VIETNAM TODAY

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on March 9 held phone talks with Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah to discuss regional situation and bilateral ties.

Two unexploded mortar shells were discovered while digging the foundation for a fence at a house in Gia Lai Province, prompting authorities to secure the area.

The unofficial USD exchange rate in Vietnam has surged past VND 27,000 per dollar, nearly VND 900 higher than bank rates, as many lenders list the currency at their ceiling prices.

Passenger train fares in Vietnam have increased by 10 per cent, while freight charges have risen 15 per cent after diesel prices surged sharply.

Traffic police in Tuyen Quang Province have fined a bus driver and the vehicle’s operator more than VND 220 million (about USD 8,365) for carrying far more passengers than permitted.

A rescue worker in Cua Lo Ward in the central province of Nghe An saved a male tourist who suffered a cramp while swimming in rough seas.

An American tourist has recovered a handbag containing a large amount of money after accidentally leaving it at Dong Hoi Airport while travelling to Hanoi.

Leaders of Ho Chi Minh City attended the groundbreaking ceremony on March 9 for a clean food processing plant worth more than VND 6 trillion (USD 235 million).

Authorities in Phu Tho Province on March 9 safely destroyed a bomb discovered along the bank of the Da River after it was spotted by local fishermen.

Vietnam’s finance ministry has proposed cutting the most-favoured-nation import tariff on several fuel products to 0 per cent as a temporary measure to stabilise supply and strengthen energy security.

Vietnam’s stock market tumbled at the start of trading on March 9 as oil prices surged to USD 118 a barrel, triggering widespread sell-offs and sending the VN-Index down more than 100 points.

Vietnam ranks 52nd globally and 8th in Asia in the Innovation Business Environment Index (IBEI) released by StartupBlink.

A new cold air mass is forecast to bring rain and cooler temperatures to northern Vietnam, with some mountainous areas expected to see temperatures drop below 14 degrees Celsius.

Vingroup has proposed building a 14-km sea-crossing route connecting Can Gio with Vung Tau, with construction expected to begin in the second quarter of 2026.

Several passenger transport firms serving routes from Ho Chi Minh City have raised ticket prices after a sharp rise in fuel costs linked to tensions in the Middle East.

Vietnam is forecast to face earlier and longer heatwaves this year as climate change and shifting climate patterns increase the intensity and unpredictability of extreme weather.