Vietnam Morning Monitor: 2 fatal meningococcal cases’ infection source still unknown, thousands of Ho Chi Minh City students learn to guard against online scams

| SOCIETY

-- Dong Thap Province in southern Vietnam has approved a plan to expand a 25.88-kilometer section of National Highway 30 at a cost of more than VND1.455 trillion (US$56 million). The project will be funded by the central and provincial budgets and is scheduled for completion over four years. The expanded highway is expected to serve as a key transport link connecting areas of former Tien Giang Province, including My Tho, Cai Be and An Huu, with Cao Lanh, a former economic hub of Dong Thap, local authorities said on Saturday.

-- Heavy rain from Friday evening to early Saturday morning caused flooding in low-lying areas of Dak Lak Province and washed away a 15-meter road section in Phu Hoa 1 Commune. The damage temporarily disrupted traffic, making travel difficult for local residents. Meanwhile, residents in Son Hoa Commune, particularly those living near the Ba River, shared livestream footage showing rising river levels and water inundating low-lying areas, including some farmland.

-- Health authorities in Ca Mau Province are investigating two recent deaths linked to meningococcal disease in Song Doc Commune, but officials said there is currently no evidence that the cases are connected or share a common source of infection, the Ca Mau Center for Disease Control announced on Saturday.

-- Bui Hoang Phuong, chairman of Quang Tri Province’s administration, suggested deploying drones to support forest management, monitoring, and protection efforts across Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park during a meeting on Saturday with the park management board and relevant agencies. However, participants noted several challenges, including flight-permit procedures, equipment investment costs, operator training requirements, and the need for effective data-processing systems. As a result, the provincial leader proposed initially launching a pilot program in selected areas before considering broader implementation.

| ECONOMY

-- Lam Dong Province has agreed in principle to terminate the Saigon-Dai Ninh project, a long-delayed development with registered investment capital of VND25.243 trillion ($980 million), authorities said on Saturday. The 3,595-hectare project, officially known as the Dai Ninh Eco-Tourism, Resort and Commercial Urban Area and developed by Saigon-Dai Ninh Tourist Investment JSC, was initially scheduled for implementation from 2010 to 2018. The decision to terminate the project is based on court rulings and a provincial decision to reclaim all land allocated to it following violations of land regulations.

-- Hai Phong City plans to allocate more than VND38.76 trillion ($1.5 billion) in public investment in 2027, including more than VND2.428 trillion ($94 million) for projects supporting high-speed rail lines, according to a resolution recently approved by the municipal People’s Council.

| HO CHI MINH CITY

-- Thousands of university students in Ho Chi Minh City attended a cybersecurity event on Saturday to learn how to identify online scams, protect personal data and respond to digital threats. The program featured a workshop titled ‘Cyber Vanguard - Students’ Online Shield 2026,’ during which cybersecurity experts introduced students to common digital threats and scam tactics, as well as ways to protect themselves against online risks. Students also took part in hands-on activities involving simulated scenarios, allowing them to practice responding to increasingly sophisticated forms of online fraud.

Communal house in Vietnam's Central Highlands