Vietnam is currently confronting a severe resurgence of African swine fever (ASF), a highly contagious viral disease that has long haunted global pork producers. The escalation in outbreaks across the country has sparked alarm within the agricultural sector and among government officials, as the implications for pork supply and food security intensify.
ASF first gained global attention in 2018–2019, when it decimated nearly half of China’s domestic pig population, causing losses exceeding $100 billion. While the virus poses no threat to human health, its impact on animal husbandry and food supply chains is profound, particularly in pork-dependent economies like Vietnam.
According to state media reports on Tuesday, Vietnam has recorded 972 outbreaks of African swine fever since the beginning of 2025—a sharp increase from the 514 outbreaks reported just two weeks earlier. The number of infected pigs has more than tripled during this period, rising from 30,000 to over 100,000. These animals have either died from the disease or been culled to prevent further spread.
Nguyen Xuan Duong, chairman of the Animal Husbandry Association of Vietnam, confirmed the breadth of the crisis, stating, “ASF has broken out on a very large scale, spreading across the country, seriously affecting the livestock industry, especially the supply of pork.” He noted that no province remains untouched.
In response, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh issued an urgent directive calling on provincial authorities and government agencies to implement emergency containment and control measures. The government emphasized that the outbreaks pose a direct threat to national food supply chains.
Vietnam has been at the forefront of efforts to combat ASF biologically. In 2023, the country became the first in the world to commercialize an ASF vaccine, developed by AVAC Vietnam JSC. However, vaccine deployment has been sluggish. Officials attribute the low uptake to lingering concerns over cost-effectiveness and efficacy, particularly among small and medium-scale farmers.
“Vaccination is just a supporting tool that cannot replace basic prevention measures,” Duong emphasized, suggesting that improved biosecurity and early detection remain the backbone of disease control.
AVAC Vietnam has yet to comment publicly on the current outbreak. Previously, the company reported domestic sales of 3 million vaccine doses and exports of 600,000 doses to markets including the Philippines and Indonesia.
The dramatic surge in ASF outbreaks threatens not only Vietnam’s domestic pork industry—which plays a crucial role in the country’s agricultural GDP—but also regional food stability. Vietnam ranks among the largest pork consumers in Asia, and any sustained disruption could lead to rising food prices, supply shortages, and increased import dependency.
The outbreak comes at a time when global food systems remain vulnerable due to climate change, geopolitical tensions, and post-pandemic supply chain fragility. Investors and agri-food stakeholders will be closely monitoring Vietnam’s response in the weeks ahead.
With the virus spreading rapidly and containment proving difficult, Vietnam faces an uphill battle in controlling the ASF outbreak. While the existence of a commercial vaccine is a promising development, the success of disease management will depend heavily on coordinated national efforts, increased biosecurity measures, and greater public-private collaboration.
The coming months will be critical in determining whether Vietnam can curb the outbreak before it spirals into a full-scale agricultural crisis.
(Vietnam Insider) – Vietnam’s stock market witnessed a historic session on August 5, with total trading value surging to a record-breaking VND 83.83 trillion (approximately USD 3.3 billion), marking the highest level ever recorded across the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange (HoSE) and Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX).
This milestone surpassed the previous record set in late July, when trading value reached VND 63.3 trillion. The surge in liquidity was accompanied by a strong performance from key indexes and blue-chip stocks.
Leading the charge in trading volume were steel giant Hòa Phát Group (HPG), with nearly 216 million shares traded, and SHB Bank, with over 176 million units exchanged. The VN-Index saw significant intraday volatility — at one point surging more than 54 points before pulling back. The index ultimately closed the day up nearly 19 points, settling at 1,547.15.
Notably, the VN30 index briefly exceeded the 1,700-point mark during the session. Among the VN30 group, MBBank (MBB) stood out as the only stock to close at its daily upper limit, rising to VND 29,700 per share.
The market rally led to a significant increase in the wealth of Vietnam’s top billionaires. Shares linked to Phạm Nhật Vượng — including Vingroup (VIC), Vincom Retail (VRE), and Vinhomes (VHM) — rose sharply, lifting his estimated net worth by nearly 10% to USD 12.2 billion, according to Forbes’ real-time billionaire tracker.
Other Vietnamese billionaires also saw their fortunes climb. Vietjet Air Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Phương Thảo’s net worth rose to USD 3.3 billion. Steel magnate Trần Đình Long and banking tycoon Hồ Hùng Anh saw their wealth grow to USD 2.7 billion and USD 2.4 billion, respectively.
Despite the market’s bullish momentum, foreign investors remained net sellers. They offloaded more than VND 2.88 trillion worth of equities, with VIC being the most heavily sold stock of the day. Other major net sell targets included SHB, VPB, Vinamilk (VNM), FPT, and VIX.
Analysts note that the surge in liquidity and broad-based gains reflect growing investor confidence, though the divergence between domestic buying and foreign selling continues to shape short-term sentiment. As valuations climb, market participants are advised to remain cautious and selective amid heightened volatility.
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Nearly a year after a fatal road accident that claimed the life of a 14-year-old schoolgirl, authorities in Vinh Long province have officially prosecuted the truck driver involved — even though the man is currently incapacitated after being shot by the victim’s father earlier this year.
