To date, four related laws have been promulgated, including the revised Railway Law, the Construction Law, the Law on Planning and the Law on Investment. For the first time, Vietnam has issued standards and technical regulations specifically for high-speed rail, including nine construction technical regulations, 219 sector-specific national standards, 37 general standards, and 146 standards aligned with European and international benchmarks. Deputy Director of the Vietnam Railway Authority Nguyen Tien Thinh said relevant agencies have comprehensively reviewed the mechanisms and policies authorised by the National Assembly to ensure they are applied in the most appropriate and effective manner. Investment preparationAt the fifth meeting of the Steering Committee for key national railway projects in early January, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed the need to shift decisively from institutional building to implementation. Minh has also assigned the Thang Long Project Management Board as the project owner, replacing the Railway Project Management Board, and tasking it with overall responsibility for project quality, progress and costs.

The 21-year-old mother from the southern province of Tay Ninh became pregnant with dichorionic diamniotic twins through in vitro fertilisation in June 2025. During the first trimester, both fetuses developed normally, and prenatal screening tests showed low risks of abnormalities. At 20 weeks, follow-up ultrasound confirmed that one fetus was developing normally while the other had ceased development. At hospital, doctors confirmed that the non-viable fetus had miscarried, while part of the umbilical cord and the entire placenta remained in the uterus. Despite complications, including an E. coli infection detected during hospitalisation, the medical team managed to extend the pregnancy to 32 weeks.

Foreign invested-projects have disbursed a total of 27.6 billion USD, up 9% year-on-year, the highest level in the past five years. These industries also have the largest export shares and drive growth, with around 78% of Vietnam’s export turnover coming from foreign-invested enterprises. Macroeconomic indicators further reflect strong investor confidence. These factors reinforce Vietnam’s position as a safe and reliable investment destination. Investor confidence sets stage for FDI inflows in 2026Rgarding FDI outlook, Viet said prospects for 2026 are very positive, particularly as key laws and resolutions passed in 2025 begin to take effect.

Images captured by the AI system are transferred to relevant police units depending on the type of violation. The AI system is intended to provide more consistent, transparent, and effective monitoring. Police said they will continue operating the AI system alongside other measures to ensure public safety during these major events. Photo: SuppliedEarlier, between December 13, 2025 and January 12, 2026, the AI camera system recorded 6,351 traffic violations eligible for fines. On busy two-way roads with complex intersections, average travel times dropped 20-25 percent, and throughput spiked 8-15 percent.

Vietnam’s under-23 team celebrate after their 3-2 victory over the United Arab Emirates in the quarterfinals of the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, January 17, 2026. Photo: Ted TranCheck out the latest news in Vietnam today:Politics-- State President Luong Cuong on Friday presented decisions appointing 16 ambassadors of Vietnam to foreign countries, according to the Vietnam News Agency. Ho Chi Minh City-- Construction of the My Xuan B1 social housing project with approximately 1,200 apartments in Phu My Ward, Ho Chi Minh City began on Friday, aiming to provide affordable homes for workers and residents in the area. Travel-- Aside from airports operating 24/7, Vietnam’s national aviation authority has approved extended night flight operations at six airports from February 1 to March 1 this year, to meet surging travel demand during the Lunar New Year holiday. Sports-- Vietnam’s national under-23 football team have booked a place in the semifinals of the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup after a dramatic 3-2 extra-time victory over the United Arab Emirates in the quarterfinals in Saudi Arabia early on Saturday.

The other projects include the Rach Chiec National Sports Complex, Metro Line 2 (Ben Thanh – Tham Luong), Can Gio Bridge, and Phu My 2 Bridge. The central stadium, soundproof retractable roof, air-conditioning, with 70,000 seatsAccording to the plan, the Rach Chiec National Sports Complex will cover a total area of more than 186.78 hectares. On the international level, the Rach Chiec stadium exceeds regional covered stadiums such as Kai Tak Stadium in Hong Kong (50,000 seats) and Singapore National Stadium (55,000 seats). A multi-functional complex capable of hosting 90% of Olympic sportsThe Rach Chiec National Sports Complex is planned as a multi-functional complex capable of accommodating about 90% of Olympic sports. With its scale and design, Rach Chiec is expected to become a “new growth pole” in HCM City’s eastern region, where top-level sports events, international concerts, and cultural festivals will take place year-round.

What happened with Le Quyen? The controversy began after Le Quyen shared a video clip on the social media platform Threads. Le Quyen responded harshly, expressing anger and allegedly insulting the commenter. As the backlash escalated, Le Quyen attempted to clarify her actions in a follow-up post, but her explanation failed to gain public sympathy. Le Quyen is known for regularly clapping back at critical comments on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.

As a result, global growth slowed, public debt surged, inflation lingered, and market risks deepened. Photo: Vo VietAmid such layered pressures, the results from 2021 to 2025 reveal Vietnam’s growing policy capacity and economic resilience. In 2025, GDP grew by an estimated 8.02%, hitting the national target and ranking among the world’s highest. A larger, stronger economyBy 2025, Vietnam’s GDP is projected to hit $514 billion, climbing five places to rank 32nd globally. Despite declining global FDI flows, Vietnam’s FDI performance stood out.

