Politics

Vietnamese President Nguyen Phu Trong speaks at a news conference after the closing ceremony of 13th National Congress of Vietnam's ruling Communist Party in Hanoi on Feb. 1. Trong was re-elected as party general secretary for an unprecedented third term.
Politics

Vietnam top communist Trong's 3rd term heralds next leader race

Party chief faces challenges in China and Biden's expected focus on human rights

1 February 2021
Vietnam Communist party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong applauds during a party meeting in Hanoi, Jan. 31, 2021. He has been re-elected for another term as the country's de-facto top leader.
Politics

Vietnam general secretary Trong elected to unprecedented 3rd term

Communist party chief credited with stabilizing state affairs amid COVID pandemic

31 January 2021
A Vietnamese soldier stands guard near an image of communist leader Ho Chi Minh at the National Convention Center in Hanoi, the venue for the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Jan. 28, 2021. REUTERS/Kham
Coronavirus

Vietnam on high alert as COVID outbreak hits Hanoi amid congress

Clutch of 93 cases detected, 80 of which linked to person infected with UK variant

29 January 2021
Nearly 1,600 delegates gather in the National Convention Center in Hanoi for the opening ceremony of the Communist Party of Vietnam's twice-a-decade National Congress on Jan. 26.
Politics

Vietnam congress to map out path to high-income status by 2045

PM Phuc says party must address shortcomings for nation to realize aspirations

26 January 2021
People on two-wheeled vehicles drive past a poster for the upcoming 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam on Jan. 23 in Hanoi.
Politics

Vietnam's new leadership up for grabs as Communist congress opens

All eyes on Trong, who might defy tradition by remaining as general secretary

25 January 2021
Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping before a meeting at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, in Jan. 2020.
Politics

Laos' new leader to play balancing act between China and Vietnam

New secretary-general looks to largest lender Beijing despite strong ties with Hanoi

20 January 2021
Laos Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has been elected as the country's secretary-general. (Photo by Manami Yamada)
Politics

Laos promotes PM Thongloun as leader of communist party

Under new secretary-general, impoverished nation expected to pivot futher to China

15 January 2021
A souvenir seller who is a supporter of Donald Trump shows images of the President at his shop in Hanoi on Nov. 5, 2020: Trump's anti-China rhetoric resonated with Vietnamese sensibilities.
Opinion

Vietnam's unlikely love affair with Donald Trump

Huge support is the culmination of centuries of national identity development

5 January 2021
Human rights activist Le Van Dun, right, livestreams on Facebook in a coffee shop in Hanoi.
Technology

Asia dilemma: social networks pressed by Turkey and Vietnam to censor critics

YouTube and Facebook weigh reputation damage of bowing to repressive governments

3 January 2021
U.S. President Donald Trump and Vietnamese President Nguyen Phu Trong make their way to a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi on Feb. 27, 2019.
Politics

Vietnam's leader wants a successor tough on corruption

General secretary's decision at January congress in focus as candidates jockey

25 December 2020
General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong, right, and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, left, are preparing for the Communist Party of Vietnam's next congress. The meeting will decide the leadership lineup and goals for the next five years.
Asia Insight

Vietnam's Communists brace for next 5 years after big 2020

Party has COVID, Big Tech and dissent under control; can it keep economy humming?

22 December 2020
Garment workers seen at a factory in Haiphong: Vietnam now has the fourth-largest trade surplus against the U.S. (Photo courtesy of the International Labour Organization)
Trade

Vietnam, with larger trade surplus than Japan, draws US ire

Currency manipulator label likely to hamper 'China plus one' strategy

18 December 2020
Vietnam is racing to produce its own COVID-19 vaccine, which could provide it with health security and export opportunities.
Coronavirus

Vietnam eyes launch of homemade COVID vaccine in 2nd half of 2021

Nanogen Pharmaceutical receives go-ahead to start clinical trials of Nanocovax

11 December 2020
Biden has suggested three agenda items for his summit: fighting corruption, anti-authoritarianism, and human rights.
Opinion

Asia's wise heads are wrong to dismiss Biden's big idea

President-elect's democracy push is worth considering

9 December 2020
Three powerful women in Vietnam, from left: Vice-President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and State Bank of Vietnam Gov. Nguyen Thi Hong
Politics

Vietnam women break glass ceiling as central bank chief appointed

More take posts at top of government in still male-dominated society

4 December 2020
 A liquefied natural gas tanker docks near the Futtsu power plant in Japan: LNG produces less carbon emissions than many other types of fossil fuels. (Photo by Shinya Sawai)
Energy

Vietnam teams with Japan and US for low-carbon electricity

LNG-fired power plants seen as part of plan to offset Chinese influence

4 December 2020
Delegates sing "The Internationale" at the closing ceremony of the Vietnamese Communist Party's National Congress in Hanoi on Jan. 28, 2016.
Politics

Vietnam races to protect Communist congress as COVID reemerges

Foreigners may face ban on entering nation ahead of crucial political event

3 December 2020
India's Red Fort prepares for Independence Day celebrations. The country is considering legislation to strengthen control over data collected within its borders.
Century of Data

Asian countries build data fortresses to protect new national assets

Limits on cross-border flows hurt business and risk leaving countries poorer

26 November 2020
China is expanding its sway over Southeast Asia during the latest ASEAN summit, seeing an opening in U.S. absence. (Photo courtesy of the ASEAN Secretariat/Kusuma Pandu WIjay)
International relations

China tightens ASEAN grip while US looks inward

Beijing fills diplomatic void left by America's chaotic presidential transition

14 November 2020
Vietnam's National Assembly has two days left in which to work out details of a half-billion-dollar rescue of cash-strapped flag carrier Vietnam Airlines.
Economy

Vietnam Airlines awaits rescue package from National Assembly

Lawmakers consider capital increase and loans worth $520mn

13 November 2020
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, center, speaking during a virtual summit with ASEAN leaders on Thursday. (VNA via AP)
International relations

ASEAN discusses regional travel corridor for faster COVID recovery

Indonesia president hopes new plan will be in operation in by early 2021

12 November 2020
Women from the Asian and Vietnamese community participate in a rally supporting Donald Trump on October 10 in Bellevue, Washington. 
US elections 2020

Trump factor spurs Asian Americans to switch political allegiance

Vietnamese and Filipinos still lead in supporting Republican incumbent

3 November 2020
Vietnamese are pulling for a Donald Trump victory in the U.S. president's reelection bid against former Vice President Joe Biden, seeing Trump as a defender of Southeast Asia against an aggressive China. (Nikkei montage/source photos by AP and Reuters)
US elections 2020

Vietnam majority roots for Trump's hard line on China

Onetime war enemy stands out in Southeast Asia with its support for US president

2 November 2020
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Vietnamese Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh. The U.S. is courting Vietnam as it expands its "Free and Open Indo-Pacific" strategy.
International relations

Pompeo in Vietnam warns Beijing over South China Sea

US secretary of state meets Vietnam Prime Minister Phuc in Hanoi

30 October 2020
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo walks to board an aircraft in Colombo, Sri Lanka on Oct. 28.
Indo-Pacific

Pompeo adds Vietnam to current Asia tour as relations deepen

Countries celebrate 25 years of diplomatic ties, but trade tensions emerge

29 October 2020