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.

Sunflowers bloom along the Saigon River in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, January 2026. Ho Chi Minh City-- Ho Chi Minh City authorities have approved a plan to allow electric motorbike battery-swapping cabinets to be installed on sidewalks and in public areas to support green transport and emissions reduction. -- Ho Chi Minh City police said on Tuesday they arrested or handled 15,240 people in 5,790 drug-related cases in 2025 as authorities stepped up a nationwide crackdown and moved toward a goal of making the city drug-free by 2030. -- Ho Chi Minh City’s tax authority said on Tuesday it collected a record VND619.99 trillion (US$23.6 billion) in 2025, helping push the city’s total state budget revenue past VND800 trillion ($30.4 billion) for the first time. Sports-- Vietnam beat Jordan 2-0 on Tuesday to take an early lead in Group A of the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup.

The love stories of several so-called “mismatched” couples took social media by storm in 2025. Though they differ in age, height, or appearance, these couples share one thing in common: sincere, resilient love built on understanding and respect. Their wedding in May 2025 was a joyful celebration, marking the beginning of a new chapter together. Despite curious glances and whispers about their "mismatched" looks, Duy’s unwavering affection showed that height has nothing to do with love. Their wedding preparations weren’t without hiccups-posing for photos and choosing matching outfits proved challenging due to the height gap.

Resolution 57, issued by the Politburo, puts science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation at the heart of Vietnam’s national development strategy. At its core, the resolution emphasizes mastering strategic and core technologies, reducing external dependency, and building resilient internal capacity. In this context, presentations by tech giants CMC and FPT highlight the alignment between state policy and enterprise strategy. According to Nguyen Van Khoa, this is not just a structural move but a practical commitment to owning core technologies. It demands patience from shareholders and support from regulators-especially in creating sandbox environments to test and launch core tech products.

Under the draft, EV parking areas must be included within the approved project footprint. The ministry recommends separating EV parking areas from those for internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs). The EV parking area will count toward the building’s total parking space as per regulations. These EV parking zones must be equipped with surveillance cameras capable of early fire detection via temperature, smoke, or flame recognition. For new buildings, EV parking will be mandatory and must align with local green transport goals.

Thick frost clings to tree branches and walkways on Fansipan’s summit in Lao Cai Province, northern Vietnam. Photo: AXAs a prolonged cold spell grips northern Vietnam, temperatures have fallen sharply across a wide area. Earlier this season, frost had appeared several times on Fansipan but only in thin layers. At 7:00 am on January 7, 2026, dense fog still blanketed the mountain peak of Fansipan as temperatures dropped to -3°C. At 5:30 am on Wednesday, temperatures recorded at weather stations from Ha Tinh northward were all below 15 degrees Celsius.

While the upcoming iOS 26.3 update promises only modest improvements, Apple’s service platforms-especially Apple Arcade and Apple TV+-could be where users find early excitement. Ironically, some of the very product lines that made brief January appearances in years past are now rumored to return in early 2026. Apple Arcade: A relaxing start with new gamesAs usual, Apple Arcade kicks off the month with fresh releases every first Friday. A quiet start-but not a dull oneApple seems poised to begin 2026 on a calm note. Apple Arcade remains a steady source of fun.

Bac Ninh sets 2026 GRDP target at over $25.2 billion. The conference highlighted that Bac Ninh continued to achieve rapid economic growth in 2025, with several indicators ranking among the top nationwide. The province’s GRDP growth rate reached 10.27%, placing it fifth in the country. Nine key solution groups outlinedTo meet these targets, Bac Ninh has identified nine priority tasks and solutions for 2026. Bac Ninh also aims to meet and exceed state budget revenue estimates, while managing expenditures with fiscal discipline and effectiveness, and combating waste and inefficiency.

Vietnam U23 players celebrate after their opening-match victory against Jordan in Group A at the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, January 6, 2026. Vietnam’s Nguyen Dinh Bac scores from the penalty spot during their Group A match against Jordan at the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, January 6, 2026. Vietnam U23 players celebrate after Nguyen Hieu Minh scored their second goal in the Group A match against Jordan at the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, January 6, 2026. Vietnam are in Group A with hosts Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Kyrgyzstan. Vietnam's next group match is against Kyrgyzstan on Friday, with the final group game against Saudi Arabia scheduled for January 12.

The Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processor line was just unveiled at CES 2026. A major leap in performance and power efficiencyThe new Core Ultra Series 3 is designed with one key goal: maximum performance per watt. Built-in AI power, next-gen graphics, full x86 supportIntel is positioning Core Ultra Series 3 as its most expansive AI PC platform ever, with over 200 global device models expected to feature the chip. Core Ultra for all tiers-including edge computingBeyond high-end laptops, Intel also launched mainstream Core versions based on the same architecture, aimed at affordable segments while still improving energy efficiency. For the first time, Intel simultaneously launched Series 3 chips for both personal computers and edge devices.

China, Korea, and India lead growthChina remained Vietnam’s largest source market in 2025 with over 5.28 million arrivals, a significant 41.3% increase year-on-year. South Korea followed with 4.33 million, and Taiwan (China) placed third with 1.23 million visitors. Vietnam hit an all-time high in international tourist arrivals in 2025. Momentum builds despite unmet targetsWhile Vietnam fell slightly short of its initial goal of 23–25 million international arrivals, surpassing the 21 million mark for the first time marks a historic leap forward. The honored guest was a female traveler from Poland, underscoring the growing appeal of Vietnam’s emerging destinations to European tourists.

Five constitutions have been adopted by the National Assembly, each tied to crucial turning points in Vietnam’s revolutionary path. These documents reflected the evolving levels of national development and a spirit of continuous innovation in organizing and exercising state power. Today, the National Assembly has increasingly taken the lead in shaping legal frameworks, swiftly translating Party policies into legislation, and driving forward legislative innovation aimed at development. Its timely and sound decisions have addressed economic development, national defense and security, foreign policy, state organization, and senior leadership appointments. “Throughout the 80-year journey, the National Assembly has remained closely connected with the people, truly reflecting their will and aspirations.