Stories from Vietnam

The People's Court of Ho Chi Minh City has opened the first-instance trial for a major drug trafficking case involving Vo Ba Thi Sinh and five Laotian nationals. This represents an increase of over 220 percent compared to previous periods. Major projects involve corporations from South Korea, Singapore, China, and other nations. Targeted sectors for development include high technology, semiconductors, innovation, data centers, logistics, digital economy, and green growth. The total investment value reached 2.71 quadrillion VND. Ho Chi Minh City will invest more than 2.939 trillion VND in local development, according to the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee office on April 28. The announcement was reported by VOH. The investment follows a change in the fuel price management schedule due to the upcoming April 30 and May 1 holidays.

Politburo member Nguyen Thanh Nghi has identified 10 key task groups aimed at achieving double-digit economic growth for Vietnam. Total foreign direct investment (FDI) in Vietnam reached $15.2 billion in the first quarter. The central bank intends to maintain investor confidence through these controlled fluctuations. Vietnam's export of goods and services is expected to exceed projections by approximately 1 trillion USD. Minister of Commerce Piyush Goyal said that targets will be implemented through three main pillars. These pillars include a clear, measurable, and practical approach. Specific tasks have been assigned to deputy ministers for various industries with defined timelines. Analysts noted that further time is needed to assess the impact of energy prices and tax policies.

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra has issued official directive 423 to all ministries and agencies to implement administrative decentralization. The reform aims to reduce bureaucratic barriers, streamline procedures, and enhance national competitiveness by shifting power from central authorities to local levels. This move follows recent central government conclusions regarding the need for substantive administrative restructuring. The reforms included the dissolution of 63 provinces and several ministries to reduce bureaucracy. The restructuring involved merging provinces and eliminating various government offices. Local authorities in Vietnam have issued new regulations requiring civil servants to wear thin collared shirts instead of traditional attire. The government is also conducting a comprehensive review of energy usage to implement long-term electricity savings plans.

The Vietnamese government is actively implementing measures to diversify its fuel sources to ensure energy security amid rising instability in the Middle East. Conflicts in the Middle East are causing disruptions to international flight paths and increasing airfares. As a result, tourist preferences are shifting from long-haul destinations like Europe and the Americas toward regional travel. This change in travel patterns is noted as a departure from previous years. The shift is driven by the increased cost and complexity of long-distance travel. The ongoing Middle East conflict is creating complex and unpredictable global economic effects. Vietnam's open economy is experiencing impacts on fuel imports, logistics costs, and shipping times. The situation is affecting trade activities and overall import-export dynamics.

Diesel fuel prices in Vietnam have decreased by 159 VND per liter compared to previous evening rates. This price adjustment comes amid broader economic activity in the region, including job fairs in Da Nang involving over 200 enterprises. The shift in fuel costs is a notable development for local transport and energy sectors. The Ministry of Industry and Trade issued Circular 21 on April 28, 2026, partially repealing provisions from Circular 18 of 2025 regarding fuel business. Effective April 29, diesel oil is no longer subject to the regulations governing price management. This move follows the previous regulatory framework for fuel trading in the country. Retail prices for brands such as CT-Petrol and Vina Pacific Petro have reached 644,500 VND per unit. The price increase is attributed to rising international shipping, insurance, and logistics costs.

Vietnam is launching a series of major projects focused on improving archaeological site infrastructure, including the installation of advanced Roman-style metal detectors and high-tech observation equipment. The $4 billion investment aims to enhance heritage preservation and tourism, potentially in preparation for future global events like the World Cup. The project includes large-scale equipment such as 12-meter high observation towers. Infrastructure demand in Vietnam is estimated to reach $245 billion by 2030. Current public capital can only meet approximately 70% of this requirement. According to Bui Hoang Hai of VIS Rating, the remaining financial gap must be addressed through capital market mobilization, specifically corporate bonds. Finance Minister Nguyen Duc Chi said the need for these steps.

Approximately 700,000 hectares of winter-spring rice in northern Vietnam provinces are entering a critical growth stage amid abnormal weather patterns. Local authorities are warning of early saltwater intrusion and drought, urging farmers to adjust seasonal schedules to prevent crop loss. Forest management agencies have also been placed on 24-hour alert due to high fire risks from prolonged heat. Coach Roland has narrowed the squad to 23 players for the upcoming Asian championship finals. Four players, including Nguyen Truong, Quang Khoi, Quang Danh, and Dinh Phong, will not participate in the tournament.

A significant cold air mass has moved into Northeast Vietnam, bringing widespread heavy rainfall to the region, including the capital city of Hanoi. Rainfall amounts are expected to reach between 24mm and 40mm within a 24-hour period. This weather pattern poses potential risks of localized flooding and disruption to transport in the northern provinces. Temperatures in the northern region range from 20 to 23 degrees Celsius, with some mountainous areas below 20 degrees. In the North Central region, temperatures are between 21 and 24 degrees Celsius. Convective clouds are present offshore of Quang Ninh province, expected to develop and cause rain and thunderstorms, with a possibility of waterspouts and strong gusts. Rainfall amounts are expected to range from 20-40mm, with some areas seeing totals exceeding 100mm.

Vietnamese authorities have officially decided to prosecute Major Nguyen Van Hoang following a traffic accident that resulted in the death of a 12th-grade student. The investigation into the fatal collision is ongoing as police seek to determine the full extent of liability. The incident has caused significant public outcry across the country.

The Vietnamese government has completed the transfer of nearly 13 trillion VND in central budget funds to support national target programs for the 2021-2025 period. Deputy Prime Minister Ho Duc Dinh emphasized that these funds are critical for rural development, sustainable poverty reduction, and socio-economic growth in ethnic minority and mountainous regions. The initiative aims to modernize infrastructure and improve living standards through the 2026-2030 phase. Vietnam launched an online connectivity event spanning 34 provinces and cities to promote national sovereignty awareness. The event was attended by Bùi Thiện Minh Hoài, a member of the Political Bureau and Chairman of the National Assembly of Vietnam. Over the past five years, the organization of these events has mobilized more than 3 trillion VND.