Northern provinces were already experiencing light rain, with average temperatures ranging from 18 to 21°C. From January 1, the eastern mountainous areas of northern Vietnam will begin to feel the cold. Highs: 19–22°C (mountains: 17–19°C)Lows: 13–16°C (mountains: 10–13°C)January 2–4: Light rain in some areas. Highs: 16–20°CLows: 11–15°C (some areas below 8–11°C)From Thanh Hoa to HueJanuary 1: Scattered rain in the north, light rain in the south. Highs: 23–26°CLows: 16–19°CJanuary 2–4: Light rain and cold in the north.

VFF hands out a wave of disciplinary actions against U19 players. Photo: VFFThe Vietnam Football Federation (VFF)’s Disciplinary Committee has issued additional sanctions against several players in the 2025/26 National U19 Championship. “The VFF reiterates its commitment to strict, non-exceptional enforcement of discipline, ethics, and the fight against all forms of misconduct in football,” the federation said in a statement. “In the time ahead, the VFF will continue strengthening inspection, monitoring, and collaboration with relevant authorities to proactively identify and promptly address violations. This effort aims to cleanse the football environment, safeguard the core values of sportsmanship, and ensure a transparent, sustainable development path for Vietnamese football,” the statement concluded.

Tran Duc Thanh appointed acting CEO of Vietnam Mobile Telecom Services Corporation. During the ceremony, Tran Duc Thanh was entrusted with the role of acting CEO. In his acceptance speech, Tran Duc Thanh expressed his deep gratitude to the Party Committee of the Ministry of Public Security, the Party Committee, and the Board of Directors of MobiFone for their trust in assigning him this significant responsibility. Assuming his new position, Tran Duc Thanh committed to focusing on three key priorities. In June 2025, the Ministry of Public Security appointed Major General Truong Son Lam, then Director of the Ben Tre Provincial Police Department, as Chairman of MobiFone.

Vehicles moved at a crawl as they approached Hanoi’s southern gateway. Dao Thanh Ha, a native of Phu Tho, said he made an effort to arrive at the bus station early to secure a seat on his preferred ride home. Severe congestion was also observed on the elevated section of Hanoi’s Ring Road 3, especially at the intersection of Nguyen Xien and Nguyen Trai. At Nuoc Ngam Bus Station in the city’s south, traffic increased significantly compared to usual days. Crowds of residents poured out of Hanoi to return home for the 2026 New Year holiday.

The surge signals the recovery of purchasing power and rising consumer confidence, boosted by the long-standing "Vietnamese Prioritise Vietnamese Goods" campaign, encouraging support for local products. E-commerce stood out as a major success, reaching 32 billion USD, and claiming nearly 12% of the country’s retail sales. Consumption remains anchored in essentials, with food and foodstuffs at 34.1% of retail goods sales, highlighting the priority of basic needs. Services spending, covering accommodation, dining and tourism, outpaced goods, rising 12-14% annually, aligning with trends in more mature economies where consumers favour experiences and quality-of-life enhancements. A population topping 100 million, youthful demographics and rising incomes position Vietnam as one of Southeast Asia's largest retail markets.

Among the changes believed to be pivotal for Vietnam’s next phase of economic development, the first is Resolution 68, which clearly signals that Vietnam’s growth will be driven by the private sector. The article says Resolution 68 clearly signals that Vietnam’s growth will be driven by the private sector.. (Photo: VNA)Another key change is to bringing the informal economy into the formal system. Household businesses are estimated to account for around 20–30% of Vietnam’s GDP, yet tax collection from this group has historically been modest. The article also underscores tighter regulations, noting that for many years, market standards in Vietnam were relatively loose. Vietnam’s economy can accelerate meaningfully over the next five years under the 2026–2031 leadership term.

The Law on Digital Technology Industry will take effect on January 1, 2025. (Illustrative photo: VNA)The Law on Teachers, structured in nine chapters and 42 articles, mandates that teachers' salaries rank at the highest level in the administrative and public service pay scale. Preschool educators, those in ethnic minority, mountainous, border, island, or disadvantaged areas, teachers at specialised or inclusive schools, and those in select fields will receive higher salaries and allowances relative to standard conditions. It further broadens access to preferential loans for overseas contract workers, allowing all such employees to qualify for concessional credit. During its 10th session earlier, the National Assembly passed 51 laws and eight resolutions with legal force, many set to come into effect from January 1, 2026.

However, for more than a year, unstable live hog prices combined with the raging ASF forced him to narrow the scale of farming. Currently, live hog prices in Northern provinces are still in a strong upward trend to about VND68,000-VND70,000/kg. Meanwhile, live hog prices in the Central region fluctuate from VND63,000-VND69,000/kg, and in the South, they remain stable at VND60,000-VND63,000/kg. According to him, the main cause pushing live hog prices high is the outbreak of ASF. "With the current supply developments, after the 2026 New Year holiday, live hog prices may exceed the VND70,000/kg threshold," he predicted.

