Vietnam Morning Monitor: Centuries-old shipwreck off Hoi An to be displayed in museum, Nha Trang bans beach soccer citing tourist safety concerns

| SOCIETY

-- Authorities in Nha Trang Ward, Khanh Hoa Province have banned soccer on the beach and a seaside park along Tran Phu Street, saying stray balls have repeatedly struck tourists and posed safety risks.

The new regulation is part of broader efforts to improve safety and preserve public space at one of Vietnam’s most popular beach destinations.

A local official said on Saturday that the decision was made after careful consideration of safety concerns raised by residents and visitors.

“Playing soccer on the beach does not guarantee safety for residents and tourists,” the official said.

“There have been cases where balls hit people who were swimming or sitting on the sand. Those situations can be dangerous.”

-- Police in Vinh Long Province have pressed charges against Dao Hong Thai, 45, for allegedly defrauding a woman identified as D.T.V., 53, from Ho Chi Minh City of more than VND11 billion (US$429,130) by promising to help purchase a home overseas but allegedly using the money for personal expenses instead.

The provincial police agency announced on Saturday that it had issued a decision to detain Thai for four months while investigating allegations of fraud and asset appropriation.

-- Da Nang City has achieved full mobile and internet coverage across all 143 previously underserved villages and residential clusters, including some of the central Vietnamese city's most remote communities, by deploying new telecom infrastructure and Starlink satellite internet services, Nguyen Thanh Hong, head of the Da Nang Department of Science and Technology, said on Saturday.

The elimination of coverage gaps is expected to help mountainous communities access online public services, digital education and healthcare, e-commerce and other services that support daily life and production.

-- A centuries-old shipwreck discovered off Hoi An in Da Nang City in late 2023 could be excavated and relocated intact to Hoi An Museum in March 2027, where it would undergo an estimated two-year preservation process before being displayed.

The Da Nang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has submitted a proposal to the municipal administration outlining emergency protection, excavation and conservation plans for the wreck, which was found in a coastal area of Hoi An Tay Ward.

The vessel, believed to date from the 14th to 16th centuries, has remained beneath the sand along the Hoi An coast. It has repeatedly emerged and been buried again by waves over the past three years.

| ECONOMY

-- Vietnam and Japan have agreed to accelerate market access procedures for agricultural products, with both sides aiming to open their markets to Vietnamese pomelos and Japanese grapes by the 2027 harvest season.

The agreement was reached during talks on Friday between Vietnamese Minister of Agriculture and Environment Trinh Viet Hung and Japanese Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Takebe Arata.

Japan proposed speeding up market access for products including pomelos, grapes, peaches and passion fruit.

It also requested discussions on imports of puffer fish, pork, beef and chicken products.

Japan additionally urged Vietnam to shorten the approval process for Japanese seafood exporters.

| HO CHI MINH CITY

-- Authorities in Vung Tau Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, are renovating several roads around Bai Sau Beach to improve the urban landscape and create a more open connection to Tam Thang Square and its landmark tower.

The ward’s administration said on Saturday that the project comprises three main components: renovating an extended section of Le Hong Phong Street, upgrading the sidewalk and triangular traffic island at the intersection of Vo Thi Sau and Le Hong Phong streets, and resurfacing Da Tuong Street.

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