Hundreds of visitors, including international tourists, gathered at Phu Yen Square in Tuy Hoa Ward, Dak Lak Province, located in Vietnam's Central Highlands, on Friday evening to watch chefs fillet a giant ocean tuna and enjoy freshly served sashimi free of charge.

Heavy rain swept across Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday afternoon following a prolonged period of hot and dry weather, bringing temporary relief as thunderstorms developed across southern Vietnam.

Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City confirmed that the body of a South Korean businessman was recovered on Saturday, more than a day after he went missing while paddle-boarding on Da Den Lake.

TOKYO -- Japan started releasing on Friday additional state oil reserves equivalent to about 20 days of domestic consumption, amid crude oil procurement concerns brought on by the de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.

OTSUCHI, IWATE PREF., --The northeastern Japan town of Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, declared Saturday that the forest fire that broke out on April 22 has come under control.

Australia's government said on Saturday it was worried about a plague of mice in the west and would keep working with industry to curb its impact on food supply.

WASHINGTON -- The United States is withdrawing 5,000 troops from NATO ally Germany, the Pentagon announced on Friday, as a rift over the Iran war widens between President Donald Trump and Europe.

Vietnam’s Party General Secretary and State President To Lam will lead a high-level delegation on a state visit to India from May 5 to 7 at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

A Vietnamese motorcycle racer died after crashing during a national competition in Can Tho City, southern Vietnam earlier this week.

A Vietnamese taxi driver who took his five-year-old daughter to work due to childcare constraints has drawn widespread attention after a dashcam video of his encounter with a South Korean passenger was broadcast on major South Korean television channels.

The Vietnam Food Safety Authority has ordered Quang Tri Province to investigate a mass food poisoning incident that sent 64 people to the hospital after they ate 'banh mi’ bought from a local shop.

Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae arrived in Hanoi on Friday evening for a three-day official visit at the invitation of Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, marking her first trip to the Southeast Asian country since taking office last October.

Two people died after a car caught fire while preparing to refuel at a gas station in Da Nang City, central Vietnam, police said on Saturday, with preliminary findings showing the vehicle was carrying multiple batteries and battery packs.

World Health Organization member states said on Friday they had extended talks on pathogen-sharing rules, casting doubt on when a pandemic treaty adopted last year can come into effect.

France and Germany sent firefighting units to the Netherlands on Friday to help battle woodland blazes flaring in several areas.

MEXICO CITY -- A holiday Labor Day weekend turned tragic on Friday as at least 11 people died and 31 others were injured when a tourist bus crashed in Mexico's western state of Nayarit.

Vietnam’s tourism sector is shifting its focus from visitor numbers to higher spending and repeat travel, as businesses and policymakers push premium products and infrastructure upgrades to drive revenue growth.

A wave of South Korean and Thai celebrities visited Vietnam in late April, sharing images from trips to destinations such as Phu Quoc, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang that drew widespread attention on social media.

Authorities in Ca Mau Province, southern Vietnam have approved a zoning plan to develop eco-tourism, resorts, and recreational facilities across more than 1,300 hectares of U Minh Ha National Park by 2030.

Vietnam’s Traffic Police Department reported a significant decline in road accidents nationwide on Thursday, the first day of the four-day holiday marking Reunification Day (April 30) and International Workers’ Day (May 1).

Many Vietnamese companies are moving beyond contract manufacturing and increasingly supplying components and technology to global industries including electronics, semiconductors and aviation, according to company executives.

KAMPALA -- A Ugandan court sentenced a man to death on Thursday for killing four young children this month at a nursery school, in an attack that sparked public outrage and concern for pupils' safety in the East African country.

Gold was steady in thin trading on Friday, but was on course for a weekly decline as higher oil prices fuelled inflation worries and expectations of higher-for-longer interest rates.

Happy International Workers’ Day!

Authorities in Ly Son Special Zone, an island off Quang Ngai Province in central Vietnam, have issued a warning urging visitors not to climb the volcanic rock arch known as To Vo Gate to take photos, citing risks to both tourist safety and the preservation of the national heritage site.

Two people were killed in a house fire early on Thursday at a combined residence and bakery in Son La Province, northern Vietnam, police said.

Forest rangers have returned 144 wild animals, representing 19 species, to their natural habitat at U Minh Thuong National Park in An Giang Province, southern Vietnam, officials announced on Thursday.

Vietnam’s Ministry of Health has proposed fines of up to VND30 million (US$1,140) for individuals who spread misleading or unverified medical information online, aiming to curb dangerous health claims circulating on social media.

The Son Tra Peninsula and Da Nang Beaches Management Board in Da Nang City on Thursday hosted the Da Nang International Lifesaving Championship 2026, bringing together professional rescue teams from Vietnam and abroad.

TOKYO -- Tokyo police placed a 44-year-old man on the public wanted list Thursday, a day after he attacked two high school students with a hammer and sprayed liquid at police officers responding to the incident in Fussa in Tokyo.

Vietnam’s Ministry of Education and Training has unveiled a draft circular introducing tighter requirements for the recognition of foreign-awarded academic degrees, particularly doctorates, in an effort to address inconsistencies and prevent misuse.

SEOUL - Samsung Electronics on Thursday reported record quarterly profit driven by a 49-fold jump in chip income, saying it expects the momentum to continue as clients spend on AI infrastructure and drive up prices of its memory chips.

JAKARTA -- When Harum Anjarsari's husband finally got through to her phone, he did not hear her, but instead, rescue workers who said they pulled the device from the debris of one of two ill-fated trains that collided outside the Indonesian capital.

The Vietnamese government has issued eight new resolutions aimed at cutting red tape, decentralizing authority and simplifying administrative procedures and business conditions across a wide range of sectors.

Ho Chi Minh City will continue operating temporary public parks on vacant land plots that have been upgraded into green spaces, the city authorities said.