On August 5, 33-year-old Nguyen Van Bao Trung was charged with “Violating regulations on road traffic participation” under Article 260 of Vietnam’s Penal Code. Trung is currently out on bail, but has not been able to work with investigators due to severe injuries sustained in a retaliatory shooting.
According to police, Trung has remained unconscious and unable to speak since April, when he was shot at close range by Nguyen Vinh Phuc — the grieving father of the schoolgirl killed in the September 2024 accident. Due to Trung’s condition, all legal documents were delivered to his residence, with his wife signing on his behalf.
The Fatal Accident
The fatal incident occurred on the morning of September 4, 2024, when Trung was driving a truck from Vam Vong commune to Vinh Xuan commune, Tra On District.
While attempting to overtake a parked pickup truck on a narrow road, Trung’s vehicle veered into the opposite lane. At that moment, three female students were approaching on electric bicycles. One girl managed to stop in time. The 14-year-old riding behind her, however, collided with her friend’s bike and fell into the path of Trung’s truck. She was run over and later died in hospital.
Initial Legal Controversy and Public Outcry
Initially, Tra On District Police declined to press charges, claiming that “no criminal offense had occurred.” The girl’s family filed multiple complaints, but both the district and provincial prosecutors’ offices rejected them.
In a shocking escalation, on April 28, 2025, Phuc — the victim’s father — broke into Trung’s house and shot him before turning the gun on himself. The attempted murder-suicide stunned the local community and reignited public outrage.
Shortly after, the Supreme People’s Procuracy reviewed the case and determined that the local decisions not to prosecute had lacked sufficient legal basis. Investigators found that Trung’s attempt to pass another vehicle on a narrow road — despite clear oncoming traffic — was both unlawful and the primary cause of the fatal crash.
The case was officially reopened, and Trung was named as the key suspect.
Aftermath and Ongoing Investigation
Trung survived the shooting but remains in a critical condition, suffering complete paralysis on one side of his body and significant loss of brain function.
The victim’s family has since filed a formal complaint to the Supreme People’s Procuracy, urging an investigation into possible judicial misconduct by local authorities. They allege that failures by prosecutors and police in the original investigation may have violated legal procedures and demand accountability from those responsible.
A Lao truck driver transporting 35 tons of bauxite ore mistakenly drove onto a beach in Da Nang after following Google Maps at night, becoming stranded in the sand. Fortunately, local residents came to his rescue, offering food, shelter, and even raising funds to help him continue his journey.
On August 4, local authorities in Thang An Ward (formerly part of Quang Nam Province) confirmed that they are continuing to assist the stranded driver, who crossed into Vietnam through the Nam Giang international border gate en route to Chu Lai Port, where the cargo was to be exported to China.
The incident happened late on August 1. With limited visibility and no knowledge of the area, the driver followed GPS instructions that led him directly onto Binh Minh Beach. His heavily loaded truck quickly sank into the soft sand and became immobilized.
By morning, locals discovered the exhausted and anxious man wandering near their homes, unable to communicate in Vietnamese. Realizing the situation, they welcomed him inside, offering food, clean clothes, and a place to rest.
On August 3, dozens of residents joined forces to help free the truck — using shovels to dig sand, attaching ropes, and working alongside a tow truck. By 9 p.m. the same day, the vehicle was successfully pulled to safety.
The kindness didn’t stop there. Moved by his plight and financial hardship, locals raised nearly 3.7 million VND (approx. $145 USD) through donations. Sadly, the driver lost the money somewhere on the beach. In response, residents and a local charity group launched a second fundraising effort, collecting an additional 4.8 million VND ($190 USD) by the next morning.
As the truck remains out of commission, Thang An authorities are now working directly with the driver to understand his needs and help him complete his journey.
A 36-year-old truck driver has been fined nearly 46 million VND (approx. $1,800) and had his license revoked for 11 months after dangerously swerving across multiple lanes on the HCMC – Long Thanh – Dau Giay Expressway.
On August 4, the Cat Lai Traffic Police Team (under HCMC Traffic Police Department) issued a fine of 45 million VND for reckless driving under Decree 100, along with an additional 900,000 VND for failing to wear a seatbelt. His driving license was suspended for nearly a year.
The driver was caught on dashcam footage the afternoon of August 3 while operating a container truck from the An Phu interchange (Thu Duc City) toward Dong Nai. As he approached the Do Xuan Hop junction, the truck was seen dangerously weaving across all three lanes, obstructing and endangering vehicles behind. The footage quickly went viral on social media.
When questioned by authorities, the driver admitted his reckless behavior and cited emotional distress caused by family issues, claiming he was trying to “release his feelings.”
Nghe An, Vietnam – Police have detained Trần Văn An, 34, and six other individuals for allegedly stealing over two tons of dogs across more than 50 thefts over a three-month period in multiple areas of Nghe An Province.
On August 4, provincial police placed An, a resident of Dong Loc Commune, and Dương, 63, from Vinh Loc Ward, in temporary custody. They are being investigated for “Theft of Property” and “Consuming Property Obtained Through Crime,” under Articles 173 and 323 of the Penal Code.
Well-Organized, Nighttime Operations
According to investigators, beginning in May, the group organized nightly dog thefts using electroshock weapons, homemade swords, sacks, and duct tape. They used motorbikes to travel in pairs, targeting residential areas late at night or in the early morning hours. Each dog was subdued in just 15–20 seconds and quickly handed over to Dương for resale.
