Taiwan has witnessed a sharp rise in flu vaccinations after the tragic passing of actress Barbie Hsu, with demand surging to the point of overwhelming medical facilities and online resources.
According to CDC spokesperson Tseng Shu-hui, Taiwan had secured 6.78 million flu vaccine doses this year, but only 200,000 remain. Given that the flu vaccine is publicly funded, authorities are urging high-risk groups to get vaccinated as soon as possible, Taiwan News reported.
The impact of this surge was particularly evident in Tainan City, where over 7,400 free flu vaccine doses were fully booked in under three hours on Monday afternoon. Similarly, Taichung Hospital’s Department of Family Medicine, under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, reported a significant spike in patient numbers, while the CDC website struggled to handle the influx of inquiries, United Daily News noted.
Many people were prompted to get vaccinated after learning about Hsu’s death. The 49-year-old actress, best known for her role in Meteor Garden, fell ill during a family trip to Japan on January 29 and passed away on February 2. Her family later confirmed that she succumbed to influenza-related pneumonia, revealing that she had displayed severe health warning signs before her passing.
Health officials continue to stress the importance of vaccination, particularly for vulnerable groups, as the flu season intensifies.
Vietnam has become an increasingly attractive destination for expats, thanks to its dynamic economy, rich culture, and affordable cost of living.
Whether you’re considering moving to Vietnam for work, retirement, or adventure, understanding the cost of living is essential. Fortunately, Vietnam offers a high standard of living at a fraction of the cost compared to many Western nations.
Affordability Compared to the US and UK
According to the latest 2022 data, the cost of living in Vietnam is 63.5% lower than in the US and 42.8% lower than in the UK. This includes everyday expenses such as rent, food, transportation, and entertainment. Cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, despite being the most expensive in Vietnam, are still considerably cheaper than major Western cities like New York or London.
For example, renting a modern one-bedroom apartment in Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi costs between $400 to $1,000 per month, depending on the location and amenities. A meal at a local restaurant can cost as little as $2 to $5, while dining in upscale restaurants is still affordable at around $10 to $30 per person. Transportation, whether by motorbike, taxi, or public transport, is significantly cheaper than in Western countries.
These factors make Vietnam a cost-effective choice for expats looking for an affordable yet comfortable lifestyle.
Expats’ Earning Potential in Vietnam
Besides being affordable, Vietnam also provides competitive salaries for expats, especially in thriving industries such as technology, finance, marketing, and education. The average expat salary in Vietnam is estimated at $78,000 per year (£55,000), making it an attractive destination for professionals seeking both career growth and financial stability.
With a high salary relative to the cost of living, expats in Vietnam can enjoy a comfortable lifestyle, including:
Luxury housing: Many expats choose to live in serviced apartments or gated communities with modern amenities.
Travel and leisure: Vietnam offers beautiful beaches, mountains, and vibrant cities to explore at an affordable cost.
Quality healthcare: Private hospitals and international clinics provide world-class medical services at reasonable prices.
A Fulfilling and Comfortable Lifestyle
The combination of low living costs and high earning potential makes Vietnam an ideal destination for expats who want to maximize their income while enjoying a high quality of life. Whether it’s affordable housing, inexpensive yet delicious food, or a thriving social scene, Vietnam allows expats to experience a rich and fulfilling life without breaking the bank.
For those looking for a balance between cost, career opportunities, and lifestyle, Vietnam remains one of the best places in Asia to consider for long-term living.
At the Government’s regular January meeting on the morning of February 5, Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized the need to prepare for the possibility of a global trade war, warning that if it occurs, it could disrupt supply chains and restrict export markets.
Economic Growth Target: At Least 8% in 2025
The Prime Minister reaffirmed the Central Government’s ambitious GDP growth target of at least 8% in 2025, laying the groundwork for double-digit growth in the following years. To achieve this, he called for ministries, sectors, and localities to set specific growth targets and submit them for approval.
The Government will formally assign growth targets to each locality, ensuring that economic momentum is maintained across the country.
Unpredictable Global Trends and Strategic Response
Prime Minister Chinh highlighted the increasingly volatile global and regional landscape, which poses challenges to Vietnam’s exports, production, business environment, and macroeconomic stability.
He urged delegates to conduct in-depth forecasts and analyses, particularly regarding emerging risks such as a potential global trade war, and to propose proactive, timely solutions to avoid passivity, capitalize on opportunities, and sustain economic growth.
Key Solutions Proposed
To drive economic expansion, the Prime Minister outlined several strategic initiatives: Revitalizing traditional growth drivers while fostering new ones. Expanding and diversifying export markets, products, and supply chains, with a special focus on the Middle East, South America, and other emerging regions. Institutional reforms to remove legal bottlenecks and ensure efficient governance. Fast-tracking major infrastructure projects, including expressways and airport expansions.
Urgent Actions for Critical Projects
The Prime Minister also directed immediate action on several key national projects, such as Ninh Thuan Nuclear Power Plant: The Minister of Industry and Trade must urgently report to the Government and propose relevant policies to the National Assembly. Electricity Market Reforms: Regulations for electricity trading should be refined based on business and public feedback. Transport Infrastructure: The Minister of Transport must propose solutions to accelerate railway connectivity with China and address obstacles in road BOT projects. Legal Reforms: Ministers must submit monthly reports on regulatory challenges in their respective sectors, clearly identifying bottlenecks and proposing solutions.
