Ms. Silvia Danailov, UNICEF Representative in Vietnam, said that the decision to exempt all tuition fees for students from kindergarten to high school in public schools is an important step towards inclusion and creating equal opportunities for all children.
Ms. Silvia Danailov, Chief Representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Vietnam. (Photo: Tran Le Lam/VNA)
Recently, the Politburo has decided to exempt all tuition fees for students from kindergarten to high school nationwide. The implementation time is from the beginning of the new school year 2025 – 2026 (September 2025 onwards).
On March 5, Ms. Silvia Danailov, Representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Vietnam, said that the decision of the Politburo is an important step towards inclusion and creating equal opportunities for all children. UNICEF warmly congratulates Vietnam on this decision. This is a decision in line with Vietnam’s international commitments, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child and Sustainable Development Goal No. 4.
Ms. Silvia Danailov emphasized that the tuition-free policy is an essential investment in Vietnam’s future, helping more children complete their education, regardless of their socio-economic circumstances. This is an important policy in the country’s transformational development period.
To make this policy work, the UNICEF Representative in Viet Nam noted a number of key recommendations. First, free tuition must go hand in hand with ensuring quality teaching and learning. Increasing the number of students attending school requires adequate resources: qualified teachers, facilities and quality learning materials. It is also important to consider the costs that families still have to pay for, such as learning materials, uniforms and transportation. These costs can be challenging for vulnerable households.
Second, the implementation of the new policy needs to ensure the principles of equity and inclusion, helping children with disabilities and ethnic minority students receive the support they need to participate in and benefit fully from education.
Third, expanding access to secondary education can be done by increasing the number of public schools and stepping up investment in community-based education, including developing satellite schools for primary school.
UNICEF is ready to support Viet Nam in realizing this vision by building the capacity of teachers and education managers, promoting digital learning opportunities, such as using advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence to support teachers, investing in green schools and green skills in the context of climate change, and promoting inclusive education policies, said Ms. Silvia Danailov.
“Our common goal is to leave no child behind. By working together, we can ensure that every girl and boy in Vietnam has the opportunity to learn, grow and succeed, contributing to building a brighter future for children and society as a whole,” said Silvia Danailov.
In a document sent to the Orange County Prosecutor’s Office, pursuant to Article 3.160(a) of the Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure, Lynda Trang Dai (U.S. name: Ngo, Lynda TrangDai Le) entered a plea of ’Not guilty’ and requested to be absent from the upcoming trial.
According to VietNamNet, the official website of the Orange County Clerk of Court (Florida, USA) has updated the developments in the case of singer Lynda Trang Dai being charged with petty theft .
Specifically, in a document sent to the Orange County Prosecutor’s Office, pursuant to Article 3.160(a) of the Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure, Lynda Trang Dai (US name: Ngo, Lynda TrangDai Le) entered a plea of ”Not guilty” and requested to be absent from the upcoming trial.
Pursuant to Article 3.220(a) of the Florida Rules of Criminal Procedure, the singer’s legal representative requested that the prosecution provide documents and information related to the case, including witness lists, transcripts of statements, investigation reports, physical evidence, records of electronic surveillance, searches or seizures, etc.
In addition, singer Lynda Trang Dai also requested that the case be tried by jury. The request to change the lawyer from Mr. Joel Leppard to Ms. Josephine Arroyo was approved by the Court.
Regarding the incident, Tien Phong newspaper reported that in the case file posted on the Orange County Court Clerk’s website, Lynda Trang Dai was arrested by the police for petty theft, classified as appropriation of property belonging to the group of goods, agricultural products or means of transport worth from 100-750 USD – a minor property theft crime.
According to records, on January 4, Lynda Trang Dai went to buy Gucci perfume at The Mall in Orlando (Florida). The employee said she stole a headphone case (priced at about 330 USD, equivalent to about 8.4 million VND) displayed on the shelf, then hid the item in her bag without paying. Lynda Trang Dai was arrested by police when she returned to the store on January 5.
The singer was taken to the Orange County Jail, where her personal belongings, including her handbag, phone, and necklace, were turned over to a relative. There, she told police that she tried on accessories and then left them on the counter because the headphones were the wrong size.
She explained that she was in a hurry and threw the items on the ground. However, the report signed by Officer Stephen Erickson clearly stated that the camera recorded Lynda Trang Dai taking the accessories and leaving the store.
Lynda Trang Dai was released on bail after posting a $1,000 (nearly VND25.5 million) bond. On her personal page, the singer posted videos and photos of her performances in the US.
After screaming, people living on Street No. 3 (Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City) ran out and discovered their neighbor had been stabbed and was in critical condition.
Late on March 5, Ho Chi Minh City Police coordinated with Hiep Binh Phuoc Ward Police (Thu Duc City) to complete the crime scene investigation of a man who was stabbed critically on Highway 3.
By late night on March 5, the crime scene investigation was completed. PHOTO: TRAN DUY KHANH
The victim was identified as Mr. NPH (51 years old), who was stabbed by another man right in front of his house on the above mentioned road.
