Ho Chi Minh City on Friday launched a citywide crackdown on the illegal occupation of sidewalks and roadways, as authorities seek to restore urban order in Vietnam’s largest metropolis.

Under Vietnam’s latest regulations, fines for keeping or letting dogs and cats roam freely in apartment buildings or public spaces have doubled. Yet on the ground, the problem appears far from resolved.

Ho Chi Minh City is seeking to deepen cooperation in science, technology, and innovation with South Korea’s Daegu, as city leaders highlighted more than a decade of close ties and outlined priorities ranging from high-tech development to smart city solutions.

Over decades, foreign investors have poured $180 billion into India via the tax haven of Mauritius. Now, an Indian court ruling is spooking investors as it could potentially reshape the M&A and investment landscape by strengthening New Delhi's hand against tax evasion.

Vietnam International Financial Center (IFC) must open its Ho Chi Minh City facility by February 9, a deadline set by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, who also urged ministries and local authorities to act decisively, assign clear responsibility, and avoid fragmented implementation as Vietnam moves to build a dual-location financial hub.

Police in Ho Chi Minh City have dismantled a large-scale ring that produced and sold more than 50 metric tons of pork disguised as high-priced specialty meat, arresting eight suspects in a case that authorities say poses serious risks to public health.

Hundreds of colorful kites filled the sky above My Hoa Beach in Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam on Friday as the province opened an international kiteboarding competition aimed at boosting sports tourism.

Hanoi police have dismantled a transnational phone scam ring involving eight foreign suspects, most of them South Koreans, accused of using a base in a high-end residential area of the Vietnamese capital to defraud victims in South Korea, authorities said.

A ride-hailing taxi driver tested positive for alcohol on Saturday morning as the Phu Lam Traffic Police Team, in coordination with An Lac Ward police, stepped up alcohol and drug checks on drivers of long-haul coaches, buses, and taxis before they left Mien Tay (Western) Bus Station in Ho Chi Minh City.

Colombia on Friday launched a $1.68 billion project to develop a so-called anti-drone shield to protect the country from attacks by unmanned drones operated by illegal armed groups, the defense minister said.

The Department of Science and Technology of Ca Mau, Vietnam’s southernmost province, is seeking research institutions and individuals to carry out a major scientific project aimed at conserving and developing seawater crab genetic resources, at an estimated cost of nearly VND9 billion (US$342,760).

YOKOHAMA -- A Japanese research team has launched a trial of 'anime therapy,' a method in which animated characters provide counseling to young people facing social challenges.

HANOI -- Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have agreed to work together on developing new artificial intelligence models and preparing related laws.

The Hanoi–Ho Chi Minh City air route held the fourth position among the world’s 10 busiest domestic flight routes in 2025, with more than 11 million seats scheduled, according to data released by UK-based global travel data provider OAG.

SEOUL -- A South Korean court on Friday sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to five years in prison on charges that included obstructing attempts by authorities to arrest him following his failed bid to impose martial law in December 2024.

Brazil's Labor Ministry has shut down three waste piles at Sigma Lithium's flagship mine in the state of Minas Gerais, citing a «grave and imminent» risk to workers and the local community, according to documents seen by Reuters.

Vietnam had about 1.4 million young people aged 15-24 who were not in employment, education or training (NEET) in the fourth quarter of 2025, representing 10.2 percent of the country’s total youth population, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO) under the Vietnamese Ministry of Finance.

Officials in the ancient town of Hoi An, located in Da Nang City, central Vietnam, are considering adopting a new international name to preserve its global cultural standing after recent administrative changes removed its formal city-level government.

Vietnam secured two gold awards and one bronze at the ASEAN Digital Awards (ADA) 2026, standing out among hundreds of regional entries with digital solutions spanning healthcare, banking innovation, and smart transportation.

Vietnam’s under-23 side believe composure and technical play can offset the physical edge of the United Arab Emirates when the teams meet in the quarterfinals of the AFC U23 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia on Friday.

The ‘Pho’ Museum, a new culinary space celebrating Vietnam’s most iconic dish, has officially opened to the public in Ho Chi Minh City.

SEOUL - Nearly 300 South Korean firefighters were battling a major fire on Friday in a deprived area of the upmarket Gangnam district of southern Seoul, a fire official said.

The Vietnam Blockchain and Digital Asset Association officially launched the Vietnam Digital Asset Investors Community, known as VIDA, in Hanoi on Thursday, heralding a new step toward promoting responsible participation in the country's fast-growing digital asset market.

TOKYO -- Japan's National Police Agency plans to endorse smartphone applications designed to help combat fraud, featuring functions such as blocking international calls and alerting users to potential scams.

TOKYO -- A Japanese government panel proposed in an opinion statement Wednesday that the government further discuss legislative facts to explain why acquisitions and use of domestic land by foreigners should be regulated in light of national security.

The Department of Employment has proposed supplementing the Labor Code with one official public holiday to institutionalize the Politburo’s decision to designate November 24 each year as Vietnam Culture Day, with full pay for employees.

Residents and workers were confronted with a scene of carnage on Wednesday as they rushed to try and rescue passengers after one of Thailand's worst rail accidents in decades.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has called for stronger efforts to accelerate social housing development, cut red tape, and gradually move real estate transactions to a digital platform, as Vietnam seeks to expand affordable housing supply and build a stable, transparent property market.

Police in Hai Phong City, northern Vietnam have pressed charges against Truong Sy Toan, chief executive officer of Halong Canfoco, along with three quality control employees, for their alleged serious violations of food safety regulations.

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Foreign visitor demand is accounting for a significant share of usage in Vietnam’s controlled pilot program allowing the conversion of digital assets into local currency, as the country launches its first crypto-to-fiat sandbox in the central city of Da Nang.

VinFast, the electric vehicle arm of Vietnam's largest private conglomerate Vingroup, delivered 175,099 electric vehicles in 2025, setting a new record in the domestic automotive market, the company announced on Tuesday.

TOKYO -- NTT Data Group Corp., Sumitomo Corp. and JA Mitsui Leasing Ltd. said Tuesday they have established a company to construct and operate a submarine communication cable connecting Japan, Malaysia and Singapore.

Vietnam’s economic growth outlook in 2026 will be shaped significantly by the progress and outcomes of tariff negotiations, according to experts from Standard Chartered, who suggest that non-manufacturing sectors could play a larger role in supporting growth amid positive credit conditions.

BANGKOK - A train derailed in northeastern Thailand on Wednesday after a construction crane fell on three of its carriages, killing at least 19 people and injuring about 80, police said.