Why did China spend as much as US$845 million on this premium seafood from Vietnam in 2025, a sharp jump from US$363.5 million in 2024? Vietnam also benefits from geographical proximity, shortening transport time for live lobster shipments to China and reducing mortality rates as well as logistics costs. In 2025, the country cut lobster imports from North America while increasing purchases from Vietnam and other ASEAN nations. As a result, Vietnam officially surpassed Canada, which accounted for 22%, to become China’s largest lobster supplier last year, holding a 34% share of total import value. The figure indicates that demand remains strong at the start of 2026, reinforcing Vietnam’s position in the premium lobster segment in the world’s most populous nation.

Ho Tran Anh ThuThu is a former student of Thoi Lai High School in Thoi Lai Commune, Can Tho. She remembers an afternoon in her final year of high school when facing the pivotal decision of choosing a major and a school for tertiary education. Her high school environment gave her opportunities to take on multiple roles. Researching the Industrial Systems Engineering - Logistics and Supply Chain Management program of HCMC University of Technology, she was attracted by the comprehensiveness of the major. Thu's most memorable academic experience was the INTERCHAIN 2024 competition - a national-scale academic playground for supply chain at Foreign Trade University (Hanoi).

Construction site of Long Thanh International Airport. Before the 25th of each month, it must consolidate reports and submit them to the municipal People’s Committee. If adjustments are needed, it must promptly advise and propose them to the municipal People’s Committee in accordance with regulations. The board will be held accountable before the municipal People’s Committee for any delays caused by subjective factors. The municipal People’s Committee has requested heads of departments, agencies and units to strictly implement the directives and promptly report difficulties or issues beyond their authority for consideration and resolution.

Vo Van Minh (R), chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Council, presents a porcelain statue of the 2026 Lunar New Year horse mascot to Yanai Shungaku, chairman of Japan’s Yamaguchi Prefectural Assembly, during their meeting in Ho Chi Minh City, February 26, 2026. Photo: Thanh Hiep / Tuoi TreThe MoU was inked at a meeting between Vo Van Minh, chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Council, and Yanai Shungaku, chairman of the Yamaguchi Prefectural Assembly, on Thursday afternoon. Binh Duong and Ba Ria–Vung Tau Provinces were amalgamated into Ho Chi Minh City under a national administrative restructuring that took effect on July 1, 2025. Shungaku extended Lunar New Year greetings to the city’s leaders and residents and congratulated Ho Chi Minh City on its new administrative structure. Minh congratulated Tsugumasa on his re-election and expressed confidence that under the leadership of the assembly chairman and the governor, ties between Ho Chi Minh City and Yamaguchi would continue to deepen, contributing to the broader Vietnam–Japan partnership.

Tran Minh Khoa, chairman of the People’s Committee of Phu Quoc Special Zone, stated that the Phu Quoc Tourism Rapid Response Team will do everything in its power to protect tourists’ rights. The establishment of the Tourism Rapid Response Team sends a clear message: tourists’ rights will be protected promptly and thoroughly. Representatives of tourism businesses in Phu Quoc and local authorities sign a commitment to implement the Tourism Code of Conduct. "When they were informed, the Tourism Rapid Response Team intervened promptly and helped him recover the money. Phu Quoc launches the Tourism Rapid Response Team, a dedicated force to support visitors, resolve issues, and protect tourists.

Vietnamese researcher Pham Hy Hieu poses in this 2022 handout image. He previously worked at xAI, where he was involved in development work on the Grok-3 model, according to posts on his social media accounts. His career has included roles at Google Brain, the National University of Singapore, and startup Augment Computing. In May 2025, he was invited to participate in a visiting professor program at Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City focusing on AI architecture and hardware. Hieu did not specify his next professional move in his post, saying only that he hoped to recover before deciding on future plans.

Passengers exit the domestic arrival hall at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Photo: X. Mai / Tuoi TreLe Hong Nga, deputy director of the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control (HCDC), told a socio-economic press briefing on Thursday that the city’s infectious disease situation remained stable before and during the Lunar New Year. Nga said weekly dengue and hand, foot and mouth disease cases were expected to remain at low levels after the holiday. However, based on annual patterns, hand, foot and mouth disease could increase in March, while dengue cases may rise earlier than in previous years. The city’s Department of Health has instructed medical facilities to comply with infectious disease reporting requirements, strengthen pathogen surveillance and improve outbreak forecasting.

An aerial view of Long Thanh International Airport under construction in Dong Nai Province, southern Vietnam. Long Thanh International Airport is a national key project spanning about 5,000 hectares, with a total estimated investment of more than VND336.63 trillion (US$13 billion). Construction began in 2020, and the airport is being developed in three phases, making it the country’s largest and most ambitious aviation infrastructure undertaking to date. Phase 1, funded with around VND109 trillion ($4.2 billion), is designed to serve 25 million passengers and handle 1.2 million metric tons of cargo annually. The new facility is planned as a smart and environmentally friendly airport built to international five-star standards.

