Vietnam Insider

Vietnam’s imports from the United States have surged by almost 24% in the first nine months of 2025, driven by strong demand for agricultural products, raw materials, and high-tech equipment.

Rising Demand for U.S. Agricultural Products

Fruit importers in Vietnam report steady growth in demand for American produce such as apples, grapes, cherries, and red-fleshed oranges.

“As the U.S. enters its apple and orange season, our company’s import expenses for these fruits have risen by about 50%,” said Đàm Thu Vân, a fruit importer in Ho Chi Minh City. “American agricultural products remain highly attractive to Vietnamese consumers thanks to their quality and reasonable pricing.”

Meanwhile, cotton, soybeans, and livestock feed are leading categories showing exceptional growth. The U.S. maintained its position as Vietnam’s largest cotton supplier, accounting for nearly half of total imports.
According to the General Department of Customs, Vietnam imported 1.3 million tons of cotton worth US$2.2 billion in the first nine months — up 19% in volume and 3% in value year-on-year.

Soybean imports from the U.S. have also surged nearly 30%, with Vietnam spending US$301.5 million on 667,000 tons — representing one-third of the country’s total soybean import value.

Expanding Bilateral Trade Commitments

In June 2025, Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development signed eight memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with U.S. partners, worth nearly US$3 billion, to import agricultural goods such as corn, wheat, and soybean meal.

Trần Thanh Phong, Director of Thiên Bút Trading & Service Co., said his firm’s imports of frozen meat from the U.S. — including beef, pork, and chicken — increased by 30% compared to last year.

“If the import tariff on U.S. frozen chicken thighs drops from 15% to 5%, I believe many companies will shift to sourcing more from the American market,” he added.

Growing Interest in U.S. High-Tech Products

Beyond agriculture, Vietnam is also importing more machinery, medical devices, and advanced technology from the U.S.
Nguyễn Lý Trường An, Deputy Director of SeaAir Global, noted that “U.S. logistics and high-tech solutions are among the world’s best, and as Vietnam modernizes its logistics sector, demand for U.S. technology naturally rises.”

During a meeting on October 23, Deputy Prime Minister Bùi Thanh Sơn reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to expanding imports of U.S. goods, particularly semiconductors and aircraft, to strengthen bilateral trade ties.

U.S. Ambassador Marc Knapper emphasized that Washington looks forward to finalizing the bilateral tax agreement soon, underscoring the importance of deepening economic cooperation between the two countries.

Experts: High-Tech Imports to Drive Next Wave of Growth

According to Prof. Dr. Võ Xuân Vinh, Director of the Business Research Institute at HCMC University of Economics, imports from the U.S. have grown “in line with the two nations’ efforts to balance trade.”

“As Vietnam accelerates its technology-driven development, high-quality American machinery and semiconductor products will help boost efficiency and sustainability,” he said.

A funny and heartwarming story from northern Vietnam has gone viral after a husband accidentally drove off without his wife at a gas station — prompting a quick-thinking attendant to chase 8 km to reunite them.

The viral clip, posted on social media on October 22, shows a man refueling his motorbike in Son La Province while his wife, carrying their young child, stands nearby. After paying, the husband mistakenly assumed his wife was already on the back seat and drove off.

Forgot his wife — and didn’t realize for 8 kilometers

Witnessing the scene, Lo Duc Toan, a 24-year-old gas station worker, quickly realized what had happened. He recalled,

“Both I and the wife thought he would stop just ahead to wait, but he kept going until we couldn’t see him anymore. We tried calling out, but he didn’t hear — and he didn’t have his phone with him.”

At the wife’s request, Toan borrowed a motorbike from the station and sped off after the husband. After nearly 15 minutes and 8 kilometers, he finally caught up and signaled the man to stop.

The husband was shocked

“When I reached him, he looked totally confused,” Toan said. “Only when his wife arrived did he realize he had left her behind.”

The couple offered Toan money to thank him, but he politely refused, saying he was just happy to help.

Toan later shared the clip online with a lighthearted caption:

“Early morning delivery — had to ship someone’s wife back after he forgot her at the gas station.”

The post quickly racked up millions of views and thousands of comments, with netizens praising Toan’s kindness and quick action.