In late July and early August, multiple police teams were deployed to arrest the suspects. Authorities seized electroshock guns, homemade weapons, and other related equipment.
Over 50 Cases Across Multiple Districts
Police estimate that the group carried out more than 50 thefts across various communes and wards in Nghe An, stealing a total of over 2 tons of dogs.
All suspects reportedly have criminal records, including previous convictions for theft, fencing stolen goods, and gambling.
The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to uncover the full extent of the group’s operations.
Vietnamese electric vehicle (EV) maker VinFast has officially inaugurated its first manufacturing plant outside of Vietnam, located in Tamil Nadu, India—marking a major milestone in its global expansion strategy.
The grand opening took place on August 4 at the Sipcot Industrial Park in Thoothukudi. The new facility represents a total planned investment of $2 billion, with an initial phase investment of $500 million. It is situated in the world’s third-largest auto market, reflecting VinFast’s ambitions to become a major global EV player.
High-Tech Manufacturing Hub on 160 Hectares
Spanning 160 hectares, the Tamil Nadu plant features internationally standardized production lines with high automation and advanced technology. It includes key workshops for body welding, painting, assembly, quality control, and logistics. The complex also features auxiliary zones to support local contractors, which are expected to expand in the coming years.
In the initial phase, VinFast will assemble its VF 6 and VF 7 electric SUV models, with a projected annual output of 50,000 vehicles, scalable up to 150,000 units depending on market demand. This plant is a strategic step toward VinFast’s global goal of selling 200,000 EVs in 2025 and reaching 1 million units annually by 2030.
Job Creation and Regional Economic Impact
The factory is expected to directly employ between 3,000 and 3,500 workers, and support thousands more through its supply chain ecosystem. According to Pham Sanh Chau, CEO of VinFast Asia, the project underscores the company’s long-term commitment to the Indian market and lays the foundation for sustainable growth in the region.
During the inauguration, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin signed the first electric vehicle to roll off the assembly line—symbolizing the partnership between local authorities and the Vietnamese automaker.
Aiming to Become South Asia’s EV Hub
“VinFast Tamil Nadu will give Indian consumers access to high-quality, competitively priced EVs,” Chau said, adding that the facility is poised to become VinFast’s largest export base for South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.
“We have already received our first orders from countries across these regions. Our ambition is to make Tamil Nadu the EV capital of South Asia,” he said.
Beyond expanding global production capacity, VinFast aims to support India’s green industrial goals by promoting local supplier partnerships, technology transfer, and workforce development. The company places strong emphasis on localization, sustainability, and circular production practices.
Building a Comprehensive EV Ecosystem in India
Since its official entry into India earlier this year, VinFast has pursued the development of a comprehensive EV ecosystem, spanning vehicle assembly, distribution, after-sales service, and battery recycling.
The company has partnered with local dealerships, launched digital services and customer care programs, and signed a recycling agreement with BatX Energies to recover and repurpose used batteries, supporting its vision of a circular manufacturing model.
In a first for Vietnamese cinema, actress and beauty queen Nguyễn Thúc Thùy Tiên has been digitally replaced by an AI-generated actor in the upcoming film Chốt đơn (“Closing the Deal”) following her arrest in May.
On August 4, the film’s production team held a press screening in Ho Chi Minh City after a nearly two-month delay. Thùy Tiên, who played the lead role of Hoàng Linh—a dynamic CEO of a livestream sales company—was originally featured in approximately 70% of the film’s scenes. However, after she was detained for allegedly deceiving customers under Article 198 of Vietnam’s Penal Code, producers opted for a groundbreaking solution: using artificial intelligence to recreate her character.
AI Replaces Lead Role in Groundbreaking Move
Directors Bảo Nhân and Nam Cito confirmed that digital human technology was used to fully generate a new version of the character, including her face and body. Initially hesitant about using AI due to concerns over realism, the filmmakers were ultimately impressed by test footage provided by the VFX team.
Thùy Tiên’s voice was also replaced in post-production, with actress Huỳnh Bảo Ngọc providing the dubbed lines. The final result retains some resemblance to the original actress, though viewers noted the digital character’s facial expressions were less lifelike, especially in close-ups and fast-paced scenes.
Despite the digital replacement, the story and 113-minute runtime of the film remain unchanged. The production’s legal representative stated that removing Thùy Tiên’s name from marketing materials did not violate any personality rights, as her likeness had been completely removed from the final version.
Studio Faced Tough Decision
Chốt đơn is Thùy Tiên’s second film appearance. According to Galaxy Studio CEO Đinh Thị Thanh Hương, the team initially considered canceling the project altogether. “This film is the result of 200 days of hard work and sweat from the entire crew,” she said. “We decided to move forward despite the challenges.”
The replacement process added significant production costs and delayed promotional efforts. The film is set to premiere on August 8.
Story Explores E-Commerce and Livestream Culture
The film follows the story of Hoàng Linh (originally played by Thùy Tiên), the head of an online sales company, and An (played by Quyền Linh), a motorbike ride-hailing driver. The cast also features veteran actors Hồng Đào, Hồng Vân, and younger talents such as Khương Lê, Lê Lộc, Mai Bảo Vinh, Đỗ Nhật Hà, and child actress Mộc Trà. Chốt đơn is the first Vietnamese feature film to explore the growing livestream e-commerce industry.
