From January 9 to 11, 2026, in Hanoi, and January 16 to 18 in Ho Chi Minh City, a mobile Southeast Asian art festival titled "Dealing in Distance" will take place, featuring 15 artists currently living and working in Southeast Asia and Germany. The "Dealing in Distance" art festival gathers artists from various disciplines. "Dealing in Distance", a nomadic art festival across Southeast Asia, delves into themes of displacement and identity-shaped by migration and separation-through a curated selection of visual art, performance, dance, poetry, and diverse community-based programs. These works come from artists rooted in Southeast Asia and Germany. Audiences will experience unique and thought-provoking artistic projects.

The display, titled Spring – The origin of victory, presents more than 150 historical images and artifacts that celebrate foundational elements in the success of Vietnam’s revolutionary movement throughout the 20th century and into the 21st: the Party's leadership, Ho Chi Minh's ideology, and the strength of a united people. Structured in three sections-Revolutionary Spring, Independent Spring, and Aspiring Spring-the exhibition guides visitors through transformational springtime events in the nation’s history. Artifacts such as ballot boxes, voter cards, election decrees, and a collection of Ho Chi Minh’s banknotes vividly depict the process of building a government by the people and for the people. The exhibition Spring – The origin of victory is open to the public from January 6 through July 2026. It aims to foster national pride, reinforce public trust, and inspire the spirit of contribution in this new spring of the nation.

On the morning of January 8, Colonel Bui Trung Thanh, Deputy Director of the Hai Phong Police Department, confirmed to VietNamNet that nine individuals have been formally charged in connection with the use of diseased pork at Ha Long Canned Food Company (Ha Long Canfoco). Ha Long Canned Foods Joint Stock Company is based in Hai Phong. Evidence seized at Ha Long Canned Food Company. A portion of the diseased pork was used to produce canned food, including paté. However, using “Ha Long” in a brand name does not automatically imply the enterprise is located in, or affiliated with, Ha Long or Quang Ninh.

The Prix de la Route Mandarine is the first international-level art award exclusively for Vietnamese fine arts students. It aims to encourage a new generation of artists to engage more deeply with the global art world while creating opportunities to connect with international art institutions and markets. The judging panel brought together many respected experts, curators, and artists from Vietnam and France, ensuring both academic integrity and professional evaluation standards. Chair of the jury was Ms. Charlotte Aguttes-Reynier, President of the Asian Artists Association in Paris and Deputy Director cum Head of Asian Art at the Aguttes auction house (France). The two winning artists will have the opportunity to exhibit their works in Neuilly-sur-Seine (Paris, France) in early April 2026, coinciding with Paris’s peak contemporary art season.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has officially appointed the refereeing team for the Group A clash between U23 Vietnam and U23 Kyrgyzstan at the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026. Referee Heidari Payam is known for his strict style and high card count. Referee Heidari Payam has held FIFA accreditation since 2015 and is regularly assigned to major AFC tournaments. Dinh Bac calmly converted from the spot to open the scoring for U23 Vietnam. U23 Vietnam will face U23 Kyrgyzstan at 9:00 PM on January 9, a pivotal match in their bid to reach the quarterfinals.

A concept render of the Galaxy S26 Ultra. For reference, the Galaxy S25 was also launched on a Wednesday last year, as was the Galaxy S24 back in 2024. Galaxy S26 Ultra may go on sale in early MarchThe actual sales launch is likely to fall in early March. Samsung has not disclosed why it chose not to unveil the Galaxy S26, S26 Plus, and S26 Ultra earlier this month. The good news is that aside from the likely launch date, most specifications and key features of the Galaxy S26 series have already been shaped through credible leaks.

Alfamino and Beba infant formula products made by Swiss food and beverage giant Nestlé S.A. Photo: Nestlé websiteThe Food Safety Authority (FSA) under the Ministry of Health made the request on Wednesday, following reports a day earlier that the global food and beverage giant had announced the preventive recall. To safeguard consumers in Vietnam, the FSA has instructed Nestlé Vietnam to conduct a comprehensive review of all activities related to the two product lines. This includes verifying the registration status of product declarations or self-declarations for Beba and Alfamino infant formula in the Vietnamese market. The FSA has set January 10 as the deadline for Nestlé Vietnam to complete its review and submit its findings and response plans, allowing regulators to consider further management measures if necessary. According to the UK’s Food Standards Agency, cereulide is highly heat stable, meaning it is unlikely to be deactivated or destroyed by boiling or during infant formula preparation.

Players of Vietnam (in red) and Jordan compete during their Group A match at the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, January 6, 2026. The win put Vietnam top of the group after the first round of matches. Vietnam next face Kyrgyzstan on Friday before meeting hosts Saudi Arabia in the final group match. The 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup, held in Saudi Arabia from Tuesday to January 24, features four groups of four teams, with the top two in each group advancing to the quarterfinals. Vietnam are in Group A with hosts Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Kyrgyzstan.

