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Vietnam

Latest news, in-depth features and opinion on Vietnam, covering politics, economy, society and the country's relationships with the United States, Australia, China and neighbouring Southeast Asian countries.

Capital

Hanoi

Head of State

President To Lam

Head of Government

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh

last updated:

29 November, 2024

Southeast Asian countries are seeking to expand their undersea cable networks to meet booming demand for AI services. Photo: Shutterstock

Singapore

Singapore, Vietnam eye undersea cable as US flags risks of Chinese contractors

Keppel and Sovico Group in talks to build a new network to meet booming demand for AI services and data centres.

13 Dec 2024 - 2:34PMvideocam

China-Asean relations

China’s Wang Yi calls for progress with Vietnam on South China Sea cooperation

11 Dec 2024 - 5:00PMvideocam

Asia travel

The Amalfi Coast? Not quite. Phu Quoc in Vietnam’s odd mix of attractions

11 Dec 2024 - 7:15AM

South China Sea

South China Sea: Vietnam reef projects may set scene for conflict with Beijing

Satellite images show potential military structures on Vietnamese features in Spratly Islands, which experts say could curb China’s advantage.

10 Dec 2024 - 10:01AMvideocam

A satellite image of Pearson Reef in the Spratly Islands, taken on September 29, suggests Vietnam may be building a 3km runway. Photo: CSIS/AMTI/MAXAR Technologies

China trade

‘Get down to business’: China, Vietnam set aside maritime disputes for trade

Brisker trade and new investments in factories and infrastructure among the fruits of pragmatic approach to relationship.

10 Dec 2024 - 11:11AMvideocam

Asean

Opinion | Why Russia is finding favour in Southeast Asia once again

As Russia seeks Global South partners and the war in Ukraine drags on, Southeast Asian states are rekindling ties with the Kremlin.

9 Dec 2024 - 5:49AM

E-commerce

Temu, Shein halt Vietnam operations pending business registration

Two of the world’s most popular budget-shopping platforms have suspended business in the Southeast Asian nation.

6 Dec 2024 - 2:55PM

Temu and Shein have been forced to suspend their services in Vietnam after they failed to register with authorities. Photo: Shutterstock

China trade

Cambodia says Xi supports controversial canal, but China stance is still unclear

Former Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen thanked Xi Jinping for backing Funan Techo Canal when they met this week.

5 Dec 2024 - 6:30PMvideocam

Asean

Will Trump’s tariff threat push Southeast Asian nations away from China-led Brics?

Analysts warn nations to consider the risks of joining Brics, which could bring economic gains but may alienate the US and lead to trade barriers.

4 Dec 2024 - 7:44PM

Malaysia

Malaysia tech firms set to ‘act aggressively’ over Trump’s tariff hikes

Local firms in Malaysia’s crucial tech sector are looking at options ranging from expansion to the US to securing new clients.

3 Dec 2024 - 4:00PM

US president-elect Donald Trump views a test flight of a SpaceX Starship rocket on November 19 in Brownsville, Texas. Photo: TNS

Crime

Vietnamese tycoon’s death sentence upheld over US$12 billion fraud

A court on Tuesday upheld the sentence after rejecting Truong My Lan’s appeal against a conviction for embezzlement and bribery.

3 Dec 2024 - 3:00PMvideocam

Truong My Lan attends her trial at the People’s High Court of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on Tuesday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Malaysia

Malaysia urges Chinese firms to avoid ‘rebadging’ products to dodge US tariffs

Washington is set to restrict exports to Chinese semiconductor manufacturers and certain chipmaking equipment from Malaysia, and Singapore.

2 Dec 2024 - 4:32PMvideocam

Viral stories

Vietnam youth rent partners to please parents, applicants must be fit, good cooks

Rental contracts typically include stringent terms, such as prohibiting emotional involvement, banning sexual harassment.

1 Dec 2024 - 6:00PM

Infrastructure

Vietnam to build US$67 billion high-speed railway

The railway will run from Hanoi in the north to Ho Chi Minh City in the south, in a boost to infrastructure expected to drive investment.

30 Nov 2024 - 6:30PM

A railway worker holds a flag to signal safety for a passenger train passing through a railway crossing in Hanoi. Photo: AFP

Americas and the Caribbean

Mexico raids stores selling counterfeit Chinese goods, vows national crackdown

The operation comes soon after Trump’s tariff threat, and amid concerns that Chinese goods are flowing through Mexico to flood the US market.

