Vietnam U23 team kicks off 2026 with the AFC U23 Asian Cup this January. The men’s national team triumphed at the ASEAN Cup, the U23s claimed the Southeast Asian U23 Championship, and the year concluded with a euphoric victory at the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand. Historic milestone: 7 national teams reach Asian finalsThe biggest headline is that seven Vietnamese national teams have qualified for the final rounds of Asian competitions in 2026 - an unprecedented achievement. Only Vietnam and Japan achieved this in 2025Among Southeast Asian nations, Vietnam stands alone in reaching this level of comprehensive qualification in 2025. Even more impressive, most Vietnamese teams qualified with perfect winning records, demonstrating technical stability and mental fortitude.

Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang. Photo: Ministry of Foreign AffairsThe foreign ministry's spokesperson Pham Thu Hang made the statement on Saturday in response to reporters’ questions about Vietnam’s position on the unfolding situation in Venezuela. Vietnam also urges all parties to refrain from the use or threat of force in international relations, she stated. U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was detained and removed from Caracas following a large-scale operation. Maduro was described as wearing gray clothing, handcuffed, and escorted by more than a dozen federal agents dressed in black.

Young people in Ho Chi Minh City take part in a pottery-making class during the New Year 2026 holiday. -- Vietnamese Ambassador to Venezuela Vu Trung My confirmed on Saturday that all Vietnamese citizens in Venezuela were safe, according to the Vietnam News Agency. Society-- Traffic police on Saturday found that a passenger bus traveling on the Phan Thiet - Vinh Hao Expressway in south-central Vietnam had committed serious traffic violations. Officers then imposed a total fine of over VND60 million (US$2,280) on the vehicle operator. Ho Chi Minh City-- Traffic police in Ho Chi Minh City recorded nearly 6,400 violations of traffic safety regulations from Wednesday to Friday, including 2,075 drunk-driving cases, an officer said on Saturday.

Their stories reflect a reality that even though the nine-to-five norm has not vanished, its meaning has changed. But for many young workers today, that promise wears like an old coat that no longer keeps out the cold. Young workers were not celebrating balance or ease. Many young workers, he observes, are searching for a 'dream company,' when the more pressing question is whether the work itself leads anywhere beyond the role. "Young employees want to know what they're doing actually leads somewhere," he explains.

Ambassador Knapper shared, “As 2025 comes to a close, we commemorate an extraordinary milestone - 30 years of U.S.–Vietnam diplomatic relations. Ambassador Marc E. Knapper and the Harvard University delegation visit the National Archives Center III in Hanoi. A special report titled Vietnam Matters to America, America Matters to Vietnam was also published, using data and statistics to illustrate the depth of bilateral cooperation. According to Ambassador Knapper, these events symbolize the growing maturity of the bilateral defense relationship. General Phan Van Giang, Vietnam’s Minister of Defense, and U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth exchange wartime memorabilia.

Mountainous areas may experience severe cold and frost. From the night of January 4 into January 5, northern Vietnam will see light and scattered rain. Mountainous and midland areas in the north are expected to suffer from severe cold, with the potential for freezing temperatures. The lowest temperatures during this cold spell in northern Vietnam, Thanh Hoa, and Nghe An are forecast to range from 10°C to 13°C. In mountainous areas, the mercury may drop to between 7°C and 10°C, and even below 5°C in higher elevations.

A still image shows a married couple cooking on railway tracks in Quang Ninh Province, northern Vietnam. The provincial traffic police unit on Saturday issued a combined VND800,000 (US$30.4) administrative fine against the couple for violating railway safety regulations. Many described the behavior as a violation of the law, a disregard for personal safety, and a threat to railway traffic safety. A clip showing a married couple cooking on railway tracks in Quang Ninh Province, northern Vietnam surfaces on local social media. Based on current regulations, the provincial traffic police booked the offenders and imposed the fine on the couple.

Waterway traffic police in Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam said they had found a tour boat captain in violation of alcohol limits during an inspection. Photo: Nguyen HoangThe captain told officers he had consumed alcohol the night before but still operated the passenger boat the following morning, according to police. Officers later conducted alcohol tests on the captain of another passenger boat, which had just docked at Nha Trang’s tourist pier after carrying nearly 10 passengers. Rusty and damaged fire extinguishers were found on several tourist boats during a waterway safety inspection, police said. Khanh Hoa waterway traffic police conduct a breath alcohol test on a tour boat captain at Nha Trang’s tourist pier on January 3, 2026.

