The Tara Bodhisattva statue-a national treasure over 1,200 years old-was recently reunited with its sacred relics: a lotus and a conch, after nearly five decades. The Tara Bodhisattva statue. The story of the Tara Bodhisattva statue-or, by its formal epigraphic name, Laksmindra Lokesvara-being reunited with its lotus and conch after nearly 50 years is more than a recovery. Inscriptions from Dong Duong record that he built a temple to Laksmindra Lokesvara Svabhayada, a form of Avalokitesvara, the Bodhisattva of Compassion. On November 19, 2025, the Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture unveiled the Tara Bodhisattva statue in its most complete form to date.

National defence and security, foreign relations, and international integration were reinforced, while Party building and political system reforms achieved significant and breakthrough results. He cordially invited representatives of foreign diplomatic missions and international organisations in Vietnam to the opening and closing sessions. She expressed confidence that, with a spirit of solidarity, democracy, discipline, innovation, and development, the 14th National Party Congress will set comprehensive directions, laying a foundation for a more sustainable and successful development phase. Palestinian Ambassador to Vietnam and head of the diplomatic corps in Vietnam, Saadi Salama, showed the belief that the 14th National Party Congress would adopt major decisions that prioritise the interests of Vietnamese people and foster cooperation for lasting peace both regionally and globally. Ambassadors and representatives of foreign missions in Vietnam said they believe that the 14th National Congress of the CPV will be successfully held.

In 2025, oil and gas activities declined by 2.54%, pulling the city’s overall GRDP down by 0.5 percentage points. “Including oil and gas in HCMC’s GRDP would misrepresent the effectiveness of the city’s governance,” Hoang explained. For example, Cao Bang’s GRDP is about 14 trillion VND (~571 million USD), Dien Bien’s is around 17 trillion VND (~694 million USD), and Lai Chau’s is about 16 trillion VND (~653 million USD). In addition, total social investment is expected to reach about 880 trillion VND (approximately 35.9 billion USD) in 2026, up from 705 trillion VND (~28.8 billion USD) in 2025. In 2021, its average GRDP per capita reached 12,154 USD (including oil) and about 7,141 USD (excluding oil).

On the occasion of the New Year 2026, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh granted an exclusive interview to the Vietnam News Agency. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh: Since the start of this term, the global landscape has evolved rapidly, complexly, and unpredictably. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh: The Government of the 2021–2025 term has continued the 80-year tradition of action, innovation, and service to the nation and people. Total FDI for the term surpassed USD 184 billion, ranking Vietnam among the top 15 FDI destinations in the developing world. Foreign trade volume hit a record USD 930 billion in 2025, with agricultural exports exceeding USD 70 billion for the first time.

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.