Major Infrastructure Commitments for 2025
The Government remains committed to completing at least 3,000 km of expressways by 2025, ensuring that Tan Son Nhat Airport’s Terminal 3 is operational by April 30, 2025, and substantially completing Phase 1 of Long Thanh International Airport within the same year.
Positive Economic Trends Despite Challenges
Despite the nine-day Lunar New Year holiday, Vietnam’s socio-economic performance in January showed strong recovery, with:
Macroeconomic stability
Controlled inflation
Sustained growth momentum
Balanced economic fundamentals
As Vietnam navigates global uncertainties, strong policy direction and decisive actions will be key to achieving its ambitious economic targets and ensuring long-term resilience in a shifting global landscape.
Hanoi’s real estate market is witnessing significant growth, fueled by an increasing number of foreign professionals seeking luxury housing. The city issues approximately 10,000 new work permits annually to expatriates, most of whom are highly skilled professionals with a strong preference for premium properties.
This demand has been further strengthened by the 2023 Housing Law, which took effect on August 1, 2024, introducing regulations that make property ownership more accessible for foreigners. The Vietnam Association of Real Estate Brokers notes that Hanoi has not only solidified its position as Vietnam’s leading economic, political, and cultural center but has also become an attractive destination for expatriates.
The growing influx of foreign professionals, coupled with economic expansion and rising foreign direct investment (FDI), has significantly increased demand for housing, particularly in Hanoi and the northern region. The labor force is predominantly composed of highly skilled individuals, including managers, CEOs, experts, and technical specialists, many of whom seek to own high-end properties.
According to data from the Hanoi Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs, in 2023, nearly 11,200 organizations and businesses employed foreign workers, including 4,200+ management positions, 190 CEO roles, 8,000+ expert positions, 1,561 technical worker roles
Additionally, Hanoi issued 8,747 new work permits, reissued 1,234, and extended 2,749 work permits for expatriates, further reinforcing the capital’s appeal as a prime location for foreign professionals seeking long-term residence.
With a booming economy, increasing FDI, and favorable housing policies, Hanoi’s luxury real estate market is set for continued expansion, catering to the rising demand from the growing expatriate community.
Vietnam’s e-commerce sector continued its upward trajectory in 2024, with total revenue from the top five online retail platforms—Shopee, Lazada, TikTok Shop, Tiki, and Sendo—reaching VND 318.9 trillion (nearly $12.67 billion). This marks a robust 37.36% year-on-year growth, according to the newly released “Vietnam Online Retail Market Landscape 2024 & Forecast 2025” report by Metric.
The market also witnessed a significant increase in purchasing activity, with total consumption volume surpassing 3.4 million products, representing an impressive 50.76% growth compared to 2023. This surge underscores the continued strength of Vietnam’s digital retail sector as a vital sales channel.
However, the revenue performance fluctuated throughout the year. While e-commerce platforms experienced a peak in sales during the final months of 2024, driven by the Tet (Lunar New Year) shopping season and year-end festivals, a notable decline was observed from April to June.
Intensified Competition Reshaping the Market
Despite the revenue surge, the number of online stores generating orders dropped by 20.25%, highlighting increased competition. Many small or underperforming sellers exited the market, making way for businesses with well-defined strategies, consumer-centric product offerings, and adaptable operations.
Adding to the competitive landscape, 31,500 foreign sellers are now actively participating in Vietnam’s e-commerce market, creating direct pressure on domestic businesses. As a result, only retailers with strong branding, competitive pricing, and efficient supply chains are expected to thrive in this rapidly evolving sector.
Vietnam’s e-commerce industry is set for further expansion in 2025, with digital retail cementing its role as a dominant force in the country’s overall consumer market.
Global Business Services LLC (GBS), a leading business and legal services firm in Vietnam, is proud to announce that it has been shortlisted for the “Financial Services Law Firm of the Year in Vietnam – 2025” at the Global Law Experts (GLE) Annual Awards.
This prestigious recognition highlights GBS’s outstanding expertise in investment consulting, merger & acquisition advisory, and company formation services for foreign investors seeking to enter and expand in Vietnam.
The Global Law Experts Awards celebrate top-performing legal and consulting firms worldwide that demonstrate excellence in industry knowledge, client service, and innovative solutions. Being shortlisted is a testament to GBS’s dedication to supporting international businesses in navigating Vietnam’s dynamic business environment, ensuring a smooth market entry and sustainable growth.
“With a highly skilled team and a diverse global client base, we take great pride in being recognized among the best in the industry,” said Sophie Dao, Senior Partner of GBS. “This shortlisting reflects our unwavering commitment to delivering top-tier financial and legal advisory services that drive success for our clients.”
GBS extends its heartfelt gratitude to its clients, partners, and team members for their continuous trust and support.
For more information about GBS and its services, please visit https://gbs.com.vn.
