Punch, a plush-clutching Japanese baby monkey that has become a global online sensation, will celebrate his first birthday on Sunday as his zoo is flooded with fan letters from around the world.

South Korea announced $950 billion in new AI initiatives involving Samsung Electronics, SK Group and U.S. tech firms as global AI leaders rush to fill a shortage of faster chips to power and develop more advanced systems.

Vietnam’s men’s volleyball team pulled off a major upset on Saturday night, defeating hosts Indonesia 3-1 in the semifinals to secure a spot in the final of the second leg of the 2026 SEA V.Cup.

Hanoi is advancing a gradual transition away from dog and cat meat trading and slaughtering, while supporting affected households in moving toward sustainable livelihoods, as part of broader measures to prevent rabies, ensure food safety, control animal diseases, and promote sustainable urban development.

Deposit balances held by investors at securities companies fell sharply across the board in the second quarter of 2026, reflecting a marked contraction in cash waiting to be deployed into the stock market.

The organizer of the Miss Tourism Identity Vietnam 2026 pageant has issued an apology to the authorities in Quang Ngai Province, central Vietnam, a school, parents, students, and the public after around 50 schoolchildren were seated in the front rows as contestants performed in bikinis.

New photos show the structural frame of an ancient wooden shipwreck fully emerging from the sands along the coast of Da Nang in central Vietnam, more than two years after it was first spotted in the area.

Authorities in Nha Trang Ward, Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam have introduced a series of measures to better manage electric cyclo services, including clamping down on cyclo and electric motorized cyclo operators that violate regulations, operate in a disorderly manner, and overcharge passengers.

Nha Trang Ward in Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam has defended its enforcement of a long-standing ban on beachside street vending following the seizure of a shoulder pole of fruits belonging to a female vendor who gained international attention in late 2025 for singing fruit names in English.

Good morning from Vietnam!

Seven new projects with a combined registered capital of more than VND5.562 trillion (US$211 million) have been approved for investment in Van Phong Economic Zone in Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam.

BERLIN - One person has been killed and 17 injured, with some in life-threatening condition, after a vehicle mowed down a crowd near Berlin's Pride celebrations on Saturday evening, setting off a manhunt for those responsible, the police said.

Authorities in Can Tho City, southern Vietnam are planning to give a new look to a series of bridges spanning the Can Tho River and revamp the Cai Rang Floating Market area, hoping to create more attractive tourist destinations in the near future.

Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Saturday that Washington's new 12.5-percent import tariff on Vietnamese goods does not fully reflect the country's efforts to prevent and eliminate forced labor.

Consuls general and representatives of foreign consular missions in Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday morning joined a walking tour of some of the city's most iconic landmarks as part of the 'Walk to Understand the City' program.

Vietnamese businesses are calling for regulations requiring foreign-invested companies to use domestic suppliers, saying stronger links with FDI firms would help local businesses join global supply chains and narrow the gap between the FDI and private sectors.

Just as a transnational smuggling ring involving more than 3,400 diamonds came to light, Vietnam's Ministry of Industry and Trade announced a plan for thematic inspections of five businesses trading in precious metals and gemstones, following directives from the Anti-Money Laundering Department under the State Bank of Vietnam.

Paramount Skydance (PSKY.O) on Friday agreed to pause its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD.O) until after a ruling on a challenge by states to the deal, plunging the $110 billion deal into further uncertainty.

Vietnamese textile and garment exporters are expected to retain their competitiveness under the latest U.S. tariffs, industry executives said, as companies step up efforts to diversify their overseas markets.

Storm Noul entered the northeastern waters of the East Vietnam Sea on Friday night, becoming the second storm to hit the maritime area this year, according to Vietnam's National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

A recent traffic safety campaign in Ho Chi Minh City has exposed widespread negligence among passenger bus operators regarding fire and emergency escape equipment.

Many foreign visitors are flocking to the 100-year-old Tan Dinh Market in Ho Chi Minh City to explore Vietnamese clothing and traditional crafts, with some having ao dai tailored and others trying their hand at making wooden clogs.

Good morning from Vietnam!

Luggage-laden residents and tourists fled a French peninsula by boat and the smell of smoke drifted into parts of Madrid on Friday as wildfires swept France and Spain, triggering states of emergencies and calls for EU help.

Brazilian air accident investigators said on Thursday that a buildup of ice, failures in the aircraft's de-icing system, crew actions and deficiencies at regional airline Voepass contributed to the 2024 crash of an ATR turboprop that killed all 62 people on board.

Vietnam’s fast-growing beauty and personal care market is attracting thousands of international brands, with a major industry exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City bringing together more than 3,000 brands from over 24 countries and territories.

Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is accelerating its digital transformation agenda, aiming to build a fully integrated ‘Digital Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ while preparing a new generation of ‘digital diplomats’ equipped to navigate an increasingly technology-driven world.

The Da Nang City administration kicked off the 2026 Enjoy Danang Festival on Thursday evening at East Sea Park, launching a four-day celebration of culture, tourism, and entertainment across the central Vietnamese city’s beaches and public spaces.

Vietnam is considering a proposal that would bar social media platforms from allowing users under 16 to post content, comment, react to or otherwise interact with posts, local media reported, citing a government draft decree.

TOKYO -- The mercury rose to as high as 41.1 degrees Celsius in Tenryu Ward in the city of Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, central Japan, on Thursday, hitting the highest level in the country this year, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

TOKYO -- The Japanese government plans to reinforce the Immigration Services Agency to strengthen the oversight of foreign nationals in the country, Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said Friday.

Reports that Saigon Jewelry Company (SJC), Vietnam’s largest gold and bullion company, recorded 170,876 gemstones and colored stones in off-balance-sheet accounts at an average value of just VND6,000 (US$0.23) per stone have sparked public debate over the unusually low valuation.

Birthday celebrations mean a lot to children as their special day is usually filled with laughter, tons of gifts, tasty cakes, and sweets. To one of my Vietnamese students, her birthday brings her so much joy because she can buy presents for her beloved friends.

Prices of MacBooks and iPads have risen in Vietnam, with some models becoming significantly more expensive amid a global increase in the cost of memory, semiconductor chips, and storage components.

Order a bowl of sweet soup from this Vietnamese woman in Hoi An, and there is a good chance she will greet you in your own language.