A data center model at Tan Phu Trung Industrial Park in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: ViettelAmong the large-scale data center projects is a US$2 billion AI-enabled data center complex at Tan Phu Trung Industrial Park, spanning roughly 10 hectares. Meanwhile, Evolution Data Centers has revealed a plan to pour $500 million into a data center at the Saigon Hi-Tech Park. These projects highlighted that Vietnam’s data center market has moved well beyond the idea stage and into a phase of heavy capital commitment. In its Global Data Center Outlook 2026, JLL forecast that worldwide data center capacity will nearly double, from 103 GW to about 200 GW by 2030.

Vietnam still considers real estate a key driver of economic growth, and investment procedures are becoming more streamlined. The volume of new real estate projects in the upcoming cycle is forecast to be immense. Despite minimal price growth over the last seven years, this area could gain significant traction,” he said. Meanwhile, Giang Huynh, Director of Research and Consultancy at Savills Ho Chi Minh City, noted that the Vietnamese real estate market is undergoing a period of structural adjustment. “2026 will be a year of acceleration for the new real estate cycle,” Que emphasized.

Those old linen fabrics awakened in me the desire to preserve a traditional craft that was gradually fading away. Bringing Hmong culture to the worldAfter initial success, De began contacting shops in Thailand and Japan, wrote emails in English to introduce her products, and even personally carried linen fabrics abroad to seek partners and tell the story of Hmong linen in foreign lands. She has become a young representative of a new Hmong generation, appearing at many domestic and international forums. “I will build a cultural space right at the workshop, turning it into a ‘living museum’ of Hmong linen, while regularly organizing workshops and experiential tours. The goal over the next two years is to make Hemp Hmong Vietnam the largest linen fiber supplier in the country, and more importantly, to help young people in the village see linen weaving as a source of pride and a sustainable livelihood,” De said.

Tran Van Bac (R, 2nd), the founder of the Pho Museum, introduces the museum at an opening ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City, January 15, 2026. / Tuoi TreLocated on Nguyen Thai Hoc Street in Ben Thanh Ward in downtown Ho Chi Minh City, the museum began welcoming visitors on Thursday. Visitors join a mini game to learn about how 'pho' is cooked at the Pho Museum in Ho Chi Minh City. “The Pho Museum is not a place to sell pho, but a place to experience it as cultural heritage,” Anh said. Hoang Anh Tuan, director of the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of History, said that bringing pho into a museum setting elevates it beyond food.

This transformation goes beyond political slogans, and is manifested through resolutions, legal reforms, and fundamental changes in administrative operations. Prominent among these is the "Four Pillars" of institutions recently emphasized by the Party Secretary General and the Politburo: Science-Technology and Innovation (Resolution 57), Proactive and Comprehensive International Integration (Resolution 59), Comprehensive Reform of Legislation and Law Enforcement (Resolution 66), and Robust Development of the Private Economic Sector (Resolution 68). Alongside these, digital transformation-green transformation and large-scale administrative reform serve as the two new institutional foundations, creating a five-pillar structure for the 2025–2030 period. Law making and law enforcementResolution 66 has been described by the General Secretary as a second institutional revolution, targeting comprehensive reform from the law-making process to implementation and oversight. By the first half of 2025, the digital economy was estimated at approximately 20 percent of GDP.

The Vietnam Real Estate Market Forum (VREF) 2026Speaking at the Vietnam Real Estate Market Forum (VREF) 2026, organized by the Vietnam Association of Realtors on January 9, Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Van Sinh said many projects remain entangled in legal issues or unfinished investments. “To date, there are 698 social housing projects nationwide under implementation, with a scale of about 657,000 units; 193 projects have been completed, and many others are continuing,” said the Deputy Minister. In 2026, the Government targets bringing 160,000 social housing units to the market, with an average price of around VND20–25 million per sqm. Although social housing supply has risen significantly, it still has failed to keep pace with the supply of commercial housing commonly priced above VND80 million per sqm. The segment structure continues to shift strongly toward luxury and ultra-luxury apartments, while affordable commercial housing is nearly absent from the market.

Soccer Football - AFC Asian Cup - Group D - Iraq v Vietnam - Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar - January 24, 2024 Vietnam players pose for a team group photo before the match. Photo: ReutersThailand, who have claimed the title on a record seven occasions and lost to Vietnam in the 2024 final, will headline Group B, where they will take on 2010 winners Malaysia, the Philippines, Myanmar and Laos. Teams will play one another on a home-or-away basis until Aug. 8 with the first two finishers in each group progressing to the semi-finals. The first legs of the semi-finals will be played on Aug. 15 and 16 with the returns on Aug. 18 and 19. The final will be played over two legs on Aug. 23 and 26.