A kind worker known for helping others

Toan, who has worked at the gas station for six years, said this wasn’t the first time he’d seen unusual situations. Earlier this month, he helped reunite a taxi driver with a passenger left behind after refueling.

“I just want to spread positive energy,” he said. “If it wasn’t me, someone else would have done the same.”

Police in southern Vinh Long Province have arrested Huynh Thi Anh Thu, a 20-year-old woman accused of luring an elderly barber to her home and robbing him of gold jewelry and cash.

According to Tan Thuy Commune Police, Thu (a resident of An Qui Hamlet, Tan Thuy Commune) has been handed over to the Vinh Long Provincial Police for further investigation on suspicion of robbery.

Lured the victim under false pretenses

At around 7 a.m. on October 22, Thu called T.V.L., an 89-year-old barber from Ba Tri Commune, inviting him to her home, claiming she needed him to cut her father’s hair.

When the elderly man arrived, Thu led him into a secluded hut, then suddenly used force to throw him to the ground, restraining him and stealing nine gold rings, a mobile phone, and around VND 6 million (US$230).

Despite his age, the victim resisted fiercely, resulting in scratches and bruises on both sides. After escaping, the barber shouted for help, and local residents helped him report the incident to Tan Thuy Police.

Suspect arrested within two hours

Police immediately launched an investigation and, by 9 a.m. the same day, identified Thu as the suspect. Officers arrested her while she was hiding at her home in An Qui Hamlet.

At the police station, Thu confessed to the robbery and revealed where she had hidden the stolen property. Authorities recovered the stolen items, including the gold rings and cash.

The case is now being investigated by the Criminal Investigation Department of Vinh Long Police, who said the suspect will be prosecuted according to Vietnamese law.

Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City have arrested four people for running a fraudulent beauty clinic that posed as a medical facility and scammed clients out of more than VND 17 billion (US$680,000).

According to the city’s Security Investigation Department, those detained include Nguyen Van Truong (32, from Dong Thap), Vo Van Duc (28, from An Giang), Cao Tan Tu (25), and Nguyen Ngoc Thuy Linh (32) — all charged with fraud and property appropriation.

The group operated under the business name AC International at 19 Phan Xich Long Street, Gia Dinh Ward, HCMC, officially registered as a skincare and cosmetics service. However, police discovered the site had been illegally transformed into a “clinic” offering unauthorized medical treatments.

Veterinary graduate posed as doctor

Investigators said employees were instructed to dress as doctors, wear white coats, and use medical equipment for show. None of them had medical degrees — in fact, one staff member had only a veterinary diploma but was assigned to treat human patients.

The supposed treatments included IV drips, injections, and laser therapies, but police found that most substances used were merely saline, vitamins, or mild painkillers.

Deceptive ads and forced loans

The suspects created multiple fake Facebook pages posing as “international medical centers,” using titles like Doctor, Specialist, and PhD to attract clients. They also stole photos and videos of foreign doctors and high-tech medical devices to appear credible.

Victims were promised miracle cures for chronic pain, stomach disorders, gout, snoring, and men’s health issues—all “non-surgical” and “painless.” Many were persuaded to purchase treatment packages ranging from a few million to hundreds of millions of dong.

In some cases, clients who couldn’t afford the costs were coerced into taking app-based loans, while staff visited homes to collect money, police said.

Investigation and warning

From February to July 2025, the fake clinic scammed dozens of victims, mostly elderly patients or people from rural areas, according to investigators.

Police have urged more victims to come forward by contacting the HCMC Security Investigation Department at 243 Cach Mang Thang 8 Street, District 3 (Tel: 0693188504).

Officials also warned the public to avoid unlicensed clinics and only seek medical services at facilities approved by the Health Department. Businesses offering beauty or health services beyond their permits will face strict legal penalties, they added.

Police in central Vietnam have detained Ban Van Vy, 29, from Bac Ninh Province, after he allegedly stabbed five people at Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital.

Investigators said Vy had been caring for his wife and newborn twins for several days without sleep and suffered emotional distress before the attack.

Vy told police that his wife gave birth to twins at 35 weeks on October 17. One baby later developed an infection and was treated in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Believing his child was not being properly cared for—and even fearing the baby had been switched—Vy lost control.

