Economy
Vietnam, Philippines and Brunei to join cross-border QR payment scheme
ASEAN-wide arrangement would ease reliance on U.S. dollar
![Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong tells Vietnamese college students in Ho Chi Minh City that both countries want to "not be encroached upon or be unable to [prosper] because of a greater power" on Aug. 23. (Photo by Lien Hoang)](https://www.ft.com/__origami/service/image/v2/images/raw/https%3A%2F%2Fcms-image-bucket-production-ap-northeast-1-a7d2.s3.ap-northeast-1.amazonaws.com%2Fimages%2F9%2F8%2F9%2F8%2F46418989-1-eng-GB%2FIMG-5870(1).jpg?width=300&fit=cover&gravity=faces&dpr=2&quality=medium&source=nar-cms&format=auto&height=168)
International relations
Australia to upgrade Vietnam ties, foreign minister says
Penny Wong touts shared interest in protecting nations 'regardless of size'
IPO
Vietnam unicorn VNG files for Nasdaq IPO after EV maker VinFast
App from loss-making startup is more popular at home than Facebook
DealStreetAsia
VinFast CEO Thuy Le calls EV opportunities 'enormous'
Executive sees company breaking even in 1 to 2 years amid focus on sales
Property
Vietnam hopes property shakeup will remedy supply-demand mismatch
Echoes of China as bond defaults mount and real estate deals slow
South China Sea
Vietnam said to plan military buildup on South China Sea footholds
Spratlys project risks backlash from China and Philippines over competing claims
Automobiles
Pressure on Vietnam EV maker VinFast to live up to Nasdaq splash
Newcomer automaker looks to win over drivers in crowded global electric market
Commodities
India's rice export ban brings chaos to Thai market
Surging demand sparks speculative hoarding, undercuts export opportunity
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Technology
Vietnam's plan to block users puts internet access at risk
Biden trip seen as chance for U.S. to discuss authoritarian censorship online
The Big Story
China's grip on Southeast Asia tightens as U.S. influence wanes
From Vietnam to Indonesia, development aid and 'Asian values' drive Beijing's dominance
Life
Vietnam's popular sailing junks face extinction
Traditional wooden vessels to be banned from famous Ha Long Bay due to accidents
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IPO
Vietnam EV maker VinFast to list on Nasdaq via SPAC
Delayed $23bn deal to see rare U.S. listing from Southeast Asian nation
Food & Beverage
Vietnamese craft beers make splash in Japan, Singapore
Breweries like Pasteur Street take fresh approach with local fruits and spices
Arts
Vietnamese designer takes traditional dress to the world
Lan Huong makes international splash with sustainability as central goal
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Business Spotlight
TikTok takes on Shopee, Tokopedia in ASEAN e-commerce race
Buyers and sellers flock to shopping feature while authorities fret
Automobiles
Vietnam Vingroup's ambition to take on Tesla hits bumpy road
VinFast struggles to generate profit amid heavy upfront investment
Materials
Southeast Asia-bound wastepaper prices slump on weak demand
Prices of exports from the West and Japan have plunged by around half
Supply Chain
Vietnam asks Samsung to create talent pipeline of local executives
Factories expand in Southeast Asian country even with tax break requests
Markets
Global investors pivot from flagging China to India, Vietnam
China dethroned as top emerging Asian market due to economic, geopolitical risks
DealStreetAsia
Vietnam's Touchstone Partners set to launch second fund
Homegrown venture capital firm sees promise in country's tech sector
International relations
Blackpink takes Vietnam by storm, riding Korean economic wave
Superstars' concert is just one way South Korean influence has engulfed country
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Asia's Age of Hydropolitics
Vietnam's Mekong Delta is sinking, but innovations offer hope
From lotus farms to 'floating rice,' farmers get creative in face of China dams, climate change
Food & Beverage
Japan ramen chain Hachi-Ban to expand in Thailand, Vietnam
Company to open new central kitchen, increase number of shops
Technology
Vietnam's tax agency turns to AI to spot evasion, increase revenue
Payments by Big Tech firms also rise as one-party state steps up scrutiny
Work
Vietnam's IT workers will be tough for Japan to attract
Higher wages push Asian graduates to U.S., European companies