Vietnamese lawmakers have praised the government’s flexible and proactive leadership during a turbulent term, while urging stronger action on food safety, healthcare oversight and environmental protection.

Prosecutors in Hanoi have recommended penalties for 23 defendants in a corruption case linked to Hoang Dan Investment and Construction Co., including a proposed 4–5 year prison sentence for former deputy minister Hoang Van Thang on a bribery charge.

The launch of the National Australia – Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NAVCCI) marks a new step forward in promoting economic, trade and investment ties at the local level between the two countries.

Industrial parks and export processing zones in HCM City secured $772.14 million in investment in the first quarter of 2026, including both newly registered and expanded projects, fulfilling 18.17% of the city’s annual target of $4.25 billion.

Vietnam’s agro-forestry-fishery exports reached 16.69 billion USD in the first three months of 2026, up 5.9% year-on-year, announced a regular press briefing held by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment in Hanoi on April 1.

A nationwide programme aimed at nurturing a new generation of business leaders capable of driving green transition and digital transformation has been approved, with plans to train 10,000 managing directors for Vietnam’s private sector by 2030.

The programme was not merely a competition but also a celebration of creativity, cultural understanding, and the power of language in connecting people.

As part of its deployment plan, Starlink will build four gateway stations in Phu Tho, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City to ensure stable connectivity while complying with Vietnam’s cybersecurity requirements.

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) on April 1 approved a funding proposal submitted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in coordination with the Vietnamese Government for a results-based payment project under the REDD+ mechanism.

In the first three months, more than 25,000 cases of hand, foot and mouth disease have been recorded nationwide, including four fatalities, an official revealed at a workshop held by the Department of Medical Service Administration.

Soaring oil prices drove up fuel, transportation and logistics expenses, with nearly half of surveyed firms reporting higher input costs – the sharpest increase since April 2022.

The airline operated nearly 43,000 flights in the first three months of 2026, up 11% year-on-year, carrying nearly 6.9 million passengers, an increase of nearly 12%, in line with market trends.

Vietnam’s forest coverage rate remained stable at 42.03% in 2025, with total forest area estimated at 14,971,553 ha, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment (MAE).

Authorities in Dak Lak have proposed the construction of a Cultural and Arts Center with a total investment of VND1.1 trillion (US$45 million), aiming to enrich local cultural life and serve communities across the Central Highlands.

As a strategic project backed by both governments and listed as a priority in bilateral cooperation, the Laos–Vietnam railway has a planned total length of around 562 km.

Ho Chi Minh City is weighing a plan to waive bus fares for all residents as part of a broader push to curb traffic congestion and environmental pollution, Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Tran Luu Quang said at a meeting on April 1.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has issued a dispatch directing ministries, sectors and localities to accelerate the development of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure in urban areas and apartment buildings.

A sea tourism route connecting Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh and Lan Ha Bay in Hai Phong was officially launched on April 1, marking a major step toward unlocking the shared value of the UNESCO-recognised heritage area spanning the two destinations.

Vietnam’s Ambassador to France Trinh Duc Hai held a working session in Paris on April 1 with Michel Criaud, President of the France – Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Group, alongside other members.

The sci-tech sector contributed 133.5 trillion VND to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in March, a 28% increase from the same period last year.