Through favorable loan programs, ex-inmates can start small businesses or find stable employment; local authorities are collaborating with communities to offer moral and practical support to reduce recidivism and help former prisoners build better futures

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

In Quang Ngai, African swine fever outbreaks have disrupted pork supplies, a key ingredient for Tet, the celebrations for Lunar New Year; authorities are intensifying measures to control the disease and ensure enough pork is available for the holiday

The Bac Ninh festival celebrates 15 years of Quan Ho singing being recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage; known for its male-female duet style, Quan Ho is celebrated for its melodic richness and cultural importance