Vietnam’s new traffic rules on child safety, drivers to take effect this year
Authorities say families can choose child belts, child seats, or booster cushions suitable for the child and vehicle. 118/2025, which amends several laws related to security and public order, new child safety regulations for automobiles will take effect on July 1, 2026. In addition, children must use appropriate safety devices such as child safety seats or child safety belts. Changes to drivers’ working hoursA traffic police officer inspects a commercial car driver during a roadside check. 118/2025 is the expansion of eligibility for upgrading to a CE-class driver’s license, effective July 1, 2026.
Source:Tuoitre News
January 02, 2026 03:10 UTC
Apple’s new gamble: A foldable iPhone with no compromise
All signs point to the debut of the first foldable iPhone not being far off. If Apple succeeds in delivering a completely smooth foldable screen in its very first generation, it will instantly redefine industry expectations. With a foldable device that constantly shifts form, aligning your face with Face ID can become inconvenient. Current leaks suggest the foldable iPhone will start at $2,000 to $2,500. Apple may even skip the name “iPhone Fold” entirely and go with “iPhone Ultra” to emphasize its elite status.
Source:VietNamNet News
January 02, 2026 02:29 UTC
U23 Vietnam eyes Chuangzhou glory again - this time in Saudi Arabia
Chuangzhou, revisitedEight years ago, under coach Park Hang Seo, U23 Vietnam stunned Asia by reaching the final of the 2018 AFC U23 Championship in Chuangzhou, China. Heading into the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, fans are hopeful - especially since the team enjoyed a relatively stable 2025 season and benefited from long-term, methodical preparations backed by the Vietnam Football Federation. A dream within reachKhuat Van Khang and his teammates are aiming high at the AFC U23 Asian Cup. Still, a closer look at U23 Vietnam today suggests that chasing a new miracle isn’t just wishful thinking. This wealth of experience gives U23 Vietnam a solid foundation as they enter the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup.
Source:VietNamNet News
January 02, 2026 01:54 UTC
Coach Kim Sang Sik and the gaps U23 Vietnam must close
Kim Sang Sik’s winning formulaAt the 33rd SEA Games and throughout 2025’s international tournaments, Coach Kim Sang Sik made a strong impression with his bold rotation policy. Players like Thanh Nhan and Van Thuan delivered crucial goals after coming off the bench, helping Vietnam push through difficult moments. Coach Kim Sang Sik has impressed with his use of substitutions. Coach Kim will need to do more than just bring on fresh legs - he must ensure that bench players can seamlessly integrate into the team’s style and rhythm when called upon. If this gap can be closed, U23 Vietnam has every reason to dream big at the continental level.
Source:VietNamNet News
January 02, 2026 00:28 UTC
Vietnam’s top leader issues three strategic questions for 2026 reform
He emphasized timely allocation of resources for strategic infrastructure, data systems, critical technologies, and high-quality human capital, paired with mechanisms to ensure investment efficiency. Leaders at all levels must understand their personal responsibility for progress and outcomes, and these outcomes must become core criteria for performance evaluation, commendation, or accountability. By Q1 2026, a full data inventory must be completed, with systems that are accurate, complete, clean, and live - meaning continuously updated. For 2026 and the 2026–2031 period, what are the expected outcomes, and what is the rollout timeline? What will the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the two National Academies, and the Union of Science and Technology Associations do?
Source:VietNamNet News
January 02, 2026 00:04 UTC
Vietnam’s agricultural exports soar to record $70 billion in 2025
Coffee exports also shattered records, raking in $8.68 billion - a staggering 54.4% increase from the previous year. As Vietnamese coffee improved, it became the preferred choice for more and more global markets,” he said. Durian rules the fruit export throneFruit and vegetable exports reached approximately $8.6 billion, a 20% increase over 2024. Cashew and pepper exports also hit new highs, reaching $5 billion and $1.6 billion, respectively. Vietnam now has nearly 8,000 industrial-scale processing facilities linked to exports and about 22,000 smaller agricultural processing units.
Source:VietNamNet News
January 01, 2026 23:37 UTC
Zalo explains latest terms of service update and user data policy
Zalo has published clarifications in its updated terms of service, explaining the need for user data. According to a Zalo representative, the platform requires certain user data as outlined in its Terms of Service to ensure stable service performance, deliver application features, and safeguard user accounts. For example, when accessing third-party applications via Zalo, users are shown a prompt and must actively agree to share data. In accordance with Vietnam’s personal data protection laws, Zalo declared that it will delete any previously collected data for users who do not agree to the updated Terms of Service. Finally, Zalo affirmed that no further action is needed from users who have already agreed to the updated terms.
Source:VietNamNet News
January 01, 2026 22:28 UTC
Vietnam's cybersecurity agency calls for objective review of Zalo's user data collection practices
The controversy unfolded just days ahead of January 1, 2026, when Vietnam’s Law on Personal Data Protection came into force. According to Quan, service providers bear primary responsibility for publicly disclosing how user data is collected and used. “As a Vietnamese law enforcement agency, we will take all necessary measures to ensure the full and fair enforcement of the Law on Personal Data Protection, without discrimination between domestic and foreign enterprises,” Quan said. Thi emphasized that under the Law on Personal Data Protection, all organizations involved in controlling or processing personal data are required to establish a dedicated personal data management function. In Vietnam, he said, organizations must designate personnel responsible for overseeing personal data processing and ensuring legal compliance, adding that data protection requirements should be incorporated from the earliest stages of information system design.
