SINGAPORE - Global oil and gas shipping rates soared, with supertanker costs in the Middle East hitting all-time highs, as the U.S.-Iran conflict intensified after Tehran targeted ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, according to shipping data and industry sources on Tuesday.

Hanoi has set an ambitious target of ensuring that 50 percent of its communes and wards are free of drugs by 2030, alongside a commitment to reduce the number of drug users by at least five percent annually.

Vietnam has stepped up efforts to protect its citizens in Israel around the clock as the Middle East conflict continues to unfold, with all Vietnamese nationals in Israel and across Gulf countries reported safe, according to Vietnam's diplomatic missions.

Police in Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam caught 13 foreign nationals gambling illegally in a hotel basement in Nha Trang late on Sunday, seizing US$3,500 in cash and documents related to the operation.

Foreign visitors to Phu Quoc Special Zone, an island in An Giang Province, Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, are increasingly seeking immersive activities along the Cua Can River, including traditional fishing and riverside tree planting, in addition to the island’s famed beaches.

A seven-year-old girl from Hue City in central Vietnam narrowly escaped death after being bitten by a Malayan krait while sleeping, in a race against the ‘golden 24 hours’ that was won only after five vials of antivenom were urgently airlifted from Ho Chi Minh City to Hue with the help of a volunteer airline passenger.

The notorious Mexican drug lord Nemesio Oseguera was laid to rest in a simple grave Monday in a ceremony that featured trucks overflowing with flowers, traditional music and dozens of masked soldiers in armored vehicles.

Nguyen Thanh Tung, chairman of the board of directors of state-run Vietcombank, has been nominated as a candidate for the 16th National Assembly in Ho Chi Minh City.

Good morning from Vietnam!

TOKYO -- As Japan struggles with a nationwide shortage of drivers, major automakers, leading telecommunications companies and startups are ramping up efforts to introduce autonomous driving on local public bus routes.

Authorities in Lao Cai Province, northern Vietnam have approved a flood prevention project along the Red River valued at VND13.269 trillion (US$505 million), aiming to protect the provincial center and surrounding areas from recurring inundation.

The escalating conflict in the Middle East has not only disrupted luxury tours but also left export shipments stranded in warehouses, forcing Vietnamese businesses to struggle under growing pressure.

LONDON -- Britain is seeking the views of parents and children on whether to ban access to social media for under-16s, as well as possible restrictions on gaming platforms and artificial intelligence chatbots.

Vietnam has taken swift measures to protect its 38 citizens in Iran, including evacuating embassy staff and their families to a safer location, after clashes involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran erupted on Saturday, according to Vietnamese Ambassador to Iran Nguyen Luong Ngoc.

COPENHAGEN -- Maersk, the major container shipping company, said Sunday it was halting passage through the Suez Canal and the narrow Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf, next to Iran, for «safety» reasons.

Vietnam’s Tran Quyet Chien and Nguyen Tran Thanh Tu won the World Championship National Teams 3-Cushion 2026 title early on Monday after defeating hosts Germany in a dramatic final.

Vietnamese Woman Grandmaster Luong Phuong Hanh, 43, has clinched the women’s title at the 42nd edition of the Cappelle-la-Grande Open, one of France’s most respected international chess tournaments.

Multiple airlines have canceled flights between Vietnam and the Middle East after several countries in the region shut down or severely restricted their airspace due to escalating military tensions involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.

Northern Vietnam is expected to experience a new cold front beginning Monday night, bringing scattered showers and cooler temperatures, especially in the northeastern mountains, according to the national weather agency.

Good morning from Vietnam!

Vietnam’s former health minister Nguyen Thi Kim Tien was accused of receiving VND20.4 billion (US$784,000) in illicit payments linked to two major hospital projects, though she admitted to accepting only VND7.5 billion ($288,210), according to an investigative conclusion issued on Friday.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has directed all airlines operating in the country to avoid conflict-affected airspace in the Middle East and prepare contingency plans after escalating military tensions involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran forced the closure of major airports in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Doha in Qatar.

A three-year-old boy from Thai Nguyen Province, northern Vietnam has made a remarkable recovery after suffering severe brain damage from a near-fatal drowning accident and facing the prospect of a vegetative state.

Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Nguyen Van Duoc has called for a sharp reduction, or potentially a complete suspension, of events on Le Loi Boulevard, citing concerns over traffic congestion and noise pollution in the city’s downtown area.

The weeks after an English proficiency test often feel suspended. Students move through classes, part-time jobs, and daily routines while quietly tracking when results will be released.

DUBAI/JERUSALEM/WASHINGTON - Israel said it had launched another wave of strikes on Iran on Sunday, as Iranians faced uncertainty after the killing of their supreme leader in U.S. and Israeli attacks that threatened to destabilize the wider Middle East.

Four Vietnamese people were honored at the 2026 Study UK Alumni Awards in Vietnam, organized by the British Council in Hanoi on Saturday night.

Inside the intensive care unit at the Pediatric Center of Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi, premature infants, including babies born to mothers living with HIV, fight for survival, as doctors and nurses monitor every breath, heartbeat and fragile sign of life.

A Belarusian wrestler’s appearance at a traditional village festival in Hanoi drew large crowds and heightened excitement at the annual spring wrestling event, as local competitors took on the heavier foreign contender.

Six people were admitted to Military Hospital 175 in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday with suspected food poisoning symptoms after eating ‘banh mi’ from the same outlet.

Unseasonal rains affecting southern Vietnam are gradually shifting westward and weakening, making way for a return of hot and sunny conditions, but forecasters said the rains are likely to come back shortly after.

MADRID/LONDON -- A Spanish startup is selling bedrooms in flats shared with strangers, a British developer offers mortgages for friends willing to buy together, while stakes in rental properties help some tenants cover their housing costs.

An elementary school teacher in Phu Tho Province, northern Vietnam has been temporarily reassigned after allegations surfaced online that she forced students to lick the ground during class.

Ho Chi Minh City will launch nine electric bus routes with 169 VinBus vehicles seating 30–60 passengers from early March, replacing diesel-powered buses as part of its transition toward greener public transport.

Warner Bros Discovery has agreed to be acquired by Paramount Skydance in a $110 billion deal, ending a high-stakes bidding war after Netflix walked away from its agreement with the HBO Max owner.