Vietnam’s economy continues to grow at an impressive pace in 2025, with strong export performance, institutional reforms, and a favorable investment climate attracting foreign businesses. Despite global economic uncertainties, the country remains a key destination for trade and foreign direct investment (FDI).
Vietnam’s Export Boom: Strengthening Trade with the EU
Vietnam’s exports to the European Union (EU) surged to $51.7 billion in 2024, an $8 billion increase compared to 2023. This growth is largely driven by the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), which has reduced tariffs and boosted Vietnam’s competitiveness in European markets.
Key export sectors driving growth:
Electronics & machinery: Vietnam has become a key manufacturing hub for Samsung, Apple, and other tech giants.
Textiles & garments: Despite global challenges, Vietnam remains one of the world’s top textile exporters.
Agriculture & seafood: Vietnamese coffee, cashews, shrimp, and pangasius fish are in high demand across Europe.
Why it matters for foreign investors:
Companies looking to source low-cost, high-quality goods can benefit from Vietnam’s expanding export market.
The EVFTA ensures better trade conditions for businesses operating in Vietnam and selling to Europe.
Institutional Reforms: A Business-Friendly Environment
Vietnam is undergoing major institutional reforms to enhance its business climate and attract more foreign direct investment (FDI).
Key reform areas:
Easier business registration: The government is simplifying regulations for foreign businesses.
Tax incentives for investors: New policies offer tax reductions for companies in high-tech, renewable energy, and manufacturing sectors.
Digital transformation in governance: Vietnam is expanding e-governance to improve efficiency and reduce bureaucracy.
What this means for foreign businesses:
Lower entry barriers: Setting up a business in Vietnam is becoming faster and easier.
Better investment protection: Government policies ensure more transparent legal frameworks for foreign investors.
Tax advantages: Companies investing in strategic sectors can enjoy tax breaks and incentives.
Vietnam’s FDI Surge: Key Investment Trends
Vietnam continues to be a top investment destination in Southeast Asia, attracting billions in FDI from multinational companies.
Top FDI sectors in 2025:
High-tech manufacturing: Companies like Samsung, Foxconn, and Intel are expanding production in Vietnam.
Renewable energy: Solar and wind power projects are growing rapidly with foreign backing.
E-commerce & fintech: Vietnam’s booming digital economy is attracting investments from companies like Alibaba and Grab.
Major recent foreign investments:
Apple’s suppliers are increasing their presence in Vietnam, shifting production away from China.
South Korean investors are pouring billions into Vietnam’s industrial zones.
European companies are investing in Vietnam’s sustainable development projects.
Why Vietnam is an attractive investment hub:
Strategic location: Vietnam is a key link in global supply chains.
Young, skilled workforce: A large, educated labor pool supports industrial growth.
Government support: Pro-business policies continue to attract foreign investment.
Challenges & Future Outlook
Despite its impressive growth, Vietnam still faces challenges:
Labor shortages: Post-Tết (Lunar New Year) worker shortages impact production.
Infrastructure bottlenecks: Ports, highways, and logistics need upgrades to support growing trade.
Global economic risks: Vietnam’s economy is closely tied to global trade trends.
However, with continued reforms, trade agreements, and foreign investment, Vietnam is expected to remain one of the fastest-growing economies in Asia in the coming years.
Vietnam is a rising star in global trade and investment, with a rapidly expanding export market, business-friendly reforms, and increasing foreign investment. For international businesses, investors, and entrepreneurs, the country presents exciting opportunities across multiple sectors.
As Vietnam continues to strengthen its economic position, now is the time for foreign businesses to explore partnerships, investments, and market entry strategies.
The number of traffic accidents during the 2025 Lunar New Year holiday saw a significant decrease of 258 cases compared to the previous year, reflecting a remarkable improvement in road safety. According to the Traffic Police Department, the 9-day holiday period was well-managed, with no major or prolonged traffic congestion reported.
On the afternoon of February 2, 2025, the Traffic Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security announced that from January 25 to February 2, a total of 445 traffic accidents occurred nationwide. These incidents resulted in 209 fatalities and 373 injuries.
Compared to the 2024 Lunar New Year holiday, traffic accidents dropped by 36.69% (258 fewer cases), fatalities decreased by 37.61% (126 fewer deaths), and injuries were reduced by 38.34% (232 fewer cases).
Road accidents: 442 cases, leading to 207 deaths and 372 injuries.
Railway accidents: 2 cases, causing 1 death and 1 injury.
Waterway accident: 1 case, resulting in 1 fatality.
Despite an increase in traffic volume before and after the holiday, particularly at major gateways to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and key routes such as expressways and Rach Mieu Bridge (connecting Tien Giang and Ben Tre provinces), traffic police effectively managed congestion through proactive traffic flow regulation, preventing severe blockages.
Enhanced Traffic Safety Enforcement During the Holiday
To ensure traffic safety and maintain order, the Traffic Police force deployed 25,556 working groups, conducted 32,783 patrols, and mobilized 137,511 officers and soldiers. As a result:
55,842 violations were detected and penalized.
17,149 cases involved alcohol-related violations.
