Flawed parking policies are barrier to modern retail growth
Currently, car parking fees are VND20,000-30,000 for the first two hours, with an additional 10,000 VND for every subsequent hour. In contrast, he noted that many suburban malls, especially large-scale models, offer free parking for both cars and motorbikes. Second, suburban malls have large land space, allowing for spacious parking planning, with significantly lower cost per parking space compared to inner-city areas. In the long run, revenue from dining, entertainment, and retail far exceeds parking fees, making free parking an effective investment in building consumer habits and loyalty. According to Son, the argument that central areas lack parking space and therefore cannot offer free parking is operationally valid, but insufficient from a retail strategy perspective.
Source:VietNamNet News
January 15, 2026 10:04 UTC
Decades of dedication: Grandma’s $1 meals win hearts in Hanoi alley
Though her stall is no more than one square meter, it's enough to fit 10 plastic chairs and three modest tables. For nearly four decades, the menu here has remained unchanged: 15 simple, rustic dishes found in any Vietnamese home. Dry-fried anchovies, caramelized pork belly, stir-fried morning glory, salted peanuts, fried eggs, pickled mustard greens, and more. Eventually, they agreed and now support me.”Before opening the rice stall, Huong worked countless jobs. Photo: Nguyen HuyRain or shine, she sets up her food stall right on time every day.
Source:VietNamNet News
January 15, 2026 09:28 UTC
Poor village thrives after developing community-based tourism
The most striking impression is the visible change along every slope and stilt house in Kho Muong. The small village nestled deep in a valley, once considered an isolated “island” that was hard to access, has become one of Thanh Hoa’s most attractive community tourism destinations. As a result, Kho Muong became the first village in the commune to meet criteria to be recognized as ‘modern rural areas’. Well-known tourism valleyPu Luong commune leaders said in 2020 the Thanh Hoa provincial People’s Committee approved the project “Building a pilot community-based tourism model in Kho Muong village.” It develops branded, high-value and competitive community tourism products, aiming to be a distinctive OCOP product of the locality. “The success of Kho Muong shows that a well-organized community tourism model developed from residents’ own needs can become a powerful driver helping disadvantaged areas escape poverty.
Source:VietNamNet News
January 15, 2026 08:03 UTC
Ho Chi Minh City breaks ground on series of major infrastructure projects
2 project in Ho Chi Minh City, January 15, 2026. Photo: The Ho Chi Minh City Department of ConstructionStarting at Nguyen Huu Tho Street in the southern part of the city, the bridge will help ease congestion on the existing Phu My Bridge, National Highway 1, National Highway 51, and Ho Chi Minh City - Long Thanh - Dau Giay Expressway. Officials make a symbolic gesture to break ground for the Phu My 2 Bridge project in Ho Chi Minh City, January 15, 2026. 2The groundbreaking of the Ben Thanh - Tham Luong metro line marked a milestone in Ho Chi Minh City’s urban transport development. The Cat Lai Bridge project is considered urgent for serving Long Thanh International Airport and improving connectivity with Ho Chi Minh City.
Source:Tuoitre News
January 15, 2026 07:57 UTC
A forgotten Hanoi village of French villas and fading grandeur
Just over 40 kilometers south of central Hanoi lies Cuu Village, in Chuyen My Commune (formerly Van Tu, Phu Xuyen District). The peaceful, nostalgic charm of Cuu Village. Some were fortunate enough to find work in French tailoring shops in Hanoi. Unlike preserved French villas in Vietnam’s tourist towns, Cuu’s architecture is a hybrid - a creative and culturally sensitive interpretation. Cuu Village is a key stop on the tour, showcasing its East-West architecture and suit tailoring heritage.
Source:VietNamNet News
January 15, 2026 07:28 UTC
Vietnam’s former food safety head sentenced to 15 years in prison, husband jailed for 5 years in bribery case
Former head of the Vietnam Food Safety Authority under the Ministry of Health Tran Viet Nga and her husband in the courtroom in Hanoi. According to the judgment, of the total amount of bribery money, Nga personally gained about VND8 billion ($304,060). The harshest sentence, 20 years in prison, was imposed on Nguyen Thanh Phong, another former head of the Vietnam Food Safety Authority. Nga was arrested just 11 months after being appointed head of the Food Safety Authority. Hoang’s bribery offenses were determined to have occurred while he was head of a division at the Food Safety Authority.
Source:Tuoitre News
January 15, 2026 06:52 UTC
Century-old home in Hanoi transformed into vegan dining experience
Photos of steaming bowls of vegan bún riêu (crab noodle soup), hearty vegan bún bò Huế, and the nostalgic setting of the old house are widely shared on social media. “Our goal is to introduce more people, especially young ones, to vegan food and cooking methods. From sidewalk to heritage houseHearty and visually appealing vegetarian bún riêu and vegetarian bún bò Huế. Main dishes include vegan bún riêu, phở (served Mondays and Tuesdays), bún bò Huế (served Wednesdays to Sundays), grilled vegan bún chả, mixed noodle bowls, vegan pate sandwiches, and mushroom porridge. “I used to think vegan food was bland or expensive, but this place proves otherwise,” Quỳnh Anh said.
Source:VietNamNet News
January 15, 2026 06:32 UTC
The silver-haired gym warrior of Saigon
At over 70 years old, Ung A Paul still trains at the gym for four hours a day. Photo: Ha NguyenBack in his youth, Paul worked hard physical jobs like stone splitting and blacksmithing. But no matter the job, Paul always carved out time to train his body - driven by a dream of strength and health. Over time, it became a need - if I don’t train, I feel unsettled.”Before joining a professional gym, Paul used to craft his own exercise equipment and train at home. After a period of high-intensity training, Paul suffered a slipped disc.
