Vietnam’s 14th Party Congress: Key steps to electing new leadership
According to tradition, after the Congress elects the new Central Committee, the Committee holds its first plenary session during the Congress itself to elect the Politburo, the General Secretary, and the Secretariat. 190 of the Central Committee, signed by General Secretary To Lam on October 10, 2024. Most elections - including those for the Central Committee, Politburo, General Secretary, and Secretariat - are conducted via secret ballot. Members of the Politburo join the Presidium at the 14th Party Congress in Hanoi. If unavailable, the Congress Presidium appoints a convener.
Source:VietNamNet News
January 21, 2026 04:58 UTC
What makes Ho Chi Minh City flower street for Tet 2026 so appealing?
Horse mascots rise above stylized bamboo ramparts at the entrance gate of Nguyen Hue Flower Street in Ho Chi Minh City. Saigontourist Group on Tuesday morning officially unveiled the artist’s impression and key highlights of the 2026 Nguyen Hue Flower Street, a staple for Tet in the southern metropolis. An artist’s impression of Nguyen Hue Flower Street for Tet 2026 in Ho Chi Minh CityStretching along Nguyen Hue Boulevard, the flower street is conceived as a spring symphony in three movements: Spring of Integration, Resplendent Roots, and Steady Future. Three solidly sculpted horses represent Ho Chi Minh City, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, and Binh Duong, symbolizing stability and unity. Where tradition meets integrationBeyond technological spectacle, Nguyen Hue Flower Street remains firmly rooted in national pride.
Source:Tuoitre News
January 21, 2026 04:32 UTC
Beyond the loss: Southeast Asia rallies behind U23 Vietnam
U23 Vietnam’s remarkable journey at the AFC U23 Championship 2026 came to a halt in the semifinal after a 0-3 defeat to a dominant U23 China. U23 Vietnam fought hard but fell 0-3 to China in the AFC U23 Championship 2026 semifinal – Photo: AFCComing into the match, U23 Vietnam carried the confidence of a team that had consistently impressed. Vietnam, still reeling from the loss of Hieu Minh, conceded just minutes into the second half. Down to ten men and down by two goals, Vietnam saw the match - and the dream - slipping away. We will regroup, focus, and fight with everything we have.”Praise and support from the regionWhile the defeat was a bitter blow, U23 Vietnam were far from forgotten.
Source:VietNamNet News
January 21, 2026 04:18 UTC
Education embraces AI and digitalization in strategic overhaul
According to Minister Nguyen Kim Son, Vietnam’s education sector has taken pioneering steps in digital transformation, data system development, and the early integration of AI in teaching and learning. These advancements highlight the sector’s leading role in modernizing and enhancing the quality of national education and training. Key highlights of the current termMinister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son. Minister Nguyen Kim Son emphasized that this term has been marked by continued and robust efforts to fundamentally and comprehensively reform Vietnam’s education and training sector. Minister Nguyen Kim Son acknowledged the complexity of this task.
Source:VietNamNet News
January 21, 2026 03:34 UTC
Vietnam miss U23 Asian Cup final after semifinal loss to China
Players of Vietnam (in red) and China compete for the ball during their semifinal at the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, January 20, 2026. Vietnam’s task became harder when defender Pham Ly Duc was shown a straight red card, leaving the team a man down, although a later VAR review overturned a potential third goal for China. Wang Yudong added a late goal to complete the 3-0 win, sending China into the AFC U23 Asian Cup final for the first time, where they will play Japan on Saturday. Vietnam will face South Korea in the third-place match on Friday. The 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup is being held in Saudi Arabia from January 6 to 24.
Source:Tuoitre News
January 21, 2026 02:56 UTC
14th National Party Congress's opening: Great aspirations, steady steps
An overview of the opening session of the 14th National Party Congress. Notably, the draft Political Report integrates in a coordinated manner three reports - the Political Report, the Socio-economic Report, and the Report reviewing Party building work - into a unified and comprehensive whole, with clear focus and priorities, concise presentation, and content that is easy to understand, remember, and implement. The comprehensive outcomes of the 13th Congress term have continued to reaffirm the Party's leadership role and reputation. From the reality of leading the revolution over the four decades of renewal, the report points out five valuable lessons. Third, thoroughly grasping and fully practising the viewpoint that "the people are the roots," bringing into full play the People's role as the subject and their central position.
Source:Tuoitre News
January 21, 2026 01:36 UTC
Breakfast @ Tuoi Tre News — January 21
A resident harvests allium chinense in Tat Vien Village, Thang Binh Commune, Da Nang City, central Vietnam. -- Vietnam’s state-run lottery Vietlott said late on Tuesday that a ticket holder had won the Mega 6/55 Jackpot 1 prize worth more than VND257 billion (US$9.8 million). Ho Chi Minh City-- Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City ordered emergency construction to repair subsidence along the Tau Hu Canal embankment in Chanh Hung Ward after a roadside collapse on Sunday, with traffic safety required to be restored by February 10. Economy-- By Tuesday, fourth-quarter 2025 results from most securities firms showed total margin lending at Vietnam’s securities firms had risen above VND400 trillion ($15.2 billion) by December 31, 2025. Sports-- Vietnam lost 0–3 to China in the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup semifinals early on Wednesday and will face South Korea in the third-place match on Friday.
