According to the commune administration, the two school leaders were found to have failed in their management and supervision duties, allowing prolonged shortcomings that affected school operations and damaged the reputation of the local education sector. The commune administration decided to dismiss them from their leadership positions. The incident occurred on the morning of September 26, when 40 students developed symptoms consistent with food poisoning shortly after eating breakfast provided by the school’s boarding kitchen. Investigators determined that vice-principal Hue obstructed efforts to immediately transfer the affected students to hospital for emergency treatment. Subsequent investigations by local authorities concluded that the students were poisoned due to bacterial contamination in food prepared at the school’s boarding kitchen.

Water is released from the Song Ba Ha hydropower plant in Dak Lak Province, south-central Vietnam on the afternoon of November 20, 2025. Photo: Minh Phuong / Tuoi TreAddressing a regular press briefing on Friday, Truong Cong Thai, vice-chairman of the Dak Lak People’s Committee, described the floods as the most destructive ever recorded in the area. Truong Cong Thai, vice-chairman of the Dak Lak People’s Committee, briefs reporters on flood damage at a regular press briefing on December 19, 2025. Photo: Minh Phuong / Tuoi TreAside from the heavy human toll, infrastructure and livelihoods suffered extensive damage. A house collapses in Hoa Thinh commune, Dak Lak Province, south-central Vietnam after severe November 2025 flooding.

Russian cancer drugs have similar treatment effectiveness but are much cheaper than comparable drugs. K Hospital, a leader in cancer treatment, is planning to purchase drugs from Russia to soon include them in treatment protocols, said Professor Dr Le Van Quang, Director of K Hospital (Hanoi), at a seminar on cancer treatment held on December 18–19. According to Quang, in recent years cancer diagnosis and treatment has seen strong development, in which cancer drugs play a key role. Today, new-generation cancer drugs have significantly improved both effectiveness and safety, especially targeted therapies. Among the new drugs, Quang highlighted Pembroria from Russia, a biosimilar to immunotherapy drugs widely used in Western countries.

A stronger VND has put heavy downward pressure on domestic gold prices, even though the world’s gold prices remain high. Dollar declines consecutivelyThe opening dong/dollar exchange rate on December 17 on the free market fell another VND50 to VND26,950 per dollar (selling price). USD supply in Vietnam is expected to be more abundant toward year-end thanks to exports and remittances, helping ease exchange rate pressure. SJC gold bars and SJC gold rings also fell sharply when converted according to the USD/VND exchange rate. The first is the conversion channel: at the same world gold price, a lower USD/VND rate will pull the VND-converted gold price down.

People dispose of trash in a public bin on Nguyen Hue Street, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Tu Trung / Tuoi TreSpecifically, individuals who discard cigarette butts improperly in apartment complexes, commercial or service areas, or public places may be fined VND100,000 to VND150,000 (US$3.80 to $5.70). Those who urinate or defecate in areas not designated for personal sanitation in apartment complexes, commercial or service areas, or public places face fines of VND150,000 to VND250,000 ($5.50 to $9.50). Fines of VND500,000 to VND1 million ($19 to $38) apply to acts of dumping garbage or discharging wastewater in unauthorized locations within apartment complexes, commercial, service, or public areas. In addition, households and individuals that fail to classify domestic solid waste or do not use regulated waste bags for domestic solid waste may be fined VND500,000 to VND1 million ($19 to $38).

Vietnamese boxer Ha Thi Linh (in red) wins the gold medal at the 33rd SEA Games, held in Thailand, December 19, 2025. The victory marked her third SEA Games gold medal and stood out as the lone triumph for Vietnam’s boxing team, which contested six finals on the final day of competition. Mother of two, Ha Thi Linh, is declared the winner by the referee at the 33rd SEA Games. In 2013, she won her first gold medal in the women’s 64kg category at the SEA Games, held in Myanmar. At the 2019 SEA Games, competing in the 60kg division, she was eliminated in the quarterfinals.

Photo: NCAThe event was jointly organized by the National Cybersecurity Association (NCA), Vietnam Television (VTV), and the State Securities Commission of Vietnam, with the participation of global digital asset firms OKX Global and Tether. International experience has shown that even major digital asset exchanges have been vulnerable to cyberattacks, technical loopholes, and operational failures. 05/2025 on piloting the digital asset market over a five-year period has established a controlled testing framework for the development of digital assets. Speakers also discussed training frameworks aimed at enhancing the capacity of organizations to ensure the safety and security of digital asset exchanges. Also, it seeks to support the business community in accessing and applying advanced technologies to develop digital asset exchanges in a manner that is secure, transparent, and compliant with Vietnamese law.

