TOKYO -- Asian black bear sightings in Japan from April to November 2025 totaled 47,038, marking the highest figure since comparable data became available in fiscal 2009, according to the Environment Ministry.

TOKYO -- Japan's program to effectively eliminate high school tuition from fiscal 2026 is heightening concerns among public high schools that a shift toward private education will increase further.

The government of Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has effectively walked back the previous administration's policy of expanding production of rice, Japan's staple food, under pressure from farming groups.

A fire erupted at a seven-story house in Hanoi on Thursday morning, leaving one person injured after he jumped from a height to escape the flames.

Hundreds of workers are racing to meet construction milestones at Hanoi’s new West Lake Opera House, a landmark cultural project with a total investment of more than VND12.7 trillion (US$483.5 million).

Many hospitals in northern Vietnam are reporting a growing number of peripheral facial nerve paralysis cases, mostly caused by cold exposure, as the region experiences its coldest weather since the start of winter.

SHANGHAI - Furniture retailer IKEA is closing seven stores in China from February 2, it said in a statement on Wednesday.

Good morning from Vietnam!

The National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion under the Ministry of Health will need about 122,000 units of blood in the first three months of 2026 to treat patients at more than 180 medical facilities across northern Vietnam.

Foreign investors and local businesses should act quickly and step up investment in various key sectors in Vietnam, focusing on value-chain upgrading, ecosystem development, reliability, and sustainability, John Low, managing partner for Southeast Asia at Roland Berger, told the Vietnam Vanguard Summit 2026, held in Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday.

TOKYO -- Volunteers from Japan's Children and Families Agency have launched an awareness-raising campaign to alleviate the anxiety of children who struggle to talk about their problems with adults.

In the early days of 2026, many public spaces across Ho Chi Minh City have taken on a fresh new look, with flowers, decorative installations and greenery drawing large numbers of residents and visitors for strolls and photo-taking.

Japan's Tamagotchi toys were a 1990s playground craze and the virtual pets that demand food and attention are still a hit among retro-loving Gen Z and nostalgic parents.

Sa Pa, a tourist hub in Lao Cai Province, northern Vietnam, emerged as Asia’s fastest-growing travel destination in 2025, soaring 15 places in Agoda’s ranking of the region’s top 100 destinations amid a surge of interest from international travelers, according to the digital travel platform.

Starbucks Vietnam has apologized to customers and delivery drivers after a technical glitch caused several beverages to be listed at zero-VND prices on delivery apps, triggering a surge in orders, many of which were later canceled.

Ho Chi Minh City has agreed in principle to allow the installation of battery-swap cabinets for electric motorbikes on sidewalks and in public spaces, a move meant to promote green transportation and support Vietnam's net-zero emissions goals.

Temperatures on the summit of Fansipan in Lao Cai Province, northern Vietnam have dropped to their lowest so far this winter, with thick frost forming across the peak and creating a crystal-like landscape.

Ho Chi Minh City is determined to complete its International Financial Center by 2027, positioning it as a key driver of double-digit economic growth and deeper global integration.

Ho Chi Minh City’s metro line No. 1 has begun allowing overnight parking at a limited number of stations, the operator said, as authorities move to ease access to the city’s first metro line and expand passenger facilities.

Meta said on Tuesday it has decided to pause international expansion of its Ray-Ban Display glasses due to short supply and strong demand in the United States.

Vietnam’s under-23 national team opened their campaign at the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup with a 2-0 win over Jordan in their Group A match in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.

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Vietnam will significantly increase salaries and bonuses for elite athletes and coaches, with Olympic gold medalists who break Olympic records eligible for rewards of up to VND4.9 billion (US$186,500), under a new government decree issued last week.

Traffic police in Ho Chi Minh City have stepped up enforcement against motorcyclists and car drivers who encroach on the bicycle-only lanes along both sides of Mai Chi Tho Boulevard, with fines of up to nearly US$230, as repeated violations continue to pose safety risks to cyclists.

Residents and organizations in central Hanoi are vacating properties to make way for a new public square and park east of Hoan Kiem Lake, as authorities move to complete site clearance for the project by March.

Vietnam’s economy expanded by 8.02 percent year on year to about US$514 billion in 2025, marking the second-highest growth in 15 years, driven by strong performance in industry, construction, and services, according to data from the National Statistics Office of Vietnam (NSO) under the Ministry of Finance.

Traffic police in Ho Chi Minh City confirmed on Monday they had seized a Honda SH scooter after a teenage girl was filmed riding hands-free while carrying two passengers on the Ba Son Bridge, an incident that drew widespread attention on social media.

The administration of Nha Trang Ward in Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam confirmed on Tuesday it had suspended the operations of BlueSea Beach & Bar after a group of its employees was filmed threatening foreign tourists with a shovel and a chair on a public beach.

LAS VEGAS - Autonomous driving technology is expected to dominate the CES trade show in Las Vegas this week as investors bet that artificial intelligence will invigorate an industry beset by slow progress, high costs, safety incidents and regulatory scrutiny.

Vina Kraft was honored among the Top 100 Sustainable Businesses at the 2025 Corporate Sustainability Index (CSI) program, held in early December last year, a recognition underscoring the company’s journey toward green manufacturing and long-term sustainable development.

Ho Chi Minh City recorded 3,197 newly detected HIV infections in the first nine months of 2025, with men who have sex with men accounting for more than half of the new cases, the city’s health department said.

Vietnamese chess player Dinh Nho Kiet has been awarded the International Master (IM) title at the age of 16, becoming one of the youngest players in the country to achieve the distinction, Vietnam’s chess authorities said on Monday.

Vietnamese photographer Phi Long has received an honorable mention in the Amateur Conceptual category at the 2025 Monochrome Awards, an international black-and-white photography competition.

Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security has proposed a new decree introducing a wide range of administrative fines for violations related to data activities, with the highest penalties reaching up to VND200 million (US$7,600).

In Ho Chi Minh City, public awareness of wildlife protection has continued to improve, with more residents voluntarily handing over wild animals, alongside ongoing efforts by forest rangers to receive, care for, and release them back into their natural habitats.