Local residents said that at 5 p.m. that same day, a man was seen loitering in front of Mr. H’s house. About 20 minutes later, people heard screams on the street and ran out to check, only to see Mr. H. being attacked multiple times with a weapon by the man.
Mr. H. collapsed on the street with open wounds in several places on his body. There were many blood stains at the scene.
Discovering the incident, many people rushed in to control the suspect. The victim was taken to the emergency room in critical condition .
Upon receiving the news, professional units quickly arrived to block off, examine the scene, and arrest the suspect.
Initially, authorities determined that the cause of the accident stemmed from a love conflict.
The suspect who robbed a disabled lottery ticket seller was arrested by the police 8 hours after committing the crime.
On March 6, Loc An Commune Police (Long Thanh District, Dong Nai) is detaining Chau Thanh Phong (38 years old, residing in Dai Phuoc Commune, Nhon Trach District, Dong Nai) and preparing a file to hand over to the Dong Nai Provincial Police Investigation Agency to investigate according to authority for the act of property robbery .
Suspect Chau Thanh Phong with evidence PHOTO: DONG NAI POLICE
According to initial investigation, at around 10:00 a.m. on March 5, Mr. TMC (62 years old, residing in Loc An commune, Long Thanh district, Dong Nai), a lottery ticket seller (a disabled person who must use a wheelchair – PV), was walking on a road in Bung Co hamlet (Loc An commune) when a young man on a motorbike approached and snatched his bag , inside of which was about 4 million VND and 2 cell phones.
Upon receiving the report, Loc An Commune Police coordinated with the Criminal Police Department of Dong Nai Provincial Police and Dai Phuoc Commune Police to investigate and arrest the suspect.
At around 6 p.m. the same day, the police arrested Chau Thanh Phong and seized evidence including two phones of the victim and the motorbike Phong used to commit the robbery.
The leader of the Vietnam Urban Planning and Development Association assessed that expanding the heritage space of Hoan Kiem Lake ( Hanoi ) is very necessary but needs to be placed in the overall ‘picture’ to expand in order of priority.
Expanding Hoan Kiem Lake space is necessary
Speaking with Thanh Nien , Dr. Architect Dao Ngoc Nghiem, Vice President of the Vietnam Urban Planning and Development Association, expressed that in the current context, expanding the heritage space of Hoan Kiem Lake (Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi) is very necessary and should be done.
Hoan Kiem Lake is associated with the legend of King Le Loi returning the sword to the divine turtle. PHOTO: NGUYEN TRUONG
According to Dr. Architect Dao Ngoc Nghiem, expanding the space of Hoan Kiem Lake to create connections with surrounding areas has been a problem since 1995. However, after 30 years, this has not been possible due to lack of investment capital and land clearance costs.
Regarding the policy of researching planning and renovating the area east of Hoan Kiem Lake in the direction of increasing public space and open space, Dr. Architect Dao Ngoc Nghiem suggested that the authorities need to have an overall picture.
In the “picture”, it must show how the expansion to the east of Hoan Kiem Lake is, how the west is, then the Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc square area, the area where milestone number 0 is located… At the same time, there must be a connection with underground station C9 of urban railway line No. 2, Nam Thang Long – Tran Hung Dao section (under Dinh Tien Hoang street).
Once we have an overall picture, we will choose the priority order of investment in open space around Hoan Kiem Lake. Because currently, on the west side of Hoan Kiem Lake, there is also a statue of King Le Thai To, the king associated with the legend of returning the precious sword to the Golden Turtle God in Hoan Kiem Lake. However, this area is isolated from the space of Hoan Kiem Lake,” said Mr. Nghiem.
People hope that the expansion of Hoan Kiem Lake will soon become a reality. PHOTO: NGUYEN TRUONG
Hope it comes true soon
Upon hearing the news that the Hanoi People’s Committee had a policy to expand the space of Hoan Kiem Lake, Mr. Vu Hai Bang (76 years old, in Hang Gai Ward, Hoan Kiem District) expressed his joy and excitement.
According to Mr. Bang, every day many people come to Hoan Kiem Lake to enjoy the scenery. Currently, the open space around Hoan Kiem Lake is still very modest. “Expanding public space around Hoan Kiem Lake is very practical. This not only benefits the current generation but also our future generations. I hope this will soon become a reality,” Mr. Bang said.
Architect Tran Huy Anh, Standing Member of the Hanoi Architects Association, assessed that the policy of expanding public space around Hoan Kiem Lake recently proposed by the Hanoi People’s Committee is “a bit slow but never too late”.
“This is the hope of Hanoians. Expanding public space is necessary because Hoan Kiem Lake has never had such a dense density of activities as it does now. This area is overloaded,” said Mr. Anh.
Hoan Kiem Lake is a natural freshwater lake located in the center of Hanoi, with an area of about 12 hectares and a circumference of 1.7 km. The name Hoan Kiem appeared in the early 15th century, associated with the legend of King Le Loi returning the precious sword to the divine turtle.