13,296 cases involved speeding violations.
88 cases involved drug-related violations.
174 cases involved overloaded vehicles.
Authorities revoked 2,985 driving licenses or professional certificates and deducted points from 7,035 licenses.
428 cars and 20,782 motorbikes were temporarily seized.
Notable Improvement in Traffic Safety
Compared to Tet 2024, traffic safety measures significantly improved, contributing to a substantial reduction in accidents, fatalities, and injuries. The proactive approach of law enforcement, along with stricter enforcement of traffic regulations, played a key role in enhancing road safety during this festive period.
DeepSeek’s actual expenditure on developing its AI models is estimated to be around $1.6 billion, a stark contrast to the $5.6 million figure the company has publicly claimed.
The True Cost of DeepSeek’s AI Infrastructure
According to an analysis by SemiAnalysis, a leading semiconductor and AI market research firm, DeepSeek’s hardware investment alone exceeds $500 million. Beyond that, the computational costs of generating synthetic training data are substantial, making the company’s stated training budget of $5.6 million misleading. That figure only accounts for the formal training phase, excluding key expenses such as research, development, data preparation, hardware maintenance, and operational costs.
“Our analysis suggests that the total server capital expenditure could be around $1.6 billion, with a significant $944 million allocated to operational costs for these AI clusters,” SemiAnalysis stated. “In addition to training, DeepSeek needs to test new architectures, collect and clean vast amounts of data, and pay its employees—all of which require significant funding.”
DeepSeek’s GPU Power and High-Flyer’s Involvement
SemiAnalysis further revealed that DeepSeek has likely used around 10,000 Nvidia H800 GPUs—restricted under U.S. export regulations to China—as well as an additional 10,000 H100 GPUs. The company is also believed to have incorporated H20 GPUs into its training process.
“These GPUs are shared between High-Flyer, the investment fund that owns DeepSeek, and the AI company itself. They are geographically distributed and utilized for multiple purposes, including high-frequency trading, inference, training, and AI research,” the report noted.
DeepSeek has been aggressively recruiting AI talent, offering salaries exceeding $1.3 million per year for top candidates—far surpassing compensation offered by major Chinese tech firms and global AI labs like Moonshot. The company has also held recruitment events at top universities across China, emphasizing ‘unlimited access to 10,000 GPUs’ in its hiring pitches.
DeepSeek’s Cost-Optimization Strategy and Industry Reactions
Despite the high estimated costs, SemiAnalysis emphasized that DeepSeek is highly efficient in cost optimization. “DeepSeek R1 is an exceptional model that has reached the cutting edge of AI reasoning at an astonishing speed,” the firm noted.
However, the discrepancy in cost figures has sparked debates. DeepSeek has not publicly addressed these claims, nor has it provided an official estimate beyond the $5.576 million figure, which was attributed to renting AI servers and the formal training process. This number excludes expenses related to model architecture experimentation, algorithm research, and large-scale data processing.
Yann LeCun, Chief AI Scientist at Meta, weighed in on the controversy, stating that many misunderstand AI infrastructure costs. He clarified that while AI development requires significant investments, much of the billions spent by U.S. firms goes toward AI inference rather than training.
“There is a big misunderstanding about AI infrastructure investment,” LeCun wrote on Threads last week. “The majority of the billions spent are for running AI assistants at scale, not just for training. As AI systems expand their capabilities—handling video understanding, reasoning, and massive storage—the cost of inference rises significantly. The market reaction to DeepSeek’s cost claims is therefore misplaced.”
Thomas Sohmers, CEO of AI hardware startup Positron, echoed LeCun’s view. “Inference spending will soon outpace training costs as demand for AI services grows exponentially,” he told Business Insider.
Scale AI CEO’s Bold Claims on DeepSeek’s GPU Stockpile
Meanwhile, Alexandr Wang, CEO of Scale AI, told CNBC that he has inside information suggesting DeepSeek owns 50,000 Nvidia H100 GPUs. Due to U.S. export restrictions, DeepSeek cannot publicly disclose this, he claimed.
Elon Musk, founder of xAI and a close ally of former U.S. President Donald Trump, added: “It’s obvious.”
DeepSeek’s AI Training Strategy: The Role of ‘Distillation’
To reduce training costs, DeepSeek is reportedly using an optimization technique called ‘distillation’. This method involves using a larger AI model’s outputs to train a smaller model, which helps maintain performance while significantly lowering computational costs.
OpenAI recently told the Financial Times (FT) on January 29 that it suspected DeepSeek had leveraged distillation techniques to cut costs.
DeepSeek’s Ownership and Future Direction
Founded in May 2023 by Liang Wenfeng, DeepSeek is based in Hangzhou, Zhejiang and is fully owned by High-Flyer, a major investment fund. Unlike many AI startups that seek external funding, DeepSeek has no plans to raise capital, instead focusing on building its core AI technology and proprietary infrastructure.
While DeepSeek has achieved remarkable cost efficiency in AI model training, its claim of spending just $5.6 million is widely disputed. The actual cost—estimated at $1.6 billion—suggests the company has a far more extensive AI infrastructure than it publicly acknowledges. As the AI race intensifies, DeepSeek’s financial transparency and strategic choices will likely remain under scrutiny.
