Photo: T.Luy / Tuoi TreThe Mekong Delta has long been Vietnam’s agricultural powerhouse. Horticulture gains groundDespite its central role in national food production, the Mekong Delta is also among the regions most vulnerable to climate change. With its tropical climate and fertile alluvial soil, the Mekong Delta is well suited to a wide range of horticultural crops. Longan and mangosteen on sale in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. Fragmented production poses challengesDespite its potential, horticulture exports in the Mekong Delta continue to face significant hurdles.

U.S. President Donald Trump (seated) and other delegates attend the signing ceremony of the Charter of the Board of Peace on ending the conflict in the Gaza Strip, held on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, January 22, 2026. At the meetings, Son affirmed that Vietnam highly values President Trump’s efforts to promote global peace, cooperation, and prosperity, and expressed the country’s readiness to join the Board of Peace as a founding member. Son also conveyed the appreciation of Party General Secretary To Lam for President Trump’s continued support for strengthening Vietnam–U.S. Officials from President Trump’s cabinet welcomed Vietnam’s decision to become a founding member of the Board of Peace and expressed their commitment to further advancing the Vietnam–U.S. They highlighted the importance of promoting effective cooperation, including efforts to advance negotiations on reciprocal tax arrangements, noting that President Trump plans to visit Vietnam when conditions permit.

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra, and National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Thanh. Several were born in 1971, including Dao Hong Lan, Nguyen Thi Tuyen, Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc, and Ho Thi Hoang Yen. Nguyen Thanh Hai – Member of the Central Committee, Chairwoman of the National Assembly Committee on Science, Technology, and Environment4. Le Thi Nga – Member of the Central Committee, Deputy Chairwoman of the National Assembly Committee on People’s Petitions and Oversight12. Le Thi Thuy – Deputy Secretary of the Government Party CommitteeDeputy Secretary of the Government Party Committee Le Thi Thuy.

Vietnam’s Party General Secretary To Lam. To Lam, who served as general secretary during the 13th term (2021-2026), convened the meeting and delivered the opening address in his role as head of the previous Central Committee. The 14th Party Central Committee has unanimously elected To Lam (R, 2nd), General Secretary of the 13th Party Central Committee, to continue serving as General Secretary of the 14th Party Central Committee. He is a member of the Politburo and has served multiple terms on the Party Central Committee. Before becoming general secretary, he held senior posts in the Ministry of Public Security, including minister, and previously served as state president in 2024.

Among the 200 members elected to the new 14th Party Central Committee, many are representatives of Vietnam’s ethnic minority groups. Several hold key leadership roles at both the central and local levels, as well as within the National Assembly. Notably, five current provincial Party secretaries are from ethnic minorities. They include: Ho Van Nien, Secretary of the Quang Ngai Provincial Party Committee; Hau A Lenh, Secretary of the Tuyen Quang Provincial Party Committee; Hoang Van Nghiem, Secretary of the Son La Provincial Party Committee; Y Thanh Ha Nie Kdam, Secretary of the Lam Dong Provincial Party Committee; and Hoang Quoc Khanh, Secretary of the Lang Son Provincial Party Committee. Below is the list of official members of the 14th Party Central Committee who are from ethnic minority backgrounds:Additionally, the list of alternate (reserve) members of the 14th Party Central Committee includes two individuals from ethnic minorities:Hoai Thanh

In October 2024, Odiljon agreed to buy $30,000 in fake banknotes, all in $100 denominations, paying $15,000 in genuine currency. On December 23, 2024, Odiljon entered Vietnam as a tourist along with two friends and traveled to Phu Quoc. He concealed the counterfeit money in his checked luggage upon arrival. From December 25 to 27, Odiljon divided the fake cash among his two companions without informing them that the banknotes were counterfeit. Authorities concluded that Odiljon had possessed and circulated a total of $36,300 in counterfeit money.

A humanoid robot built by two high school students in Ninh Binh has drawn widespread attention at the province’s recent STEM and science-technology showcase. The humanoid robot built by high school students in Ninh Binh can recognize faces and perform lifelike hand movements. The humanoid robot was created by Nguyen Tran Duc Luong and Nguyen Dinh Kien from Nguyen Khuyen High School B. From concept to interaction: A human-like machine built by teensUnlike theoretical models, the students’ robot features realistic capabilities, including facial recognition and flexible arm movements. Accompanying the project was a second standout entry in the security category: the "GuardDog Robot AI," designed by Phan Duc Manh and Nguyen Ngoc Khanh from Nguyen Hue High School B.