Around Hoan Kiem Lake, there are many headquarters such as Hanoi People’s Committee, Hanoi Post Office, Hanoi Electricity… and many houses. To the east of the lake, there are relics: Bao An Pagoda, Ly Thai To Flower Garden, Ba Kieu Temple…
In addition to the policy of expanding the space east of Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi City is also planning and organizing the architectural landscape space of Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square, where the “shark jaw” (Ham Ca Map) building is located.
A deadly altercation broke out at a coffee shop in Binh Hung Ward, Phan Thiet City (Binh Thuan Province) when a security guard reportedly used scissors to stab a man, resulting in his death.
In the early hours of March 6, the Binh Thuan Provincial Police’s Investigation Department completed an on-site examination and requested an autopsy on the victim as part of the ongoing investigation.
According to initial police reports, the incident took place around 8:00 p.m. on March 5, near the Victory Monument roundabout in Binh Hung Ward.
Image of the scuffle leading to murder that happened on the night of March 5 in Phan Thiet City CUT FROM CLIP
According to the images recorded by the camera, at the above time, in the area selling rolled ice cream, there was a fight between Mr. Le Duc Th. (47 years old, temporarily residing in Binh Hung Ward, Phan Thiet City – security guard of the coffee shop behind the rolled ice cream shop) and Mr. Nguyen Van T. (24 years old, residing in Phu Tai Ward). Mr. Th. used a chair to hit Mr. T. who was standing at the rolled ice cream cart.
At this time, another young man sitting at the table at the ice cream shop also jumped in to fight. Suddenly, the coffee shop security guard used scissors on the ice cream cart table to stab Mr. T. The victim was taken to the hospital for emergency treatment but died shortly after.
The cause of the fight that led to the murder was determined to be that Mr. Th. accidentally hit the rolled ice cream table while driving a customer’s bike, leading to an argument. It is known that T. was a friend of the owner of the rolled ice cream cart, and the victim was there to visit when the murder occurred.
Gentry Hale, an American tourist, spent three weeks traveling around Vietnam and made some avoidable mistakes.
“Last October, I spent nearly a month exploring Vietnam and was in awe of the country’s surreal landscapes, amazing food, and kind people,” American tourist Gentry Hale told Business Insider .
From kayaking in Ha Long Bay to exploring the lantern-lit streets of Hoi An, every moment was amazing. However, despite her love for the trip, she also encountered mistakes along the way.
American female tourist on the train street in Hanoi PHOTO: GENTRY HALE
Here are four mistakes Gentry Hale made that, in retrospect, she says, could have been easily avoided with proper preparation:
First, not fully understanding the customs
Vietnam’s beautiful and friendly culture was one of the highlights of the trip, but she admitted that she hadn’t done enough research on local customs.
“For example, I didn’t realize that pointing with your fingers is considered impolite in Vietnam and that locals often use their whole hands to gesture,” she wrote.
Also, while Google Translate is helpful, it would be nice to learn some basic Vietnamese words and phrases before arriving. While many of the locals she encountered spoke some English, they seemed to appreciate it when visitors could ask simple questions and share greetings in Vietnamese.
Scenery in Hue PHOTO: CLEMENT LEONARD
Second, choosing too many stops in one trip
Before arriving, she thought she would have nearly 3 weeks to see everything on her list: Hanoi , Ha Long Bay, Hoi An, Ho Chi Minh City and some other places in the Central region.
“What I didn’t realise was that Vietnam is huge and that although it looks like a narrow strip of land on the map, it can take hours – even days – to get from one place to another. I spent more time travelling than I wanted, from 16-hour overnight trains to all-day buses, which ate up a lot of my time.
So if I could do it again, I would focus on a few areas and spend more time in each area instead of trying to see every place on my list,” she emphasized.
Due to unforeseen time constraints, there were many things on her wish list that she did not have the chance to do, such as riding a motorbike in the Ha Giang loop in the Northwest.
She regrets not having ridden a motorbike to explore the Ha Giang loop. PHOTO: GENTRY HALE
Third, not bringing the right gear
Vietnam’s climate can vary depending on where you live, something she learned the hard way.
“Unfortunately, I didn’t check the weather forecast for each city carefully before leaving home so I didn’t pack my suitcase accordingly.
For example, I started my trip in Ho Chi Minh City in early October, which felt like a sauna due to the high temperature and humidity. However, two weeks later, I was in Hanoi, where the weather was cooler and there was more rain,” said Gentry Hale.
After hiking through the woods, exploring caves, and strolling the streets, she wished she had brought more breathable clothing.
She made a mistake by not thoroughly researching the weather in different regions of Vietnam. PHOTO: VITHUN KHAMSONG
Although most of the hotels she stayed at offered laundry services, there weren’t enough options to accommodate her desire to change her clothes.
“If you plan to visit Vietnam, I recommend bringing cool, light, layered clothes in case the weather changes, and a spare outfit in case you sweat faster than expected,” she shares.
Fourth, don’t know how to bargain
“One of my favourite things about Vietnam is wandering through the bustling markets. I picked up designer silk dresses in Hoi An, bought handmade leather goods in Hanoi and sampled some of the best food I’ve ever had at street stalls.
I loved going to the market but then realized I was paying too much for items, especially early in the trip,” she said.
