This surge has been driven by widespread internet access, smartphone penetration, and the development of online shopping platforms and social networks. In 2025, market surveillance forces have nationwide detected and handled more than 23,400 cases involving counterfeit goods, most of which occurred on e-commerce platforms and social media. Currently, on e-commerce platforms and social networks, seller identities and product quality are difficult to verify, creating loopholes for counterfeit goods to enter the market. Tran Huu Linh, head of the Agency for Domestic Market Surveillance and Development under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said that management methods for the e-commerce market need to be renewed. Automated monitoring systems using artificial intelligence to detect counterfeit products based on images, reviews and transaction data should be deployed more widely.

On the evening of December 24, thousands of people in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi poured into brightly decorated streets and churches to celebrate Christmas together, filling the air with joy and festivity. Ho Chi Minh City: Streets alive with light and laughterBy 7:30 p.m., major streets leading to Notre Dame Cathedral in downtown Saigon were jammed with traffic. Along Nguyen Du Street, locals sat on low stools outside coffee shops, sipping drinks while soaking up the festive atmosphere. “Christmas this year feels especially meaningful,” said Mr. Tam, who came with his family to join the celebration. “I’ve come here every year for Christmas,” said Diep Anh, standing near the cathedral gates.

Older iPhones including the XR and XS have received important security updates. Older iPhones such as the XR and XS have received a crucial security patch. According to AppleInsider, via IsTheAppleStoreDown.com, Apple rolled out several minor firmware builds earlier this week for a limited number of devices. For iPhones, the update is designed for the XR, XS, and XS Max models distributed in the Chinese market. This ongoing support is particularly important for users of the iPhone XR, XS, and iPad 7 - devices still in widespread use globally.

IELTS has reported that over 63,000 test sessions have been adjusted following a “technical incident,” with nearly 59,000 tests receiving higher scores. IELTS clarified that the “internal technical issue” was not related to any cyberattack, affecting less than 1% of total global test sessions. As a result, 20,600 tests saw their overall IELTS band score rise by 0.5, while 1,115 tests dropped by the same margin. Remarkably, two test sessions globally experienced a full one-point increase in the overall score. “The adjusted score is now the final score.

Nguyen Ngoc Thuy, better known as “Shark Thuy,” has been accused of being primarily responsible for defrauding more than 10,000 investors of over 7.677 trillion VND, while having reimbursed only about 2 billion VND, according to an indictment filed by the Supreme People’s Procuracy. The remaining 206 million shares were sold without authorization, generating 7.677 trillion VND in unreported income. Thousands of victims, billions unrecoveredAuthorities determined that Thuy bears principal responsibility for misappropriating 7.677 trillion VND from 10,063 victims. Corporate oversight and regulatory findingsEgroup was first registered in September 2008 with 32 billion VND in charter capital. By December 2016, the company declared an increase to 962 billion VND.

The program will also feature exchanges with exemplary individuals, and ceremonies to honor and confer the titles of Hero of Labor, Hero of the People’s Armed Forces, and National Emulation Soldiers. Others representing patriotic emulation movements across the country will also be commended. Trinh Thi Thuy, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, themed “Emulation for innovation, creativity, acceleration, and breakthrough to lead the nation into an era of prosperity, civilization, and strength,” will be held from December 26 to 27. Among the official delegates are individuals recognized as Heroes of Labor, representatives of heroic collectives, national emulation soldiers, and many other exemplary figures.

AI cameras are not merely tools for punishment, but they also function as mirrors placed in the middle of the street. The AI camera system can detect drivers running a red light, stopping beyond the line, reflecting no favoritism and no leniency. What makes AI cameras noteworthy is their fairness. Of course, AI cameras must be accompanied by clear regulations on privacy, data storage and use, and mechanisms for appeal and correction. The city’s AI-integrated traffic surveillance camera system detected 1,020 traffic violations after one week of its full-scale operation in mid-December.

Determined to find a sustainable solution, Truong - Chairman and Director of Truong Phat Cooperative for Agricultural and Environmental Services in Xuan Hung Commune - took a bold step. He aimed not just to process waste, but to extract resources from it and return them to the economy. A grassroots solution to a national problemIn early 2015, Truong’s cooperative began managing and rehabilitating the Tho Nghiep landfill (now part of Xuan Hung, Ninh Binh). He successfully built a compact waste-sorting machine capable of handling 10 tons per day. How the system worksThe system starts by receiving mixed domestic waste, which is pre-treated and loaded onto conveyor belts.

