A research by Savills shows that amidst an uneven recovery of real estate investment across the Asia-Pacific region, Vietnam has emerged as an increasingly favoured destination. This trend is clearly reflected in Vietnam’s real estate M&A landscape. At the same time, the supply of income-generating assets remains limited, prompting most M&A activity to concentrate on development projects rather than cash-flow assets. According to Savills, the growing concentration of M&A activity in development projects, particularly large-scale residential and urban areas, accurately reflects current market conditions. Savills added real estate remains a key component of Vietnam’s overall M&A value, driven by strong housing demand, rapid urbanisation, and ongoing infrastructure development.

Vietnam’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose an average of 3.31% in 2025, meeting the target set by the National Assembly, Director General of the Finance Ministry’s National Statistics Office (NSO) Nguyen Thi Huong told a press conference in Hanoi on January 5. Fourth-quarter average CPI went up 3.44% year-on-year. Residential electricity prices rose 7.2%, reflecting demand growth and adjustments by state utility EVN on October 11, 2024, and May 10, 2025. Core inflation rose 0.23% monthly in December and 3.27% year-on-year. Full-year core inflation averaged 3.21%, below the headline 3.31%, as it strips out major drivers like food, electricity, healthcare and education./.

Vietnam’s transport and urban infrastructure will require around 245 billion USD over the next five years - a figure far beyond public budget capacity. This demonstrates that the PPP model is not limited to physical infrastructure - it can also apply to high-tech and essential public services. Transit-oriented urban development and PPP financingIn major cities, the issue has taken on new dimensions. Experts, especially from South Korea, emphasized a proven lesson: the value of land surrounding metro lines can be reinvested into public transport systems, creating a self-sustaining financial cycle. As Vietnam prepares to embark on the largest infrastructure projects in its history - from high-speed rail and metros to ports, airports, and digital infrastructure - PPP is more than a financing tool.

An aerial view of Ho Chi Minh City’s Thu Thiem New Urban Area, where many land plots remain vacant. Instead, most of its land is reserved for public and service-oriented developments that the city center lacks or cannot expand further. The remaining land is earmarked for strategic and landmark projects intended to drive growth in the eastern part of the city, upgrade Ho Chi Minh City to international urban standards, and accelerate the shift toward a service-based economy. To meet the 2030 target, the city has established a dedicated task force led by chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Nguyen Van Duoc, involving vice-chairmen and heads of key departments. Urban planning experts, including Vo Kim Cuong, former deputy chief architect of Ho Chi Minh City, and Ngo Anh Vu, head of the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Planning Institute, acknowledged that while Thu Thiem’s development has followed the approved plan, progress has been slower than expected.

The 27-episode romance drama reached episode 25 on Netflix in Vietnam at the time of the notice. The department discovered the violation through routine monitoring after receiving reports that the series was being streamed to audiences in Vietnam. After a review, the department found that the series contains multiple map images depicting the illegal nine-dash line, also known as the ‘U-shaped line,’ which violate the country’s sovereignty. This screenshot from 'Shine on Me,' a Chinese TV series, shows a map depicting the illegal nine-dash line (marked by the red cross), which China uses to assert unlawful claims of sovereignty over much of the East Vietnam Sea. Public reaction on the ministry’s online portal showed broad support for the move, with many commenters calling for a full ban on films containing the illegal nine-dash line.

“At Foreign Trade, many students fully dedicate themselves to academics and research in hopes of pursuing a PhD track,” Tra shared. Rather than jumping into part-time jobs too early, Tra chose to devote herself to the club, organizing competitions and practical projects. Learning to trust her own pathTra is an alumna of the Foreign Trade University. She currently works at Central Retail Group. Thanks to those cumulative experiences, Tra applied for the Central Retail Management Trainee Program after finishing her third year.

