Stories from Vietnam

Vietnam and South Korea are aiming to reach a bilateral trade volume of $150 billion by the year 2030. This economic goal focuses on strengthening industrial and technological ties between the two Asian nations. The initiative represents a significant push for regional economic integration in the Asia-Pacific.

An Giang province in Vietnam has successfully achieved an average economic growth target of 11.3% for the current term. Provincial Chairman Ho Van Mung attributed this success to the active participation of local businesses and digital transformation initiatives. The province is now focusing on expanding production through improved access to bank credit. National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man visited An Giang province to review local social welfare and economic progress. The province aims to achieve a 10% growth rate in 2026, an increase from the 7.8% growth recorded in 2025. Officials noted the successful implementation of a two-level local government model in several communes. The province is also preparing to host the IPEC 2027 event to attract international investors and tourists.

The Vietnamese government is soliciting public opinion on a list of high-tech sectors prioritized for future investment and development. Undergraduate students could receive up to 55 million VND per year. Master's and doctoral students may receive up to 84 million VND annually. The policy aims to support students in these specific academic fields. The policy aims to support living costs and attract talent to critical national sectors. Cybercriminals are using social media to manipulate students and engage in extortion. The scheme involves targeting students through various online platforms to demand money. The source noted that these crimes are being carried out through cybercrime networks. Vietnam is implementing regulations effective from December 25, 2014, regarding social media use for minors. Children under 16 must use parental information to register for social media accounts.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Finance has proposed a new policy to exempt small businesses with annual revenues under 1 billion VND from personal income tax and VAT. The move is intended to support small business owners and stabilize livelihoods. The Vietnamese government has proposed adjusting the tax threshold for business households to 500 million VND. Experts have suggested raising the tax-exempt revenue threshold and categorizing it by industry for better accuracy. The policy also includes adjustments to invoicing and preferential mechanisms. Finance Minister Ngo Van Tuan stated that current personal income tax laws apply to business households with annual revenues exceeding 3 billion VND. The government is permitted to adjust this threshold to a level below 3 billion VND per year.

The city of Hai Phong has established three new economic zones and 45 industrial parks, covering a total area of approximately 60,000 hectares. This strategic expansion is intended to boost regional competitiveness and ensure sustainable economic development. The initiative includes enhanced security and passenger support projects at Tan Son Nhat International Airport during peak periods.

Vietnam is deploying 3D scanning and blockchain technology to secure and preserve national heritage resources. Vietnam's libraries are adopting new digital thinking to manage knowledge resources. The goal is to optimize intellectual assets, enhance competitiveness, and promote innovation. This involves converting physical documents into digital data for easier searching and sharing. Centralized storage and management systems will be used to disseminate knowledge to the public, supporting national digital transformation. The National Library of Vietnam, along with libraries in Hanoi, Phu Tho, and Bac Ninh provinces, are facing numerous opportunities. The state needs to implement suitable investment policies, including sustainable funding for information resources like books, magazines, and foreign materials.

President Lee Jae-myung arrived in Hanoi, Vietnam, to begin an official tour and host a luncheon for the Korean diaspora. He highlighted the growth of the Korean community in Vietnam to 200,000 people, making it the largest in ASEAN and the fifth largest globally. The visit aims to strengthen bilateral ties as the Korean-Vietnamese community is projected to reach $150 billion by 2030. Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra expressed condolences to victims of the recent train accident in Vietnam. The Vice President also visited 200 policy-beneficiary households, poor households, and workers. Additionally, 200 scholarships were provided to underprivileged children with high academic achievements. The visit aimed to elevate the strategic partnership between the two nations to a higher level.

Vietnam's textile and garment exports are projected to reach $10.54 billion this year, representing a slight increase of 20%. The Vietnam Textile and Garment Group is actively implementing solutions to accelerate production and meet customer orders ahead of schedule to mitigate global supply chain shifts. This growth comes as the industry focuses on technological upgrades and proactive market adaptation to maintain competitiveness. The province of Quang Ninh alone has over 8,000 fishing vessels with more than 40,000 horsepower directly engaged in seafood exploitation. Authorities are said sustainable fishing methods that combine traditional practices with responsible exploitation trends.

The Politburo has officially decided to establish the Central Theoretical Council for the new term. The General Secretary announced the formation of the council during a recent conference. This new body is intended to guide political and theoretical development within the country. This leadership role is part of ongoing governance structures within the Vietnamese political system. The appointment involves members of the Politburo and Secretariat for the new National Assembly term.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has announced an adjustment to flight coordination parameters, increasing capacity to 46 flights per hour during daytime hours from April 25 to May 5. This initiative aims to meet growing passenger demand and is part of a long-term 10-year national aviation development project spanning 2026 to 2035. The move is expected to improve connectivity and operational efficiency across the country's airspace. Vietnam Airlines plans to increase flight frequency by 10-15% compared to regular schedules during the April 30 and May 1 holiday period. The airline expects to serve a total of 652 flights on the peak day of April 29. Independent candidates must complete document submissions between May 5 and May 9 following online registration. This adjustment follows the exploitation plans of the H.H.H.C and C.H.C.T.N.