Breakfast @ Tuoi Tre News - March 9

Check out the latest news in Vietnam today:

Society

-- A cold air mass is forecast to affect large parts of Vietnam on Monday, bringing rain and cooler conditions to the northern and central regions, while the south will remain mostly sunny.

-- Authorities in Da Nang have posted hotline numbers at all fuel stations across the coastal city and urged residents not to stockpile gasoline or diesel, citing fire hazards and stable supply.

Economy

-- Japanese department store operator Takashimaya plans to expand in Vietnam, betting on the country’s rising GDP and consumer demand, with profits from its Ho Chi Minh City mall expected to grow and a new project set for Hanoi.

-- Farmers in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta are facing mounting concerns as fuel and fertilizer prices surge while crop and aquaculture product prices remain stagnant, raising fears of losses in the upcoming harvests.

-- Fishermen and farmers in Vietnam’s Central Highlands and coastal provinces are also facing rising costs as fuel prices surge, threatening profits from both offshore fishing and agricultural production.

-- The Ministry of Finance has proposed reducing import tariffs on gasoline and diesel to zero percent to safeguard domestic supply amid global energy disruptions caused by Middle East tensions.

-- The Dung Quat oil refinery in Quang Ngai Province is operating at maximum capacity and diversifying crude sources, including imports from two major U.S. energy companies ExxonMobil and Chevron, to ensure stable fuel supply amid global energy market volatility.

Ho Chi Minh City

-- The 11th Japan Vietnam Festival in Ho Chi Minh City concluded on Sunday evening after two vibrant days filled with cultural exchange, attracting more than 400,000 visitors.