Vietnam's 2.5 million hectares of acacia plantations support around 1.5 million households, yet 80% of the timber still goes into low-value woodchips and pellets instead of furniture and other higher-value products.

Two new 5G smartphones launched in Vietnam on October 8 offer batteries exceeding 8,000mAh, promising longer usage between charges. However, both models come with charging-speed limitations and other trade-offs.

Businesses in Vietnam are calling for predictable tax policies, clearer implementation timelines and better coordination between laws, warning that inconsistent interpretations and retrospective tax assessments could create uncertainty.

Major car brands in Vietnam are offering steep discounts, registration fee support, fuel vouchers and free charging this October as they seek to boost sales and clear inventory ahead of year-end.

Vietnam is considering a 0.2% annual tax on unused land, potentially costing owners of a $3.85 million plot around $7,700 a year. An economist argues the rate should rise the longer land remains idle.

Vietnamese forward Nguyen Dinh Bac will miss the first two group-stage matches of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup if selected for the national team, as a suspension stemming from his red card at the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup remains in force.

Some iPhone 18 Pro owners say their phones are changing color after weeks of use, with burgundy models appearing most affected. 

Nine scientists working in Vietnam have secured places among the world's 10,000 most influential researchers in Elsevier's 2026 rankings. The country also has 75 researchers in the global top 100,000, two more than last year.

Around 150 Messi supporters gathered at a HCM City cafe to watch the Argentine legend's final international appearance. For many, the emotional farewell marked not just the end of a football era, but the closing of a chapter in their own lives.

Vietnam's Emoura Pham turned heads in the swimsuit and evening gown rounds of Miss Grand International 2026 in Bangkok on October 7, after her team made a last-minute gown change following criticism from pageant fans.

Tran Van Phuc, a major general and former provincial police chief, has been confirmed as deputy chairman of the Communist Party of Vietnam's Central Inspection Commission for the 2026-2031 term.

Police in southern Vietnam have opened four criminal cases involving five suspects and seized more than $146,000 worth of goods bearing major fashion labels. Investigators say expert analysis, not logos alone, determines trademark infringement.

Heavy rain has flooded parts of central Vietnam, prompting Da Nang to deploy nearly 130 military personnel and prepare amphibious armored vehicles for rescue operations. A man remains missing after a boat capsized on a swollen river.

Central Vietnam faces further downpours, with rainfall potentially exceeding 300mm in some areas, while southern provinces face growing flood risks as heavy rain coincides with high tides. Cooler, wetter weather is also expected in Hanoi.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung received an official welcome in Vientiane on October 8, as the two neighbors prepared for high-level talks and the expected signing of more than 10 cooperation agreements.

An 80-90kg turtle came ashore during heavy rain on October 7. By morning, conservation workers had found her nest on the southern Vietnamese island and moved all 82 eggs to a protected incubation area.

Vietnam's National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man will visit China from October 11 to 15 for high-level parliamentary talks, as the two countries deepen cooperation in trade, investment and infrastructure connectivity.

Vietnam's savvy online shoppers account for just 25% of buyers but spend 44% more each month than regular consumers, highlighting a shift in the country's e-commerce market toward trust, quality and long-term value.

Train ticket volume on Vexere rose 33.6% during Tet (Lunar New Year) 2026, with 78% of customers buying train tickets on the platform for the first time.

Cost advantages for Vietnamese enterprises no longer hold as they did before. So, how will businesses compete over the next three to five years?

Concerned about the heavy use of fertilizers and pesticides, a farmer in Vietnam's Mekong Delta turned to organic rice cultivation, building a business that now earns him up to VND2 billion ($76,000) in annual profit.

Spillover effects from the foreign invested economic sector onto the national economy remain minor. Experts say Vietnam must rapidly increase productivity, adopt AI, and deepen participation in global supply chains.

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra held a working session in Hanoi on October 7 with César Louis-Philip Marseille, Managing Director of VAMED Engineering GmbH of Austria and member of the Board of Directors of VAMED+WWH Group of Germany.

Each autumn, buckwheat flowers add soft hues to the grey stone landscape of the Dong Van Karst Plateau, attracting visitors to winding roads, mountain villages and cultural sites in the northern province of Tuyen Quang. 

The World Bank has raised its forecast for Vietnam’s economic growth in 2026 by 1.1 percentage points to 7.4%, citing stronger-than-expected manufacturing and exports of high-tech and artificial intelligence (AI)-related goods.