Vietnam Insider

From 10 December 2025, Australia is the first country that officially bans users aged under 16 from owning a social media account. RMIT experts offer psychological and cyber security insights on the potential implications of a similar ban in Vietnam.

Why ban social media for under-16s?

Social media has been identified as one of the factors contributing to declining youth mental health and wellbeing, disrupted sleep, and reduced attention span. Meanwhile, children are spending less time in free play with friends or exploring nature, limiting their opportunities for real-world learning and development. Because the brain undergoes restructuring during adolescence, excessive and repeated experiences on social media may have lasting effects. 

Ms Vu Bich Phuong, RMIT Psychology Associate Lecturer, acknowledges Australia’s initiative. “This bold move shows Australia’s determination in tackling risks and subtle cyber crimes against children. The social media ban also suggests a share in responsibility that not only parents but tech giants should also be responsible”. 

Ms Phuong suggests that, while traditional forms of media entertainment like film and television are carefully monitored, censored, and age-regulated, social media – which feeds more directly and is freely created by anyone – has not received the same legal oversight. “Australia’s social media ban implies that all forms of media should be treated the same in terms of psychological and legal consequences,” she says.

Banning social media may not solve the root problems

Vietnam can consider this option. However, enforcement of such a ban is not simple, and parental supervision is still crucial. 

“We can look around and see Vietnamese children watching TikTok or Facebook reels from their parents’ or grandparents’ smartphones. They don’t need their own account to use social media,” Ms Phuong stresses. “Owning an account and passively viewing social media contents are different. Many platforms have public content that does not require logging in for viewing.”

Gender equity is another issue. While teenage girls often engage with “classic” social networks like Instagram and TikTok, teenage boys spend more time playing multiplayer games with online friends.

“In a real sense, gaming platforms can function like social networks for boys – they’re just focused on a shared online activity, rather than on the social connection itself,” notes Dr Gordon Ingram, RMIT Senior Lecturer in Psychology. Banning social networks but not online gaming thus creates gender equity issues, which could seem very unfair to girls.

“The ban may also drive teens to migrate to other text messaging and gaming platforms, like WhatsApp, Discord, and Roblox, or use VPNs to mask their location”, says Dr Jeff Nijsse, RMIT Senior Lecturer in Software Engineering. While VPNs can mask IP addresses, they may also break the geo-neighborhood algorithms, isolate users from their local peer groups, and serve them irrelevant content from foreign regions. Free VPN apps may introduce even more risks such as malware.

Another problem raised by Dr Nijsse is junk SIM cards. Vietnam requires all social media accounts to be verified via a mobile number. However, junk SIMs remain available on the local market, offering a potential workaround for users seeking to bypass verification.

Without government IDs, platforms are turning to facial age estimation, but this technology is still immature. The Australian government’s own trials revealed that their AI models struggle to correctly identify the 13-16 age demographic. 

“Compounding this is a data privacy paradox: privacy laws limit the collection of children’s biometric data, preventing AI models from being trained effectively on adolescent faces,” Dr Nijsse points out. “Relying on facial estimation risks a high rate of false positives or false negatives, potentially blocking adults or wrongly admitting children.”

Are there more sustainable strategies?

Given the problems with implementing a social media ban, many experts consider that a “digital safety” approach can be much more effective. The digital safety approach centres on educating children and parents about online risks, so that kids can be more aware of the dangers, and parents can better understand what their kids are doing with technology. But it is more than just digital literacy education. 

“Digital safety also means advocating for tech companies to build more safety features into their apps and algorithms, and for researchers and designers to take young people’s own perspectives and activities more into account,” explains Dr Ingram. “That can help create a safer, more inclusive internet that better aligns with children’s needs and protects their vulnerabilities.”

The OECD-recommended “four pillars” of the digital safety approach – digital literacy training for both young people and their parents, regulation for safer technology, and child-centred design – could form the basis of an approach to social media in Vietnam that is more effective, equitable and sustainable than an outright ban. 

