Stories from Vietnam

A union canteen in Hanoi, Vietnam, provides workers with a diverse menu including bun, banh mi, soft drinks, milk tea, and fruit juices. All items are sold at a 50 percent subsidy to support laborers, according to Ngô Ngọc Vinh, the company's union chairman.

The council's formation was announced during a conference led by the General Secretary.

Construction is underway at the Ky Gia steel plant in central Vietnam to install a 20-story core equipment structure. The expansion has created land tension and challenges regarding safety distances. Specifically, the original location for the gas holder can no longer meet the needs of the increased capacity. Nearby operational gas stations and gas holders impose strict safety distance restrictions on the available land. Strict safety distance regulations regarding existing nearby gas tanks and fueling stations have further constrained the available site area. The facility is implementing a specialized high-elevation design to accommodate the limited space. Additionally, the plant must account for frequent strong typhoons in the Dong Thinh and Dai Hai regions. Engineers in China have developed a specialized design for steel plant cabinets capable of withstanding Category 15 typhoons.

The law consists of 8 chapters and 40 articles. It regulates deposit insurance activities, the rights and obligations of insured depositors, participating organizations, deposit insurance organizations, and state management. The 2025 Deposit Insurance Law and the 2025 Judicial Expertise Law entered into effect on Friday. The 2025 Judicial Expertise Law has added several prohibited acts, including the refusal to accept or perform judicial expertise without a legitimate reason. 111, enacted on December 10, 2025, became effective on May 1, 2026. The law is described as a major policy impacting the safety of the banking and financial system. Women participating in social insurance will pay 22% of their salary as a base for social, occupational, and health insurance. For voluntary insurance, individuals pay 22% of their income for voluntary insurance, contributing to the fund and pension.

The Vietnamese government has decided to establish a specialized economic zone in Hai Phong. The zone is intended to serve as a high-tech industrial hub. The coastal economic zone is expected to attract 700 trillion VND in investment. Delegate Nguyen Thi He Hoa from the Hai Phong delegation proposed a boarding school model to improve educational access for children in island and offshore areas. The model aims to serve as a social welfare solution to enhance local human resource quality in special zones. Current learning conditions for students in these areas face difficulties that may impact student retention and quality.

The Ministry of Home Affairs reported that total costs for occupational accidents and property damage in 2025 reached 14,068 billion VND. The report noted an increase in occupational accidents among workers without formal labor contracts. These costs include accidents occurring while employees are traveling between their residence and workplace at the request of employers. The Ministry of Public Security's Traffic Police Department reported 37 traffic accidents occurred across Vietnam on the first day of the four-day holiday period. The accidents resulted in 18 deaths and 22 injuries. The holiday period spans April 30 to May 1. This figure represents a 4.29% increase compared to 2024. This follows Directive 58 of the Secretariat regarding labor and trade union laws.

Vietnam's Minister of Defense chaired a working conference with the General Staff of the People's Army of Vietnam. Discussions are expected to focus on bilateral cooperation and economic development. In Vietnam, Takaiichi aims to advance a comprehensive strategic partnership focusing on energy and critical minerals. Vietnam currently serves as Japan's second largest supplier of rare earth minerals following China. The visit also seeks to enhance cooperation in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and space. Takaiichi intends to advocate for a free and open Indo-Pacific to bolster supply chains and energy security. Prime Minister Le Minh Huong chaired a national conference in late April regarding the acceleration of public investment capital allocation and disbursement for 2026.

The coastal city of Hai Phong plans to establish a special economic zone to drive investment. The project is expected to attract 700 trillion VND in investment. This development aims to create new economic momentum for the region.

The Hoa Hiệp industrial park will host a Workers' Festival on May 1. The event is being organized in conjunction with the Department of Labor. Approximately 3,000 people are expected to participate in the program.

Agricultural production in Thai Nguyen province has seen shifts through investment in diverse product lines. The innovation is contributing to the region's image as a dynamic area for commodity agriculture.