In the year of the Dragon, Vingroup Corporation (stock code: VIC) and billionaire Pham Nhat Vuong had a busy year in restructuring their investments. Last year, the richest man in Vietnam showed his vision when he wanted to expand Vingroup’s ecosystem into technology and robotics.
Vingroup establishes series of technology and robotics companies
In the year of Giap Thin, Vingroup established 3 new companies including Movian AI (separated from VinAI), VinMotion Multi-purpose Robot Research, Development and Application Joint Stock Company and VinMotion VinRobotics Multi-purpose Robot Research, Development and Application Joint Stock Company.
The businesses mark the group’s entry into a robotics sector that could be worth $7 trillion by 2025.
Notably, VinRobotics and VinMotion are like two “twin” companies, both with a charter capital of 1,000 billion VND, and the same shareholder structure including Vingroup holding 51%, Mr. Pham Nhat Vuong holding 39%, and Mr. Pham Nhat Vuong’s two sons , Pham Nhat Quan Anh and Pham Nhat Minh Hoang, holding 5% respectively.
Both companies are registered to do business in the main field of manufacturing industrial robots and intelligent robots for various purposes. Ms. Nguyen Mai Hoa is the legal representative of both companies.
In recent years, Vingroup has continuously promoted investment in developing capacity in the field of technology, especially high technology. The Group’s ecosystem of subsidiaries in the field of technology and industry currently has 5 members, including VinFast, VinSmart, VinAI, VinBigdata, VinHitech. Thus, if Vingroup’s two new robotics companies officially come into operation, the number of technology companies of the Group will be increased to 7 companies.
Not only Vingroup established technology and robotics companies, billionaire Pham Nhat Vuong himself also invested in establishing his own company to support this transition, especially supporting VinFast. In the past year, the richest man in Vietnam established FGF, VinDT, V-Green… with main businesses related to electric vehicles and technology to support VinFast and Vingroup.
On the selling side, Vingroup “closed the year” by selling VinBrain to Nvidia. The value of the deal was not disclosed.
Not only selling Vinbrain, in October 2024, Tech in Asia reported that Vingroup is looking to sell its shares in VinAI. VinAI was established as a research institute of Vingroup. Then, this company became a subsidiary in 2021 with a capital of 425 billion VND (17 million USD).
Vingroup divests from many real estate companies
In the year of Giap Thin, Vingroup made many historic transfer deals. A typical example is the divestment from Vincom Retail (code: VRE). Accordingly, Vingroup sold 41.5% of Vincom Retail’s capital through the transfer of 99% of SDI’s capital. Thereby, both SDI and Vincom Retail are not subsidiaries of Vingroup.
The total value of the above deal is 39,100 billion VND (equivalent to 1.56 billion USD). Vingroup has also received the entire amount.
In addition to Vincom Retail, Vingroup also sold two real estate companies with capital of up to tens of thousands of billions, NVY and VYHT. These are both secondary developers in the Vinhomes Royal Island super project in Hai Phong. The partners who bought them are foreign real estate corporations.
The past is “cut off” drastically
In fact, in the past, Vingroup was known as a company that restructured drastically. Vingroup’s first “famous” divestment deal was the sale of all shares of Vincom Securities (VincomSC).
By the end of 2019, the market was “shocked” by the news that Vingroup had swapped shares of VinCommerce, the owner of the VinMart supermarket chain and VinMart+ convenience stores, with Masan Group (stock code MSN), officially saying goodbye to the retail sector.
Vingroup also sold VinEco to Masan Group in this deal. In addition to selling VinCommerce or VinEco to Masan Group, billionaire Pham Nhat Vuong’s company has decided to close the VinPro electronics and technology store chain and the Adayroi e-commerce platform.
In early 2020, Vingroup suddenly announced the suspension of the Vinpearl Air project, withdrawing from the air transport business, in order to focus maximum resources on strategic goals of technology and industry.
The decision was made less than half a year after the group announced its first steps and just 7 months before Vinpearl Air took off, according to the previously announced plan.
Since 2009, Vingroup has opened and closed many projects: VinDS (a system of clothing and footwear stores in Vincom shopping malls), Vinlink, VinExpress (logistics), Emigo (VinFashion fashion company)…
Due to the exchange of working days, employees will have 5 days off on the occasion of Victory Day April 30 and International Labor Day May 1.
According to the announcement of the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, workers will have 5 days off for the Victory Day of April 30 and International Labor Day of May 1.
Accordingly, civil servants, public employees, and workers will have their working days changed from Friday, May 2 to Saturday, April 26 and will have 5 days off, from April 30 to May 4.
On the occasion of National Day 2025, officials, civil servants, public employees and workers will have 4 days off, from August 30 to September 2.
Workers get 5 days off on the occasion of Victory Day April 30 and International Labor Day May 1.
Agencies and units that do not have a fixed schedule of Saturday and Sunday every week must arrange a suitable schedule of holidays in accordance with the provisions of law based on the specific program and plan of the unit.