Important strides have already been made in these areas. The first national program to protect Vietnamese children in cyber environments was approved by the Vietnamese Prime Minister in 2021. In early 2025, an online training program on internet safety was launched for youth, which was well received by more than 11,000 children. For the next period 2026-2030, youth’s feedback and suggestions were recently collected to help refine the program and make it more relevant to their ever-evolving online activities. 

However, more can be done in the future. Digital literacy training for adults (including parents, other caregivers, and teachers) may be an area that is lacking. According to Dr Ingram, “Vietnamese parents need to be more aware of what their children are doing online, have meaningful conversations with them about their activities, and learn about digital safety tools available to block harmful content, limit screen time, and prevent online contact by strangers.” 

Rather than banning social media completely, a better use of regulation is to make tech companies comply with creating a safer online environment for children and young people. For example, they should make reporting functions more visible and easier to use, and provide child-safe settings with active content moderation. “This is particularly important as young people’s use of AI tools will also explode over the next few years,” Ms Phuong stresses.

The world’s first social media ban for children is now enforced, but more actions are needed. Media literacy, parental supervision, big tech compliance, and child-centred design are critical in providing a safe environment for young people. Only then can they sustainably benefit from one of the most influential technologies of the 21st century.

ENDS

A fatal collision on the Đà Nẵng – Quảng Ngãi expressway that left four passengers dead and seven injured has been linked to driver fatigue, non compliance with seatbelt rules and drug use by one of the drivers, according to Vietnam’s Traffic Police Department.

Authorities say the crash, which occurred early on December 9, highlights persistent road safety challenges on Vietnam’s expanding expressway network.

Passenger Van Driver Drove Nonstop for Five Hours

Police have identified Phạm Văn Kiều as the driver of the 16 seat passenger van involved in the collision. Kiều had reportedly been driving continuously for five hours, exceeding Vietnam’s legal driving time limit for commercial operators.

Before the accident, he had driven a long route starting in Lâm Đồng Province, passing through Khánh Hòa and continuing north toward Đà Nẵng.

At 4:12 AM, his vehicle collided with a tractor trailer traveling ahead of it on the same expressway.

Investigators found that neither the driver nor the passengers were wearing seatbelts — a factor that significantly worsened the impact.

Officials say the force of the collision hurled two passengers from the rear seats forward, causing fatal head and neck trauma. Another passenger also suffered multiple critical injuries and later died in hospital.

“The case shows that wearing seatbelts is as essential in cars as helmets are on motorbikes,” a Traffic Police Department spokesperson said.

Truck Driver Tested Positive for Drugs

The second vehicle involved, a truck and semitrailer driven by Bùi Mạnh Thắng, also contributed to concerns. Thắng tested positive for narcotics, police confirmed, though further investigation is needed to determine his role in the crash and whether impairment was a direct factor.

Both vehicles were severely damaged.

Investigation Underway Into Causes and Liability

Police are now examining:

• driver fatigue

• compliance with rest time regulations

• potential speeding

• lighting and visibility conditions at the time of the crash

• the confirmed drug use by the truck driver

The Đà Nẵng – Quảng Ngãi expressway, part of Vietnam’s national north–south transport corridor, has seen rising traffic volumes as logistics and tourism expand, increasing scrutiny on safety standards.

Authorities say they will release additional findings once the investigation progresses.

Emergency crews in Hanoi rescued an eleven year old boy who fell from a high floor of the Hồ Gươm Plaza apartment complex onto the roof of a supermarket below, authorities confirmed late Monday.

The dramatic rescue operation took place in Hà Đông District on December 9, prompting a large response from the city’s Fire and Rescue Police.

Multiple Fire Units Deployed Within Minutes

At 16:44, Hanoi’s emergency command center received calls from residents reporting that a child had fallen from the building. Police dispatched:

• one rescue truck

• one ladder truck

• two firefighting vehicles

• officers from Rescue Teams 4 and 15

When crews reached the scene, they found the boy conscious but unable to move, suffering fractures to both an arm and a leg.

