The northern area of Ho Chi Minh City is set to become a major science and technology urban zone, marking a transformative step in the city’s spatial and economic development. The announcement was made on January 15, with participation from the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, government agencies, and major partners including Becamex, VSIP, and global technology giants such as Qualcomm, Coherent, Warburg Pincus, and Fraunhofer ENAS. Speaking at the event, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Bui Minh Thanh emphasized the significance of the initiative, stating that it aligns with the city’s newly granted special policy mechanisms from the central government. He further noted that the northern science-technology urban area plays a strategically vital role in the overall spatial and economic development of both Ho Chi Minh City and the Southeast Region. Following the merger of Binh Duong into Ho Chi Minh City, the tower was handed back to Becamex to be maintained and upgraded for science and technology development purposes.

In the previous report issued in December 2025, Vietnam’s passport ranked 90th. According to the Henley Passport Index, Vietnamese citizens can now travel to 49 destinations worldwide without needing to obtain a visa in advance. The majority of destinations accessible to Vietnamese passport holders are located within Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and Myanmar. Throughout the more than 20-year history of the Henley Passport Index, the highest rank Vietnam has ever achieved was 78th, during the 2006–2007 period. The Henley Passport Index ranks passports based on the number of destinations a passport holder can access without a prior visa.

Khau xen, a specialty from Muong Lay district, is a crunchy snack made by the White Thai people of Dien Bien. Beyond Muong Lay, khau xen is popular across the province, often chosen as a nostalgic and delicious souvenir by both locals and visitors. Hong Nhung, a resident of Hanoi, first tasted khau xen during a business trip to Dien Bien and was instantly captivated by its unique flavor. Khau xen is a traditional snack of the White Thai ethnic group in Dien Bien, especially popular in the old Muong Lay district. Fried khau xen puffs up like shrimp chips, with a crunchy texture and light sweetness.

Currently, car parking fees are VND20,000-30,000 for the first two hours, with an additional 10,000 VND for every subsequent hour. In contrast, he noted that many suburban malls, especially large-scale models, offer free parking for both cars and motorbikes. Second, suburban malls have large land space, allowing for spacious parking planning, with significantly lower cost per parking space compared to inner-city areas. In the long run, revenue from dining, entertainment, and retail far exceeds parking fees, making free parking an effective investment in building consumer habits and loyalty. According to Son, the argument that central areas lack parking space and therefore cannot offer free parking is operationally valid, but insufficient from a retail strategy perspective.

Though her stall is no more than one square meter, it's enough to fit 10 plastic chairs and three modest tables. For nearly four decades, the menu here has remained unchanged: 15 simple, rustic dishes found in any Vietnamese home. Dry-fried anchovies, caramelized pork belly, stir-fried morning glory, salted peanuts, fried eggs, pickled mustard greens, and more. Eventually, they agreed and now support me.”Before opening the rice stall, Huong worked countless jobs. Photo: Nguyen HuyRain or shine, she sets up her food stall right on time every day.

The most striking impression is the visible change along every slope and stilt house in Kho Muong. The small village nestled deep in a valley, once considered an isolated “island” that was hard to access, has become one of Thanh Hoa’s most attractive community tourism destinations. As a result, Kho Muong became the first village in the commune to meet criteria to be recognized as ‘modern rural areas’. Well-known tourism valleyPu Luong commune leaders said in 2020 the Thanh Hoa provincial People’s Committee approved the project “Building a pilot community-based tourism model in Kho Muong village.” It develops branded, high-value and competitive community tourism products, aiming to be a distinctive OCOP product of the locality. “The success of Kho Muong shows that a well-organized community tourism model developed from residents’ own needs can become a powerful driver helping disadvantaged areas escape poverty.

2 project in Ho Chi Minh City, January 15, 2026. Photo: The Ho Chi Minh City Department of ConstructionStarting at Nguyen Huu Tho Street in the southern part of the city, the bridge will help ease congestion on the existing Phu My Bridge, National Highway 1, National Highway 51, and Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay Expressway. Officials make a symbolic gesture to break ground for the Phu My 2 Bridge project in Ho Chi Minh City, January 15, 2026. 2The groundbreaking of the Ben Thanh - Tham Luong metro line marked a milestone in Ho Chi Minh City’s urban transport development. The Cat Lai Bridge project is considered urgent for serving Long Thanh International Airport and improving connectivity with Ho Chi Minh City.

Just over 40 kilometers south of central Hanoi lies Cuu Village, in Chuyen My Commune (formerly Van Tu, Phu Xuyen District). The peaceful, nostalgic charm of Cuu Village. Some were fortunate enough to find work in French tailoring shops in Hanoi. Unlike preserved French villas in Vietnam’s tourist towns, Cuu’s architecture is a hybrid - a creative and culturally sensitive interpretation. Cuu Village is a key stop on the tour, showcasing its East-West architecture and suit tailoring heritage.