However, employers need to ensure full implementation of the regimes for employees according to the provisions of law; encourage agreements that are more beneficial to employees.
For employees who are not cadres, civil servants, public employees, and employees of administrative agencies, public service agencies, political organizations, and socio-political organizations, the employer decides to choose a holiday plan appropriate to the actual situation.
The Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs encourages employers to apply the National Day, Victory Day, April 30 and International Labor Day, May 1, 2025 holidays for employees as prescribed for civil servants and public employees.
Cambodian authorities arrested more than 1,300 suspects in 539 drug cases in January, while in Thailand, authorities made a record drug seizure.
The Cambodian Drug Enforcement Agency (ADP) said on February 1 that from January 1 to January 31, the country had arrested 1,311 suspects in 539 drug- related cases , seizing more than 423 kg of illegal drugs. The report said that 56% of the suspects were drug dealers, possessors and transporters, while 44% were drug users, Khmer Times reported.
Most of the drugs seized were ketamine, crystal methamphetamine, methamphetamine pills , ecstasy, heroin and cocaine. Cambodia does not have the death penalty for drug traffickers. Under the country’s law, people convicted of trafficking more than 80 grams of illegal drugs can be sentenced to life in prison.
Amount of drugs seized by authorities in Cambodia PHOTO: KHMER TIMES
On January 31, ADP also announced the arrest of a foreigner for illegal drug possession and transportation, seizing more than 47 kg of drugs. According to Xinhua, the suspect is a 27-year-old man who was caught red-handed at an apartment in the capital Phnom Penh on January 29. Cambodian authorities also seized a pistol , 20 bullets and some drug paraphernalia from the suspect.
In 2024, Cambodia arrested more than 27,000 drug-related suspects, including 1,045 foreigners in 16 countries, seizing nearly 15 tons of illegal drugs.
Another Southeast Asian country, Thailand, also reported a record drug seizure in January. According to AFP, Thai authorities said on January 20 that they had discovered and seized more than 1.5 tons of crystal methamphetamine at a warehouse in the Thai city of Bangkok. Four people were arrested at the scene.
On January 30, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra announced the launch of an anti-drug campaign to tackle drug trafficking in 51 border districts in 14 provinces, starting in February and expected to yield results within six months. “Drugs hinder people’s potential. If we end this problem, the potential of Thai people will be restored,” Bangkok Post quoted Ms. Paetongtarn as saying.
Hanoi apartment prices have just gone through a year full of fluctuations with continuous skyrocketing increases. What do experts predict about this market when entering 2025?
In 2024, the Hanoi apartment segment witnessed a rapid price increase, reaching more than 70 million VND/m2 by the end of the third quarter, with many mid-range projects even having prices pushed up to 100 million VND/m2. There are no more projects on the market priced below 60 million VND/m2, including old projects. During the fever, prices increased daily and weekly. It is worth noting that despite the high prices, liquidity is still good and there are still buyers.
The growth momentum will slow down in 2025
However, according to Associate Professor Dr. Dinh Trong Thinh, by 2025, the increase in apartment prices in Hanoi will slow down, the market will tend to be more stable, no longer “hot” as in the past. Accordingly, the cash flow of buyers will tend to shift from areas with high prices to areas with more competitive prices and more room for growth. Apartments will give up the leading position to other types such as private houses, townhouses, land plots…
Mr. Nguyen Van Ngoc, Chairman of the Board of Directors and General Director of RB Group Corporation, also analyzed that the type of apartment buildings with real use value (for living or renting) has increased sharply in price in recent years. In addition, the factors pushing up the price of apartments in Hanoi in recent times are also due to the impact of the new land price list, increased construction material costs and investors upgrading utilities to meet the needs of buyers.
Apartment prices in 2025 are forecast to be difficult to decrease but will no longer increase “hotly”. (Illustration: Minh Duc).
By 2025, although real estate prices may continue to increase next year, the growth rate will be slow due to signs of slowing purchasing power in the context of limited new supply, more time needed to resolve legal problems, and the new high price level increases transaction and investment costs.
Similarly, Ms. Nguyen Hoai An – Director of CBRE Hanoi – said that the apartment market in Hanoi is gradually relieving the “thirst” for housing supply shortage. Prices will not decrease but will no longer increase “hotly” like in the recent period, the increase is about 5-8% compared to 2024. Currently, apartment products for living and investment are quite diverse, the price level is higher than previous years. Therefore, waiting for housing prices to decrease is not feasible.
According to the expert, real estate prices can only decrease when there is excess supply, slow demand growth affecting market liquidity, affecting selling prices, or there are major fluctuations in the macro economy, financial markets, economic growth…
In Vietnam, although the economy is currently growing steadily, interest rates, inflation, and exchange rates are controlled at reasonable levels, the housing supply is still in a state of shortage and imbalance between segments… Therefore, in the short term, it is very difficult for real estate prices to decrease.
CBRE’s report also forecasts that in 2025, the supply of new apartments could reach over 30,000 units. Prices will not decrease but will no longer increase as rapidly as in the recent period, possibly only increasing by 5-8% compared to 2024. As of the end of the third quarter of 2024, Hanoi has had 4 consecutive quarters of rapid apartment price increase, reaching 26% year-on-year.