Rescue teams provided first aid on the supermarket’s metal roof, splinting the injured limbs before using a ladder truck to lower the boy to ground level.

Authorities did not disclose how far the child had fallen or the circumstances leading to the incident, which remain under investigation.

Urban Child Safety Under Spotlight

The case again raises concerns about child safety in high rise residential complexes, which have rapidly proliferated across Hanoi and other Vietnamese cities. Incidents involving unsupervised children and unsecured balcony areas occasionally surface, prompting calls for stricter building safety compliance and parental awareness campaigns.

The boy has been transferred to a nearby hospital for further treatment.

Vietnam Insider will update readers as new details become available.

Hanoi police have arrested a twenty six year old man accused of ordering an assault inside a café in one of the capital’s busiest residential complexes. The case has drawn public attention in Vietnam, where growing concerns over youth violence and organized intimidation have put added pressure on law enforcement.

The suspect, Nguyễn Văn Thiên, has been charged with disturbing public order and was taken into pre trial detention this week, according to the Hanoi Police Department.

Employee Attacked After Asking Customers Not to Smoke Indoors

The incident took place on September 17 at Góc Quán, a café inside the Times City urban development in Vĩnh Tuy Ward.

Police say Nguyễn Long Vũ, age twenty two, assaulted a café employee identified as N.M.Đ., age twenty seven, after the staff member asked the group to stop smoking indoors. Vũ allegedly slapped and punched the employee in the face, knocking him to the floor.

Vũ was arrested two days later on charges of disturbing public order.

Investigation Reveals a Director Level Figure Orchestrated the Attack

During the investigation, police uncovered evidence suggesting that Thiên instructed Vũ to strike the employee, elevating the case from a spontaneous altercation to an organized act of intimidation.

Thiên, who online sources had previously portrayed as a “tổng tài” or self styled young business executive, was formally charged and taken into custody on December 4.

Authorities did not provide details about the nature of Thiên’s business activities or his relationship to Vũ, but noted that the case remains open as investigators continue gathering evidence.

Broader Context: Public Order Crackdowns in Urban Vietnam

The arrest comes as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City step up enforcement against disorderly conduct in nightlife areas, residential complexes and commercial centers. Incidents involving influencers or self proclaimed businessmen have increasingly surfaced on social media, prompting calls for stricter accountability.

Police say they are continuing to review surveillance footage, witness statements and digital communications to determine whether additional individuals will face charges.

A twenty seven year old Vietnamese man recovering from a devastating traffic accident in Germany says he is unable to return home due to serious medical complications and long term memory impairment. The case has drawn significant attention among the Vietnamese diaspora in Europe, who have rallied to support him and his family.

Hoàng Trung Hiếu, known online as “Bốp”, updated followers this week from his hospital bed in Germany. The TikTok creator, who had amassed more than two hundred thirty thousand followers for his uplifting content, underwent a complex brain surgery after the July crash that killed two Vietnamese brothers and left him critically injured.

Still Unable to Fly Home Due to Life Threatening Injuries

Hiếu said doctors have advised that he cannot travel to Vietnam for the foreseeable future. Beyond the brain trauma, new complications have emerged, including liver and bile duct damage, requiring ongoing specialist treatment in Germany.

He and his mother now live in a small rented apartment near the hospital to allow for continuous checkups. “My body is exhausted from constant appointments,” he wrote, “but I’m trying to stay positive.”

Despite the severity of his condition, he expressed deep gratitude toward friends, supporters and strangers who have donated, encouraged and prayed for him. “I don’t know how to repay this kindness except by fighting to recover,” he said.

Severe Memory Loss After Waking From a Coma

“The strange thing is that he forgot almost everything except me,” she said. “Now he’s slowly improving, but he still cannot fully recognize written words.”

