Vietnam to scrap IELTS bonus points in university admissions from 2028
Education 20:56 13/11/2026Universities 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, under new regulations announced by the Ministry of Education and Training.
After 5 pregnancy losses, Hanoi mother welcomes 750-gram baby girl
Vietnam News 21:50 13/11/2026After five consecutive pregnancy losses following premature deliveries between 18 and 27 weeks of pregnancy, a 33-year-old woman in Hanoi has finally welcomed a baby girl weighing just 750 grams following a high-risk pregnancy.
Hanoi launches HanoiGo tourism platform with AI-powered itinerary planning
Travel 20:14 13/11/2026Hanoi has launched HanoiGo, a digital tourism platform that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to help visitors plan personalized sightseeing itineraries, explore destinations and access tourism services, according to the Hanoi Department of Science and Technology.
Tourists could be charged for overnight stays at Vietnam’s Dong Van Karst Plateau
Travel 19:37 13/11/2026Authorities in northern Vietnam’s Tuyen Quang Province are considering charging tourists VND30,000 (US$1.16) per person per night for overnight stays at the Dong Van Karst Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark to fund conservation and sustainable tourism.
Vietnam Spotlight Podcast: Man killed in UXO explosion, hundreds mobilized to search for missing Kuwaiti
Vietnam News 19:00 13/11/2026A 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 News 19:00 12/11/2026Ho 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 News 19:00 11/11/2026Authorities 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 News 19:00 08/11/2026Central 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.
Vietnam’s top leader’s Japan visit marks historic turning point in bilateral ties: former ambassador
In-Depth 22:07 12/11/2026Former 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 12/11/2026Platform 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 10/11/2026Ho 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 09/11/2026Every 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 09/11/2026Previously 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.
From world stages to home: Vietnam’s acclaimed bamboo circus hits Hanoi with regular shows
In-Depth 21:31 08/11/2026After traveling across 9 countries, performing in 50 cities, and captivating over 100,000 international spectators, Vietnam’s groundbreaking bamboo circus 'Lang Toi' (My Village) has officially returned home.
Ho Chi Minh City sets sights on becoming global city under 100-year master plan
In-Depth 19:24 06/11/2026Ho Chi Minh City is pursuing an ambitious vision to become a smart, modern, and globally competitive metropolis, with its population projected to reach between 18 million and more than 27 million by 2050.
Vietnam has opportunity to strengthen US trade ties amid Washington's post-midterm policy shift: ex-ambassador
In-Depth 22:20 05/11/2026Vietnam has an opportunity to strengthen its position as a strategic and trade partner of the U.S. amid a possible shift in Washington's approach to regional trade partners toward greater differentiation following the U.S. midterm elections, former U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper said.
Vietnam's longest wooden bridge in Dak Lak swept away by floods again
Vietnam News 22:02 13/11/2026Ong Cop Bridge, Vietnam's longest wooden bridge, has been almost entirely swept away by floodwaters in Dak Lak Province in the Central Highlands, leaving local residents facing a much longer journey between communities on either side of the Binh Ba River, according to local authorities.
2 foreign tourists rescued from hotel fire in Vietnam’s Da Lat
Vietnam News 21:35 13/11/2026Two foreign tourists trapped on the sixth floor of a hotel in Da Lat in Vietnam’s Central Highlands were safely rescued after a fire broke out on the fifth floor on Thursday evening.
Hanoi proposes expanding low-emission zones, tightening vehicle restrictions from 2027
Vietnam News 21:01 13/11/2026Hanoi is seeking to expand its low-emission zones to three areas in Hoan Kiem and Cua Nam Wards in 2027, with tighter vehicle emission requirements and restrictions on traffic during certain hours.
2 dead, 12 injured as suspected gas explosion collapses 2 houses in Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City 20:05 13/11/2026Two people died and 12 others were injured after a suspected gas explosion caused two adjoining houses to collapse in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday, with one victim suffering burns over 90 percent of his body.
Microsoft opens new office in Ho Chi Minh City after workforce cuts
Economy 19:23 13/11/2026Microsoft Vietnam has opened a new office in Ho Chi Minh City, reaffirming its long-term commitment to the country after 30 years of working with Vietnamese organizations and businesses, despite a round of workforce cuts last month.
Missing Kuwaiti tourist found dead near waterfall in Vietnam's Sa Pa
Vietnam News 19:13 13/11/2026The body of a 51-year-old Kuwaiti tourist who had been missing for nearly a week was found near a waterfall in Sa Pa, northern Vietnam, on Friday afternoon, local authorities confirmed.