While bargaining is a common part of market culture in Vietnam, it’s not something she would normally do back home.
Hale learned how to bargain when shopping in Vietnam. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
At first, she was also unsure of how much some things typically cost in this area, so she found it easiest to avoid negotiating and just pay whatever the seller asked.
“As my travels continued and I became more confident, I started asking for lower prices or package deals and realized that haggling wasn’t as big of an issue. Vendors were used to it and I could work with them to make smarter purchases.
Maybe I could have saved some money if I had approached this buying culture sooner.”
This year, people across Vietnam will enjoy an extended public holiday, with five consecutive days off for Reunification Day (April 30) and International Labor Day (May 1). The break will begin on Wednesday, April 30, and last until the end of Sunday, May 4. To compensate for the extended holiday, employees will be required to work on Saturday, April 26.
Meanwhile, the Hung Kings Commemoration Day, which falls on Monday, April 7 (the 10th day of the 3rd lunar month), will give workers a three-day weekend from April 5 to April 7, as it follows the regular Saturday–Sundayweekend.
For government offices, public employees, and workers following a standard Monday-to-Friday schedule, these holiday arrangements will apply uniformly. However, organizations and businesses with different working schedules are encouraged to arrange holidays based on their specific operational needs.
In cases where work requirements demand employees to work during public holidays, businesses may request staff to work overtime, subject to their agreement. According to the 2019 Labor Code, those who work on public holidays are entitled to extra pay under Article 98. Specifically, daytime work during Tet (Lunar New Year) is paid at 300% of the standard wage, while nighttime shifts on holidays and Tet are paid at 390% of the regular daily wage.
These upcoming holiday periods are expected to create favorable conditions for domestic tourism, family gatherings, and leisure activities across the country.
On March 4, the Ministry of Finance informed about tax management of e-commerce activities in recent times.
According to the Ministry of Finance, the electronic information portal for business households and individuals to register, declare, and pay taxes from e-commerce and digital business platforms has been in operation since December 19, 2024, and has supported 41,500 business households and individuals to register, declare, and pay taxes with a total amount of more than VND 258 billion.
The tax authority also worked with 6 major e-commerce platforms including Shopee, Tiki, Lazada, Sendo, Tiktok, and Grap to request and support the platforms to re-provide information to ensure it is correct and sufficient according to regulations.
After 9 periods of providing information from e-commerce trading floors (from Q4/2022 to Q4/2024), information was collected from 439 floors providing information to tax authorities, with 40 billion transactions and a total transaction value of VND 366 trillion. In addition, the Tax Department is also collecting information from shipping units and foreign suppliers who are online platform managers in Vietnam to enrich the e-commerce database.
Notably, in 2024, the tax sector handled 33,003 violations (736 enterprises; 32,267 individuals) with the amount of tax collected and fined being nearly 1.4 trillion VND.
In the coming time, the Ministry of Finance said it will study and propose amendments to the Law on Tax Administration, the Law on E-commerce and guiding documents in the direction of requiring logistics service providers and e-commerce platform managers to provide information on organizations and individuals doing e-commerce business, including organizations and individuals livestreaming sales, affiliate marketing sales…
Coordinate with relevant ministries and branches to propose amendments to specialized legal documents in the direction of requiring increased sanctions against e-commerce platforms that violate laws related to the field of e-commerce.
The Ministry of Finance will develop a Decree guiding the Law amending many Laws regulating the responsibilities of managers of e-commerce trading floors and digital platforms (including domestic and foreign organizations) in deducting, paying taxes on behalf of, and declaring deducted tax amounts on behalf of business households and individuals.
In addition, build a risk management model for organizations and individuals doing e-commerce business, accordingly apply artificial intelligence (AI) to process big data, give warnings in case of tax risks. “Strengthen the review, inspection and examination of organizations and individuals doing business in the field of e-commerce and business on digital platforms” – said a representative of the Ministry of Finance.
A seemingly harmless mistake sent the whole family to the emergency room, and doctors warn many people are making the same mistake.
Mr. Tran’s family in Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China had a terrible night when they were all poisoned by carbon monoxide (CO) after dinner at home.
According to a report from the Wenzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Mr. Tran’s family had dinner together at home. At night, all five members had symptoms of dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and loss of consciousness, so they went to the hospital for treatment.
Initially, doctors suspected food poisoning. However, test results showed that the whole family had severe carbon monoxide poisoning. Blood tests showed that the carboxyhemoglobin levels of the family members were high, 12.8% higher than normal.
The doctor’s diagnosis was hard for Mr. Tran to believe. He recalled that the family only used a gas stove to cook at home. After eating, they went to bed immediately. However, the doctor noted one detail: due to the hot weather, they had turned on the air conditioner all day and kept the doors closed.
Dr. Tri Dong – Head of the hospital’s Emergency Department, said that Mr. Tran’s family used a gas stove in a closed space, with the door closed and the air conditioner on continuously. This led to the accumulation of CO gas, and poor ventilation caused the whole house to be poisoned.
