Vietnam’s billion-dollar casino resorts continue to post heavy losses despite a government pilot allowing eligible Vietnamese to gamble, even as domestic players account for the bulk of revenue and the sector contributes significant tax income, official data and company disclosures show.

A recent collision between a train and an electric car in suburban Hanoi’s Dai Xuyen Commune has once again exposed safety risks across Vietnam’s rail network, highlighting that public awareness alone is not enough to prevent accidents.

Da Nang City, central Vietnam on Saturday broke ground on the Lien Chieu container terminal project, which carries a price tag of more than VND45 trillion (US$2 billion), marking a significant step in the city’s long-term economic and logistics strategy.

Average prices for commercial apartments in Hanoi rose to about VND128 million (US$4,855) per square meter in the first quarter of 2026, widening the gap with Ho Chi Minh City at roughly VND112 million ($4,249), while transactions declined from the previous quarter, according to the Ministry of Construction.

British cave experts have discovered 26 new caves in Vietnam’s Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, including one more than four kilometers long, park authorities said on Friday.

Da Nang City in central Vietnam has ordered the urgent construction of embankments worth about VND498 billion (US$18.9 million) to address erosion along the Thu Bon River and the nearby Hoi An coast, authorities said on Friday.

Many tourist sites in Can Tho City, southern Vietnam are rolling out a wide range of promotions, discounts and cultural experiences to excite visitors during the Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day break and the Reunification Day and International Workers' Day holiday.

Da Nang City, central Vietnam has been selected to host the Pickleball World Cup 2026, marking the first time the global tournament will be staged in Asia.

LISBON - Police said on Friday they had seized 278 artworks, including paintings possibly by Pablo Picasso and Joan Miro, at a house in Portugal, and were questioning the former butler of the late owner on suspicion of trying to sell some of them.

With Aaron Rodgers yet to commit to extending his career into 2026, the Pittsburgh Steelers made a move to bolster the quarterback position, selecting Penn State's Drew Allar in the third round of the draft on Friday.

Around 20 food enthusiasts on Friday joined two workshops on French cuisine and lifestyle hosted by the Consulate General of France in Ho Chi Minh City as part of the “Goût de France” (taste of France) event.

The Best Baguette & Best Croissant competition and the French Market experience space have become new attractions at the ongoing 4th Vietnamese Banh Mi Festival in downtown Ho Chi Minh City, enhancing visitor engagement and strengthening Vietnam-France cultural ties.

An elementary school teacher in Ho Chi Minh City has been issued a warning, removed from teaching, and reassigned after instructing five students to prick their own hands with syringes as punishment, local authorities said on Friday.

Good morning from Vietnam!

Following a four-month pilot phase, the Cho Lon night quarter, located near Binh Tay Market in Binh Tay Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, was officially launched on Friday evening, operating daily from 6:00 pm to midnight.

Vietnam’s law-making National Assembly has officially adopted a resolution establishing Dong Nai Province as a centrally-governed city, set to take effect on April 30.

Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna has described Ho Chi Minh City as a dynamic ‘tiger’ full of ambition, expressing confidence in expanding cooperation between Estonia and Vietnam’s southern economic hub.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and State President To Lam and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly hosted a special friendship program at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel in Hanoi on Friday morning on the occasion of the state visit to Vietnam by the Republic of Korea's President Lee Jae Myung and his spouse Kim Hye Kyung.

TOKYO -- Starting July, Japan will lower application fees for 10-year passports to around 9,000 yen.

TOKYO -- Mine-Akiyoshidai, a karst plateau in western Japan, has been designated as a UNESCO Global Geopark.

OSLO - Norway said on Friday it would present a bill in parliament by year-end to ban children from using social media until they turn 16, making technology companies responsible for the task of age verification.

InterContinental Nha Trang has appointed Christian Rasmus as executive assistant manager, the hotel said in a statement.

Meta plans to cut a tenth of its workforce, looking for productivity gains from its remaining workers as it invests heavily in artificial intelligence.

Hanoi will offer free bus and metro rides to residents and tourists during the Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day break and the Reunification Day and International Workers' Day holiday.

The health department in Dong Thap Province, located in southern Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, on Wednesday confirmed the death of a 58-year-old man from rabies, raising concerns about infection risks beyond direct dog bites.

ATHENS/ ROME -- Greece will no longer be the euro zone's most indebted country by the end of this year, with its public debt set to fall below Italy's, according to sources and data from Italy's new budget plan.

The suggestion by an envoy of Donald Trump that Italy should replace Iran at this year's World Cup provoked embarrassment from Azzurri fans on Thursday, with Italian media reminding readers that the idea has a very familiar feel.

Nike said on Thursday it is laying off about 1,400 people to streamline workflows, as the struggling sportswear company fights through a years-long sales slump.

AG&P LNG, a subsidiary of U.S.-based energy investment firm Nebula Energy, has agreed to acquire the remaining stake in the Cai Mep LNG terminal in Ho Chi Minh City, paving the way for full ownership and a stronger presence in Vietnam’s liquefied natural gas sector.

PARIS, France -- An envoy to US President Donald Trump has asked world football's governing body FIFA to replace Iran with Italy at the World Cup, according to the Financial Times.

British International Investment (BII) launched a 1.1 billion-pound ($1.48 billion) climate finance initiative on Thursday, aiming to draw private capital into clean energy projects across India and Southeast Asia, where coal is still dominant in power generation.

COPENHAGEN - Two local trains collided head-on in Denmark on Thursday, injuring at least 17 people, four of whom were in a critical condition, the emergency service told Reuters.

A hailstorm swept across the summit of Fansipan in Lao Cai Province, northern Vietnam on Wednesday afternoon, pelting the area with ice stones measuring between one and three centimeters in diameter.

A collision involving six automobiles caused hours of severe traffic congestion on Phu My Bridge in Cat Lai Ward, Ho Chi Minh City on Wednesday night.

Good morning from Vietnam!