Legal Troubles Impact Career and Partnerships
Thùy Tiên was taken into custody by the Ministry of Public Security’s investigative agency (C01) for her alleged involvement in fraudulent sales related to the Kera candy product, linked to social media influencers Hằng Du Mục and Quang Linh Vlogs. She reportedly held a 30% stake in the company Chị Em Rọt and profited accordingly. Over 135,000 boxes of Kera candy were sold to more than 30,000 customers.
Prior to this, she had already been fined for failing to disclose sponsorship details in her product promotions on social media.
The scandal has led to reputational damage and severed partnerships. French fashion house Dior removed Thùy Tiên from its fanpage after previously naming her a “Friend of the House.” Meanwhile, Chốt đơn‘s producers temporarily shut down the film’s official social media accounts amid public backlash.
Rise and Fall of a Beauty Queen
Nguyễn Thúc Thùy Tiên, 27, from Ho Chi Minh City, was crowned Miss Grand International 2021 in Thailand. The win catapulted her into fame, making her a sought-after brand ambassador and TV personality in Vietnam. In 2024, she starred in Linh Miêu, a horror-comedy directed by Lưu Thành Luân, which grossed over VND 87 billion (approx. USD 3.5 million) despite receiving criticism for its weak script.
For the first time, fresh durian exports from Vietnam will be governed by a dedicated food safety control mechanism, covering every stage from cultivation to packaging and transportation.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) has officially issued Decision No. 3015 outlining the “Food Safety Control Process for Fresh Durian for Export”—marking the first time a specific fruit has been assigned its own comprehensive export safety protocol.
A Full-Chain Control Mechanism
This newly implemented process standardizes food safety requirements across the entire fresh durian supply chain, including:
Cultivation and harvesting
Transportation and storage
Sorting, packaging, and export procedures
All stages will be subject to strict monitoring, registration, evaluation, and certification. Testing laboratories will be responsible for analyzing samples to support certification, while competent authorities will supervise and certify food safety compliance for each shipment.
Local agencies, authorized by provincial leaders, will carry out on-site inspections of production areas, packaging facilities, and transport systems. They will also conduct state-level food safety checks for plant-based exports, ensuring compliance with the requirements of international markets.
Strict Traceability and Origin Requirements
Durian intended for export must originate from approved and coded growing areas and facilities that are registered and monitored by Vietnamese authorities—and recognized by the importing country, where required. The entire logistics process, from classification to packaging, must adhere to national and international standards, with full labeling from certified facilities.
In terms of food safety, exported durian must meet:
Heavy metal residue limits set by the Ministry of Health
Pesticide residue regulations in accordance with Circular No. 50
Any additional quality requirements imposed by the destination market
Durian Drives Fruit Export Growth
According to the General Department of Customs, Vietnam’s fruit and vegetable exports in June reached USD 807 million—a surge of more than 30% month-over-month and 20% year-over-year. This marks the first month in 2025 where the sector has reversed its five-month decline.
Durian stood out as the key driver, contributing USD 360 million in June alone—a 70% increase over May. However, over the first half of the year, total durian exports fell to USD 825 million, reflecting a 37% decrease compared to the same period last year.
Electricity consumption across Northern Vietnam surged to an all-time high on the afternoon of August 4 as a prolonged heatwave pushed temperatures to extreme levels, overloading many power lines and transformer stations in the region.
According to the National Electricity System and Market Operation Company Limited (NSMO), Northern Vietnam has been experiencing intense heat since August 1 following a heatwave that began in late July. On August 4, temperatures in Hanoi approached 40°C, with Lang weather station recording highs between 39.1°C and 39.7°C. The real-feel temperature soared to 47°C, making it one of the hottest areas in the country.
Record-Breaking Power Demand
The sweltering conditions led to a significant spike in electricity demand, including during the weekend and holidays. From August 1 to August 4, the Northern region’s peak electricity consumption reached 25,761 MW—about 25% higher than typical holiday usage and nearly double the capacity of the Son La Hydropower Plant.
Nationally, electricity consumption peaked between 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on August 4, hitting 54,500 MW—the highest level recorded so far in 2025. This marks an increase of 5,000 MW, or 10%, compared to the same period in 2024. The Northern region alone consumed 28,500 MW, up 3,000 MW (12%) year-over-year.
In Hanoi, data from the Hanoi Electricity Corporation (EVNHANOI) shows that power demand also hit a record high. At 1:20 p.m. on August 4, the city’s power consumption peaked at 5,988 MW—an increase of nearly 14% over the highest recorded capacity in 2024.
Power Infrastructure Under Pressure
The unprecedented surge in electricity demand pushed several key transmission lines and transformer stations to full or overloaded capacity. These include the 500kV Son La – Viet Tri line and 220kV Thanh Cong – Ha Dong line, as well as multiple high-voltage stations across provinces such as Hoa Binh, Lai Chau, Viet Tri, Tay Ha Noi, Pho Noi, Thuong Tin, Hiep Hoa, Dong Anh, Mai Dong, Chem, Thanh Cong, Bac Ninh, Dong Hoa, and Ha Dong.
