Heritage train service between Hanoi and Vietnam's renowned tea land officially launched

Heritage train service between Hanoi and Vietnam's renowned tea land officially launched

Travel 19:29 14/11/2026

A new heritage train connecting Hanoi and Thai Nguyen Province officially began regular weekend operations on Saturday, offering travelers a cultural journey into northern Vietnam's famous tea-growing region, with package tours starting at just VND790,000 (US$30.75).

Diabetes cases rise rapidly in Vietnam, 55% of patients have complications

Diabetes cases rise rapidly in Vietnam, 55% of patients have complications

Vietnam News 18:07 14/11/2026

The number of people living with diabetes in Vietnam continues to climb, with 55 percent of patients already having complications and around 60 percent of cases remaining undiagnosed, according to the Hanoi-based National Hospital of Endocrinology.

Hydropower reservoirs in northern Vietnam may lack water for power generation in early summer 2027

Hydropower reservoirs in northern Vietnam may lack water for power generation in early summer 2027

Vietnam News 20:44 14/11/2026

Water supplies at seven major hydropower reservoirs in northern Vietnam may fall short of electricity generation needs from May or June 2027 due to a very strong El Nino, with the worst-case scenario projecting a shortage of up to 4.2 billion cubic meters for domestic use and environmental needs.

Ho Chi Minh City to offer students free English, AI, STEM classes and school meals

Ho Chi Minh City to offer students free English, AI, STEM classes and school meals

Ho Chi Minh City 15:53 14/11/2026

Students at public schools and educational institutions in Ho Chi Minh City are expected to receive free instruction in subjects including English, STEM, artificial intelligence, life skills, arts and sports, as well as free lunch meals.

Vietnam Spotlight Podcast: Man killed in UXO explosion, hundreds mobilized to search for missing Kuwaiti

Vietnam Spotlight Podcast: Man killed in UXO explosion, hundreds mobilized to search for missing Kuwaiti

Vietnam News 19:00 13/11/2026

A man was found dead following a loud explosion at his home in Da Nang City, and authorities seized four metal objects suspected to be 105 millimeter warheads left over from wartime. Authorities in Sa Pa have mobilized around 250 people to search for a Kuwaiti tourist who has been missing since November 7. And more in our podcast.

Vietnam Spotlight Podcast: 5 more Ho Chi Minh City housing projects cleared for foreign ownership, TikToker honored for reimagining traditional markets

Vietnam Spotlight Podcast: 5 more Ho Chi Minh City housing projects cleared for foreign ownership, TikToker honored for reimagining traditional markets

Vietnam News 19:00 12/11/2026

Ho Chi Minh City has approved five additional commercial housing projects for foreign ownership, bringing the total to nearly 170. A TikToker with 4.7 million followers was honored for reimagining Vietnam’s traditional markets for the digital generation. And more in our podcast.

Vietnam Spotlight Podcast: Phu Quoc tightens vehicle rentals after tourist crashes; smartphone ban proposed for under-16s

Vietnam Spotlight Podcast: Phu Quoc tightens vehicle rentals after tourist crashes; smartphone ban proposed for under-16s

Vietnam News 19:00 11/11/2026

Authorities on Phu Quoc Island are tightening controls on self-drive vehicle rentals after four traffic accidents involving foreign nationals this year. A National Assembly deputy has proposed studying a smartphone ban for children under 16. And more in our podcast.

Vietnam Spotlight Podcast: Man arrested over $426,000 overseas property scam, central region braces for 700mm torrential rain

Vietnam Spotlight Podcast: Man arrested over $426,000 overseas property scam, central region braces for 700mm torrential rain

Vietnam News 19:00 08/11/2026

Central Vietnam braces for torrential rain of over 700mm. Man arrested over US$426,000 overseas property scam. Nha Trang bans beach soccer after stray balls hit tourists. Expprts to West Africa face additional $800 per container surcharge. All in our podcast.

Ho Chi Minh City opens door to two-way partnerships with content creators

Ho Chi Minh City opens door to two-way partnerships with content creators

Ho Chi Minh City 22:06 14/11/2026

Ho Chi Minh City is encouraging content creators and digital media companies not only to help promote culture and tourism but also to propose projects and ideas directly to the city, creating a two-way partnership to develop commercially valuable cultural products.

Authorities warn visitors against unauthorized rope-swinging at Otuksa Waterfall in Vietnam's An Giang

Authorities warn visitors against unauthorized rope-swinging at Otuksa Waterfall in Vietnam's An Giang

Travel 21:42 14/11/2026

Local authorities in An Giang Province, Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, have warned visitors against attempting a dangerous rope-swinging activity at Otuksa Waterfall on Cam Mountain after a group of people were filmed tying ropes and swinging down the steep waterfall, an unauthorized activity that poses safety risks.

Vietnam among 3 countries with startups winning prizes totaling $585,000 at Net Zero Challenge 2026

Vietnam among 3 countries with startups winning prizes totaling $585,000 at Net Zero Challenge 2026

Economy 19:58 14/11/2026

Vietnam is among three countries whose climate tech startups have won top prizes worth a combined US$585,000 at the Net Zero Challenge 2026, a global climate technology innovation competition, with Vietnamese startup Phuc Sang Minh Gas taking first place in the circular economy and waste management category.