30 Nov 2024 - 4:44AMvideocam

Members of the Mexican Navy keep watch outside the Mexico Mart shopping centre in Mexico City during an operation to seize Chinese counterfeit goods on Friday. Photo: Reuters

China trade

Chinese firms still eye Vietnam, free of US tariffs for now, as Trump 2.0 looms

Number of Chinese manufacturers shifting production to Vietnam has boomed since Donald Trump’s first term as US president.

29 Nov 2024 - 12:00PMvideocam

South China Sea

Is Hanoi quietly building Asean alliances on South China Sea code of conduct?

Diplomatic upgrade with Kuala Lumpur could lead to a more united front from claimant countries in their dispute with Beijing, analysts say.

29 Nov 2024 - 10:00AMvideocam

South China Sea

South China Sea: US alliances mar peace and stability, China envoy tells Asean

Beijing’s ambassador to Asean tells forum Western narrative of ‘Ukraine today, East Asia tomorrow’ increases conflict risk in region.

29 Nov 2024 - 1:44PMvideocam

China’s ambassador to Asean Hou Yanqi has told a forum in Hong Kong the South China Sea is not an issue between China and the Asean nations. Photo: Handout

Corruption in Asia

Vietnam tycoon told to repay US$11 billion to avoid lethal injection execution

The 68-year-old is appealing her death sentence after being convicted of embezzling US$12.3 billion from a bank.

27 Nov 2024 - 10:42AMvideocam

Diplomacy

Vietnam’s aircraft deal with US reflects closer ties – is China ‘not happy’?

The appearance of a Chinese boat in Vietnam’s waters following the deal is not a coincidence, an analyst says.

27 Nov 2024 - 10:00AM

China trade

Amid mulling of more US-China decoupling, supply-chain expo offers opportunity

An elongation of critical supply chains bringing Chinese goods to the US is expected to be a boon for ‘made by China’ in third countries.

26 Nov 2024 - 9:00AM

Interest in the agriculture supply chain helped drive traffic at last year’s inaugural China International Supply Chain Expo (pictured). This year’s event runs from Tuesday to Saturday. Photo: Xinhua

China-India relations

Hope grows for India-China economic ties amid Trump’s tariff threats

Will the new-found optimism from their border thaw endure escalating trade tensions with the US?

25 Nov 2024 - 8:00AM

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi shakes hands with his Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar in Brazil, on Monday. Photo: Xinhua

Asean

Southeast Asia admits China’s sway, but South China Sea stress sows distrust: study

Southeast Asian elites prefer an Asean-led regional order, despite acknowledging China’s growing influence, but the bloc faces its own challenges.

21 Nov 2024 - 7:30PMvideocam

South China Sea

Opinion | China draws red line at Scarborough Shoal after Manila’s new maritime laws

Beijing’s move aims to legitimise future enforcement measures while avoiding overt military escalation, a hallmark of its strategy in contested maritime areas.

20 Nov 2024 - 9:30AMvideocam

Food and agriculture

Future-proofing rice: how Asia’s farmers are innovating against climate odds

From India to Vietnam, a new wave of innovation is transforming traditional rice farming into a resilient and eco-friendly industry.

19 Nov 2024 - 6:00PM

A farmer threshes rice in a field on the outskirts of Varanasi, India, on Monday. Photo: AFP

Food and Drinks

Legendary French chef makes foray into Asia, but not where you’d think

Christian Le Squer, of Paris’ three-Michelin-star Le Cinq, talks about taking on a whole new challenge at La Maison 1888 in Da Nang, Vietnam.

18 Nov 2024 - 7:15AM

French chef Christian Le Squer is broadening his horizons at the only Michelin-star restaurant in Da Nang, Vietnam. Photo: La Maison 1888

E-commerce

Southeast Asia is the new Singles’ Day battleground as lustre fades in China

Promotions from Chinese e-commerce platforms are infiltrating people’s lives across the region, where e-commerce is seeing explosive growth.

18 Nov 2024 - 12:13PM

Asia travel

Discover Vietnam’s war-torn past in its culturally rich capital

A visit to Hanoi, from its museums to local-run tours, reveals a city that remembers its turbulent past but is focused on its bright future.

17 Nov 2024 - 8:15AM

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