Mr. Dinh Minh Tuan – Business Director of PropertyGuru Vietnam also commented that in 2024, nearly 67% of new supply in the market will be in the high-end and luxury segment in Hanoi. It is forecasted that in 2025, the primary segment in Hanoi with prices below 50 million VND/m2 will disappear.
” The price level of apartments in the coming time is very difficult to decrease. However, the market next year will be stable and stay at a high level, not as hot as it is now ,” Mr. Tuan commented.
Continue to lead the market
It is predicted that apartment prices will not be as hot as in 2024, but experts still believe that this type of apartment meets the real needs of buyers and will continue to lead the market in 2025.
According to Mr. Tran Minh Tien, Director of OneHousing Center for Market Research and Customer Insight, in 2025, apartments will continue to be the leading type of real estate market in Hanoi.
Explaining this issue, Mr. Tien said that every year Hanoi increases by 200,000 people, the demand for housing is increasing. Apartments are a real type of housing with a relatively affordable price compared to ground-level houses, and legal procedures for bank loans are easier for apartments with certificates. Within the budget of 3-5 billion VND, apartments will still be “favored” when most projects are located on wide roads, fire prevention is guaranteed, and there are many internal and surrounding facilities.
In addition, the quality of the project is also what helps apartments compete with other types of products. According to Mr. Tien, with fierce competition and increasing customer demand, investors are increasingly paying more attention to construction quality and handover standards, along with many preferential sales policies with loan interest support packages and payment extensions. This has recently helped apartments become a new investment channel, attracting more customers to buy for investment to accumulate and increase assets, helping to significantly increase absorption in the market.
Meanwhile, Mr. Tran Quang Trung, Business Development Director of OneHousing, also believes that in 2025, apartments will still be a product that meets the needs of cash flow investment and investment waiting for price increase. ” Apartments are a segment with a moderate total price, many people can participate in investment, besides, the demand for apartment products in the future is still very high ,” said Mr. Trung.
In addition, if considering the same investment level, apartment products are showing superior values compared to townhouses and residential land products in terms of rental yield and price increase rate. Specifically, the profit margin of apartments is currently the highest in the market, averaging over 30%/year.
Today, the first day workers return to work after the Lunar New Year holiday, the lowest temperature in Hanoi is forecast to be 12°C with scattered rain, followed by rain in some places.
Currently, cold air has affected the Northeast. Today and tonight, February 3, this cold air mass continues to affect the Northwest, North Central, Central Central and some places in the South Central.
The North and North Central regions are cold all day, especially in the mountainous regions of the North, it is very cold, some places are very cold, from Quang Binh to Hue it is cold from night.
The lowest temperature in this cold air mass in the North and Thanh Hoa, Nghe An is commonly 11-14°C, in the mountainous areas of the North 8-10°C, in the high mountainous areas below 6°C in some places, from Ha Tinh to Hue 15-18°C.
Also on February 3, the North and North Central regions will have scattered rain and showers. From the morning of February 3 to February 4, the Central Central region will have rain and showers, with some places experiencing moderate to heavy rain and thunderstorms.
High mountain areas are likely to experience severe cold. During thunderstorms, watch out for tornadoes, lightning and strong gusts of wind.
Cold air is coming, today Hanoi has the lowest temperature of 12°C, scattered rain, after that it will rain in some places. (Illustration: Khong Chi)
Weather forecast for the next 10 days nationwide
The National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting said that tonight and tomorrow, February 4, the North and North Central regions will have rain in some places. It will be cold, with severe cold in the mountainous areas of the North, and some places will be extremely cold.
In the next 24 to 48 hours, the Central Central region will have rain, showers, locally heavy rain and thunderstorms. Other areas will have no rain at night and sunny days.
Weather forecast from the night of February 4 to February 12, the meteorological agency said that the North will have rain in some places, with scattered fog and light fog in the early morning, and sunny weather in the Northwest in the afternoon. On February 7-8 and February 10-11, this area will have scattered rain and showers. It will be cold, with severe cold in mountainous areas and severe cold in some places. On February 5-7, it will be cold at night and in the morning.
Northern and Central Central regions have rain in some places, early morning there is scattered fog and light fog, sunny in the afternoon. Of which, on the night of February 4 and on February 8-10 there will be rain, showers, locally moderate rain, heavy rain and thunderstorms. In the North, it will be cold on the night and morning of February 5-7.
Weather forecast for regions across the country during the day and night of February 3, 2025
Hanoi has scattered rain in the morning, then rain in some places. Northeast wind level 3. Cold weather. Lowest temperature 12-14°C. Highest temperature 16-18°C.
In the Northwest, there will be scattered showers during the day and rain in some places at night. Light wind. Cold weather, some places will be very cold. Lowest temperature 12-15°C, some places will be below 10°C. Highest temperature 16-19°C, some places will be above 21°C.
In the Northeast, there will be scattered showers in the morning and rain in some places later. Northeast wind level 3, coastal areas level 3-4. Cold weather, severe cold in mountainous areas, some places with severe cold. Lowest temperature 11-14°C, mountainous areas 8-10°C, high mountainous areas below 6°C in some places. Highest temperature 15-18°C.