At 1:46 p.m., an incident occurred on the 220kV Hoa Binh – Ha Dong line, prompting NSMO to reduce the load on the grid by temporarily cutting power to some areas. By 3 p.m., full power had been restored.
Continued Strain Expected
NSMO forecasts that electricity demand in the North will remain extremely high during the evening hours (9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.) on August 4, potentially reaching 29,000–29,500 MW—surpassing the afternoon peak and placing further stress on the regional power grid.
In response, NSMO has mobilized all available generation resources, implemented technical solutions, and coordinated closely with the Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN) and related power and transmission units to ensure grid stability and uninterrupted service.
Public Urged to Conserve Power
To reduce strain on the grid and prevent outages, NSMO is urging households, businesses, and public agencies to use electricity efficiently, particularly during peak hours. Recommended measures include:
Using energy-efficient appliances
Turning off unnecessary equipment
Unplugging devices when not in use
Avoiding simultaneous use of multiple high-capacity devices
Knowing that her daughter had met her “boyfriend” online, Ms. Minh Anh did not think much of it, thinking that her daughter was still young and had never met this person in real life, so she was not worried.
It was not until the evening of July 23, when her 13-year-old daughter disappeared, that Ms. Minh Anh, in Tay Ho ward, was shocked.
That evening, after dinner, Minh Anh and her husband could not find their child. They called but could not reach him, so they immediately went to look for him in every corner, school, and restaurant in the area. “I tried not to panic but stayed up all night worrying,” the 42-year-old mother said.
The next morning, she reported to the police and posted information about her daughter on social media. On the afternoon of July 24, a shop owner near her house reported that a girl had asked a stranger in An Giang to help her receive money. At the same time, the family continued to receive scam calls demanding ransom.
Checking the messages left by her daughter’s phone showed that she had been chatting regularly with a man who claimed to be her “lover”, whom she met through an online game a year ago. This man often sent sweet, intimate messages, paid for games, transferred spending money, and gradually built up trust to invite her to Tay Ninh.
Following the subject’s instructions, on July 23, Minh Ngoc started her journey from Hanoi, carrying 2.8 million VND transferred to an acquaintance’s account to cover travel expenses and buy another phone. She was given detailed instructions: take a motorbike taxi to Nuoc Ngam station, go to Ha Tinh, then continue on to Ho Chi Minh City.
At Tay Ninh bus station, a local resident read about the missing child on social media and reported it to the family and the police. When the child was about to move on, the authorities and the parents arrived in time.
On July 27, Minh Ngoc returned to Hanoi, ending a risky four-day journey.
“When she got home, she was still happy, showed no signs of mental instability, and even insisted that her boyfriend was a good person,” said Minh Anh. Minh Ngoc said she felt sad when her parents scolded her for being a poor student, so she decided to leave home to follow her boyfriend.
Ms. Minh Anh said that the couple did not expect their child to achieve high academic results, they just wanted him to learn enough to move up to the next grade and become independent. However, the fact that he had to stay in 6th grade made the atmosphere in the house tense.
This year, the child continued to retake two subjects. The family tried many ways: advising, coaxing, scolding, sharing the hardships of parents to raise the child in the hope that the child would love his parents and try harder, but the results did not improve.
The child usually sleeps a lot and sits at the desk at 9:30 p.m., but closes his books and goes to bed at 10 p.m., so she requires him to finish his homework before he can sleep. “We used to forbid him from using the phone because his studies were declining, but he still secretly contacted by borrowing the phones of his friends or people around him,” she said. “I didn’t expect that this would be an opportunity for bad guys to approach and seduce him.”
Reading the messages from her child’s phone, she realized the level of “care” of the scammer: from game top-ups, money transfers, daily conversations “more carefully than customer service staff”. The child was willing to share intimate stories with strangers, but had never confided in his parents.
After the incident, Minh Ngoc agreed to retake the exam after being persuaded by her relatives and the police. She gradually realized that her “boyfriend’s” behavior was wrong and promised not to listen to his enticements anymore. However, Ms. Minh Anh said that the subject still texted her after returning home, asking: “Are you home yet?”, “How far are you?”.
“Before, I thought I understood my child’s thoughts because he was still happy, often telling stories about school and friends. But it turned out that was just the surface. Inside, he felt lonely, pressured, and lacked emotional support,” the mother confided.
She plans to seek help from a psychologist to help her child, but she also realizes that banning is not enough. “I will try to be gentler with my child and talk to him more, especially when he enters puberty, a stage where he wants to express himself but lacks the ability to judge right from wrong,” she said.
She also sent a message to other parents not to think that the stories in the press are far-fetched. “They can absolutely happen to your own children,” Minh Anh said.
According to Ms. Nguyen Le Thuy, a psychology and education expert, Thieu nien tien phong va Nhi dong newspaper, adolescents often trust their intuition, think they are capable of distinguishing right from wrong, and even think their parents do not understand society as well as they do. This is the stage when the ego grows, and children pay less attention to emotional, unfounded advice.
“If parents only say general things like ‘be careful of being deceived’, ‘don’t trust strangers’, children will easily ignore it and think that parents are overreacting,” said Ms. Thuy. Instead, parents need to equip themselves with practical knowledge, social understanding, and online behavior skills, so that when communicating with their children, they can be more convincing. “If parents want their children to listen, they themselves must have the ability to guide them,” she said.
