Lan Tay gas platform operated by Rosneft Vietnam in the South China Sea, pictured in April 2018: Malaysia pursues unilateral energy exploration activities in areas claimed by both China and Vietnam.
Opinion

Malaysia and Vietnam must unite against China, not fight each other

Beijing's brazen opportunism should unify ASEAN in South China Sea

16 July 2020
Petrolimex is the top gasoline seller in Vietnam, but it owns no refineries. (Photo by Tomoya Onishi)
Energy

Vietnam bid to invest in Japan refinery stalls

Petrolimex's venture with Eneos stuck ahead of Hanoi leadership shuffle

9 July 2020
A Jetstar Pacific plane at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi: Qantas Airways plans to sell its stake in the carrier to joint venture partner Vietnam Airlines.
Transportation

Vietnam blocks new airlines until 2022 despite market duopoly

Hanoi prioritizes existing carriers Vietnam Air and VietJet

7 July 2020
Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning takes part in a military drill in the Pacific Ocean. 
South China Sea

Stalled South China Sea code stokes fears of China power grab

Coronavirus blocks in-person talks between ASEAN and Beijing

1 July 2020
Japan is eager to reopen business travel to and from a number of territories, including Taiwan, Brunei, Myanmar and Singapore, but not China.
Coronavirus

Japan puts Taiwan and Brunei atop its business travel agenda

Myanmar also considered as Tokyo moves to undo coronavirus restraints

30 June 2020
In this photo by Xinhua News Agency, an honor guard raises the Chinese flag during a commissioning ceremony for China's Shandong aircraft carrier at a naval port in Sanya in southern China's Hainan Province on Dec. 17, 2019. 
South China Sea

China to start military drills around disputed Paracel Islands

Announcement prohibits all shipping in the area for five days from July 1

29 June 2020
Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chairs the ASEAN summit on June 26. The meeting hosted by Hanoi took place online.
International relations

ASEAN stresses freedom of overflight above South China Sea

Virtual summit leaves door open for India to sign up to RCEP by end of 2020

27 June 2020
Passengers check in at Narita Airport near Tokyo for the charter flight to Vietnam on June 25.
International relations

Vietnam welcomes first Japanese business flyers since reopening

440 corporate reps and engineers set to arrive in Southeast Asian nation by Saturday

25 June 2020
Nguyen Xuan Phuc has no desire to replace Indonesia as the organization's de facto leader.
Opinion

Vietnam shows ASEAN valuable new form of leadership

With no one country out in front, it makes sense for members to pick specific areas

25 June 2020
A video conference with ASEAN leaders in April: Friday’s virtual summit will be chaired by Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc. 
International relations

ASEAN to devise post-COVID plan for 'long-term immunity'

Vietnam will chair online summit that will also discuss South China Sea dispute

25 June 2020
Vietnam Airlines crew members and passengers arrive at Noi Bai international airport in Hanoi, Vietnam. 
Interview

Europe urges Vietnam to restart flights as FTA takes effect

EU and EuroCham see country as gateway to enhancing Southeast Asia links

23 June 2020
China is planning massive military exercises as early as this summer.
International relations

Southeast Asia's defense cuts create opening for China

ASEAN's focus on pandemic fight risks sowing discord with US

20 June 2020
Hanoi enjoys a rare no-traffic day in April, before Vietnam's coronavirus lockdown was lifted. The Southeast Asian nation is looking to maintain a high pace of economic growth.
Economy

Vietnam speeds up big projects to heal economy from pandemic

Newly approved $9bn resort had been waiting for approval for years

18 June 2020
Vietnam and Japan have agreed to a trial project in which a chartered flight for Japanese business people will be allowed to land in the Southeast Asian nation.
Coronavirus

Japanese business travel to Vietnam to resume with trial flight

Up to 250 executives to take part in first trip after clearing coronavirus test

15 June 2020
Vietnam is anxious to resume international flights, especially those between important trade and tourist partners, in hopes of restarting its stalled economy.
Economy

Vietnam to resume flights to Guangzhou, Taiwan, Seoul and Tokyo

Hanoi to make crucial step to reach 5% GDP growth target to rise from pandemic

11 June 2020
A Filipino soldier patrols the shores of Pagasa island (Thitu Island) in the Spratly group of islands in the South China Sea, west of Palawan, Philippines.
South China Sea

Philippines set to fix airstrip on South China Sea island

Manila cements maritime defense position as China expands reach

9 June 2020
Planes wait on the tarmac at Narita International Airport. Japan is eager to restart business travel to and from countries with low coronavirus infection rates. (Photo by Takaki Kashiwabara)
Travel & Leisure

Japan set to lift quarantines for business travelers in summer

Exclusive: Visitors from Thailand, Vietnam, New Zealand and Australia are first in line

5 June 2020
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, center, and Laotian Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, right, pose at the East Asia Summit in Thailand in 2019. 
International relations

Japan's judicial diplomacy at crossroads as Laos enacts civil code

Legal assistance to Southeast Asia brings result, but budget constraints loom

31 May 2020
USS Ronald Reagan, far left, operates with Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopter carrier JS Izumo in South China Sea in June 2019: more freedom of navigation patrols by not only the U.S. but other allies will be required. (Handout photo from U.S. Navy)
Opinion

World cannot ignore Chinese aggression in South China Sea

Beijing has been pressuring neighbors and building up fleet strength

30 May 2020
Stream article image
International relations

Vietnam city fines Bayer chief for South China Sea 'nine-dash' map

Ho Chi Minh authorities say local CEO spread 'illegal images'

21 May 2020
Employees work on a smartphone production line in Wuhan. In advanced electronics, companies have barely shifted out of China at all, despite cajoling from Trump.
Opinion

US-China decoupling is much harder than Donald Trump thinks

Despite threats and incentives, companies like Chinese manufacturing

20 May 2020
According to local regulations, Vietnam can declare the end of a pandemic after 28 days without any new cases in the community.
Coronavirus

Vietnam looks to call end to coronavirus as Assembly nears

Hanoi to lure post-virus business by amending enterprise and investment laws

19 May 2020
A banner of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Xi Jinping in Belgrade, Serbia, pictured on May 11: more than 100 countries have received China's anti-virus overtures with varying degrees of enthusiasm.
Opinion

China wants to know if you are with it or against it

Beijing has divided world with coronavirus policies, making countries take sides

16 May 2020
People walk through Lumphini Park in Bangkok: Thailand reported zero new confirmed COVID-19 cases for the first time in over two months on May 13. (Photo by Akira Kodaka)
Coronavirus

Thailand follows Vietnam with no new coronavirus cases

Bangkok moves cautiously toward easing soft lockdown

13 May 2020
Vietnam is bullish to achieve over 5% GDP growth in 2020. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc attends the Special ASEAN summit on COVID-19 in Hanoi in April.
Economy

Vietnam vows 5% growth in post-outbreak foreign investment pitch

Prime minister calls on South Korea, Japan, US and Europe at business conference

11 May 2020