Every day, she and Hiếu’s mother sit beside him as he relearns how to read and write from the beginning. Short messages he sends to her have become part of his mental rehabilitation.

Doctors also recommend he remain in Germany for frequent evaluations. He is not yet healthy enough for long flights, and he is expected to undergo prosthetic leg fitting next year.

A Difficult Emotional Journey

Hiếu initially struggled with the drastic changes to his body and his new physical limitations. According to his girlfriend, he felt ashamed and devastated, but with family support he has gradually regained emotional stability.

“He now understands that life can still be meaningful,” she said. “We just take it one day at a time.”

A Community Rallies Behind Him

The accident in Frankfurt shocked Vietnamese communities in Germany. As Hiếu fell into a deep coma, his mother traveled to Europe despite serious financial strain. The Vietnamese diaspora mobilized quickly, raising money to help cover medical and living costs.

Their support has allowed the family to remain in Germany long enough for him to receive the advanced treatment he needs — treatment that may ultimately determine his chance of long term recovery.

Hiếu says he is committed to rehabilitation, determined to “return to the best version” of himself. His story continues to resonate among young Vietnamese abroad who see, in his struggle, both the vulnerabilities and strength of life lived far from home.

Vietnamese authorities have confirmed that a body found floating in a river outside Hanoi belongs to a 19-year-old woman from Nghe An Province who had been missing for more than a month. The case has drawn nationwide attention and raised concerns about the safety of young migrant workers traveling between provinces.

On December 9, the victim’s father, Nguyễn Văn Ngọc, told local media that police had informed the family of a conclusive DNA match. The body, discovered in Hưng Yên Province in early November, was found tied and sealed inside a plastic bag.

Although the family had suspected it was their daughter based on a distinctive tattoo, laboratory confirmation came only this week.

A Disturbing Discovery in Hưng Yên

The victim, identified as N.T.Y.N., left home on November 2 saying she planned to travel to Hanoi. She was last heard from on November 4, when she told a relative she would return home the following day. After that, all calls went unanswered.

Days later, local authorities in Hưng Yên found the body of a young woman in the river, difficult to identify but bearing a tattoo with the numbers 19/12/2006, matching information provided by the family.

However, by the time relatives arrived to help identify the remains, the body had already been buried for public health reasons.

On November 24, Hanoi Police arrested a man believed to be connected to the disappearance of the young woman. According to a police source quoted by local media, the suspect is reported to be the victim’s boyfriend.

Authorities have not yet disclosed his identity or detailed charges as the investigation is ongoing.

The case has sparked widespread public concern across Vietnam, where many young people travel alone to major cities for work, often facing vulnerabilities related to housing, employment and personal safety.

A Family Seeking Answers

The victim, the eldest daughter in her family, had previously worked in Hanoi and Bac Ninh before returning home to care for her grandmother. She had planned to find work closer to home.

Her father said the family is now waiting for formal documentation from Hanoi authorities before traveling to the capital for further proceedings. “We received the DNA result by phone, but we are waiting for official confirmation,” he told reporters.

Investigation Continues

Police have not released further details about the circumstances of the victim’s death, the suspect’s alleged involvement or potential motives. Authorities emphasized that the case remains under active investigation.

Vietnam Insider will continue to follow updates as more information is made public by law enforcement.

A rising number of apartment buildings in Hanoi have begun banning electric motorbikes and restricting basement charging, triggering debate in a city pushing aggressively toward greener transport. Now, the Hanoi Department of Construction is proposing a set of fixes aimed at balancing safety, infrastructure capacity and the city’s long-term electric mobility goals.

The issue is emerging at a critical moment. Hanoi plans to phase out gasoline motorbikes by schedule in certain districts, yet many residential buildings are refusing to accept electric vehicles — the very technology expected to replace them.

Hanoi’s Solution: Separate Parking Zones and Purpose-Built Charging Areas

During a city level policy forum on December 9, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Construction Đào Việt Long confirmed that several towers have prohibited electric vehicles in basements or banned charging entirely due to fire safety concerns.