At Lang Van Parish in Ninh Binh, visitors arriving during this year’s Christmas festivities are greeted not only by the largest church in Vietnam - built on a 14,000m² campus - but also by a monumental stone grotto dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes. Lang Van Church at night. The stone grotto spans 500m² and rises 25 meters high, constructed using 6,250m³ of large slate rocks transported from the former Ha Nam province. The massive grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes inside Lang Van Church. Lang Van Church itself was founded in 2015 and completed after ten years of construction.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino has sent a heartfelt New Year greeting to the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) and its president Tran Quoc Tuan, expressing appreciation for their collaboration throughout 2025 and anticipation for a historic year ahead. FIFA president Gianni Infantino and VFF president Tran Quoc Tuan. Photo: VFFInfantino emphasized that 2026 will be a milestone year, as the FIFA World Cup will be held for the first time in history with 48 national teams. “The World Cup is not only the greatest football festival on the planet,” Infantino wrote, “but also a platform that connects nations and spreads values of peace, solidarity, and friendship.”Concluding the letter, the FIFA president extended his warmest New Year wishes to VFF president Tran Quoc Tuan and his family. He also reaffirmed FIFA’s commitment to continue working closely and collaboratively with Vietnamese football in the time ahead.

Under Decree 282, authorities can penalize noise violations at any time of the day, removing earlier restrictions that focused mainly on late-night hours. Phung said that before Decree 282 took effect, authorities responded to residents’ complaints about noisy karaoke by dispatching inspection teams to issue warnings. Da Nang’s firm stance predates the decreeBefore the new decree came into force, rapid response teams were established to combat noisy karaoke, with the former Nai Hien Dong Ward pioneering the model. Police officers in Ho Chi Minh City visit boarding houses and residential areas to explain Decree 282 and penalties for noisy karaoke. On Monday, the official Facebook page of Tan Phuoc Ward Police also posted information about enforcing the decree against noisy karaoke gatherings, drawing widespread public support.

Photo: Nhat Xuan / Tuoi TreHeld on December 19 at Startup & Innovation Hub of Ho Chi Minh City, the event brought together start-ups, investors, and industry experts to introduce promising AI-powered products. Hololab, a marketing start-up, introduced a platform that combines 3D technology with AI to create more immersive and personalized advertising experiences. Several education start-ups proposed AI-powered tools designed to narrow the gap between academic training and workplace demands. These platforms use AI to tailor study plans to individual students based on their personal goals and intended career paths. "The real question is whether it helps businesses solve problems faster, more effectively, and at lower cost than before."

Unseasonal rain is expected in southern Vietnam, including Ho Chi Minh City, on December 24 and 25, 2025. Across southern provinces and Ho Chi Minh City, weather conditions are expected to range from partly cloudy to overcast, with light morning mist in some locations. Some areas may see moderate rain, while isolated locations could experience heavy downpours, particularly in the Mekong Delta. During this period, southern Vietnam is likely to see mostly sunny conditions during the day, followed by isolated showers and thunderstorms at night. On Thursday in particular, moderate to heavy rain may occur in some locations during the afternoon and evening.

The findings were presented during a workshop held on December 23, which unveiled key research based on the mid-term population and housing survey and a socioeconomic survey of 53 ethnic minority groups. Projections show that while Vietnam’s population will continue to grow for decades, the rate of growth will gradually decline. The population is expected to peak around 2059 under the medium fertility scenario before stabilizing or slowing. Under three fertility scenarios - low (1.45 children/woman), medium (1.85), and high (2.01) - the population in 2074 would reach approximately 103.9 million, 114.2 million, and 118.5 million respectively. The golden population era will give way to aging and even super-aging stages, characterized by shrinking youth and working-age groups, and a sharp rise in the elderly population.

Meanwhile, member universities under Vietnam National University HCMC have large-scale training activities and need more vice presidents to handle and share the workload, improving governance efficiency. Examples include University of Industry and Trade HCMC, University of Technology and Education HCMC, Industrial University of HCMC, University of Technology HCMC, University of Social Sciences and Humanities HCMC, University of Medicine and Pharmacy HCMC, University of Finance and Marketing. The limit on vice presidents places pressure on administrative teams in assigning, managing, and supervising tasks. Some institutions still have not appointed all three vice presidents due to personnel issues. As universities move toward full autonomy, especially in organizational structure and personnel, allowing each institution to decide the number of vice presidents is necessary.