Acute CO poisoning is a state of acute oxygen deficiency caused by inhaling a large amount of CO gas in a short period of time, the main symptom is cerebral hypoxia. When carbon monoxide enters the blood, it will quickly combine with hemoglobin, forming carboxyhemoglobin, preventing the combination of oxygen with hemoglobin, causing hemoglobin to lose its ability to transport oxygen, thereby causing hypoxia to the organs.
If not treated promptly, CO poisoning can lead to death.
CO poisoning primarily manifests as symptoms of oxygen deprivation in various systems. The more severe the poisoning, the more dangerous the symptoms. The degree of poisoning is related to the concentration of carbon monoxide the patient inhales, the length of exposure to the environment, and the person’s own health status.
Mild poisoning will cause brain hypoxia and symptoms such as dizziness and headache, vertigo, tinnitus, nausea and vomiting may occur. Moderate poisoning has additional symptoms of facial flushing, fatigue, profuse sweating, coma or confusion. Severe poisoning patients may experience pulmonary edema, cerebral edema, coma, impaired consciousness, and even death.
Doctors remind people to pay attention to good ventilation when using gas stoves or other energy-burning appliances. In case of suspected poisoning, take three important measures:
– Move immediately out of the contaminated area to a place with fresh air.
– Open windows to increase ventilation.
– Seek medical help immediately even if symptoms seem mild.
AI is causing many jobs around the world to suffer.
DBS Group, Southeast Asia’s largest bank, plans to cut 4,000 jobs over the next three years due to the boom in artificial intelligence (AI) applications, Reuters reported. The announcement was made by CEO Piyush Gupta on February 24, 2025.
“We expect to reduce about 4,000 employees, or 10% of our workforce, over the next three years. However, we will create 1,000 new AI-related positions,” Gupta said.
Mr. Gupta admitted that for the first time in his 15 years as CEO, he has struggled to create new job opportunities as AI replaces many traditional roles. Mr. Gupta is expected to be replaced by Ms. Tan Su Shan on March 28, who will take over as leader of Southeast Asia’s largest bank.
DBS is known to be the largest bank in Southeast Asia by assets and among the largest banks in Asia, with total assets of SGD 739 billion as of December 31, 2023. The bank has just been honored by Global Finance of the US as “Safest Bank in Asia”.
DBS’s move reflects a growing trend in the global financial industry as AI reduces the role of many workers. It is predicted that banks around the world could cut up to 200,000 jobs in the next three to five years due to the impact of AI. A survey of chief information and technology officers found that they expect to cut an average of 3% of their workforce in the near future.
Expert Tomasz Noetzel said that departments that perform administrative work of the enterprise (back office), in charge of risk management and calculating profits and losses (middle office) and some service activities are most likely to be at risk.
“Any job that involves routine, repetitive tasks is at risk of being replaced,” Noetzel said. “But AI won’t replace it entirely. Instead, it will lead to a transformation of the workforce.”
So the new trend is not entirely negative for the labor market. Technology will mainly transform job roles rather than make many human resources positions suffer.
According to Fortune, in recent years, many banks have spent a lot of money and human resources to modernize information technology systems, speed up processes, and cut costs. Most of them apply AI to different degrees.
For example, Citi said in June 2024 that AI is likely to displace more jobs in banking than any other sector. “About 54% of high-potential banking jobs will be automated,” the company said.
Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan, also sees AI as having the potential to dramatically improve the quality of life for workers, even if it eliminates some jobs. “Your kids will live to be 100 and not get cancer because of technology,” Dimon said. “They’ll probably work three and a half days a week because of AI.”
Vietnam has agreed to expedite the repatriation of several dozen Vietnamese nationals detained in the U.S. and to handle future deportation requests more swiftly, following U.S. threats of trade tariffs and visa sanctions, according to a lawyer familiar with the matter.
This decision is part of a broader set of concessions Vietnam is considering to maintain stable trade relations with the U.S., its largest export market. Among America’s top trade partners, Vietnam is the most reliant on exports to the U.S., making potential tariffs a significant economic risk.
Faster Processing for U.S. Deportation Requests
As part of the new agreement, Vietnam has committed to processing U.S. deportation requests within 30 days—a significant acceleration compared to previous timelines, said Tin Thanh Nguyen, a U.S.-based immigration attorney.
Nguyen, who received details from a Vietnamese official, also stated that within the first month of the second Trump administration, Vietnam agreed to issue travel documents for 30 Vietnamese nationals currently in U.S. detention, clearing the way for their deportation.
“This is unusual,” Nguyen noted. “In the past, Vietnam often delayed or outright refused to issue these documents, making deportations difficult.”
When asked about Vietnam’s stance, Brian Hughes, spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, said:
“We expect all countries to take back their citizens who are in the U.S. illegally. Those that refuse will face consequences such as visa sanctions or tariffs.”
Vietnam’s foreign ministry has yet to respond to requests for comment. However, in a previous statement issued in February, a spokesperson reaffirmed that Vietnam would continue working closely with the U.S. on citizen repatriation in line with existing agreements.