His recommended immediate response:

• Create segregated parking areas for petrol motorbikes, bicycles, and electric motorbikes in all building basements

• Allocate outdoor or repurposed ground space for electric bike and motorbike parking

• Install certified charging pillars meeting fire safety requirements

Local ward authorities will work with building management boards to enforce these changes and resolve disputes, which are becoming increasingly common across Hanoi’s fast-growing high-rise market.

Longer term, Hanoi will coordinate with national ministries to issue formal safety standards for basement EV parking and charging, something Vietnam currently lacks.

A Parallel Push: Building a Citywide Public Charging Network

While residential buildings struggle with fire risk concerns, Hanoi is simultaneously preparing a large scale rollout of public charging infrastructure. A draft of the city’s Green Transport Transition Resolution outlines four major policies:

1. Identify Early Locations for Public Charging Stations

Ward level authorities must survey and propose feasible sites. Hanoi will approve a master list to ensure stations match local needs and real-world infrastructure conditions.

2. Retrofit Existing Parking Facilities

All public car parks and road infrastructure within Ring Road 3 must allocate at least fifteen percent of parking slots for clean energy charging by January 1, 2030.
The same rule applies to apartment buildings, commercial complexes, hospitals and other public facilities — provided they meet fire safety codes.

3. Raise the Bar for New Developments

Newly built transport infrastructure and residential or commercial buildings will have to reserve at least thirty percent of their parking spaces for public charging points, positioning Hanoi ahead of its EV adoption curve.

4. Prioritize Large Scale Parking and Transport Hubs

The city will accelerate planned terminal and parking projects at central and gateway districts, creating space for modern, standardized and scalable charging centers.

Crucial Design Choice: Chargers Must Be Universal, Not Proprietary

One of the draft’s most consequential provisions is the requirement that all public charging stations must be brand-agnostic.

Long explains the reasoning:

• Public chargers sit on state managed land

• All residents must have equal access

• Exclusive or proprietary charging systems would fragment the market and hinder EV adoption

Allowing each manufacturer to install its own exclusive stations would lead to higher congestion, wasted public space and slower transition toward green mobility.

A City Balancing Safety, Innovation and Urgency

Hanoi now faces a dilemma playing out across Asia: How can cities accelerate electric mobility while ensuring safety in dense, vertical housing environments?

The immediate measures offer relief for residents who rely on electric bikes as their primary mode of transport. The new infrastructure roadmap, if executed, could make Hanoi one of Southeast Asia’s most EV-ready capitals.

If you’d like, I can also craft a shorter social media version, a punchier headline or an SEO optimized edition.

Vietnam is experiencing its strongest tourism surge in history. In the first eleven months of 2025, the country welcomed nearly 19.2 million international visitors, the highest figure ever recorded and a clear sign that Vietnam has become one of Asia’s most in demand destinations.

And the boom is far from over. Online travel platform Agoda expects visitor numbers to climb even higher during the December and January holiday season.

Families Are Driving a New Wave of Demand

Agoda’s latest data, released on December 8, shows a thirty percent jump in family travel searches for Vietnam compared with last year. The strongest interest comes from South Korea, India, Singapore, Australia and Malaysia.

The most striking shift: Indian travelers, whose searches for Vietnam soared one hundred eighty six percent, making India one of the country’s fastest growing tourism markets. Malaysia also recorded a seventy four percent surge.

1. Phu Quoc up forty seven percent, driven by resort travel and family friendly beaches

2. Da Nang up forty two percent, boosted by its coastline, gentle adventure activities and Ba Na Hills theme park

3. Nha Trang

4. Ho Chi Minh City

5. Hanoi

A Surprising Trend: Vietnamese Families Look Abroad

While many Vietnamese families usually wait for Lunar New Year to travel internationally, this year shows a shift. China is emerging as a standout choice. Searches for Shanghai rose fifty eight percent and Beijing fifty nine percent for the December and January period.