The annual competition seeks to honor standout students who embody the values of the university - knowledge, professionalism, and the capacity to adapt and lead in the complex world of medicine. For Quynh Anh, the moment her name was called was overwhelming. Nguyen Thi Quynh Anh, a sixth-year student at Hanoi Medical University, wins the Student of the Year title. To Quynh Anh, a good doctor must be both technically proficient and emotionally attuned. “Professionalism isn’t just about medical knowledge or clinical skills - it’s also reflected in how we treat people, in our sense of duty and care,” she said.

Deputy PM Bui Thanh Son affirmed that Vietnam values President Donald Trump’s efforts to advance peace, cooperation, and global prosperity, and expressed Vietnam’s readiness to join the Gaza Peace Council as a founding member. Vietnam looks forward to working with other Council members to implement the Gaza Peace Plan, which was approved under UN Security Council Resolution 2803 on November 17, 2025. Members of the Trump cabinet expressed appreciation for Vietnam’s decision to join the Peace Council, reaffirming their commitment to strengthening the Vietnam–US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. They supported accelerating talks on reciprocal tax agreements and welcomed Vietnam’s participation as a founding member of the Gaza Peace Council. Deputy PM Bui Thanh Son and the Vietnamese delegation took part in several discussions, making active and constructive contributions to the dialogue.

With a desire to preserve a piece of his community’s cultural and historical identity, Ha Van Sy, a resident of Co Lung commune in Thanh Hoa province, traded his family’s stilt house for a century-old bronze pot. Inside, they’ll find a rare, giant bronze pot considered a local treasure - both for its physical size and cultural significance. According to Sy, the pot once belonged to a local landlord. The bronze pot weighs nearly 100kg and was acquired in exchange for a stilt house. It now sits beneath Sy’s stilt house floor, secured by a cable to one of the support columns.

Vietnam’s new General Secretary will chair an international press conference to announce the outcomes of the Congress. At 2 p.m. today, the closing session of the 14th Party Congress will be held, broadcast live on national television. As per tradition, the newly elected leadership - including the Party Central Committee, Politburo, Secretariat, and Inspection Commission - will officially present themselves to the Congress during the closing session. Yesterday afternoon, the Congress completed its voting process, electing 200 members to the new 14th Central Committee. Seven other members of the 13th Politburo also secured re-election to the 14th Party Central Committee.

At Mount Mau Son in Lang Son province, the mercury dropped to -0.1°C - the lowest temperature reported so far this winter. In mountainous areas of northern Vietnam, hazardous cold persists, especially in provinces like Dien Bien and Lai Chau. Expert insights on the coldest spell so farMai Van Khiem, Director of the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, confirmed that this is the most intense cold spell in northern Vietnam since the start of the 2025–2026 winter. According to Khiem, the first widespread cold spell of the season occurred between January 6–8, characterized by dry conditions. Northern Vietnam should begin to warm up, and this warming trend is forecast to continue through the end of January.

Central Committee members then discussed and voted on the number of seats in the Politburo. Members were given the opportunity to nominate or self-nominate, with group discussions taking place before finalizing the official list. Politburo and Secretariat members must fully meet the criteria required of Central Committee members. Special cases are subject to Central Committee approval. Electing the General SecretaryGeneral Secretary To Lam casts his vote to elect official and alternate members of the 14th Central Committee.

Vietnam concluded the 13th Party Congress term as ASEAN’s top performer, with 2025 GDP growth hitting 8.02 percent and the national economy reaching US$514 billion. With 2025 GDP growth surging to 8.02 percent, Vietnam has established itself as the definitive growth leader of ASEAN and a rare global outlier. A cornerstone of this era was the elevation of bilateral ties with Singapore to a comprehensive strategic partnership in March 2025. Infrastructure pace: Vietnam’s $38 billion infrastructure blitz in 2026 provides the physical 'haảdware' that its neighbors are still working to authorize. As we look toward the 14th Congress, the foundation suggests that Vietnam’s 'Golden Era' is not just a hope.

This marks a significant step as these instruments now carry an investment-grade rating, one notch above Vietnam’s current rating of BB+ for unsecured foreign currency long-term debt. The upgrade follows Fitch’s review under its newly issued Sovereign Rating Criteria, introduced in September 2025. Fitch Ratings emphasized that the upgrade does not affect Vietnam’s overall sovereign credit rating, which remains at BB+ with a stable outlook, last affirmed in June 2025. The Ministry of Finance stated it is establishing a regular and proactive dialogue mechanism with major international rating agencies including Fitch, Moody’s, and S&P. Looking ahead, the ministry will continue working closely with Fitch and other international organizations to ensure accurate and updated assessments of Vietnam’s credit profile.