Source:VietNamNet News
January 15, 2026 05:07 UTC
Cybercriminals to increasingly exploit deepfakes for scams in 2026
According to projections by the National Cybersecurity Association (NCA), cybersecurity for individual users in 2026 is expected to face new challenges, most notably the growing sophistication of online scams. The year 2026 is expected to record improvements in personal data protection as new legal regulations, such as the Law on Personal Data Protection and the 2025 Cybersecurity Law, take effect. According to a survey by the National Cybersecurity Association, the number of victims of online fraud in 2025 decreased significantly compared to 2024. This is a positive shift, marking the first time in many years that online fraud has recorded a decrease. Vu Ngoc Son, Head of the Technology Department of the Association, said: “Online fraud is still extremely complex; users need to continue raising their vigilance.
Source:VietNamNet News
January 15, 2026 03:32 UTC
Vietnam’s Mekong wild greens shine in Ca Mau’s iconic hotpot
In late 2022, lau mam U Minh (Ca Mau Province) was named one of 11 Vietnamese specialties recognized by the Asia Book of Records for its culinary value in Asia. U Minh fermented fish hotpot is a rich harmony of diverse ingredients. If mam ca sac buom is unavailable, other freshwater fermented fish such as mam ca linh or mam ca loc can also be used to create the famed hotpot. The fermented fish is simmered until the flesh breaks down, then strained to remove bones. Photo: Ngoai Ty/Linh TrangDishes served with fermented fish hotpot are remarkably diverse.
Source:VietNamNet News
January 15, 2026 02:27 UTC
Breakfast @ Tuoi Tre News — January 15
Showers might hit many localities in northern Vietnam, January 15, 2026. -- Investigators in Hai Phong City, northern Vietnam have issued a decision to initiate criminal proceedings against Truong Sy Toan, CEO of Halong Canfoco, which is at the center of a major food safety scandal. Ho Chi Minh City-- A traffic police officer said on Wednesday that the An Suong traffic police team in Ho Chi Minh City had launched a campaign to step up inspections and enforcement against shops and eateries that allow customers to park their vehicles, encroaching on sidewalks and roadbeds. -- A representative of Tu Du Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City said on Wednesday night that the hospital had prolonged the pregnancy by eight weeks, saving a newborn in an extremely rare complicated twin pregnancy, a condition for which only a few dozen successful cases have been documented globally. -- According to the National Business Registration Portal, Crystal Bay Airlines was established in Nam Nha Trang Ward, Khanh Hoa Province in late 2025, with a charter capital of VND300 billion (US$11.4 million).
Source:Tuoitre News
January 15, 2026 01:11 UTC
Foreign visitor demand drives pilot for digital asset conversions in Da Nang
The pilot allows conversions only at three designated locations in the city: the Da Nang Software Park at 2 Quang Trung Street, Da Nang Software Park No. 2 on Nhu Nguyet Street, and the Da Nang Innovation Startup Support Center at 58 Nguyen Chi Thanh Street. Photo: Truong Trung / Tuoi TreTwo platforms have been approved to support the program. Users carry out digital asset conversions at one of three locations licensed under a crypto sandbox program in Da Nang, central Vietnam, January 2026. Users receive guidance on how to convert digital assets under a controlled sandbox program in Da Nang, central Vietnam, January 2026.
Source:Tuoitre News
January 15, 2026 00:16 UTC
Dong Thap bride goes viral wearing gold crown, gifted houses and land
A wedding video featuring a bride in Dong Thap Province wearing a golden crown and layers of gold jewelry has gone viral on social media, attracting nearly 600,000 views in just a few days. The one-minute video shows the bride adorned with dozens of large, intricately crafted gold necklaces that were looped together to fit around her neck. Photo: NVCCThe bride and groom were identified as Huong Tham, 23, and Cong Danh, 26, both from Dong Thap. The bride’s side gifted a plot of garden land, while the groom’s family presented two street-front houses. Made from nearly 1.5 taels of gold, it was specially crafted to welcome her into the family with love and honor.
Source:VietNamNet News
January 15, 2026 00:06 UTC
BTS 2026 world tour has no Vietnam stop, but additions remain open
Photo: HYPEBigHit Music, BTS's record label, said the tour will feature 79 shows across 34 cities in 2026 and early 2027, marking BTS's first global tour since all seven members completed South Korea's mandatory military service. The tour will open in Goyang, South Korea on April 9, with ticket sales expected to begin on January 23, according to the announcement. While Vietnam was not included in the initial list of tour stops, BigHit Music said additional cities would be announced in 2027. A schedule for BTS’s 2026 world tour is shown in this image released by HYBE. Industry estimates cited by Billboard project the tour and related activities could generate more than US$1 billion in revenue from ticket sales, merchandise, music rights, albums, and streaming.
Source:Tuoitre News
January 14, 2026 16:26 UTC
Vietnam rehearses security, transport plans ahead of National Party Congress
Security forces are deployed around Ba Dinh Square as a convoy passes during a security and transport rehearsal for the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam in Hanoi, January 14, 2026. Traffic police take part in a a security and transport rehearsal to escort delegates to the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam in Hanoi, January 14, 2026. A convoy passes through Ba Dinh Square during a security and transport rehearsal for the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam in Hanoi, January 14, 2026. The 14th National Party Congress, attended by 1,586 delegates, is slated to run from January 19 to 25. Photo: Danh Khang / Tuoi TreMilitary control forces take part in a full-scale security and transport rehearsal ahead of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam in Hanoi, January 14, 2026.
Source:Tuoitre News
January 14, 2026 09:41 UTC