At around 10 a.m. on October 23, Vy allegedly grabbed a fruit knife and attacked two other parents in the same room. When medical staff tried to intervene, he stabbed them too, leaving five people injured, including three nurses and two relatives.

Among the victims, nurse Nguyen Thuy Trang suffered 11 stab wounds to her neck, chest, and back. Two newborns sustained minor scratches but are safe.

Police confirmed Vy tested negative for drugs and alcohol and had no record of mental illness.

Provincial officials, including Deputy Chairman Hoang Phu Hien, visited the victims at Nghe An General Hospital and requested tighter hospital security.

The case is under further investigation.

As heavy rain lashed Danang this week, a local man drew widespread attention for wrapping his BMW sedan in a giant tarp to protect it from flooding — a creative move that netizens have dubbed the “handmade flood-proof version.”

The car’s owner, Tran Thanh Nguyen, who lives in Thanh Khe Ward, said he decided to “wrap up” his car after hearing forecasts of extremely heavy rainfall.

“I went through the 2022 flood and still remember the damage,” Nguyen told reporters. “Back then, I was just watching the rain, and within minutes, water rose to half the wheel. An hour later, it was over a meter high in my house.”

This time, with rainfall predictions of 700–900 millimeters, Nguyen used a 6×12 meter waterproof tarp and rope to fully cover his BMW. “If floodwater comes in, at least the car can float instead of sinking,” he joked.

Photos of the blue-and-orange–wrapped BMW quickly went viral across Vietnamese social media, earning thousands of shares and comments. Many users praised Nguyen’s ingenuity and proactive spirit in coping with natural disasters.

When asked why he didn’t move the car to higher ground, Nguyen said:

“In this kind of weather, no one can guarantee which area won’t flood. Even parking garages are full. It’s better to have my own backup plan.”

Nguyen added that his home is already equipped with a 1.4-meter flood barrier, and wrapping the car is a secondary precaution in case water still enters.

He bought the two-layer green-orange tarp at a construction supply store for a sedan-sized vehicle but noted that it was “just slightly short” and reinforced it with tape at the seams.

“If you have an SUV or a higher vehicle, you’ll need a larger tarp,” he advised. “And remember, 6×12 meters might not be wide enough.”

Under Nguyen’s Facebook post, thousands of comments applauded the idea. Many Danang residents said they plan to copy the method during upcoming storms, humorously calling it the “handmade BMW flood edition.”

Police in Lam Dong Province have arrested Nguyen Tu Tin, the ex-husband of the victim in a notorious case in which a woman was allegedly tortured by her in-laws under the guise of “exorcism.”

The arrest, made on Thursday afternoon, is part of a renewed investigation into the case that once drew widespread attention in Phan Thiet City (formerly part of Binh Thuan Province). Tin is being investigated for unlawful detention, according to provincial police.

Initial findings show that between December 4, 2023, and April 15, 2024, the victim — Tran Thi Bich D., 33 — was locked inside a house on Nguyen Phuc Nguyen Street, Phu Thuy Ward, by her former sisters-in-law Nguyen Thi Hoai Diem and Nguyen Thi Ngoc Lan. Believing she was “possessed by evil spirits,” the pair hired guards and prevented her from leaving the house to conduct what they called a “ritual to drive away demons.”

They reportedly paid VND 2 million (US$80) to Nguyen Hong Tam and VND 4.9 million (US$200) to their son-in-law Tran Huu Tinh to take turns guarding the victim.

On April 18, 2024, the woman managed to escape and reported the incident to local authorities. Tam and Tinh later surrendered and confessed their involvement.

Subsequent raids uncovered weapons, wooden hammers, ropes, paper effigies, and seals inscribed with religious symbols such as “Cuu Thien Huyen Nu” — associated with a local cult practice.

During an expanded investigation, the victim testified that she had been repeatedly beaten by her ex-husband Tin and his sisters using their hands, bottles, wooden pestles, and mortars, targeting her face, chest, and genital area under the claim of “expelling evil spirits.”

A forensic report concluded that she suffered a broken nasal bone and two fractured ribs, with a total bodily injury rate of 20%.

The court later determined that, in addition to unlawful detention, several individuals may face charges of intentional injury and aiding and abetting, with Nguyen Tu Tin identified as one of the ringleaders.