Source:Tuoitre News
January 01, 2026 14:47 UTC
Breakfast @ Tuoi Tre News — January 1
Fireworks explode in Ho Chi Minh City to ring in 2026. -- State President Luong Cuong on Wednesday received the ambassadors of Saudi Arabia and the Philippines, who came to bid farewell at the end of their tenures in Vietnam, according to the Vietnam News Agency. Society-- Colorful fireworks exploded across the skies of Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and many other localities at midnight to mark the New Year in Vietnam. -- State President Cuong sent New Year cards to all ministries, departments, agencies, the Central Committee of Vietnam Fatherland Front, and local authorities in the wee hours of January 1. -- Residents and visitors packed several areas in downtown Ho Chi Minh City such as Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street on Wednesday night to await the countdown program celebrating the arrival of the New Year.
Source:Tuoitre News
January 01, 2026 13:34 UTC
Ban on use of “national” and “international” in university names raises concerns
Citing Saigon International University as an example, Son said that forcing the removal of the word “international” could result in a new name that is both confusing and unreasonable. The use of the word “National” reflects its status as Singapore’s leading national university. In the US, universities such as Florida International University or Alliant International University freely use the term “International” in their names to build brand identity, helping increase the proportion of international students to around 20–30 percent. Meanwhile, public universities such as Ohio State University or California State University use the word “State” to reflect public funding sources and state-level roles, without needing special approval or facing restrictions. He noted that if the regulation is applied rigidly, some universities such as “International University – Vietnam National University, HCMC” could be forced to change their names, weakening their image, brand, and ability to attract international students.
Source:VietNamNet News
January 01, 2026 09:04 UTC
Apple gears up for 2nm breakthrough with iPhone 18 Pro Max
Photo: Concept TechApple’s next-generation flagship, the iPhone 18 Pro Max, expected in 2026, will feature the new A20 Pro chip built on TSMC’s cutting-edge 2nm process, signaling a major leap in mobile computing power and efficiency. Leading in transistor density and power efficiencyTSMC’s 2nm process is projected to lead the industry in transistor density and power performance. With the A20 Pro (2nm), transistor density may reach 310–330 million/mm², nearly tripling performance since the iPhone 11. Enhanced version N2P coming nextAlongside the standard 2nm process, TSMC is preparing to launch N2P, an enhanced version optimized for performance. If Apple stays on course, the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro Max and future models like the iPhone 20 won’t just be more powerful in the traditional sense.
Source:VietNamNet News
January 01, 2026 06:29 UTC
Highly-paid engineer leaves HCMC to become successful specialty farmer
When he first approached agriculture, especially with two “unusual” animals, bamboo rats and black Mong chickens, Hieu had almost no experience. In 2022, he bought 20 bamboo rats to try raising them. Once he gained enough knowledge, he bought 25 couples of bamboo rats to raise again. He now has two bamboo rat farms with a total of about 300 breeding animals. Hieu said bamboo rats are easy to raise, rarely get sick, and eat cheap, readily available food such as bamboo, sugarcane, and corn.
Source:VietNamNet News
January 01, 2026 05:53 UTC
Student wins multiple national awards, proficient in three foreign languages
Khai also held the record of the highest entrance scorer in the history of the High School for the Gifted, under Vietnam National University HCMC. In grade 12, Khai continued to win the First Prize in the National Excellent Student competition. Khai has also demonstrated leadership qualities by co-organizing a programming competition that attracted more than 150 students in HCMC. So I wanted to create a playground where everyone could get familiar with programming,” Khai shared. Khai is currently studying foundational Computer Science courses and exploring his interests to find the most suitable path.
Source:VietNamNet News
January 01, 2026 05:13 UTC
Local, foreign tourists dash to Hoi An Ancient Town for New Year celebrations
A group of international tourists pose for a photo in Hoi An Ancient Town, Da Nang City, central Vietnam on the night of December 31, 2025 amid the vibrant festive atmosphere welcoming the New Year 2026. Fireworks light up the sky over Hoi An Ancient Town in Da Nang City, central Vietnam on the night of December 31, 2025, as the city rings in the New Year 2026. “I wish all delegates, local people, and tourists, including international visitors, a healthy, happy, successful, and peaceful 2026,” he said. Tourism has remained robust during this period, with about 1.6 million tickets sold for visits to the ancient town and the nearby Kim Bong carpentry village. The Hoai River in Hoi An Ancient Town, Da Nang City, central Vietnam is filled with local and international visitors on both its water surface and banks on December 31, 2025 amid lively celebrations welcoming the New Year 2026.
Source:Tuoitre News
January 01, 2026 04:45 UTC
Vietnam rolls out sweeping education reforms effective January 2026
New education policies take effect January 1, 2026. The law also assigns the Government the responsibility of detailing the wage framework to ensure this “highest-ranking” principle is honored. “Connecting knowledge to life” selected as the national textbook seriesThe Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) recently selected the “Connecting Knowledge to Life” series by Vietnam Education Publishing House as the official national textbook to be used uniformly across the country from the 2026–2027 academic year. Provincial education directors granted authority to hire teachersOne of the most impactful reforms involves decentralizing teacher recruitment. Middle school diploma officially abolishedThe amended Education Law, effective from January 1, 2026, also changes the structure of Vietnam’s national qualifications framework.
Source:VietNamNet News
January 01, 2026 04:33 UTC