The spokesperson called on all sides to exercise restraint, engage in dialogue, and resolve disputes and differences based on international law. She emphasized the importance of efforts that contribute to peace, security, stability, and cooperation in the region and globally. On January 3, US President Donald Trump announced that American forces had detained Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife. Prior to the announcement of his capture, President Maduro had declared a nationwide state of emergency. At a press conference, President Trump stated: “We will govern Venezuela until a safe, appropriate, and cautious transition of power can take place.

U23 Vietnam take the first stepU23 Vietnam will be the first national team to take the continental stage this year, competing at the AFC U23 Championship in Saudi Arabia. These form a tight sequence of competitions where the success - or struggles - of the opening squad may set the tone for what follows. The weight of expectationOfficially, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has not set overly ambitious targets for U23 Vietnam at the AFC U23 Championship. More than results, U23 Vietnam need to show a new identity compared to their past regional performances. But if U23 Vietnam can rise to the occasion, they won’t just be opening a new chapter - they’ll be laying a foundation for an even bigger leap forward in Vietnamese football.

The most talked-about deal ahead of the 2026 season involves Vi Thi Nhu Quynh, born in 2002, who has officially signed with newly promoted Hanoi Volleyball Club. Though financial terms were not disclosed, sources confirm that this contract secures the highest salary ever recorded for a Vietnamese female volleyball player. Nhu Quynh officially joins Hanoi Volleyball Club. In the coming days, the club is expected to unveil additional high-profile signings, including Le Thanh Thuy and 2 to 3 other national team players. 2026 National Championship ScheduleThe first round of Vietnam’s National Volleyball Championship 2026 will take place from April 6 to April 19 at Dong Anh Gymnasium in Hanoi, for both men’s and women’s competitions.

The reductions in administrative units, personnel, and expenditures are early indicators of the profound impact of these reforms. The biggest administrative reform in modern history2025 was a year of intensity and transformation. Vietnam has seen two major administrative reforms in its history - under King Le Thanh Tong (1442–1497) and King Minh Mang (1791–1841). The number of commune-level administrative units was slashed from over 10,000 to just 3,321. Photo: Le Anh DungBeyond the structural reforms, 2025 also marked a turning point in national policy-making.

With a four-day break for the 2026 New Year, travelers can explore two of Vietnam’s most celebrated rural destinations - Thai Hai and Quynh Son - both recognized as “Best Tourism Villages in the World” by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Thai Hai Village, Thai NguyenThe Thai Hai Ecological Stilt House Conservation Area was honored by the UNWTO in 2022 as one of the world’s best tourism villages. Located just 70 km from Hanoi and about 10 km from downtown Thai Nguyen, Thai Hai lies along the popular tourist route to Nui Coc Lake and the Tan Cuong tea culture zone. Photo: Linh TrangQuynh Son Village, Lang SonQuynh Son (Lang Son) and Lo Lo Chai (Tuyen Quang) were Vietnam’s most recent entries into the UNWTO’s list of the “Best Tourism Villages in the World,” earning their titles in 2025. Located just over 150 km from Hanoi, Quynh Son is about a three-hour drive by private car.

Around 1996, his older brother gave him an idea: why not sell dried squid and fish from a cart? “At first, I had 3 to 5 items - grilled dried squid, dried fish - but it was hard to sell. The sells over 10 kilograms of dried squid each night. The now specializes in just one dish: butter garlic dried squid. His key ingredients are premium-grade dried squid (costing him about 1.3 million VND per kilo), high-quality condiments, and one strict rule: he never reuses cooking oil.

In 2025, Vietnamese youth gave rise to a series of heartfelt and creative trends that lit up social media and touched everyday life. Inviting strangers to weddingsA bride in Hanoi received unexpected wedding gifts from strangers she invited online. Growing ginger bonsai plantsGinger bonsai offered a calming, creative outlet for young people in 2025. In a more introspective trend, ginger bonsai - small ornamental ginger plants grown in minimalist pots - captured the imagination of young urban dwellers in 2025. Beyond their aesthetic appeal, ginger bonsai became a symbol of tranquility - especially for office workers or those living in tight urban spaces.