As the new school year approaches in Vietnam, electric bikes priced at VND12-20 million (US$455-758) are attracting growing interest from parents in Ho Chi Minh City who seek transportation for their children, particularly models that do not require a driver's license.

TOKYO -- Many parents in financially struggling families in Japan said they would be forced to reduce the amount of food served per meal and limit their use of air conditioning during the summer vacation, according to a survey by certified nonprofit organization Kidsdoor.

Dancing and chanting on an open-top bus that read 'Kings of the World' and showed two large stars, Spain's national football team celebrated the country's second World Cup win on Monday along Madrid's streets packed with exhilarated fans.

Seven people, including three children, were killed and five others were injured after a 24-berth sleeper bus caught fire following a crash on National Highway 1 in Dong Nai City, southern Vietnam early Tuesday morning.

Ho Chi Minh City recorded a decline in traffic accidents, fatalities, and injuries during the first six months of 2026 compared with the same period last year, according to the city’s traffic police division.

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Ho Chi Minh City is speeding up its plan to make English a second language across schools in the second half of 2026 as part of efforts to improve education quality and develop a high-quality workforce.

«When the news broke that Ho Chi Minh City was rolling out completely free bus rides across 134 routes until the end of the year, it was a striking development.»

Vietnam’s stock market opened the week with a sharp sell-off, as heavy selling drove dozens of stocks to their floor prices and wiped nearly 44 points off the VN-Index.

Electric ride-on vehicles capable of reaching speeds of up to 40 kph are being rented to young children at parks and public spaces across Da Nang City, central Vietnam, prompting growing concerns over public safety and the risk of serious accidents.

Da Nang City in central Vietnam is set to transform its iconic My Khe Beach into a spectacular open-air performance venue during the upcoming Enjoy Da Nang 2026 Festival, featuring a nighttime display of nearly 500 illuminated kites.

The shared future of Asia and Japan

Nearly 20 major U.S. technology companies, including Intel, NVIDIA, Qualcomm, Marvell, and Axon, met with Ho Chi Minh City leaders in San Francisco to discuss investment opportunities and offer recommendations on developing the city's strategic technology ecosystem, with a focus on artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, data centers, and research and development (R&D).

LOS ANGELES -- Director Christopher Nolan's adaptation of 'The Odyssey' had an epic debut, grossing $264.1 million in global ticket sales on its opening weekend, including $124.5 million in the U.S. and Canada, Universal Pictures (CMCSA.O) said on Sunday.

LIMA -- At least six people were killed and 21 injured after two earthquakes struck a mountainous region of Peru, the country's civil defense chief said on Sunday.

Five workers died and eight others were hospitalized after being exposed to highly toxic hydrogen sulfide gas at a pig farm in Thanh Hoa Province, north-central Vietnam, on Saturday.

HANGZHOU, China - Huang Zhen, 34, shut his cafe for a day last week to be buffeted by surging waters and powerful winds that knocked him off his feet — training for extreme weather events that are increasingly afflicting China.

‘For rent’ signs are becoming an increasingly common sight across Hanoi, stretching from the capital’s busiest commercial streets to major suburban roads, reflecting the mounting challenges facing brick-and-mortar retailers.

Ho Chi Minh City's Thanh Da Peninsula is set for a sweeping transformation under a nearly VND100 trillion (US$4 billion) urban development project that will feature new housing, transport infrastructure, schools, healthcare facilities, parks, and a marina.

Authorities in Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam have reaffirmed their ambition to transform the Khanh Hoa Sea Festival into an international cultural and marine tourism brand, heard the closing ceremony of the 2026 fest at April 2 Square in Nha Trang Ward on Sunday night.

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey - Spain climbed again to the summit of world football on Sunday when substitute Ferran Torres struck in the 106th minute to prise the World Cup from holders Argentina with a 1-0 victory that crowned a new era but brought precious little beauty.

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The Hue City People’s Committee in central Vietnam has issued a new regulation capping funerals at 72 hours, effective July 13, a sharp break from a custom that has run far longer for generations in the country’s old imperial capital.

Lionel Messi's battle-hardened Argentina take on silky Spain in the World Cup final on Sunday as the first 48-team tournament in history reaches a climax in New Jersey.

Flash floods and landslides triggered by torrential rain from Thursday night through Friday morning swept through Muong Than Commune in Lai Chau Province, northern Vietnam, killing four people, leaving four others missing, and injuring seven as of 5:00 pm on Saturday.

The incidence rate of colorectal cancer in Ho Chi Minh City has risen nearly 70 percent over the past 20 years, and many patients still mistake its symptoms for hemorrhoids, delaying diagnosis and treatment, according to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Khuong An at Binh Dan Hospital in the city.

Apple has increased the prices for its iCloud+ cloud storage service in Vietnam and several other markets, with the most popular plans rising around 20-32 percent and the largest 12TB plan now costing VND1.799 million (US$68.7) per month.

After nearly six decades of living alone and honoring the memory of the man she was engaged to marry, 79-year-old Nguyen Thi Le in Tay Ninh Province, southern Vietnam has officially been recognized as the wife of fallen soldier Huynh Van Quen and will receive state benefits starting August 1.

International tourists in Ho Chi Minh City can enjoy free bus services by validating their trips when boarding with an EMV chip-enabled bank card or through contactless payment methods using the card reader on buses, said a local official.

MIAMI - France striker Kylian Mbappe became the World Cup's all-time leading scorer with 22 goals when he netted twice in Les Bleus' 6-4 defeat by England in the third-place game on Saturday.

A colorful carnival parade featuring elaborately decorated floats, lively street performances, and dazzling light displays illuminated the streets of Nha Trang, a popular beach destination in Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam, on Saturday evening, drawing thousands of local and international visitors.

Jet engine maker CFM said on Saturday it was investing $2 billion over five years to help meet targets of faster maintenance times, part of efforts to ease engine-industry bottlenecks that have drawn fire from airlines.

Apple overtook Nvidia on Friday to become the world's most valuable company, reshuffling the top ranks of tech heavyweights as investors reassess the outlook for artificial intelligence.

The emergence of large-scale projects in western Hanoi has driven office supply higher and pushed vacancy rates up, while the retail segment has recorded positive signals thanks to the arrival of international brands.

Good morning from Vietnam!