According to Vũ Ngọc Lâm, Agoda’s Vietnam country director, the data confirms that Vietnam is increasingly viewed as a friendly, reliable and family oriented destination, strengthening the country’s global tourism profile.

Ho Chi Minh City Emerges as a Regional Urban Hub

Tourism momentum is especially strong in Ho Chi Minh City. A recent analysis by the city’s Tourism Promotion Center and The Outbox Company shows:

• The city enjoys high brand awareness across Southeast Asia, Australia and South Korea

• Among regional urban destinations, HCMC ranks just behind Singapore, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur

• Travel intent spikes strongly in December and January

Visitors rate the city’s food, scenery and experiences at roughly three out of five, signaling consistent satisfaction and clear destination identity.

Independent Travel Dominates

A striking seventy three point seven percent of visitors choose to travel independently, valuing flexibility and personalized experiences. Key factors shaping destination choice include:

• Safety forty two point six percent

• Reasonable costs thirty nine point one percent

• Favorable weather thirty eight point five percent

Accommodation spending remains a priority. Four and five star hotels lead demand at forty five point eight percent, especially among Chinese travelers, while two and three star hotels remain popular with Japanese tourists. Most visitors stay five to seven nights, with Australians, North Americans and Western Europeans tending to stay longer.

A Strong Finish to 2025 – and an Even Bigger 2026 Ahead

With major markets showing strong readiness and regional travelers seeking convenient year end getaways, Vietnam enters peak season with remarkable momentum. For tourism operators, the message is clear: this is a defining moment to upgrade products, invest in service quality and prepare for another record breaking year.

The planet is closing out 2025 with a stark warning. New data from Europe’s Copernicus Climate Change Service shows global temperatures are now brushing against the 1.5°C warming limit agreed upon in the Paris Agreement, marking a third straight year above what scientists consider the edge of “relative safety”.

If current trends hold, 2025 will tie 2023 as the second hottest year ever recorded, surpassed only by the record shattering heat of 2024.

For businesses, investors and policymakers, the new data points to a world moving deeper into climate volatility, with implications for supply chains, insurance costs, energy markets, agriculture and planetary stability.

Three Consecutive Years Near or Above 1.5°C

Copernicus’ latest monthly update shows that between January and November, global average temperatures were 1.48°C above pre industrial levels. That mirrors 2023 and pushes 2025 into unprecedented territory.

Last month alone ranked as the third hottest November in recorded history, with temperatures 1.54°C above pre industrial baselines.

Her warning is blunt: the only way to slow the trajectory is rapid, large scale cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.

Oceans Are Heating at Alarming Levels

Beyond the atmosphere, the world’s oceans also remained unusually warm. Sea surface temperatures between 60°N and 60°S averaged 20.42°C in November, the fourth highest for that month on record.

Warm oceans are a powerful driver of extreme weather, including stronger typhoons, heavier rainfall, coral bleaching and disruptions in global fisheries.

Why This Matters Now

Copernicus maintains one of the world’s most comprehensive climate data archives, drawing from satellites, land stations and ocean buoys dating back to the 1940s. Its analyses are widely used by governments, insurers, energy giants and financial institutions.

The implications of a near sustained breach of 1.5°C are already visible across continents. Europe recently endured its hottest summer in two thousand years. Wildfires, heatwaves and crop failures are becoming more frequent across Asia and the Americas.

For global investors and corporate leaders, the message is clear:

climate risk is no longer a long term scenario. It is a present and accelerating business reality.

HANOI, VIETNAM – Media OutReach Newswire – December 9, 2025 – In December 2025, UnionPay International (UPI) and the National Payment Corporation of Vietnam (NAPAS) officially launched a pilot program for cross-border QR payments connecting China and Vietnam. The program aims to further enhance the mobile payment experience for Chinese tourists in Vietnam and promote stronger economic, trade, and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

Earlier, in October 2024, UPI and NAPAS signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cross-border payment cooperation in the presence of leaders from both countries. In April 2025, UPI, NAPAS, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), and the Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank, VCB) signed a four-party cooperation agreement in Hanoi, reaffirming their shared commitment to promoting QR code payment connectivity between China and Vietnam this year. The launch of this pilot program marks an important milestone in strengthening cross-border payment links between both sides.