Source:Tuoitre News
January 21, 2026 01:31 UTC
Unverified mobile users risk losing service under new biometric rules
Mobile users must complete biometric verification to avoid service suspension. The Ministry of Science and Technology (formerly the Ministry of Information and Communications) is currently soliciting public feedback on a draft circular that guides the biometric verification process for ground-based mobile telecommunication subscribers. This e-verification process, which holds legal validity, uses biometric facial recognition to confirm the identity of the subscriber or the organization's representative. The biometric data will be cross-checked against the National Population Database, ensuring consistency across at least four data fields: national ID number, full name, date of birth, and facial biometric data. This initiative is part of a broader national effort to eliminate junk SIM cards and tighten control over mobile data.
Source:VietNamNet News
January 21, 2026 01:27 UTC
Le Hong Phong High School tops Vietnam with 153 national academic awards
Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted in HCMC leads Vietnam in national academic awards with 153 winning students. More than half of these were claimed by Le Hong Phong High School alone, marking the highest individual school achievement nationwide. The school expanded its offerings to include both high school and junior high programs with selective admission. In 2024, HCMC authorities restructured the institution, splitting it into two: Tran Dai Nghia High School for the Gifted and Tran Dai Nghia Secondary–High School. In addition, Le Quy Don High School for the Gifted earned 33 awards, while Hung Vuong High School for the Gifted claimed 28.
Source:VietNamNet News
January 21, 2026 00:07 UTC
Galaxy S26 series offers little new in battle with Apple
The Galaxy S26 series will see minimal changes from its predecessor. Reports had suggested the company was planning to shake up its lineup, possibly renaming the base model Galaxy S26 Pro and replacing the Galaxy S26 Plus with a revamped Galaxy S26 Edge. Samsung has officially confirmed that the Galaxy S26 Edge and other potential new variants will not move forward. To be fair, the Galaxy S26 series will still be a strong lineup of smartphones. Once hailed as the defining Android flagship, Samsung's Galaxy series now struggles to maintain that status.
Source:VietNamNet News
January 20, 2026 23:12 UTC
Shift in rankings: Hanoi no longer tops national academic contest
Ho Chi Minh City topped the list of award-winning provinces with 288 students honored in the 2025–2026 National Excellent Student Competition. This year, Ho Chi Minh City claimed the top spot with 288 winners, up from second place last year. In terms of first prizes, however, Hanoi still held its ground with 26 students earning the top distinction. The High School for Gifted Students under Vietnam National University, Hanoi, followed with 15 first prizes. The national selection round for the 2026 International Olympiad team will take place in Hanoi from March 24 to 26.
Source:VietNamNet News
January 20, 2026 13:29 UTC
Rewriting the rules: What it takes for Vietnam to grow beyond 10%
This time, the double-digit growth target is not simply about scale; more importantly, it’s about quality. Therefore, the central issue in reaching double-digit growth is whether we dare to change our way of doing things. Beyond the private sector, the industrialisation model is also being discussed as a major shift - would you agree? The double-digit growth target is not limited to a five-year term, but is tied to a long-term vision through 2045. Every locality is now setting double-digit growth targets for 2026 - an action commitment and a national responsibility at the local level.
Source:VietNamNet News
January 20, 2026 12:05 UTC
Vietnam’s leading university granted full academic autonomy
According to the decision, VNU-HCM is to develop as a multidisciplinary, multi-field university at the forefront of Asia’s academic landscape. The program will run from 2026 to 2030, with the goal of positioning VNU-HCM among Asia’s top higher education institutions. Looking further to 2045, VNU-HCM aims to become a top-tier research university in Asia, with at least four disciplines ranked among the top 50 globally by prestigious international rankings. Talent-driven transformationVNU-HCM plans to train and attract at least 1,500 young and leading scientists, 100 visiting professors, and 100 innovation experts. Modernizing education to meet international standards: Radically reform academic programs and modernize teaching methods through advanced technologies, especially artificial intelligence.
Source:VietNamNet News
January 20, 2026 11:25 UTC
Reverse painting with fingers: Vietnamese artist earns world acclaim
Reverse painting on glass means working backwards - details must be painted first, backgrounds last. He calls it “reverse glass fingerprint art,” or Thu an tam phap hoa nguoc kinh. But with them, he has created a body of work that not only earned him numerous national records but also two world records. In 2005, the Vietnam Records Organization officially recognized him as the only Vietnamese artist painting directly on glass with his bare hands. And over the years, that passion has given me small joys - like developing this unique reverse glass method.
Source:VietNamNet News
January 20, 2026 11:05 UTC
Gold fever grips HCM City as prices skyrocket, but risk looms large
However, compared to previous days, the early crowd was thinner - possibly due to gold prices hovering near all-time highs. As of January 19, SJC gold bullion closed at 163–165 million VND per tael (buy-sell), while 1–5 chi SJC gold rings were quoted at 159.7–162.2 million VND per tael. For those wishing to buy SJC gold bars, online registration remains mandatory. Additional support for gold prices comes from concerns about U.S. fiscal sustainability, rising public debt, and questions around the independence of the Federal Reserve. “Overall, high geopolitical risk, trade tensions, and strong global demand are expected to support gold in the short term,” Dr. Trang Anh concluded.
Source:VietNamNet News
January 20, 2026 10:30 UTC