As 2026 approaches, Mang Den Commune, a highland tourism destination in Quang Ngai Province, central Vietnam, enters its most beautiful season of the year, with mild weather, endless stretches of pine forest, and blooming cherry blossoms, making it an ideal holiday getaway.

Vietnam and Russia have made notable progress in trade cooperation in recent years and are moving toward their goal of raising two-way trade to US$15 billion by 2030 as part of broader bilateral cooperation, Russian Trade Representative to Vietnam Viacheslav Kharinov said on Monday.

Authorities in Tan Hao Commune, Vinh Long Province, southern Vietnam have called for a temporary suspension of karaoke activities to create a quieter environment for students to prepare for their first-semester examinations.

The Vietnamese government has issued new regulations under which individuals who trade gold bullion with unlicensed organizations could face fines of up to VND20 million (US$761.4) as part of a new decree taking effect in early 2026.

The People’s Committee of Ca Mau, the southernmost province of Vietnam, has approved an investment plan for a large-scale waste-to-energy plant project with a total capital of over VND1.7 trillion (US$65 million).

Winter Storm Ezra disrupted holiday travel across the U.S. Northeast, Midwest and Great Lakes for a third straight day on Monday, causing thousands of flight delays and hundreds of cancellations as airlines scrambled to recover and meteorologists warned of a brewing «bomb cyclone» that could further snarl trips ahead of the New Year's holiday.

Ho Chi Minh City is pressing ahead with the development of a US$2 billion AI data center at Tan Phu Trung Industrial Park, forming a dedicated cross-agency task force to clear procedural hurdles and accelerate implementation of the project.

As Vietnam pushes toward making English a second language in schools, a leader of Ho Chi Minh City’s English-teaching community says the biggest challenges are not teacher ability but the conditions under which teachers work.

Museums in Ho Chi Minh City welcomed more than 4.46 million visitors in 2025, a year-on-year increase of 40 percent, reflecting growing public interest in cultural heritage and museum activities, heard a conference held at the Municipal Theater on Monday.

LONDON - Ask executives in the healthcare industry about the future market for weight-loss drugs and the analogies are telling: monthly GLP-1 medicine subscriptions like a streaming video membership; dose decisions managed on a smartphone app; access made as easy as buying a pair of Nikes.

Police in Quang Ninh Province, northern Vietnam on Monday evening successfully intervened to stop a distressed woman carrying her infant from jumping off the Bai Chay Bridge, preventing a potential tragedy and ensuring the safety of both mother and child.

Vietnam’s economic diplomacy secured nearly 350 agreements and commitments with international partners in 2025, contributing to national development, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said at a conference reviewing the foreign affairs sector’s performance this year, held in Hanoi on Monday.

Police in Ho Chi Minh City have helped a Turkish tourist recover a lost iPhone after he accidentally left it in a ride-hailing taxi, an incident highlighting ongoing efforts by local police to support residents and foreign visitors.

SYDNEY -- Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Monday an independent review into law enforcement agencies set up after the Bondi mass shooting will assess whether authorities could have taken additional steps to prevent the terror attack.

TOKYO -- A five-year-old boy died after becoming trapped in an escalator at a ski resort in Otaru in the northernmost Japan prefecture of Hokkaido, according to local police.

TOKYO -- The Japanese government is set to begin full procedures to select locations for casino-featuring integrated resorts following Osaka, western Japan.

Three young children drowned on Sunday after slipping into a coffee irrigation pond in Ea Kly Commune, Dak Lak Province, located in Vietnam’s Central Highlands, while swimming with friends, local authorities said, highlighting ongoing concerns over child drowning risks in rural regions.

State-owned commercial lender Vietcombank plans to increase the charter capital of Vietcombank Securities Company (VCBS) by VND10 trillion (US$380 million) to VND12.5 trillion ($474 million) from VND2.5 trillion ($94.8 million).

Asian stocks were at six-week highs on Monday, while the dollar hovered near its lowest in almost three months on expectations of the Federal Reserve cutting interest rates next year, which have also sparked a fierce rally in precious metals.

«Avatar: Fire and Ash» retained the top spot at the North American box office after it debuted the week before, reeling in $64 million during the weekend after Christmas, industry estimates showed Sunday.

Police in Ho Chi Minh City have detained five individuals and charged them with manufacturing and distributing hundreds of thousands of counterfeit bottles of Siang Pure Oil, a well-known Thai medicated oil brand.

JAKARTA -- A fire at a retirement home in the city of Manado on Indonesia's on Sulawesi island has killed 16 people, a local police official was quoted as saying on Monday by state news agency Antara.

GUATEMALA CITY - At least 15 people were killed and 19 injured after a passenger bus plunged into a ravine on the Inter-American Highway in western Guatemala, authorities said on Saturday.

A finance specialist who struggled after running in smog and a doctor who fears for the health of his children are among the activists spearheading landmark air pollution legislation in Thailand despite political uncertainty.

Ho Chi Minh City has been increasingly talking about ‘lifestyle economy’ as a new driver of growth, but for a metropolis of more than 10 million people, sustainable development must begin with the everyday rhythms of the majority of its residents.

The road leading to the peak of Bach Ma National Park in central Vietnam has been severely damaged by landslides following historic floods in October, bringing tourism to a near standstill and hampering forest protection patrols, local authorities said.

The Lion Championship 29 delivered a night of high-octane mixed martial arts (MMA) as Vietnamese and Chinese fighters went head-to-head in Hanoi on Saturday, with the marquee MMA Duo bout ending in an electrifying draw.

BEIJING - China's cyber regulator on Saturday issued draft rules for public comment that would tighten oversight of artificial intelligence services designed to simulate human personalities and engage users in emotional interaction.

Vietnam welcomes a new ceasefire reached between Thailand and Cambodia, expressing confidence that both countries will implement the accord effectively and continue peaceful negotiations to resolve their border disputes, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Saturday.

Vietnam’s automotive market is set to welcome two entirely new brands in 2026, with Lotus and Zeekr officially confirmed for launch.

JAKARTA - Fernando Martin, a coach with Valencia CF, has died with three members of his family after their boat capsized in Indonesia, Spanish football clubs said.

Good morning from Vietnam!

Schools in Ho Chi Minh City may allow students to take up to 14 days off for the 2026 Lunar New Year holiday, extending beyond the officially mandated 11-day break, according to guidance issued by the city’s education authority on Saturday.

A 47-year-old woman in Hanoi suffered severe chemical burns after a drain-cleaning product exploded while she was unclogging a toilet, prompting doctors at Hospital E to warn the public about the dangers of using corrosive household chemicals improperly.

Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defense has deployed equipment and more than 200 personnel to contain and clean up an oil spill at the Dung Quat Economic Zone in central Quang Ngai Province, officials said at a press briefing on Saturday.