From Thanh Hoa to Hue, there will be rain and showers, in the South, there will be some places with moderate rain, heavy rain and thunderstorms. Light wind. In the North, it will be cold, in the South, it will be cold in the morning and at night. During thunderstorms, there may be tornadoes, lightning and strong gusts of wind. The lowest temperature in the North is 13-15°C, in the South is 16-18°C. The highest temperature in the North is 18-20°C, in the South is 21-24°C.
From Da Nang to Binh Thuan in the North, there will be rain, showers, some places will have moderate rain, heavy rain and thunderstorms. In the South, there will be showers in some places, sunny during the day. Northeast wind level 2-3. In the North, it will be cold in the early morning and at night. During thunderstorms, there is a risk of tornadoes, lightning and strong gusts of wind. The lowest temperature in the North is 18-20°C, in the South is 21-23°C. The highest temperature in the North is 25-28°C, in the South is 27-30°C, in some places over 30°C.
Central Highlands sunny during the day, no rain at night. Light wind. Early morning and night cold. Lowest temperature 14-17°C, some places below 14°C. Highest temperature 28-31°C, some places above 31°C.
Southern region: sunny during the day, no rain at night. Northeast wind level 2-3. Lowest temperature 21-24°C, some places below 20°C. Highest temperature 30-33°C, some places above 33°C.
A terrible year of decline in the Thai car market caused them to lose the number 2 position in the region to Malaysia.
Declining purchasing power in the region has caused many large markets such as Thailand and Indonesia to see sales decline in 2024 – Photo: Wapcar
As of early February, vehicle sales figures for major Southeast Asian markets have been fully released. The overall trend in leading markets is downward, such as Indonesia, Thailand and to some extent Malaysia. In contrast, the two markets at the bottom of the top 5, the Philippines and Vietnam, are showing signs of improvement.
For Thailand, the 2024 sales that this market achieved were 572,675 vehicles – a sharp decrease of 26.2% compared to 2023. This is also the lowest sales level that this market has witnessed in the past 14 years.
A major problem with the decline is that the Thai auto industry is structured to meet the demand of at least 600,000 vehicles sold per year. If sales fall below that level, many suppliers and parts companies could be at risk of closing.
Pickup trucks – the leading segment in the Thai market for many years, also failed to maintain growth momentum and declined along with the general trend in 2024 – Photo: Isuzu
Most car brands present in Thailand are down because of the above-mentioned sharp decline. Car brands that rely heavily on pickup trucks (Thailand’s number 1 segment) are down the most, such as Isuzu (-43.7%) or Ford (-42.7%). Major car brands such as Toyota (-17.1%), Honda (-18.8%) or Chinese cars such as MG (-36.9%), BYD (-11.2%) also suffer the same fate.
In Southeast Asia’s most populous country, Indonesia, their 2024 car sales reached 865,723 units, which is higher than the original revised target (1.1 million to 850,000 units) but still down 13.9% compared to 2023.
Leading car manufacturers in this market are Toyota (-14.2%), Daihatsu (-13.3%), Honda (-31.8%), Mitsubishi (-6.7%) and Suzuki (-17.6%) all recorded declining sales. Due to the decrease in purchasing power, Indonesia also only set a target of selling 750,000 – 900,000 cars in 2025.
Toyota is still the leading brand in most Southeast Asian markets but cannot escape the decline – Photo: Toyota
In Malaysia, sales of major car brands also decreased in 2024, however, the “domestic” brand Perodua grew strongly, helping this market have non-negative sales.
Specifically, total car sales in Malaysia were 816,747 units in 2024, a slight increase of 2.1%. Perodua accounted for nearly half of the sales with 385,102 units – a new record sales, equivalent to an increase of 8.4%.
Meanwhile, Toyota decreased by 5.2%, Mitsubishi decreased by 25.6%, Mazda decreased by 24.9%, Nissan decreased by 23.5%, only Honda grew along with Perodua with an increase of… 2%.
Malaysia, without Perodua, would have had a year of decline along with Thailand and Indonesia – Photo: Borneo Post Online
Another major market in the region, the Philippines, is expected to see more consistent growth rather than relying on a single automaker. In 2024, the country will see 467,252 vehicles, up 8.7% from 2023.
The leading car manufacturers in the country are Toyota (accounting for nearly half of the market share at 46.66%), Mitsubishi (19.07%), Ford (5.99%), Nissan (5.73%) and Suzuki (4.36%).
In this group, 3 Japanese brands except Nissan all grew around 10% while Ford decreased 10.6% and Nissan decreased slightly by 1.3%.
Previously in mid-January, the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association (VAMA) announced that total domestic sales in 2024 were estimated at 340,142 vehicles, up 12.6% compared to 2023. This is a stable result considering that the domestic market decreased by 25% in the previous year.
Thus, in terms of total sales, Indonesia still leads the Southeast Asian region while Malaysia rises to second place, far surpassing Thailand in third place. The Philippines ranks fourth while Vietnam ranks fifth.