Trade Risks Looming for Vietnam
Since the start of Trump’s second term, the U.S. has deported 37,660 people, primarily to Latin American countries. While the exact number of Vietnamese deportees remains unclear, some have reportedly been sent to Panama as part of deportation processing.
A Vietnamese official told Nguyen that the shift in Vietnam’s approach was triggered by warnings from U.S. authorities about potential trade tariffs and unspecified visa restrictions if Hanoi continued delaying deportations.
While Trump himself has not directly targeted Vietnam in his latest trade policies, his aides have raised concerns about Vietnam’s large trade surplus and trade barriers, putting the country at risk of future tariffs.
Vietnam is particularly vulnerable to any new global duties on semiconductors, as it is among the top exporters of chips to the U.S. Any restrictions on this sector could have serious economic consequences.
Who Is Affected?
Most of the 8,600 Vietnamese nationals currently facing deportation orders in the U.S. are individuals who originally entered the country as refugees before 1995, following the end of the Vietnam War.
While the latest agreement signals a willingness from Vietnam to comply with U.S. immigration policies, it also underscores the broader geopolitical and economic challenges shaping relations between the two countries.
Công ty TNHH T&G Global Việt Nam (“T&G Global”) và Công ty CP Dịch vụ Thương mại Tổng hợp WinCommerce (“WinCommerce”) ký kết biên bản ghi nhớ (MOU) nhằm thúc đẩy doanh số táo cao cấp ENVY™ thuộc sở hữu T&G Global, hướng đến mục tiêu tăng trưởng 50% trong hai năm tới tại thị trường Việt Nam.
Với hơn 8 năm hợp tác chiến lược, hai đơn vị ký kết biên bản ghi nhớ (MOU) tại TP. Hồ Chí Minh, dưới sự chứng kiến của Thủ tướng New Zealand, Ngài Christopher Luxon.
Thỏa thuận hợp tác này đánh dấu bước tiến quan trọng trong việc đưa sản phẩm táo cao cấp ENVY™ của T&G đến gần hơn với người tiêu dùng Việt Nam. Trong hai năm tới, sản lượng dự kiến sẽ tăng 50% nhờ vào việc mở rộng phân phối trên phần lớn hệ thống gần 4.000 cửa hàng của WinCommerce, bên cạnh việc đẩy mạnh thực hiện các chương trình khuyến mãi và trải nghiệm sản phẩm, giúp khách hàng dễ dàng tiếp cận tới táo ENVY™.
Quan hệ hợp tác giữa WinCommerce và T&G đặt trọng tâm vào cam kết mang sản phẩm táo cao cấp đến gần hơn với người tiêu dùng Việt
Ông Gareth Edgecombe, Tổng Giám đốc T&G Global, cho biết Việt Nam là thị trường tăng trưởng trọng điểm của T&G, và biên bản ghi nhớ này tiếp tục củng cố quan hệ hợp tác giữa công ty và WinCommerce. Trong năm năm qua, sản phẩm táo ENVY™ của T&G đã ghi nhận mức tăng trưởng mạnh mẽ về thị phần. Hiện nay, giữ 40% thị phần trong phân khúc, ENVY™ đã trở thành thương hiệu táo cao cấp dẫn đầu tại Việt Nam.”
Ông Gareth Edgecombe khẳng định: ”Là một phần trong chiến lược phát triển của ENVY™ tại châu Á, chúng tôi chú trọng mọi nỗ lực vào việc nhân rộng nhu cầu của người tiêu dùng Việt. Thông qua biên bản ghi nhớ này, mối quan hệ hợp tác giữa T&G Global và WinCommerce sẽ tiếp tục được củng cố, đồng thời nhấn mạnh cam kết chung của hai đơn vị trong việc mang đến cho nhiều khách hàng hơn cơ hội tiếp cận táo ENVY™ – dòng táo thơm ngon, chất lượng và luôn có mặt quanh năm.
“Câu chuyện của Táo ENVY™ thuộc T&G là một trong những thành công tiêu biểu của ngành nông nghiệp New Zealand. Được phát triển bởi các đối tác tại Viện Nghiên cứu Cây trồng và Thực phẩm New Zealand vào năm 2008, giống táo này hiện nay được chúng tôi cùng mạng lưới nông dân độc lập chăm sóc và trồng trọt tại New Zealand. Đặc biệt, bằng việc cấp phép cho các nông dân ở hơn 13 quốc gia, chúng tôi tự hào khi người tiêu dùng ở hơn 60 quốc gia có thể thưởng thức táo ENVY™ cao cấp mỗi ngày.
Với 70% sản lượng táo ENVY™ tại Việt Nam được trồng tại New Zealand, biên bản ghi nhớ này hứa hẹn sẽ đóng góp to lớn vào doanh thu xuất khẩu cho New Zealand và góp phần vào sự phát triển của nền kinh tế khu vực cũng như quốc gia.” ông Gareth Edgecombe cho biết thêm.
Bà Nguyễn Thị Phương, Tổng Giám đốc WinCommerce, chia sẻ: “Tại các siêu thị WinMart và cửa hàng WinMart+/WiN, chúng tôi luôn đặt việc cung cấp đa dạng các lựa chọn lên hàng đầu, đảm bảo người tiêu dùng Việt Nam có thể tiếp cận và trải nghiệm những sản phẩm chất lượng cao, dù là sản phẩm nội địa hay quốc tế.”
