Vietnam

Vietnam’s first Cultures of the World Festival will start today at the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long in Hanoi; 48 embassies and international organizations present national cultural spaces with food, arts, films, books, and performances

80th National Day has been marked with largest military parade in decades at Ba Dinh Square, featuring over 200 land vehicles, 30 aircraft, and more than 40 naval vessels, with international contingents from China, Russia, Laos and Cambodia

The largest administrative reform in decades has been announced: Vietnam will merge provinces and eliminate the district level, reducing local government units by up to 50%, as part of wider governance restructuring

Plans have started for the evacuation of over half a million people and all boats are ordered to stay ashore as Vietnam braces for an intensifying Typhoon Kajiki

State budget revenue soared to over 1.572 trillion VND (60,4 billion USD) in the first seven months of 2025, hitting 79,9% of the annual target, +27,4% year-on-year, the Ministry of Finance reported; of 34 provinces, 24 exceeded their targets

Plans to ban fossil-fuel motorcycles and mopeds in central Hanoi have been announced to reduce pollution; The move supports the shift to electric vehicles, led by local firm VinFast, but raises concerns over its social impact on low-income workers

The country is seeking to build up domestic supply chains upon pressure by the US, that urge Vietnam to reduce reliance on Chinese-made tech components in the devices assembled locally and exported to the US ahead of a 46% tariff deadline on 8 July

Nguyen Nhu Kon Tum Primary School for Pedagogical Practice became a model of excellence, piloting new Vietnam’s Grade 5 innovative education curriculum focused on teaching quality, digital learning, and student well-being; All pupils met learning goals

Vietnam signed with Russia a roadmap for nuclear cooperation until 2030: plans include a nuclear tech center in Dong Nai, fuel supply for Da Lat reactor and training programs; Talks also began on Vietnam’s first nuclear power plant using VVER-1200 tech

To modernize agriculture, the Ministry of Agriculture is focusing on smart farming, digital land mapping, and AI monitoring; In Bắc Ninh, local authorities support eco-friendly tech to boost yields, cut labor, and lower emissions

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