Former head of the Vietnam Food Safety Authority under the Ministry of Health Tran Viet Nga and her husband in the courtroom in Hanoi. According to the judgment, of the total amount of bribery money, Nga personally gained about VND8 billion ($304,060). The harshest sentence, 20 years in prison, was imposed on Nguyen Thanh Phong, another former head of the Vietnam Food Safety Authority. Nga was arrested just 11 months after being appointed head of the Food Safety Authority. Hoang’s bribery offenses were determined to have occurred while he was head of a division at the Food Safety Authority.

Photos of steaming bowls of vegan bún riêu (crab noodle soup), hearty vegan bún bò Huế, and the nostalgic setting of the old house are widely shared on social media. “Our goal is to introduce more people, especially young ones, to vegan food and cooking methods. From sidewalk to heritage houseHearty and visually appealing vegetarian bún riêu and vegetarian bún bò Huế. Main dishes include vegan bún riêu, phở (served Mondays and Tuesdays), bún bò Huế (served Wednesdays to Sundays), grilled vegan bún chả, mixed noodle bowls, vegan pate sandwiches, and mushroom porridge. “I used to think vegan food was bland or expensive, but this place proves otherwise,” Quỳnh Anh said.

At over 70 years old, Ung A Paul still trains at the gym for four hours a day. Photo: Ha NguyenBack in his youth, Paul worked hard physical jobs like stone splitting and blacksmithing. But no matter the job, Paul always carved out time to train his body - driven by a dream of strength and health. Over time, it became a need - if I don’t train, I feel unsettled.”Before joining a professional gym, Paul used to craft his own exercise equipment and train at home. After a period of high-intensity training, Paul suffered a slipped disc.

According to projections by the National Cybersecurity Association (NCA), cybersecurity for individual users in 2026 is expected to face new challenges, most notably the growing sophistication of online scams. The year 2026 is expected to record improvements in personal data protection as new legal regulations, such as the Law on Personal Data Protection and the 2025 Cybersecurity Law, take effect. According to a survey by the National Cybersecurity Association, the number of victims of online fraud in 2025 decreased significantly compared to 2024. This is a positive shift, marking the first time in many years that online fraud has recorded a decrease. Vu Ngoc Son, Head of the Technology Department of the Association, said: “Online fraud is still extremely complex; users need to continue raising their vigilance.

In late 2022, lau mam U Minh (Ca Mau Province) was named one of 11 Vietnamese specialties recognized by the Asia Book of Records for its culinary value in Asia. U Minh fermented fish hotpot is a rich harmony of diverse ingredients. If mam ca sac buom is unavailable, other freshwater fermented fish such as mam ca linh or mam ca loc can also be used to create the famed hotpot. The fermented fish is simmered until the flesh breaks down, then strained to remove bones. Photo: Ngoai Ty/Linh TrangDishes served with fermented fish hotpot are remarkably diverse.

Showers might hit many localities in northern Vietnam, January 15, 2026. -- Investigators in Hai Phong City, northern Vietnam have issued a decision to initiate criminal proceedings against Truong Sy Toan, CEO of Halong Canfoco, which is at the center of a major food safety scandal. Ho Chi Minh City-- A traffic police officer said on Wednesday that the An Suong traffic police team in Ho Chi Minh City had launched a campaign to step up inspections and enforcement against shops and eateries that allow customers to park their vehicles, encroaching on sidewalks and roadbeds. -- A representative of Tu Du Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City said on Wednesday night that the hospital had prolonged the pregnancy by eight weeks, saving a newborn in an extremely rare complicated twin pregnancy, a condition for which only a few dozen successful cases have been documented globally. -- According to the National Business Registration Portal, Crystal Bay Airlines was established in Nam Nha Trang Ward, Khanh Hoa Province in late 2025, with a charter capital of VND300 billion (US$11.4 million).

The pilot allows conversions only at three designated locations in the city: the Da Nang Software Park at 2 Quang Trung Street, Da Nang Software Park No. 2 on Nhu Nguyet Street, and the Da Nang Innovation Startup Support Center at 58 Nguyen Chi Thanh Street. Photo: Truong Trung / Tuoi TreTwo platforms have been approved to support the program. Users carry out digital asset conversions at one of three locations licensed under a crypto sandbox program in Da Nang, central Vietnam, January 2026. Users receive guidance on how to convert digital assets under a controlled sandbox program in Da Nang, central Vietnam, January 2026.