These risks are expected to persist in 2026, making the landscape more unpredictable - offering both opportunities and challenges, especially for highly integrated economies like Vietnam. Fiscal measures such as tax and fee reductions, monetary policies to stabilize interest rates and exchange rates, debt restructuring, and credit accessibility were implemented. These policies helped citizens and businesses navigate unprecedented hardships, drive recovery, and establish a legal framework for fast, sustainable, and inclusive growth. Fiscal sustainability is a concern, with over 20% of budget revenue coming from land use - projected to reach 25% in 2026. This raises the urgency for restructuring the economy and state budget in the context of high growth.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra. Performance and processor: A leap forward with SnapdragonOne of the most anticipated enhancements in the Galaxy S26 Ultra is its processor. This change could address complaints about dust and fabric fibers collecting around the exposed lens rings of the S25 Ultra. The Galaxy S26 Ultra offers meaningful improvements: faster performance, enhanced low-light photography, better battery, faster charging, and a more refined design. If you own a device older than the S25 Ultra - or if you need the very best in mobile performance and photography - the S26 Ultra is worth strong consideration.

On average, the university system aims to increase its PhD staff by about 300 people per year. In terms of research, the entire VNU-HCMC system targets publishing 41,200 international scientific papers and owning 100 international patents. In addition, the university plans to build one to two hospitals serving training, research, and medical examination and treatment. In the fourth year, they will be supported with laboratory investment for scientific research worth up to VND10 billion. VNU-HCMC is also piloting PhD training under international standards, allowing doctoral candidates to defend their dissertations in as little as two years.

Photo: VNAHere, the quiet white of plum blossoms arrives subtly - toward the end of winter, as spring breathes in. Photo: CHAVFor the Mong people, who have long lived among these orchards, plum blossoms need no poetic name. Photo: Ministry of Culture, Sports and TourismThe beauty of Moc Chau’s plum blossoms doesn’t lie in how many there are or how far they reach. In a world full of motion, the plum blossoms of Moc Chau still bloom their own way. That quiet white simply says: Here is a different Vietnam - quiet, deeply human.

From then on, “Chuoi Chien Soc Trang” - his banana fritter brand - began to spread rapidly on TikTok. Le Quoc Truong’s banana fritter shop in Can Tho became famous after livestreams went viral. His banana fritter recipe is a blend of glutinous rice flour, wheat flour, turmeric starch, and sugar. He’s a teammate, a friend, and a key part of the warm, unforgettable experience they’ve created at their little banana fritter shop. Photo: T.TThis four-year-old pup is the “cashier” at Truong’s banana stall.

New Zealand will offer the highest number of scholarships ever to Vietnamese students. Photo: ENZNew Zealand will offer 56 government scholarships to Vietnamese students in grades 8, 9, and 10 for the 2026 academic year - the highest number ever awarded under its secondary school scholarship (NZSS) program. Ben Burrowes, Regional Director for Asia at ENZ, noted: “The increasing number of NZSS scholarships offered each year allows Vietnamese students to explore a wider range of schools that match their strengths and personal goals. Students will be considered for government scholarships based on their two preferred schools in New Zealand. These schools follow either the New Zealand National Curriculum or international programs such as Cambridge and the International Baccalaureate.

Scene of the accident. Photo: Phieng Pan communeThe accident occurred at Km472 of National Highway 37, in the area of Mat Sang village, Phieng Pan commune. Photos from the scene show the bus lying on its side with significant structural damage. Local emergency services and traffic police quickly arrived on the scene, coordinating with commune officials to carry out rescue operations. The 11 injured passengers were immediately transported to the Phieng Pan Commune Medical Station for emergency care.

Companies such as Dell, Lenovo, Raspberry Pi, and Xiaomi are feeling the heat, reporting mounting pressure on production costs. UK-based computer maker Raspberry Pi described current cost pressures as “painful,” after it raised prices at the end of last year. Lenovo, the world’s largest PC maker, said it is stockpiling memory chips and other vital components in anticipation of prolonged supply risks. Macquarie estimates electronics prices could rise by 10% to 20% in 2026, while Nomura suggests the increase may be around 5% - if companies can cut costs elsewhere. In the short term, analysts say electronics manufacturers face a difficult choice: raise retail prices or sacrifice profit margins.

Electric scooter Honda Active e: is expected to enter Vietnam ahead of the 2026 Lunar New Year. The Honda Activa e: shares several similarities with the CUV e:, which is currently offered in Vietnam under a leasing scheme. Notably, both models feature a removable battery system. In terms of design, the Activa e: remains faithful to the styling cues that have made the Activa name popular. The most notable highlight of the Honda Activa e: is its removable battery solution.