Khi đề cập đến những thành công thương mại và tiềm năng trong tương lai, bà Phương cũng khẳng định: “Táo ENVY™ ngày càng được ưa chuộng và lựa chọn bởi nhiều người tiêu dùng, điều này chứng tỏ tiềm năng to lớn của thị trường Việt Nam. Quan hệ hợp tác giữa WinCommerce và T&G thể hiện cam kết của chúng tôi trong việc mang đến cho khách hàng những trái táo chất lượng cao.”
Thủ tướng New Zealand, Ngài Christopher Luxon cùng đại diện các doanh nghiệp tại sự kiện Thương mại và Doanh nghiệp New Zealand
Thủ tướng New Zealand, Ngài Christopher Luxon, cho biết biên bản ghi nhớ này là một phần trọng yếu trong hành trình thúc đẩy tăng trưởng xuất khẩu: ”Chúng tôi đặt mục tiêu đầy tham vọng sẽ gấp đôi giá trị xuất khẩu trong vòng 10 năm tới, và ngành thực phẩm, sợi chất lượng cao dẫn đầu thế giới của New Zealand, cùng với sự đổi mới và năng suất là chìa khóa để chúng tôi chạm tay tới mục tiêu này. Theo đó, biên bản ghi nhớ giữa T&G và WinCommerce ra đời như một minh chứng cho hành trình chúng tôi hiện thực hóa mục tiêu đó.”
Danh mục sản phẩm táo của T&G đã có mặt tại Việt Nam hơn 15 năm, với văn phòng đại diện của công ty được thành lập tại TP. Hồ Chí Minh vào năm 2019. Hiện nay, táo của T&G chiếm 19% tổng lượng táo nhập khẩu từ New Zealand vào Việt Nam.
Vietnam is taking significant steps to attract foreign investment into its pharmaceutical industry by amending the 2016 Law on Pharmacy. The latest revision, outlined in Law No. 44/2024/QH15 (issued on November 21, 2024), will take effect on July 1, 2025, easing restrictions on foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) and expanding their business opportunities in the country’s growing pharmaceutical market.
Greater Market Access for Foreign Investors
The amendment to Article 53 of the Law on Pharmacy grants FIEs broader rights to operate in Vietnam’s pharmaceutical sector. Under the revised regulations, FIEs can now:
Repurchase drugs and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) produced in Vietnam through technology transfer agreements with their affiliated enterprises.
Import API supplies for drug manufacturing by local pharmaceutical companies that have technology transfer agreements with the same FIE.
Distribute imported, outsourced, or licensed-out drugs and APIs to wholesalers.
Import and distribute drugs intended for humanitarian aid and disease prevention/control programs.
Supply imported drugs and APIs for clinical trials sponsored by the FIE, ensuring direct delivery from warehouses to clinical trial facilities under technology transfer agreements.
Additionally, under the revised law, pharmaceutical companies will be allowed to import drugs without marketing authorization or import licenses if the products are exclusively used in government-approved clinical trials.
A Shift from Protectionism to Market Liberalization
Vietnam has historically maintained strict protectionist policies in its pharmaceutical sector, limiting the role of foreign investors. While the country extended import rights to foreign drug manufacturers in 2009—as part of its commitments to the World Trade Organization (WTO)—FIEs still faced substantial regulatory hurdles. To import pharmaceutical products, foreign firms had to establish wholly foreign-owned enterprises (WFOEs) or representative offices and navigate complex business arrangements between their local subsidiaries and parent companies.
A notable shift occurred in 2019 when the Ministry of Health (MoH), for the first time, granted an overseas drug manufacturer an import license, allowing them to introduce pharmaceutical products directly into the Vietnamese market. This decision was largely influenced by the European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), which pressured Vietnam to further open its pharmaceutical sector to foreign businesses.
However, despite these changes, foreign drug manufacturers remained restricted from engaging in direct drug distribution, as they were required to sell their products exclusively to local wholesalers or manufacturers.
Implications for Vietnam’s Pharmaceutical Industry
The upcoming amendments represent a major step toward liberalization, making Vietnam a more attractive destination for foreign pharmaceutical investment. By removing key restrictions, the government aims to:
Boost domestic drug development and manufacturing through increased foreign participation and technology transfer.
Enhance drug accessibility and supply chain efficiency by streamlining import and distribution processes.
Encourage clinical research and innovation by allowing direct importation of drugs for trials.
While Vietnam continues to balance economic openness with regulatory control, the new law signals a more investor-friendly approach, potentially transforming the country into a regional pharmaceutical hub in Southeast Asia.
The iconic floating markets of Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, once a vibrant symbol of the region’s unique culture, are steadily disappearing as economic development and modern infrastructure reshape local trade.
A Diminishing Legacy
As the first light of day spreads across Can Tho, the river hums with the sound of tour boats navigating its waters. In the distance, traditional wooden houseboats emerge from the mist, marking the presence of the once-thriving Cai Rang Floating Market.