Vietnam's Quang Ngai tightens Laos border controls to curb African swine fever
Vietnam News 19:12 13/11/2026Quang Ngai Province in central Vietnam is tightening controls along its border with Laos and stepping up inspections of pig transportation, collection, slaughter and trading activities to prevent African swine fever from spreading across the border, according to local authorities.
Vietnam Spotlight Podcast: Man killed in UXO explosion, hundreds mobilized to search for missing Kuwaiti
Vietnam News 19:00 13/11/2026A 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, Russia discuss peaceful nuclear energy cooperation
Vietnam News 17:44 13/11/2026Vietnam and Russia have discussed expanding cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, with an emphasis on safety, technology transfer and human resource training, heard a meeting between Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung and chairwoman of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of Russia Valentina Matviyenko in Hanoi on Thursday.
Free museums, cultural festivals: What to explore in Vietnam's Da Nang this November
Travel 17:44 13/11/2026Da Nang is giving tourists more reasons to explore beyond its beaches, with free museum admission on November 24 and a lineup of folk performances, craft demonstrations, and heritage exhibitions.
Australian man sells home to enjoy comfortable retirement in Vietnam
Expat Life 16:36 13/11/2026A holiday in Vietnam in 2022 turned into a life-changing experience for Steve Thompson, who later sold his home in Australia and moved to Khanh Hoa Province to enjoy a healthier and more fulfilling retirement.
Vietnam's longest wooden bridge in Dak Lak swept away by floods again
Vietnam News 22:02 13/11/2026Ong Cop Bridge, Vietnam's longest wooden bridge, has been almost entirely swept away by floodwaters in Dak Lak Province in the Central Highlands, leaving local residents facing a much longer journey between communities on either side of the Binh Ba River, according to local authorities.
2 foreign tourists rescued from hotel fire in Vietnam’s Da Lat
Vietnam News 21:35 13/11/2026Two foreign tourists trapped on the sixth floor of a hotel in Da Lat in Vietnam’s Central Highlands were safely rescued after a fire broke out on the fifth floor on Thursday evening.
Hanoi proposes expanding low-emission zones, tightening vehicle restrictions from 2027
Vietnam News 21:01 13/11/2026Hanoi is seeking to expand its low-emission zones to three areas in Hoan Kiem and Cua Nam Wards in 2027, with tighter vehicle emission requirements and restrictions on traffic during certain hours.
Missing Kuwaiti tourist found dead near waterfall in Vietnam's Sa Pa
Vietnam News 19:13 13/11/2026The body of a 51-year-old Kuwaiti tourist who had been missing for nearly a week was found near a waterfall in Sa Pa, northern Vietnam, on Friday afternoon, local authorities confirmed.
Vietnam's Quang Ngai tightens Laos border controls to curb African swine fever
Vietnam News 19:12 13/11/2026Quang Ngai Province in central Vietnam is tightening controls along its border with Laos and stepping up inspections of pig transportation, collection, slaughter and trading activities to prevent African swine fever from spreading across the border, according to local authorities.
2 dead, 12 injured as suspected gas explosion collapses 2 houses in Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City 20:05 13/11/2026Two people died and 12 others were injured after a suspected gas explosion caused two adjoining houses to collapse in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday, with one victim suffering burns over 90 percent of his body.
Dutch ambassador impressed by Ho Chi Minh City’s identity, rapid development
Ho Chi Minh City 14:35 13/11/2026Ho Chi Minh City has consistently impressed Dutch Ambassador to Vietnam Remco van Wijngaarden with its distinctive cultural identity and rapid development, heard a meeting on Thursday afternoon between Ho Chi Minh City vice-chairman Nguyen Manh Cuong and the newly-appointed ambassador.
Ordinary people, extraordinary kindness: Free services across Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City 22:09 12/11/2026Along Ho Chi Minh City’s streets, it is not uncommon to come across free drinking water, bread cabinets offering loaves at no cost, or repair shops willing to tighten a loose bolt or pump up a flat tire without charging for their labor.
More signs added to Ho Chi Minh City’s largest metro station to help passengers find exits
Ho Chi Minh City 21:40 12/11/2026Yellow directional signs showing street names, nearby landmarks and bus stops have been installed at exits of Ben Thanh Station on Ho Chi Minh City's Metro Line No. 1, making it easier for passengers to find their way above ground.
Ho Chi Minh City hospital to put surgical robot into operation
Ho Chi Minh City 19:11 12/11/2026Thu Duc General Hospital in northeastern Ho Chi Minh City is preparing to bring robotic surgery into its operating rooms as part of a major VND1.4 trillion (US$55 million) medical equipment upgrade.