The case, widely referred to as the “exorcism torture of the sister-in-law”, is under continued investigation by Lam Dong authorities.

A taxi was swept away by floodwaters in Hue City on Thursday night, but the driver and passenger managed to escape safely before the vehicle was carried off by the current.

Local authorities in Thuy Xuan Ward confirmed that as of Friday morning, search efforts were still underway to locate the missing taxi.

According to initial information, around 11 p.m. on October 23, driver Nguyen Cao Thang, 43, was taking a male passenger from Dong Khoi Street to 109 Minh Mang Street when the vehicle stalled near Hong Khe Bridge, an area prone to flooding.

As Thang attempted to restart the car, heavy rain intensified and floodwaters from upstream rose rapidly. Both the driver and the passenger quickly got out before the taxi was swept away.

Local authorities deployed search teams overnight, but as of 9 a.m. Friday, the vehicle had not been found.

Officials noted that the site of the incident is a low-lying area where barricades are typically placed during floods. Although barriers had been lowered by 5 p.m. on Thursday to block access, the taxi driver reportedly ignored the warning and proceeded through.

Hue City experienced torrential rain on the night of October 23, with rainfall measured at 205.8 mm in Loc Tien, 230.4 mm in Thuan An, and 241.6 mm in Bach Ma. The heavy rain caused widespread flooding across several neighborhoods including Ha Huy Tap, Duong Van An, and Nguyen Huu Canh streets, while the Huong River rose to nearly level two of the flood warning scale.

In low-lying districts such as Quang Dien and Thanh Thuy, floodwaters—exacerbated by tidal surges—have inundated residential areas for several days, reaching depths of up to 0.8 meters. Residents have been moving belongings to higher ground and stocking up on food as water levels continue to rise, causing severe traffic disruptions across parts of the city.

Frustration mounted among visitors on Monday as the Louvre Museum, the world’s most-visited museum, remained closed for a second day following a dramatic daylight jewel heist.

Crowds gathered outside the museum’s iconic glass pyramid, pressing against locked iron gates in hopes of entering. The Louvre had been scheduled to open at 9 a.m. local time, just one day after masked robbers made off with several priceless jewels and fled on scooters.

But disappointment spread quickly when officials announced that the museum would stay shut for another day.

“It’s my birthday, it was my gift, and I’ve wanted to come for years, so I’m a bit upset,” said Elisa Valentino, 31, a visitor from Italy, wiping away tears.
“I studied art — this was the only thing I had planned for my trip to Paris, and I’m leaving tomorrow.”

Other tourists echoed her frustration. Jesslyn Ehlers, 38, from the United States, said she and her husband had checked online before coming but found no notice of the closure.

“We were excited to show up,” she said. “We’re just kind of disappointed — we’ve been planning this for a long time.”

The Louvre confirmed that visitors who booked same-day tickets would receive refunds, though for many, the closure was a bigger emotional loss than financial.

Adam Cooke, 65, visiting from London, said he and his wife would miss their only chance to see the museum’s vast collection, which includes the Mona Lisa.

“We’ll be refunded, but that’s not the point,” he said.

Seven-Minute Heist

The Louvre, alongside the Eiffel Tower, is one of Paris’s top attractions, drawing nearly nine million visitors last year. The shock closure followed an audacious heist on Sunday, when thieves stole eight priceless jewels, including an emerald-and-diamond necklace once gifted by Napoleon I to Empress Marie-Louise.

The burglars reportedly entered through a window near the museum’s Apollo Gallery using a ladder and cutting tools, breaking into display cases before escaping within seven minutes. They dropped a ninth artifact — the crown of Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III — which was later recovered, damaged.

“It’s amazing that the heist happened in broad daylight. That’s obviously very unfortunate and embarrassing,” said Cooke.

For many, the incident raised concerns about the museum’s security.

“It’s unimaginable that someone could steal something from the Louvre,” said Sissi Liu, 39, a tourist from China.
Andreea Dumitras, 17, from Moldova, added: “What’s most frustrating is how weak the security seems to be. Someone from security told me it’s not even certain the museum will reopen soon.”

The Louvre has yet to confirm when it will reopen to the public as police continue their investigation into what many have called one of France’s most daring cultural thefts in recent history.