Ho Chi Minh City feels chilly on the morning of January 8, 2026 with colder weather expected tomorrow. Early this morning, Ho Chi Minh City saw sunshine but remained mild and slightly cold, with morning temperatures continuing to fall from the same time a day earlier. Weather conditions in Ho Chi Minh City and across the southern region are expected to remain stable, with little rain. Nighttime low temperatures are forecast to drop by a further 2-3 degrees Celsius, leading to cooler nights and early mornings. Dong Nai Province recorded temperatures of 18 degrees Celsius in Phuoc Long and 17.4 degrees Celsius in Ta Lai; while Lam Dong Province saw 14 degrees Celsius in Bao Loc, 12.7 degrees Celsius in Lien Khuong, 10.5 degrees Celsius in Da Lat, and 21 degrees Celsius in Phan Thiet.

A new report confirms what many users have long suspected: iPhones consistently outperform their Android counterparts in long-term value retention. While cutting-edge specs aren’t always necessary, ongoing security updates and good resale value can turn a five-year-old phone into a surprisingly valuable asset. Apple dominates long-term resale rankingsA five-to-six-year depreciation study published by MakeUseOf shows Apple leading by a wide margin. In terms of performance, ecosystem integration, and software support, the iPhone 12 Pro Max clearly outshines it, making it the smarter long-term buy. Longevity is Apple’s secret weaponTake software support, for example: the iPhone 12 will continue receiving updates until at least 2027-seven years after launch.

Systemic pressures and international standardsAccording to Hung, although credit institutions have made significant efforts to supply capital to the economy in recent years, continued over-dependence on bank loans will heighten liquidity risks. The role of "seed capital"Hung proposed strengthening the synergy and complementary relationship between state budget capital (via public investment) and bank credit. “State budget capital should function as ‘seed capital,’ working alongside bank credit to support enterprises. Shifting towards the bond marketIn this context, mobilizing capital through the bond market is seen as a vital long-term objective for sustainable development. Do Ngoc Quynh, Secretary General of the Vietnam Bond Market Association, noted that the market has expanded rapidly over the past decade.

Society-- A cold air mass reached the south-central region on Thursday and is continuing to expand deeper into the southern region, while many localities in central Vietnam may experience scattered rains today, according to the national weather center. Ho Chi Minh City-- A fierce fire broke out on a tourist boat that was moored on the Saigon River, Ho Chi Minh City at around 4:00 pm on Wednesday. Authorities in Thanh My Tay Ward were working with police officers at 9:00 pm to examine the scene and investigate the cause of the blaze. Economy-- Vietnam’s stock market closed 2025 on a divergent note, with the benchmark VN-Index of the Ho Chi Minh City bourse surging 40.9 percent despite sharp falls in numerous stocks. -- Vietnam aims for a total seafood output of over 10 million metric tons in 2026, up 0.6 percent from 2025, while seafood export turnover is targeted at around $11.5 billion.

This was critical in developing the night-time economy, an area where Khanh Hoa was previously seen as underperforming relative to its potential. Compared with 2019, the pre-Covid-19 year, both visitor numbers and tourism revenue in Khanh Hoa have increased dramatically. Nguyen Long Bien, Standing Vice Chairman of the Khanh Hoa People’s Committee, said that Khanh Hoa tourism recovered quickly after the pandemic. With current growth momentum, in 2026 Khanh Hoa targets more than 18.1 million visitors, including over 6 million international arrivals, and tourism revenue exceeding VND77 trillion. However, Khanh Hoa tourism still faces challenges such as uneven infrastructure, weak regional linkages, and the underdeveloped role of a “core hub” leading regional tourism.

A skip button is seen on an online video advertisement on a digital platform. 342/2025, which caps the mandatory viewing time for video or animated ads at five seconds and bans any waiting period to close static image ads, according to the text issued by the government. The regulation effectively ends the use of non-skippable video ads that previously required viewers to watch 15-30 seconds before continuing. The decree assigns ministries and local authorities responsibility for monitoring, detecting, and ordering the removal of illegal online advertisements. Cross-border platforms that provide advertising services to users in Vietnam are also subject to the rules and must fully comply with Vietnamese law.

From the back of the vehicle, Dang Van Nghi, 27, residing in Long Khanh Commune and members of the Long Khanh Volunteer Team carefully carried down a large plastic container. That was just one of a lot of “fish rescue” trips the Long Khanh volunteer team has carried out over nearly the past year. The Long Khanh volunteer team was established in early 2025 with just 12 initial members. For Nghia and the Long Khanh volunteer team, the fish rescue journey continues quietly but persistently. We only know that every time fish are released back into the river, another hope is planted in the vast Tien River,” Nghia shared.