemens Mobility have signed a strategic cooperation agreement and a framework agreement that pave the way for the development of high-speed rail infrastructure in Vietnam.
Strains showing in Vietnam as Tô Lâm concentrates power
Vietnam is entering the second and more unpredictable phase of its political transition following the July 2024 death of Communist Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng and the unexpected elevation of Tô Lâm to replace him as General Secretary in…
Vietnam nears completion of militarized South China Sea outposts
Vietnam has revved up its land reclamation efforts in the South China Sea this year, beginning construction on eight previously untouched features in the Spratly Islands.
Vietnam opens $1.4bn imported-LNG power plants in Dong Nai
Vietnam inaugurated its first power project using imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) on Sunday, a US$1.4-billion cluster in Dong Nai Province designed to boost energy security and expand cleaner electricity generation.
From now, karaoke singing in Vietnam at any time of day shall face fines
Residents who sing karaoke at any time of day may be fined if the noise exceeds permitted limits, starting from December 15, marking a significant shift in Vietnam’s approach to controlling noise pollution.
Hanoi to build first underground parking facility in Old Quarter
Hanoi is set to develop a two-level underground parking facility in the heart of its Old Quarter, beneath Phung Hung-Bat Dan Flower Garden.
Vietnam–Laos ties : strategic cohesion
Vietnam and Laos have scaled up bilateral relations to the highest level of friendship and cooperation, known as « Great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and strategic cohesion ». It is a new framework between the two former Indochinese countries. The emphasis…
When city bans gasoline vehicles and apartments prohibit electric vehicles
With gasoline vehicles restricted and electric vehicles banned in apartments, people are caught between a rock and a hard place.
Vietnam’s passport rises to 90th on global ranking
Vietnam’s passport has climbed up two places to 90th in the Henley Passport Index’s December ranking, offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 50 out of 227 destinations.
Ho Chi Minh City considers installing 20,000 sidewalk battery-swap cabinets for electric motorbikes
Ho Chi Minh City is weighing proposals to install around 20,000 battery-swap cabinets for electric motorbikes on sidewalks and streetlight poles, as the city accelerates a shift toward cleaner urban transport.
Foreign arrivals to Vietnam hit record high despite pollution, floods
Vietnam is on track to receive a record high of 21 million foreign tourists in 2025, reflecting the country’s strong recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic, its Culture Ministry said, despite chronic air pollution and deadly flooding.
Vietnam’s second DoiMoi : growth, bottlenecks,and a role for Australia
Vietnam has announced a new round of sweeping reforms to propel the nation to high-income status. But long-term boldness is meeting short-term inertia.
Vietnam faces debate over regulating social media use among children under 16
As Australia moves to bar children under 16 from using major social media platforms including Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube, Vietnam is grappling with how to protect its younger internet users while recognizing the role of online connectivity in modern education…
North–South high-speed railway: Hyundai Rotem and THACO competing for the contract
The North–South high-speed railway in Vietnam is becoming a key battleground for domestic conglomerates and international partners. Against this backdrop, Hyundai Rotem and Truong Hai Group Corporation (THACO) are building a strategic partnership focused on localising the production of rolling…
Vietnam’s 2026 budget, explained
Strong economic performance sent government revenue soaring in 2025, putting the country in an enviable fiscal position.
Vietnam steps up South Reef expansion, careful not to provoke China
Vietnam has quietly accelerated land reclamation at South Reef, a once-remote coral feature in the contested Spratly Islands, signaling a new strategic turn as pressure from China intensifies across the South China Sea.
Russia’s Rosatom to provide advanced technology for Vietnam’s nuclear power project
Vietnam and Russia have reaffirmed their commitment to peaceful nuclear energy cooperation, with Russia’s Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation pledging to assist in developing the Ninh Thuan 1 nuclear power plant using advanced technology.
Vietnam set to make it harder for media to protect sources, to expand state secrets
Vietnam’s Parliament adopted reforms to the media and state secrets laws on Dec 10 which press freedom advocates say will make it harder for journalists to protect the identities of their sources and increase legal risks for reporting.
Vietnam amends law to ban exports of raw rare earth minerals
Vietnam’s Parliament moved to ban exports of raw rare earth resources as part of an overhaul of the nation’s geology and minerals law, which tightens controls over deposits and sets out new rules for the industry.
Ho Chi Minh City greenlights $3.9B Can Gio metro line backed by Vingroup
Ho Chi Minh City has approved VinSpeed, a subsidiary of conglomerate Vingroup, as the investor of the Ben Thanh–Can Gio railway project, with a total investment of approximately VND102.43 trillion (nearly US$3.9 billion).
Hanoi continues to choke in ‘very unhealthy’ air as smog blankets northern Vietnam
Northern Vietnam woke up to a thick, unmoving blanket of smog on Dec. 9, with air quality in Hanoi and nearby Hung Yen Province plunging into « very unhealthy » territory for hours.
Vietnam’s Vingroup to develop $3 billion ecosystem in Telangana, strengthens India push
Vietnam’s largest conglomerate Vingroup on Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding with Telangana’s state government for a proposed $3 billion investment to establish a multi-sector ecosystem in the southern Indian state.
Vietnam integrating biometrics into daily life in digital transformation drive
Vietnam is rapidly integrating biometrics and digital identity into everyday life, rolling out identity‑based systems across public transport, air travel and banking as part of an ambitious national digital transformation drive.
Vietnam’s cautious acceptance of chinese 5G technology
Recent agreements with Huawei and ZTE reflect economic pragmatism rather than a shift in strategic trust.