VIETNAM TODAY

VinFast Vietnam has secured a USD 200 million financing package backed by Italy's export credit agency SACE and arranged by three international banks to support investment and research activities.

An endangered elongated tortoise found in Quang Tri Province has been handed over to a wildlife rescue centre at Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park for care before a possible release into the wild.

Three earthquakes struck at midday on September 17 in Tra Giap, Tra Tan and Tra Tap communes, Danang City.

Hanoi has raised flood alerts on several rivers after prolonged heavy rain pushed water levels above warning thresholds, raising the risk of flooding and landslides in low-lying areas.

Heavy overnight rain flooded parts of Hanoi on September 17, disrupting traffic and prompting surprise among commuters after several large fish were spotted swimming through inundated streets.

A pre-dawn house fire in a narrow alley in Ho Chi Minh City left two people dead and five others injured on September 17, authorities said.

Authorities in the central province of Ha Tinh have destroyed more than 20,000 traps and other devices used to capture migratory birds as part of a stepped-up crackdown on illegal wildlife hunting.

Several schools in Hanoi suspended in-person classes and moved lessons online on September 17 after heavy rain caused widespread flooding and made travel unsafe for students.

Northern and north-central Vietnam are forecast to see continued heavy rain and thunderstorms on September 17, with very heavy downpours in some areas.

HCM City and southern Vietnam are forecast to see prolonged heavy rain from September 18 to 24, with rainfall of 150-300mm and more than 300mm expected in some areas.

Vietnam has recorded 54 rabies deaths so far this year, although the disease is preventable if people exposed through dog or cat bites receive prompt wound care and vaccination.

Heavy rain from the night of September 16 into the morning of September 17 left many streets in Hanoi deeply flooded, disrupting traffic across the capital.

Heavy rain and flooding in recent days have inundated 1,550 homes in Ninh Binh, Thanh Hoa and Nghe An provinces and damaged nine others in Lao Cai and Thanh Hoa, authorities said.

Danang City has designated four airspace zones for unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operations, with operators required to obtain permits and comply with flight regulations.

Quang Ninh authorities have warned residents and tourists after Chrysaora jellyfish, which can cause painful skin irritation, were spotted at a beach in Hon Gai and nearby waters.

The East Sea is forecast to see three to five more storms by the end of 2026, with one or two potentially affecting Vietnam's mainland, along with eight to 10 spells of heavy rain.

Authorities in Danang have uncovered human remains, clothing fragments and ammunition during an excavation at a school in Hoi An, raising suspicions of a wartime mass grave.

Air quality around Long Thanh International Airport has improved in 2026 as construction nears completion and dust levels fall, according to Dong Nai's Department of Agriculture and Environment.

Riverbank erosion is threatening residential areas across An Giang Province during the rainy and flood season, damaging homes, roads and infrastructure and forcing families to relocate.