If recent leaks prove true, the iPhone Fold will be markedly different from everything else in the foldable market today. Photo: Technizo ConceptA folding iPhone turning point in 2026According to multiple industry sources, Apple is almost certain to launch the iPhone Fold in 2026. A wider internal screen, as rumored for the iPhone Fold, would be a boon for watching YouTube, streaming movies, or other entertainment. In this way, the iPhone Fold may represent a spiritual reboot of the iPhone mini line - now reimagined as flexible, premium, and ultra-modern. If Apple succeeds with the iPhone Fold, it won’t just enter the foldable race - it may rewrite the rules entirely.

Thailand led with 232 golds, 153 silvers and 106 bronzes, while Indonesia came second with 91golds, 111 silvers, and 128 bronzes. The gap in gold medals with Indonesia means the overall standings are almost settled. In addition to winning individual gold and breaking the SEA Games record, he joined his teammates to secure the men’s team gold. The third shooting gold came from the men’s 50m rifle three positions team event, where Vietnamese shooters edged past hosts Thailand on countback. Notably, e-sports delivered a gold medal in the men’s Arena of Valor team event after a victory over host Thailand./.

Refereeing controversies have added to the chaos surrounding the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in Thailand. Pencak silat becomes early flashpointFrom the opening days of the 2025 SEA Games, pencak silat drew some of the tournament's most heated disputes. One Thai fighter lost to a Malaysian opponent despite clearly dominating the bout," he said. Football coach criticizes officiatingVietnam women's football coach Mai Duc Chung said Wednesday's final reflected ongoing problems. "Every referee officiating women's football at this SEA Games has been substandard.

This anniversary also marks a pivotal milestone: VietNamNet begins a new chapter as the official media agency of the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs. The message “Honoring identity – Leading information” is not just a slogan - it is a long-term commitment. For 28 years, VietNamNet has remained on that path - providing accurate, timely information; embracing innovation in the digital age; and spreading human values and positivity across society. In this new phase, VietNamNet clearly defines its pioneering role in covering ethnic affairs and religious policy. VietNamNet values every ounce of support and every piece of feedback - both praise and critique - from readers across the country.

Vietnam’s under-22 team are showered with bonuses after defeating Thailand 3-2, December 18, 2025, winning the men’s football gold medal at the 2025 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. Photo: Nam Tran / Tuoi TreSpecifically, the VFF announced a bonus of VND1 billion (US$38,000) for the team. In addition, the head coach and the players were awarded VND1 billion by Pham Hoanh Son, chairman of Hong Linh Ha Tinh Football Club. Also, VND500 million ($19,000) from a sponsor was given to the team. The team had previously received VND600 million ($22,800) from the VFF after beating Malaysia’s under-22 team in the final group-stage match, and VND500 million ($19,000) following their semi-final win over the Philippines.

Two former directors of the Vietnam Food Safety Authority are accused of taking bribes. Prosecutors alleged that Phong must bear criminal responsibility for nearly VND95 billion (US$3.6 million) in bribes received by his subordinates. Taking advantage of these shortcomings, senior officials and specialists at the authority allegedly created obstacles for businesses by deliberately delaying application processing. Phong allegedly set a policy of collecting extra payments beyond official fees for reviewing product dossiers, at a rate of VND5-10 million ($189-378) per application. Of the amount, Phong allegedly received VND330 million ($12,520).

In the final months of the year, as the air turns cool, the Formosa sweet gum forest in Huong Phung Commune enters the leaf changing season. In recent years, the Formosa sweet gum forest has become a major attraction for visitors to western Quang Tri Province, central Vietnam. Wild Formosa sweet gum trees grow along the banks of the Rao Quan hydropower reservoir. The easiest way to explore the Formosa sweet gum forest is by boat across the reservoir. On the far side of the Formosa sweet gum forest lies a wind power field, adding a sense of both nature and local development to the journey.

The Ministry of Health has ordered immediate action to contain a diphtheria outbreak in Cao Bang Province, northern Vietnam following the death of a 11-year-old schoolchild due to the disease. The ministry’s Department of Preventive Medicine on Monday issued a directive to the provincial health department and the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, emphasizing proactive measures to prevent the spread of the disease. Health authorities confirmed the death of Giang M.H., a native of Thach Lam Commune in Bao Lam District. The medical center collected and sent samples taken from the patient to the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology for testing, with results confirming that the child was positive for diphtheria. The National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology will monitor the outbreak closely and provide local authorities with guidance and support.