VIETNAM TODAY

All tourist boats operating in Ha Long Bay in the northern province of Quang Ninh have been halted since July 20 to ensure safety ahead of Storm Wipha.

Several coastal provinces in Vietnam have banned all vessels and transport activities at sea from the morning of July 21, as Typhoon Wipha approaches with potentially severe impacts.

Two Ha Long Bay cruise operators have apologised for holding fireworks shows on July 19, while authorities were searching for victims of a boat accident that left dozens dead or missing.

Residents gathered on Sunday night at the lighthouse pier in Ha Long Ward, lighting incense and offering flowers to pray for four victims still missing after the Vinh Xanh 58 boat capsized.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has urged stronger innovation and digital transformation to enhance government operations and help meet Vietnam’s economic growth target of 8.3-8.5 per cent this year.

The sixth Global Forum for Young Vietnamese Intellectuals wrapped up in Hanoi on July 20, drawing more than 500 delegates from inside and outside the country, both in person and online.

Vietnamese authorities are ramping up emergency measures as Typhoon Wipha approaches, with forecasts warning of heavy rainfall and strong winds across northern and central provinces.

Once seen as a key transport hub for Quang Ninh, Ha Long Station has remained inactive since 2021, with only four staff left to maintain the site.

Ho Chi Minh City plans to treat 90 per cent of its household waste using advanced technologies by 2030, but legal and administrative challenges remain.

Alongside the salvage efforts, rescue teams worked through the night, expanding the search area to ensure no victims were left behind.

Hanoi plans to launch a technology exchange in early 2026 as part of efforts to promote innovation, R&D commercialisation and accelerate the city’s transition towards a knowledged–based economy.

The “US Agricultural Discovery” programme, co-hosted by the US Department of Agriculture and the US Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, kicked off in the southern hub on July 19.

At least 35 people have been confirmed dead after a tour boat carrying 49 passengers capsized in Ha Long Bay during a sudden storm on the afternoon of July 19.

All six students on the Vietnamese national team have won medals at the 66th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) in 2025, including two golds, three silvers, and one bronze.

Typhoon Wipha has entered the East Sea and is expected to bring heavy rain to northern and central Vietnam.

A red-crowned crane brought from Thailand to Vietnam’s Tram Chim National Park has died after failing to adapt to its new environment.

A 51-year-old domesticated elephant in Vietnam’s Dak Lak Province was found dead, possibly after falling onto a tree stump while mating.

US cherries are being sold in Vietnam at record-low prices after China imposed tighter import restrictions, with some supermarkets offering prices as low as VND 189,000 (USD 7.42) per kilo.

Hanoi will invest over VND 383 billion (around USD 15 million) to reduce flooding in key inner-city areas following severe inundation during the 2024 rainy season.