Immediately after the pilot program is activated, Chinese tourists can make payments at shopping malls, tourist attractions, restaurants, and retail stores in Vietnam by scanning merchants’ VietQR Global codes via the UnionPay app and other UnionPay partner banking apps, allowing them to enjoy a seamless, cashless payment experience similar to what they are familiar with in China.

According to the merchant acquisition plans submitted to NAPAS by participating organizations, more than 30,000 merchants are expected to accept QR payments by the end of 2025. In 2026, NAPAS plans to further expand participation to all its member institutions, including banks and local payment service providers, thereby broadening acceptance coverage nationwide.

In the near future, UPI and NAPAS will also enable Vietnamese users to scan UnionPay QR codes in China through NAPAS member banking apps. This will establish two-way payment connectivity and deliver a more seamless cross-border payment experience for residents and travelers from both countries.

Mr. Larry Wang, CEO of UnionPay International, stated: “Vietnam is an important destination for Chinese tourists and a key market for Chinese enterprises in international business. As economic and cultural exchanges between the two countries continue to deepen, connecting China–Vietnam payment systems will enhance convenience for consumers and promote regional financial cooperation.”

The project represents an important step in UnionPay’s ASEAN strategic plan to strengthen its cross-border payment network. UnionPay International, together with NAPAS, aims to build a convenient and secure payment ecosystem, improve the digital payment infrastructure of the ASEAN bloc, and support financial inclusion and regional connectivity.

The company issuing the information (source) is solely responsible for the content of this press release.

#UnionPay

A 57 year old Russian woman was killed and another traveler seriously injured on the morning of 8 December after a large rock, believed to have fallen from a materials truck, smashed through the roof of a tour van climbing the Đại Ninh Pass between Bình Thuận and Lâm Đồng provinces.

Rock Falls Through 16-Seat Tour Van

The incident occurred at around 8:00 AM as the 16 seat vehicle, registered in Bình Thuận, was transporting 11 Russian tourists from the beach town of Mũi Né to Đà Lạt via National Highway 28B.

While driving through Phan Sơn Commune on the steep, under construction Đại Ninh Pass, a rock reportedly dropped from a dump truck ahead and pierced the van’s roof.

The impact killed the female passenger instantly. Another passenger — her husband — suffered suspected traumatic brain injury and was transferred to Bình Thuận General Hospital in Phan Thiết in critical condition. A third person sustained minor injuries.

The driver, Trần Cao Minh Trí, escaped unharmed.

Hospitals Treat Multiple Victims

According to Dr. Nguyễn Xuân Thống, director of Bắc Bình Thuận General Hospital, three victims were initially admitted.

• The injured male passenger required urgent transfer due to severe neurological symptoms.
• His wife was treated for minor injuries and later moved to a private clinic at her request.
• The deceased tourist’s body is being held for consular procedures.

Authorities Searching for Involved Truck

Police in Phan Sơn Commune said the suspected vehicle left the scene before it could be identified. Officers are now reviewing roadside security footage and summoning all dump trucks involved in construction along the pass.

The Đại Ninh section of Highway 28B is currently undergoing upgrades, with heavy traffic from trucks carrying construction materials — a situation residents and drivers say has created ongoing safety hazards.

A Dangerous Mountain Pass Under Construction

National Highway 28B connects Bình Thuận with the Central Highlands and is a popular route for travelers heading to Đà Lạt. The upgrade project has increased congestion and debris risk on the mountain pass, where space is limited and protective barriers are incomplete.

Authorities continue to investigate the cause of the accident, identify the dump truck involved, and implement measures to improve safety for vehicles using the route.