For decades, floating markets like Cai Rang were the heart of commerce in southern Vietnam, dating back to the early 20th century when waterways served as the primary mode of trade and transportation. Before roads and bridges connected the delta’s provinces, boats laden with fresh produce, seafood, and household goods converged at these waterborne marketplaces.
However, over the past two decades, these markets have steadily declined—first gradually, then suddenly—mirroring Vietnam’s rapid economic transformation. Of the region’s ten major floating markets, only two remain active on a significant scale.
“When I first visited Cai Rang in 2011, it was much larger,” said Linh, a local tour guide. “Now it’s about a third of that size.”
At its peak in the 1990s, Cai Rang boasted over 400 boats. Today, that number has dwindled to around 200. Nearby Phong Dien Floating Market has all but vanished, with fewer than a dozen boats left, while Cai Be Market in Ben Tre province shut down completely in 2021.
A tour boat operator navigating the Can Tho River, a tributary of the Hau River, one of the main branches of the Mekong [Oliver Raw/Al Jazeera]
A Market in Decline
Despite its shrinking size, Cai Rang still presents a lively scene from afar. Boats loaded with pineapples, melons, and other produce bob along the water, while vendors call out to customers. But a closer look reveals a different story—tour boats now dominate the traffic, and the market’s commercial activity is fading.
Many sellers still live on their boats, their daily routines unfolding in full view. Families cook meals over small stoves, wash dishes in river water, and rest in hammocks alongside their children and pets. Yet beneath the market’s charm, a growing sense of uncertainty looms.
“Business is not good,” said Phuc, a pineapple seller who now relies mostly on tourists. On some days, she sells just ten pineapples at 20,000 Vietnamese dong ($0.78) each. “Only in high season do we make enough money. The rest of the time, we’re barely surviving.”
Two years ago, Phuc and her husband Thanh worked as wholesalers, selling yams they sourced from Long An province, near Ho Chi Minh City. Every week, they undertook a multi-day journey to restock their boat. But as roads and highways expanded, land-based trade became faster, cheaper, and more efficient, undercutting the need for river-based commerce.
“The only people still working here are those who can’t afford a van or a big car to transport goods,” Thanh explained.
Tuyen, a wholesaler selling onions, garlic, and sweet potatoes, echoed their concerns. “Ten years ago, I made good money. Now, it’s just enough to get by,” she said while preparing a breakfast of fish soup on her boat.
For many traders, the COVID-19 pandemic was a breaking point. Unable to sustain their businesses, many abandoned the water to seek work on land. But for those like Tuyen, the cost of renting a market stall—around 5 million Vietnamese dong ($195) per month—remains prohibitive.
“I’d prefer to work on land—it’s more comfortable and convenient,” she admitted. “But I simply don’t have the money.”
More Than Just Infrastructure Changes
While improved roads are often cited as the primary reason for the markets’ decline, other factors have also contributed.
Many smaller markets never recovered from pandemic closures, as health regulations accelerated a shift to land-based trade. Government-led flood prevention efforts—such as the construction of floodwalls along the Can Tho River—have also made docking and unloading goods more difficult, further discouraging vendors.
But perhaps the biggest threat comes from cultural shifts. As Vietnam modernizes, younger generations are moving away from traditional trades.
“My daughter doesn’t want to work here,” Phuc admitted. “She’d rather work for a company and invest in stocks. She doesn’t like this life.”
For many in Can Tho, floating markets are no longer essential. Supermarkets and shopping malls now dominate retail, leaving little reason for locals to visit Cai Rang.
“For me, it’s nothing special,” said a hotel receptionist, who has visited the market only once.
The Future of Cai Rang
Despite this, Cai Rang remains a crucial part of Can Tho’s tourism industry, which accounted for 6% of the city’s economy before the pandemic. In 2017, Can Tho welcomed 7.5 million visitors, though this number dropped to 5.9 million in 2023 due to fewer domestic flights and lingering post-pandemic effects.
If the floating market disappears, reviving tourism could become even more challenging.
Some, like Son Ca Huynh, a local tour operator, believe the market’s survival depends on reinventing it as a tourist attraction rather than a commercial hub. She points to Bangkok’s floating markets, where vendors sell a diverse array of goods, from souvenirs to street food.
“At Bangkok’s markets, they sell many different things,” she explained. “Here, we sell mostly fruit and vegetables.”
For such a transformation to work, she argues, authorities would need to invest in infrastructure, such as new piers and financial support for traders—though she doubts this will happen given the high costs.
Even if it did, she worries the market would lose its authenticity. “It wouldn’t be the same,” she said.
A Fading Tradition
By 8 a.m., trading at Cai Rang slows to a halt. Vendors retreat to their houseboats, seeking respite from the rising sun.
Linh, the tour guide, fears the clock is ticking. “Cai Rang may not last much longer,” she said. “When it’s gone, I’ll have to find another job.”
As Vietnam continues its march toward modernization, it seems inevitable that its floating markets will become little more than a memory—preserved in photographs, stories, and the nostalgia of those who once called them home.
