Vietnam Spotlight Podcast: Unusual haze blankets Ho Chi Minh City, 40-hour workweek not ready for private sector
Vietnam News 19:00 16/09/2026Haze has reduced visibility across Ho Chi Minh City and southern Vietnam despite unfavorable weather conditions for its formation. The Ministry of Home Affairs said the country is not ready to mandate a shorter workweek for the private sector. Rising food prices are squeezing household budgets in Ho Chi Minh City. And more in our podcast.
Vietnam Spotlight Podcast: H'Mong beef to be branded like Kobe beef, foreigners arrested after attempted gold shop robbery
Vietnam News 19:00 15/09/2026Vietnam is working to develop H'Mong cattle and deer antler velvet into premium branded products comparable to Kobe beef and Korean ginseng. Airport police found five usable 12.7mm military-grade bullets in a passenger's checked baggage at Tan Son Nhat International Airport. Four foreign nationals were arrested after an attempted gold shop robbery in Dak Lak Province. And more in our podcast.
Vietnam Spotlight Podcast: In Vietnam, banks offer gold, villas to attract deposits, Vietnam proposes 4-day National Day holiday in 2027
Vietnam News 19:00 14/09/2026Vietnamese banks are offering high deposit rates, gold and luxury villas to attract savers amid a widening gap between deposits and loans. Vietnam's Ministry of Home Affairs has proposed a four-day National Day holiday in 2027, running from September 2 to 5. Hanoi will begin teaching AI to all students from grade 1 starting the 2026-27 school year. And more in our podcast.
Vietnam Spotlight Podcast: Petrovietnam subsidiary exports first offshore wind equipment to Europe, local tilapia enters Japan's sashimi market
Vietnam News 16:39 13/09/2026Petrovietnam’s subsidiary ships its first locally made offshore wind substations to Europe. Mekong Delta tilapia enters Japan's high-end sashimi market. Vietnam launches the Data for Life 2026 competition in Singapore. Vietnamese consumers favor the iPhone 18 Pro Max over the new foldable iPhone Duo. All in our podcast.
Vietnam Spotlight Podcast: 4-day break proposed for Vietnamese Culture Day, Vietnam targets up to 50 million foreign tourists by 2030
Vietnam News 19:00 12/09/2026Vietnam sets 3 tourism growth scenarios, with top target of 50 million foreign visitors by 2030. Ho Chi Minh City's hospitality sector faces widening labor gap. Vietnam launches national child protection program for 2026-30. Ministry proposes 4-day break for Vietnamese Culture Day in November.
Vietnam Spotlight Podcast: 'Sleep pods' raise fire safety concerns, Vietravel Airlines signs deal for 50 Airbus jets
Vietnam News 19:00 11/09/2026Heavy rainfall forecasts for central Vietnam remain uncertain. 2.4-square-meter 'sleep pods' raise fire safety concerns in Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam's Vietravel Airlines signs deal to buy 50 Airbus aircraft. Graffiti seen again on walls along downtown Ho Chi Minh City street.
Vietnam Spotlight Podcast: Vietnam seeks bigger role for nighttime tourism, TikTok affiliate invests $196 million in Ho Chi Minh City logistics project
Vietnam News 19:00 10/09/2026Vietnam is seeking to expand nighttime tourism offerings to give visitors more memorable experiences and encourage longer stays and higher spending. A TikTok affiliate has contributed US$196 million to a nearly $1 billion logistics project in Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnamese parents in several cities are struggling to find textbooks days after the new school year began. And more in our podcast.
Vietnam Spotlight Podcast: Vietnam among region's strongest hiring markets, Ford Ranger recalled over airbag bracket issue
Vietnam News 19:00 09/09/2026Vietnam has emerged as one of the most optimistic hiring markets in the Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions for the fourth quarter, even as employers struggle to find skilled workers. The country’s declining birth rate could shrink the workforce and accelerate population aging in the coming decades. Ford Ranger vehicles in Vietnam are being recalled over an airbag bracket issue. And more in our podcast.
Vietnam Spotlight Podcast: Vietnam seeks role in South Korea's AI, chip projects, Ho Chi Minh City to pilot English program for preschoolers
Vietnam News 19:00 08/09/2026Vietnam's National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and South Korea's prime minister agreed to create opportunities for Vietnam to join major South Korean semiconductor and AI projects. Ho Chi Minh City will pilot an integrated English education program for preschoolers starting in the 2026-27 school year. Leipzig has proposed a direct flight route to Ho Chi Minh City to boost tourism and trade. And more in our podcast.
Vietnam Spotlight Podcast: Expats face fines up to $1,920 for housing violations, Toyota urges Vietnam to allow hybrids in low-emission zones
Vietnam News 19:00 07/09/2026Foreign homeowners in Vietnam face fines of up to $1,920 for violating housing ownership regulations under a new decree. Toyota Vietnam has urged the government to recognize hybrid vehicles alongside electric vehicles in future low-emission zones in Ho Chi Minh City. Vietnam Airlines added flights to Jakarta as the city's airport reopens after volcanic ash disruption. And more in our podcast.
Vietnam Spotlight Podcast: Woman gives birth on flight to Ho Chi Minh City, local tech startups incorporate overseas amid unclear rules
Vietnam News 19:00 06/09/2026A pregnant passenger gave birth aboard a Vietnam Airlines flight from Copenhagen to Ho Chi Minh City, prompting a diversion to Yangon, Myanmar. Lien Khuong International Airport in Da Lat will stop routine passenger announcements starting October 1. Vietnamese tech founders say unclear regulations are pushing startups to incorporate overseas. And more in our podcast.
Vietnam Spotlight Podcast: 26 million students start new school year, Hanoi’s iconic ice cream closes flagship store
Vietnam News 19:00 05/09/2026More than 26 million students across Vietnam began the 2026-27 academic year. Hanoi’s famed Trang Tien Ice Cream is preparing to vacate its flagship store after nearly seven decades. Over 43,000 companies exited the Ho Chi Minh City market in the first eight months of the year. And more in our podcast.