Common warning signs in children who are going astray include lack of concentration, irritability, indifference to family, reduced interaction, staying up late, and excessive phone use. When seeing changes in their children, instead of scolding them, parents should create a common space such as meals, outings, choose a time when their children are happy to chat or send a link to an article about fraud for their children to read.
“You need to be strict but gentle. There must be clear agreements: what your child can do and what he/she should not do. If he/she is not doing well, guide him/her along the path with patience,” the expert added.
According to Ms. Thuy, in addition to providing skills guidance, parents also need to skillfully eliminate unsafe relationships, both in real life and online, with their children, without pushing them into a state of resistance.
“The most important thing is that parents must take the role of guide, not controller,” she said.
* Character names in the article have been changed.
Many students across the country have become victims of “online kidnapping” crimes. Ho Chi Minh City Police have established a specialized investigation team to quickly handle this case.
On August 1, the Criminal Police Department (PC02) of Ho Chi Minh City Police established a specialized task force to handle “online kidnapping” cases, headed by Lieutenant Colonel Nguyen Trung Hoa – Deputy Head of the Department. Members of this special criminal team also include many commanders and officers of professional teams.
The fake policemen showed the victims images of “interrogating criminals” (impersonating accomplices) in the interrogation room and confessed to being related to the person on the video call. Photo: Can Tho Police
The task force is responsible for receiving reports, coordinating with relevant forces to quickly investigate, prosecute and prevent incidents, and protect the safety of victims in the fastest time.
Therefore, when detecting or suspecting a case of “online kidnapping”, people should call 0693.187.200 (PC02) or 028.3821.7080 (Team 2) for timely support.
This move by Ho Chi Minh City Police was made in the context that authorities and the press have continuously warned, but many young people in Hanoi , Quang Ninh , Ho Chi Minh City , Can Tho … still fall into the trap of “online kidnapping” criminals.
This is a new, sophisticated trick of cybercriminals, combining high technology and psychological manipulation to create confusion and demand money transfers.
Common tricks include impersonating police, prosecutors or shippers to make phone calls or via social networks, even using video calls with summonses, Zoom Workplace. They claim that the victim is involved in a money laundering or drug case, forcing them to “appear” in an online investigation or they will be “temporarily detained”. Then they isolate the victim in a rented room, rent a hotel, and cut off all contact with relatives and friends. Many students are forced to tie their own hands, tortured… so that they can film and send videos to blackmail their families for hundreds of millions of dong.
Investigators advise parents not to let their children use electronic devices without supervision. Recent cases show that most victims are confused, lack legal knowledge and response skills, leading to falling into scam traps.
Parents need to regularly talk to and educate their children about impersonation and fraud; teach them how to check information and stay calm when receiving strange calls claiming to be from the police or government agencies. Schools need to increase propaganda against high-tech crime and integrate personal defense skills into life skills programs.
Ho Chi Minh City police confirmed that they never work via social networks, do not send summonses via phone, and do not ask for money transfers. People should absolutely not provide photos, account numbers or personal information to strangers. When in doubt, people should immediately cut off contact, save evidence and contact the nearest police station or hotline 113 for support.
Male student tortures himself so criminals can film him and send him to his family for blackmail. Photo: Provided by the police
Swept away while swimming in the sea, Mr. Tung and his 6-year-old daughter tied a buoy rope to each other, drank rainwater, and paddled SUP toward the light for 13 hours at night.
On the afternoon of July 30, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tung, 35 years old, and his daughter Nguyen Tran Phuong Anh, 6 years old, along with some relatives from Truong Vinh ward, Nghe An province, went to Xuan Thanh beach resort, Xuan Thanh commune, Ha Tinh province to have fun.
At 5:30 p.m., the sea was calm, so the father and son went swimming. Phuong Anh wore a life jacket, but Tung did not wear one, but brought a sup board, tied one leg to it, and planned to surf near the shore. He had surfed many times on a 1 meter wide, 3 meter long composite board to experience the thrill in the seas of Nghe An and Ha Tinh.
Preparing for this SUP trip, he brought a whistle, flashlight, parachute cord with a magnetic hook… in a small cloth bag worn on his person. In addition, he brought a spare inflatable buoy 40cm wide, 80cm long, tied to the board.
Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tung recounts the moment when father and son had an accident at sea in Xuan Thanh, on the morning of August 1. Photo: Duc Hung
Before he could surf, a wave about a meter high suddenly hit the shore, the water quickly receded and swept little Phuong Anh away. Mr. Tung immediately paddled his SUP to save his child, after a few dozen seconds he approached and helped her up.
When the waves calmed down, he discovered that the father and son had been swept away hundreds of meters from shore, so he called for help, but no one heard. The oars and rescue equipment in the cloth bag were swept away, and Phuong Anh’s life jacket was also snatched away by the waves, leaving the father and son with only a lifebuoy tied to the sup.
Identifying these two items as survival tools, Mr. Tung held on tightly, always attaching the sup to one leg, using the rope on the lifebuoy to tie Phuong Anh across her body. To prevent father and daughter from separating, he removed the elastic band from his shorts, tied one end to his waist, and the other end tightly to the life jacket his daughter was wearing.
It was dark, the rain was pouring down, and the father and son were drifting freely. In about an hour, he estimated that 3-4 big waves came, overturned the boat, and threw them both into the sea. Mr. Tung held his son tightly, let his legs wrap around his neck, and used all his strength to help him sit or lie down on the boat. This action was repeated many times during the night.