Vietnam Spotlight Podcast: Ho Chi Minh City seeks to turn concerts into tourism products, Vietnam to scrap IELTS bonus points in university admissions from 2028

Vietnam Spotlight Podcast: Ho Chi Minh City seeks to turn concerts into tourism products, Vietnam to scrap IELTS bonus points in university admissions from 2028

Vietnam News 19:00 14/11/2026

Ho Chi Minh City aims to link concerts and festivals with sightseeing, food, shopping and entertainment to extend visitors’ stays and increase their spending. Universities in Vietnam will no longer be allowed to award bonus points to applicants holding IELTS certificates or other foreign language qualifications from the 2028 admission cycle. And more in our podcast.

4 charged in fake trademark case at major gold shops in Vietnam’s Quy Nhon

4 charged in fake trademark case at major gold shops in Vietnam’s Quy Nhon

Vietnam News 17:50 14/11/2026

Police in Gia Lai Province, central Vietnam have charged four people in connection with the alleged sale of counterfeit luxury-brand jewelry at three major gold shops in Quy Nhon, after authorities seized hundreds of fake products worth over VND3.42 billion (US$133,275), authorities announced on Saturday.

Video: Traditional rattan weaving, hat making sustain livelihoods in Quang Tri village

Video: Traditional rattan weaving, hat making sustain livelihoods in Quang Tri village

Vietnam News 16:13 14/11/2026

More than 500 households in La Ha Village, Quang Tri Province, continue to earn a living from rattan weaving and conical hat making, two traditional crafts passed down through generations.

IELTS no longer earns bonus points: Is it still worth the investment?

IELTS no longer earns bonus points: Is it still worth the investment?

Education 16:11 14/11/2026

IELTS certificates will earn applicants fewer bonus points in Vietnam's university admissions from 2027, before the incentive is abolished entirely in 2028. However, education experts said the qualification can still offer advantages in admissions and university studies beyond additional points.

African swine fever forces culling of 4,453 pigs in Vietnam's Vinh Long

African swine fever forces culling of 4,453 pigs in Vietnam's Vinh Long

Vietnam News 15:14 14/11/2026

African swine fever has spread to 39 communes and wards in Vinh Long Province since the beginning of 2026, prompting the culling of 4,453 pigs weighing more than 254 tonnes in total.

Are foreigners treated differently when it comes to prices in Vietnam?

Are foreigners treated differently when it comes to prices in Vietnam?

In-Depth 15:11 14/11/2026

Some foreigners in Vietnam said they have been quoted higher prices than locals for the same goods and services, while others believe the difference is understandable or simply part of everyday bargaining.

Vietnam's Quang Ninh welcomes 5 millionth foreign visitor, 1 mln to go to reach target

Vietnam's Quang Ninh welcomes 5 millionth foreign visitor, 1 mln to go to reach target

Travel 15:05 14/11/2026

Quang Ninh City, northern Vietnam, welcomed its 5 millionth international visitor of 2026 at Ha Long International Cruise Port on Saturday morning, marking a milestone in the northern province’s tourism growth.

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Are foreigners treated differently when it comes to prices in Vietnam?

In-Depth 15:11 14/11/2026

Some foreigners in Vietnam said they have been quoted higher prices than locals for the same goods and services, while others believe the difference is understandable or simply part of everyday bargaining.

Vietnam’s top leader’s Japan visit marks historic turning point in bilateral ties: former ambassador

In-Depth 22:07 12/11/2026

Former Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Cuong, who served as Vietnam’s ambassador to Japan from 2015 to 2018, has described General Secretary and State President To Lam’s visit to Japan as a historic turning point, ushering bilateral relations into an entirely new phase.

Flexible jobs, fragile livelihoods: Vietnam's ride-hailing drivers face a dilemma

In-Depth 09:44 12/11/2026

Platform economy offers ride-hailing drivers flexible earning opportunities, but as more workers rely on these jobs for a living, unstable incomes and limited social protection raise concerns about their long-term financial security.

Ho Chi Minh City's 100-year master plan: Tourism must be part of urban restructuring

In-Depth 19:10 10/11/2026

Ho Chi Minh City's master plan for 2025-50, with a 100-year vision, is not merely about expanding urban space. It also calls for restructuring the city's growth model and pursuing sustainable development.

Overnight journey of Mekong Delta patients and the fear of 'missed prescriptions'

In-Depth 22:27 09/11/2026

Every night, as darkness falls over the rural hamlets of the Mekong Delta, long-distance buses from Ca Mau, Dong Thap, and Can Tho rumble to life, traveling hundreds of kilometers straight to Ho Chi Minh City, carrying streams of patients seeking medical care. Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper reporters accompanied them on this journey in search of a chance at survival.

Same country, different realities: Which Vietnam are you navigating?

In-Depth 21:39 09/11/2026

Previously I wrote about an interesting paradox: Vietnam had ranked fifth among the world's best destinations for expatriates in the 2025 Expat Insider survey, yet many foreigners who enjoyed living here still stumbled at work.