Vietnam Morning Monitor: Ho Chi Minh City braces for flooding, university lecturers linked to fake diploma ring

| SOCIETY

-- Ho Chi Minh City is bracing for widespread flooding as high tides are forecast to rise rapidly and peak between October 26 and 28, according to the Southern Regional Hydrometeorological Center.

Water levels are expected to reach 1.7-1.75 meters at Phu An and Nha Be stations and 1.8-1.85 meters at Thu Dau Mot station, exceeding the highest flood warning level.

Peak tides are expected between 5:00 am and 7:00 am and again between 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm, with heavy rain potentially worsening flooding in low-lying and riverside areas and disrupting traffic.

-- The remains of 91 fallen soldiers were recovered at Le Thi Rieng Park in Ho Chi Minh City between October 15 and 23, including 22 sets accompanied by personal artifacts, according to the Ho Chi Minh City Military Command. The latest discoveries bring the total number of sets of remains recovered at the park since June 23 to 822. Of these, 789 were found individually and 33 at eight mass burial sites. Search and recovery operations are continuing.

-- Hanoi police have launched criminal proceedings against 10 suspects, including two female university lecturers, for their alleged involvement in a nationwide forgery ring that produced and sold nearly 1,500 fake diplomas and certificates, generating almost VND3 billion (US$116,000) in illegal profits since 2024.

Police said the ring advertised forged documents through Facebook groups and websites, charging VND1-2 million ($38.7-77.4) per document. Eight suspects have been detained, while the two lecturers have been barred from leaving their places of residence as investigations continue.

-- The United Nations has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Vietnam's development goals during a meeting between Prime Minister Le Minh Hung and UN Resident Coordinator Pauline Tamesis and representatives of UN agencies in Hanoi on Friday, ahead of United Nations Day on October 24. The prime minister called for greater UN support in science, technology, artificial intelligence, green growth, energy transition, and human resource development.

Both sides also discussed finalizing the Vietnam-UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for 2027-31, while representatives of WHO, UNESCO, FAO, and UNDP pledged continued assistance in healthcare, education, sustainable agriculture, and climate action.

| ECONOMY

-- The LNG-powered container ship YM WAYFINDER, operated by Taiwanese shipping company Yang Ming, made its maiden call at Tan Cang-Cai Mep International Terminal (TCIT) in southern Vietnam on Friday.

Equipped with a high-pressure dual-fuel engine, the vessel can run on either liquefied natural gas (LNG) or low-sulfur fuel oil. Its arrival underscores the Cai Mep-Thi Vai deep-water port complex's capacity to accommodate large, environmentally friendly container ships, supporting the global maritime industry's green transition.

| SPORTS

-- Vietnamese gamer Pham Anh Tu, competing under the name FPLxChanh, advanced to the quarterfinals of the FC Pro Mobile World Championship 2026 after defeating Brazil's Reiss06 2-0 in the round of 16 in Seoul, South Korea on Friday. The victory secured him a place among the world's top eight players and guaranteed at least US$10,000 in prize money.

-- Vietnam's pickleball players have been eliminated from the PPA Tour Asia 1500 Hong Kong Slam 2026 after Do Minh Quan and Truong Vinh Hien lost 4-11, 2-11 to Federico Staksrud and Hayden Patriquin in the men's doubles quarterfinals on Friday. The defeat left Vietnam without a medal at the season-ending tournament.

| ENTERTAINMENT

-- South Korea’s BigBang are set to perform at My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi on October 24 and 25, as fans flock to the venue to collect wristbands and take photos ahead of the shows.

The concerts are part of BigBang's 2026–27 world tour celebrating the group's 20th debut anniversary, marking its first world tour as a group in nine years. Fans have also drawn attention on social media by dressing up as the members and recreating their signature looks.

Tuyen Quang enters buckwheat flower season