There was a time when Mr. Tung was exhausted, fell asleep and woke up when a new wave threw both of them about half a meter into the air and then crashed back down.
Having served in the military for two years, Tung shared that he has quite good swimming skills. When he no longer has a paddle, he uses his hands and feet to take turns paddling the sup. Sometimes he jumps down, holds on to the sup and pushes it towards a flickering light that looks like a lighthouse. Feeling the light dozens of kilometers away from the father and son, he is determined to push the tip of the board in that direction because “only by going there can he escape”.
During the first 4-5 hours of being swept away by the waves, Mr. Tung did not have the mind to think much, he set the goal of ensuring his daughter’s safety by all means. In the middle of the night, when the waves were calm, he asked his daughter: “Are you scared? I’m sorry. I’ll take you home. Wait a moment. Be strong, don’t cry, you are my strength.”
Phuong Anh was lying exhausted on the couch, constantly complaining that she was cold, but when encouraged, she reassured her father: “Dad, hang in there, I want to go back to Mom.” Every 5 minutes, Mr. Tung woke her up to check if she was shocked by water or had any problems.
Every time they were thrown into the sea and drank too much salt water, their mouths became dry. Taking advantage of the rain, he used a life buoy to catch water and tilted the buoy for both of them to drink. This quenched their thirst.
Drifting at sea in the dark of night, Mr. Tung said he never thought of the worst situation. His daughter was also brave and did not cry. Near dawn on July 31, seeing a ship hundreds of meters away, he intended to paddle his SUP to block it and ask for help, but before he could, the ship had gone, so he headed towards the light.
At dawn, he heard the distant sound of the ship’s engine. He knew this was the threshold of survival. He was determined to make sure the people on board could see him at all costs. He turned the bow of his boat and rowed toward the sound of the engine. When he saw the shape of the transport ship clearly, he stood on his boat and raised his hands above his head to signal for help.
Rescuers take baby Phuong Anh from the boat onto the transport ship on the morning of July 31. Photo: Duc Long
A few minutes later, the crew of the VINASINE 555 transport ship on its journey from Ninh Binh to Quang Ngai discovered someone in distress and approached the ship. Mr. Tung shook her gently, and Phuong Anh immediately jumped up. The sailors took turns bringing them both onto the ship.
The rescue team located the rescue location of Mr. Tung and his son near Mat Island, in Cua Lo Ward, more than 30 km from the initial accident site in the sea of Xuan Thanh Commune (Ha Tinh Province). The father and son lost contact for about 13 hours.
During the struggle with the waves, Mr. Tung suffered minor injuries, with blood on his stomach, it is unclear what he hit. After receiving medical care and food, both gradually recovered. “The moment my father and I were safe, I was extremely happy. Luckily, Phuong Anh was not injured,” he said.
Upon boarding the ship, Mr. Tung asked his wife to call him and inform him that his father and son were still alive. When he was brought ashore at noon on July 31, he was so moved that he could not speak. When Phuong Anh saw her mother, she threw herself into her arms and burst into tears.
The 35-year-old man said he was very grateful for the rescue efforts of the crew of the VINASINE 555 ship as well as the border guards and coast guard who searched all night. “The father and son were revived thanks to the rescue team, even if we thank them a thousand times, it would not be enough,” he said.
Phuong Anh burst into tears when she met her mother. Photo: Duc Long
Directly participating in the rescue, receiving two victims from the VINASINE ship and bringing them ashore, Major Vo Dang Duc, a medical officer at Lach Ken Border Post, Ha Tinh Province Military Command, assessed that Tung had outstanding health, good survival skills, courage, and effective handling of dangerous situations. Phuong Anh was very obedient, even though she was in trouble, she did not cry.
“In some cases, when falling into the water and seeing themselves being swept away from the shore, people often panic, cling to each other and then get into trouble together. But in this situation, Mr. Tung was calm, his daughter always knew how to hold on to her father’s neck to avoid being swept away for many hours. The father was very smart in knowing how to collect rainwater to drink for himself and his daughter to quench their thirst, and push the boat towards the light to find life,” said Mr. Duc.
According to Major Duc, receiving the news that the father and son were missing at 8:15 p.m. on July 30, 10 officers and soldiers of Lach Ken Border Guard Station coordinated with the coast guard and fishermen to search all night. When they heard that the victims were rescued by a transport ship, everyone burst into tears and breathed a sigh of relief.
Xuan Thanh Beach, where Tung and his father had the accident, is a famous tourist area in Ha Tinh province. The beach stretches over 5 km, with fine white sand and clear blue water, attracting many tourists to swim and enjoy seafood. However, whenever the sea is rough, some locals and tourists have had accidents while swimming in this area.
According to the Ha Tinh Meteorological Department, the weather in the northern plains and coastal areas (including Xuan Thanh commune) on July 30 is sunny, no rain at night, southwest wind level 2-3. The sea area has scattered showers and thunderstorms, visibility over 10 km, waves 1.5-2 m high.
The Ministry of National Defense directed the 18th Army Corps to dispatch helicopters to rescue 8 people trapped by floods in Son La province. The helicopter took off at 3:54 p.m. the same day and was expected to arrive at the scene at 4:50 p.m.