Both were found guilty of using computer networks, telecommunications, and electronic means to misappropriate property through stolen Vietnamese credit card information. Investigators said the pair purchased multiple iPhones from several stores in Da Nang using the stolen card details last year. Investigations revealed that Lim had met an individual named Yue Na Zhi Fu via Telegram while living in Malaysia and received data stolen from Vietnamese credit card accounts. Since the stolen card data could not be used for cash withdrawals but allowed purchases, the group devised a scheme to buy phones and laptops and resell them for cash. The group used Samsung Pay and OPPO Pay, linked to stolen credit account information on point-of-sale devices, to make the purchases.

The content creator uses fish and glass noodles to cook 'Vietnamese pho' in the controversial video. In the video, which has attracted more than 1,700 comments on Threads, the creator uses fish stock as the main broth and what appears to be glass noodles in the soup dish. The approach immediately drew debate from viewers, many of whom noted the differences from how Vietnamese pho is traditionally prepared. Several comments said the dish should be called 'fish glass noodle soup' rather than pho. Alongside the teasing, some offered detailed guidance on how to properly cook pho and thanked the content creator for his interest in the dish.

Wild Himalayan cherry blossoms are in full bloom in front of the Lung Cu Flag Tower in Tuyen Quang Province, northern Vietnam. -- The expanded Ho Chi Minh City, formed by a merger with neighboring Binh Duong and Ba Ria–Vung Tau Provinces, has more than six million young people, including 3.3 million youths and 2.7 million children, accounting for nearly half of its estimated 14 million population, according to official figures released recently. Ho Chi Minh City-- Ho Chi Minh City’s tourism sector maintained strong growth in 2025, with international arrivals estimated at about 8.56 million, domestic visitors at roughly 45.6 million, and total tourism revenue reaching around VND279 trillion (US$10.6 billion), or 101 percent of its annual target, officials said on Tuesday. The firm plans to roll out the technology commercially in 2026. -- the Vietnamese women’s volleyball team finished 28th in the FIVB world rankings at the end of the 2025 season with 136.75 points, ranking fourth in Asia behind Japan, China, and Thailand.

From left: Thuy Tien, Hang Du Muc and Quang Linh VlogsA number of people once considered "sales monuments" faced legal trouble, with regulatory authorities tightening the legal framework for KOLs (key opinion leaders) and KOCs (key opinion consumers). When public suspicion began to arise, the individuals staged fake advertising contracts to remove their shareholder status and evade legal responsibility. In April 2025, Hang Du Muc (Nguyen Thi Thai Hang) and Quang Linh Vlogs (Pham Quang Linh), followed by beauty queen Thuy Tien (Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien), were prosecuted and placed in temporary detention. The 2025 Advertising Law is considered an important legal milestone, marking a fundamental change in how promotional activities on digital platforms are managed. Influencers are no longer merely “product introducers” but are required to directly verify product origins, legal status, and declared information before advertising.

The inside display of iPhone Fold mimics the iPad layout, measuring 7.8 inches. Photo: Front Page TechnologyApple is making bold moves in the foldable phone space with what may be called the iPhone Fold or iPhone Ultra, according to new leaks and reports. If Apple succeeds in delivering a crease-free foldable screen, it could immediately redefine industry standards - something the entire sector has struggled to achieve for years. Insiders project that the iPhone Fold (or Ultra) will start between $2,000 and $2,500 USD - putting it squarely in the luxury tech category, not just as a smartphone but as a statement piece. Some speculate that Apple might avoid the “Fold” branding altogether, opting instead for the name “iPhone Ultra” to emphasize its premium positioning.

Foreign-invested enterprises contributed significantly to Vietnam’s total export turnover in 2025. Among them, eight groups surpassed the $10 billion mark, contributing a combined $319 billion USD - accounting for 68% of total national exports. Electronics and computer parts now make up 22.5% of Vietnam’s total exports, retaining their spot as the country’s top export category for 2025. Textile and garment exports hit $39.29 billion, growing 6.1%, while footwear reached $23.97 billion, up 4.8%. The roadmap includes launching a national export branding system and rolling out the “Go Global” initiative, which identifies and supports industry-leading enterprises to spearhead Vietnam’s global trade presence.

Mobile Money services see strong adoption in rural areas. As of late September 2025, Vietnam’s Mobile Money services had processed over 290 million transactions, with a total value of approximately 8.511 trillion VND (around 350 million USD). Draft decree on Mobile Money submitted to the governmentOn April 15, 2025, the Vietnamese government issued Resolution No. 87/NQ-CP to extend the pilot implementation of Mobile Money - allowing telecommunications accounts to be used for small-value payments - until December 31, 2025. The SBV was also tasked with drafting a full legal decree on Mobile Money services in coordination with relevant ministries and agencies.