Hong Ngu Regional General Hospital in Dong Thap Province, southern Vietnam, where dozens of people were admitted with suspected food poisoning after consuming ‘banh mi’ sold at Hong Ngoc 12 bakery on February 23-24, 2026. Photo: Dang Tuyet / Tuoi TreAccording to the food safety authority under the Dong Thap Department of Health, 10 patients have since been discharged, while the remaining cases are still under treatment, mostly at Hong Ngu Regional General Hospital, with others at Dong Thap General Hospital and nearby facilities. The patients reported eating ‘banh mi’ at the establishment between 7:00 pm on Monday and 6:30 am on Tuesday. This is not the first incident involving Hong Ngoc 12. In 2024, the same bakery was linked to a major outbreak that sickened 149 people after they consumed its ‘banh mi.’Hong Ngoc is a well-known ‘banh mi’ brand in Dong Thap, with outlets in Hong Ngu, Cao Lanh, and Sa Dec.

Pham Dut Diem (R), director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Foreign Affairs, and Ono Masuo, Japanese consul general in Ho Chi Minh City, answer reporters’ questions at the press conference announcing the 11th Japan Vietnam Festival in Ho Chi Minh City, February 27, 2026. Pham Dut Diem, director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Foreign Affairs, introduces joint activities at the 11th Japan Vietnam Festival at the press conference announcing the 11th Japan Vietnam Festival in Ho Chi Minh City, February 27, 2026. Japanese food is prepared at a booth at the 10th Japan Vietnam Festival in Ho Chi Minh City, March 8, 2025. Ono Masuo, Japanese consul general in Ho Chi Minh City, speaks at the press conference announcing the 11th Japan Vietnam Festival in Ho Chi Minh City, February 27, 2026. Photo: Thanh Hiep / Tuoi TreThe 11th Japan Vietnam Festival in Ho Chi Minh City will take place on March 7 and 8 at Zone B of September 23 Park in Ben Thanh Ward.

A thermal scanner is installed at Cam Ranh International Airport in Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam to monitor passengers for the Nipah virus. Photo: Khanh Hoa International Health Quarantine CenterThe provincial People’s Committee on Thursday announced that police, border guards, and Cam Ranh International Terminal JSC are working closely with the health sector to enforce strict quarantine measures. Le Van Tung, head of the Khanh Hoa International Health Quarantine Center, said the unit has intensified medical monitoring to prevent the potential entry of the Nipah virus through border gates. At Cam Ranh International Airport, the center installed seven thermal scanners in the arrival area. According to the Ministry of Health, Nipah virus is classified as a Group A infectious disease, transmitted from animals to humans or via contaminated food.

Event staff present the official jerseys for the Biwase Tour of Vietnam 2026 and the Ho Chi Minh City International Women’s Cycling Race – Biwase Cup 2026 at a press conference in Vietnam, February 26, 2026. The Biwase Tour of Vietnam 2026 and the Ho Chi Minh City International Women’s Cycling Race – Biwase Cup 2026 will be held from March 4 to March 14. The five-stage Biwase Tour of Vietnam will start in Ho Chi Minh City and finish in Da Lat, Lam Dong Province. The Ho Chi Minh City International Women’s Cycling Race – Biwase Cup will then run from Da Lat back to Binh Duong Ward in Ho Chi Minh City. The inclusion of both races as UCI 2.2 events provides opportunities for local riders to compete against international teams under the global governing body’s ranking system.

Vietnam’s Lai Ly Huynh competes at the Wuyang Cup Chinese chess tournament in Guangzhou, China, February 2026, in this handout image. Huynh beat Guo, who is ranked 12th in China, in the fourth round of Group B to maintain his unbeaten record in the tournament. Placed in a strong Group B, Huynh avoided Meng Fanrui and Yin Sheng but was drawn alongside Liu Zijian, ranked seventh in China, Liu Baihong, ranked ninth, and Guo. After four matches, Huynh has one win and one draw against Guo, a win over Liu Zijian, and a draw with Liu Baihong. Two rounds remain in the group stage, with only the top finisher in each group advancing to the semifinals.

Police serve legal decisions to Nurlybekov Kairat, a 49-year-old Kazakh national wanted on an Interpol Red Notice. Photo: Duc MinhThe provincial police department’s Immigration Office, working with the Investigation Police Office and Cam Ranh International Airport border authorities, expelled Nurlybekov Kairat and handed him over to Kazakh officials in accordance with regulations. Police said Kairat had been temporarily residing in Bac Nha Trang Ward, where he provided false information to obtain a visa and reside in Vietnam. During an administrative review, officers discovered he was listed on Interpol’s Red Notice since May 9, 2025 on charges of embezzlement or misappropriation of assets. Officials emphasized that the deportation was carried out strictly under Vietnamese law and international cooperation protocols.

Former Minister of Health - defendant Nguyen Thi Kim Tien. Accordingly, the agency has proposed prosecuting Nguyen Thi Kim Tien, born in 1959, former Minister of Health, for the offense of “Violating regulations on the management and use of state assets causing loss and waste,” under Clause 3, Article 219 of the Penal Code. Despite the absence of such approval, Nguyen Chien Thang signed submissions requesting Nguyen Thi Kim Tien to sign decisions permitting the hiring of foreign consultants to prepare the two projects and to approve plans for selecting architectural design options. Based on the approved architectural designs for the two projects, Nguyen Chien Thang directed Nguyen Kim Trung, Nguyen Huu Tuan and Tran Van Sinh to complete and legitimize documents for contractor appointment in violation of legal regulations. The actions of Nguyen Thi Kim Tien and the related defendants are alleged to have caused state asset losses exceeding VND70.2 billion (approximately US$2.9 million).