Helicopters of the Air Defense – Air Force – Illustration photo: Air Defense – Air Force
The Department of Rescue and Search and Rescue ( Ministry of National Defense ) said that at 3:00 p.m. on August 1, the unit received information from the Operations Department of the General Staff (Military Region 2) about 8 people trapped in Anh Trung village, Muong Hung commune, Son La province.
The Department of Rescue and Relief has coordinated with the Air Defense – Air Force and the 18th Army Corps to be ready to use helicopters and air search and rescue forces to rescue 8 people trapped and isolated due to floods.
The Department of Rescue and Relief requested the Ministry’s Command to report to the Chief of the General Staff and the Chief of the Ministry of National Defense to direct the use of 1 helicopter and air search and rescue forces to coordinate with Military Region 2 and forces at the scene to rescue 8 people trapped and isolated.
The Ministry of Defense has directed the 18th Army Corps to conduct search and rescue flights in Son La province.
Flight number VN-8624 took off at 3:54 p.m. the same day, and is expected to arrive at the scene at 4:50 p.m.
Floods on the Ma River rose, causing flooding in the center of Song Ma district (old), Son La province – Photo: VIET DUC
According to a quick report from the Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Search and Rescue of Son La province, heavy rain on August 1st caused the water level of the Ma River to rise. At 2:00 p.m. on August 1st, the water level on the Ma River at Xa La hydrological station (Chieng Khuong commune) was 2.2m higher than alert level 3 and was continuing to rise rapidly.
Regarding the damage, in Muong Lan commune, there were severe impacts, 4 houses were swept away, collapsed, many houses were damaged and many rice fields were flooded, currently being quickly summarized (due to power outage).
In Song Ma commune, a section of National Highway 12 to Muong Lam commune was flooded from 1.4 to 1.6 meters deep. In Phung Banh commune, the road from Dom Cang to Phung Banh commune was flooded 2 meters deep, 10 villages were completely isolated.
Chieng So commune, Na Loc 1,2 villages, Te Tien village, Pau Hay village are isolated. People have been evacuated to safe places…
As for Muong Hung commune, the current flow through Muong Hung hydroelectric plant is about 3,500 – 4,000 m3/s. Currently, 7/7 floodgates have been opened according to the process to be ready to receive large floods.
Notably, due to the large amount of water pouring in, it was not possible to reach and rescue a household of 8 people in Anh Trung village, Muong Hung commune.
Currently, the military, police and other forces of the province have approached the scene and established a forward command post in Song Ma commune to direct coordination and support in overcoming the consequences.
Son La province has declared a natural disaster emergency to respond to heavy rains, flash floods, landslides, and land subsidence in July and early August 2025 in the communes of Bo Sinh, Chieng So, Huoi Mot, Muong Lam, Nam Lau, Nam Ty, Song Ma, Muong Lan, Chieng Khoong, Chieng Khuong Sop Cop, Tan Yen, and Mai Son in Son La province.
Information just announced by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, according to President Donald Trump’s decree on adjusting reciprocal tax rates, the US decided to adjust the reciprocal tax rate for Vietnam down from 46% to 20%.
Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien during a tax negotiation session – Photo: Ministry of Industry and Trade
The Ministry of Industry and Trade said that since the end of April 2025, Vietnam and the US have held many reciprocal trade negotiation sessions at both the technical and ministerial levels. The Vietnamese Government negotiation delegation is led by Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and members are relevant ministries and sectors.
Accordingly, many direct and online negotiation sessions took place between Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, Head of the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer and US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick.
During the negotiation process, Vietnam and the US focused on discussing and making progress on issues such as tariffs, rules of origin, customs, agriculture, non-tariff measures, digital trade, services and investment, intellectual property, sustainable development, supply chains, trade cooperation, etc.
Early morning of August 1 (Vietnam time), the White House posted President Donald Trump’s decree on adjusting reciprocal tax rates, according to which the US decided to adjust the reciprocal tax rates for 69 countries and territories listed in Appendix I. According to this appendix, the reciprocal tax rate for Vietnam is reduced from 46% to 20%.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade affirmed that in the coming time, the two sides will continue to discuss and implement the next steps, aiming to complete the agreement on reciprocal trade based on the principles of openness, constructiveness, equality, respect for independence, autonomy, political institutions, mutual benefit and consideration of each other’s development level.
At the same time, the two sides will also strive to promote stable economic, trade and investment relations, harmonizing interests, commensurate with the Vietnam – US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
According to US Customs data, in 2024, two-way trade between Vietnam and the US will reach 149.7 billion USD, of which Vietnam will export 136.6 billion USD and import 13.1 billion USD. Vietnam’s trade surplus with the US is 123.5 billion USD, ranking 3rd among countries with the largest trade surplus with the US (after China and Mexico).
In the first 5 months of 2025, two-way trade between Vietnam and the US reached 77.4 billion USD, an increase of 36.5% over the same period in 2024, of which Vietnam exported 71.7 billion USD (an increase of 37.3% over the same period in 2024) and imported 5.7 billion USD (an increase of 30.7% over the same period in 2024).
Vietnam’s trade surplus with the US is 64.8 billion USD (up 29% over the same period in 2024), ranking 4th among countries with the largest trade surplus with the US (after China, Mexico and Iceland).
