Vietnam’s 14th national congress : power, reform, and the next political generation
This month’s conclave could prove the most significant in a generation, determining whether Vietnam’s single-party system can evolve to meet contemporary demands.
Ho Chi Minh City breaks ground on second metro line after 16 years of planning
Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday broke ground on its second metro line, Ben Thanh-Tham Luong, ending 16 years of planning delays and signaling renewed momentum for the city’s urban rail network.
Vietnam moves to build second terminal, third runway at Long Thanh airport
Vietnam is moving ahead with plans to expand Long Thanh International Airport, adding a third runway and a second passenger terminal as air travel demand is set to grow faster than expected.
Google chooses Vietnam for high-end smartphone production
Google is moving its high-end smartphone production to Vietnam this year, signaling the country’s growing role in global tech manufacturing, as reported by Nikkei Asia
Per capita income climbs 9.3% in 2025
The average per capita income was estimated at VND5.9 million (US$225 USD) per person per month last year, up 9.3% from 2024, a survey has found.
Vietnam adds another public holiday on Nov 24 for Culture Day
Vietnam will officially mark Nov. 24 as “Vietnam Culture Day,” a paid public holiday, under a Politburo resolution outlining a cultural development roadmap through 2030 and a long-term vision to 2045.
Nha Trang Bay reintroduces visitor fee of up to $1.52 per entry after 16-year hiatus
Authorities in Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam have issued new rules to collect sightseeing fees ranging from VND6,000 (US$0.23) to VND40,000 ($1.52) at Nha Trang Bay, after halting the charges in 2009, allowing fees to be levied directly at piers…
Ho Chi Minh City backs US semiconductor giant AMD’s R&D investment
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s southern economic hub, is launching initiatives to help U.S. semiconductor leader Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD) establish a research and development (R&D) center at the Saigon High-Tech Park.
Mekong canal dispute fuels tensions between Vietnam and Cambodia
In August 2023, Cambodia announced plans for the 180-kilometre Funan Techo Canal on the Mekong River, a major infrastructure project valued at $1.7 billion and funded by China as part of its Belt and Road Initiative. This canal is intended…
Vietnam’s regional influence draws renewed global attention
Speaking at the 2026 Vietnam Vanguard Summit in Ho Chi Minh City from January 6 to 9, senior international experts said Vietnam is increasingly viewed not as a conventional early-stage emerging market, but as a country exerting growing influence over…
Vietnam party chief Lam seeks dual role in shift toward China-style power model
Vietnam’s Communist Party chief To Lam is seeking to combine his top party post with the state presidency, a move that would significantly alter the country’s long-standing power-sharing arrangement and bring it closer to China’s political model.
Vietnam warns of nuclear power delays, seeks Russia deal by January after Japan pullout
Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh wants talks with Russia to build a nuclear power plant to wrap up this month and urged government officials to find new partners after Japan pulled out from a second project, the government said…
Should tourists pay to access beaches in Phu Quoc ?
Some visitors to Phu Quoc say their holiday came with an unexpected frustration: finding the beach meant passing through restaurants or hotels, with no clear public access.
Aviation sector competition set to intensify in 2026
With the launch of a new airline and the recovery made by a struggling one, Vietnamese air travel is set to see more competition this year, analysts said.
Vietnam PM asks Chinese conglomerate to build subway linking Tan Son Nhat and Long Thanh airports
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has asked China’s Pacific Construction Group to look into building an underground metro linking Tan Son Nhat Airport and Long Thanh Airport.
Nha Trang bar fined $1,900 after staff threatened foreign customers with shovels
A beachfront bar in the popular resort town of Nha Trang has been fined VND50 million (US$1,900) following a confrontation in which staff members used shovels and chairs to threaten foreign customers.
Foreign diplomats express confidence in Vietnam’s direction ahead of 14th Party Congress
As Vietnam approaches a defining political milestone, foreign diplomats have expressed strong confidence in the country’s leadership, development strategy and long-term vision, viewing the upcoming congress as a pivotal moment that will shape Vietnam’s next growth phase and strengthen its…
A decade of repression: How Việt Nam jailed dissidents, journalists, and rights defenders
On Dec. 31, 2025, a Vietnamese court convicted and sentenced prominent political dissident Nguyễn Văn Đài to 17 years in prison under Article 117, which criminalizes what the law terms “propagandizing against the state.”
‘Vietnam’s new industrial policy under Tô Lâm’: key takeaways
The 13th Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and the 15th National Assembly are nearing the end of their terms as 2025 approaches its final days. This final stretch offers a retrospective vantage point to take stock of…
Netflix pulls Chinese drama after Vietnam’s outcry over disputed map
Netflix has pulled a Chinese drama series from its Vietnam platform after Hanoi objected to an episode featuring a map with contested territorial claims in the South China Sea.
Vietnam faces a strategic crossroads in 2026
Vietnam is at a critical juncture in both its domestic politics and foreign relations. The 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam in late January 2026 will elect a new team to lead the government for the next…
Vietnam-Cambodia 1979 joint victory : Milestone of pure, steadfast international solidarity
President of the Cambodian Senate and President of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) Samdech Techo Hun Sen repeatedly affirmed that January 7 is the Cambodian people’s “second birthday”, and that Vietnam’s dispatch of volunteer troops to save Cambodia from genocide…
Vietnam’s new e-commerce law expected to curb online trade fraud
Between 2020 and 2025, authorities nationwide detected and handled about 120,000 – 190,000 cases of smuggling, trade fraud, and counterfeit goods each year, with trade fraud accounting for the largest share of around 79-88 percent.
Vietnam to ensure electronic civil status records for all foreign residents
Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung has signed a decision approving Vietnam’s national action plan on civil status registration and statistics for the 2026–2030 period, with the goal of fully digitizing civil status registration and management.
Vietnam’s economy grew by more than 8 percent in 2025, government says
The country also posted its highest-ever annual trade surplus with Washington, despite the US government’s recent imposition of a 20 percent tariff.
Hanoi proposes ending trains through iconic Train Street
Hanoi is proposing to stop passenger trains from running through the city’s famous railway coffee street, a move that could end one of Vietnam’s most talked-about tourist attractions.