Vietnam

11 island districts will be turned into “special zones”, areas directly managed by provinces with no district-level administration; This reform simplifies governance, boosts development, and strengthens national sovereignty in strategic maritime regions

A 360kg M117 bomb from the US-Vietnam War was safely defused in Quảng Bình Province, by a Mines Advisory Group team; Discovered by a local farmer, the bomb had over 1,5km blast radius; since 2002, MAG has removed over 57.600 explosive devices in the area

Vietnamese investors launched 10 new overseas projects as of Q1 2025, with total outbound investment reaching over $83 million, more than 5 times higher than the same period in 2024

1.000 Vietnamese nuclear specialists will be trained following an agreement between PM Phạm Minh Chính and Hungary's FM Péter Szijjártó; Vietnam aims for its first plant by 2030 and the deal strengthens its nuclear ambitions

The China Railway No.2 Group has proposed restoring Vietnam's 84-kilometer Da Lat-Thap Cham railway, which ceased operations in 1968; the plan was discussed with Lam Dong officials, who indicated that investment procedures would be outlined

Universities are launching AI programs to tackle talent shortage; HCMC University of Economics offers AI-driven digital business, the University of Economics and Law pioneers AI in e-commerce and more schools integrate AI into finance, banking, analytics

A mountain market in Ha Giang has become a YouTube hotspot, drawing vloggers and tourists; once a quiet trading hub, it now thrives online, with locals gaining fame and income from viral videos showcasing ethnic culture

Sa Đéc’s Flower Festival in Đồng Tháp province celebrates its heritage with displays of flowers, ornamental plants, and local goods; open until January 21, the festival strengthens its identity as the “City of Flowers"

41 organ donations from brain-dead individuals have ben performed in 2024, surpassing the combined total of the previous three years and reaching over 9.500 organ transplants nationwide since 1992, with demand for organ transplants still exceeding supply

Phạm Duy Khanh, a 39-year-old entrepreneur in Cà Mau, manages 60 hectares of melaleuca forest to attract wild bees, blending conservation with eco-tourism and sustainable travel, offering activities like honey harvesting and fishing

Da Nang’s People’s Committee plans to reclaim 300 hectares of sea to create Vietnam’s first integrated free trade zone; the project, a booster for economic development, is expected to contribute up to 25% of the city’s economic output by 2050

Vietnamese tycoon Trương Mỹ Lan, founder of Vạn Thịnh Phát, was sentenced to death for embezzling $12.5 billion via Saigon Joint Stock Commercial Bank; her sentence may be commuted to life if she repays 75% of the funds