Politics

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, right, shakes hands with Wang Wentian, the Chinese ambassador to Cambodia, at a groundbreaking ceremony on June 7. (Photo by Yuji Nitta)
International relations

Cambodia breaks ground on China-funded highway to Vietnam border

Country's second expressway one of many projects built with Chinese money

9 June 2023
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, left, shakes hands with Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh in Hanoi on June 4. (Photo by Yuji Nitta)
International relations

Australia and Vietnam solidify ties with Albanese visit

Leaders look forward to upgrading bilateral relationship 'as soon as possible'

5 June 2023
Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang tells Nikkei's Future of Asia conference about his country's economic outlook in Tokyo on May 25. (Photo by Yuki Nakao)
The Future of Asia 2023

Vietnam will stick to 6.5% GDP target despite headwinds: deputy PM

Tran Luu Quang says public investment ramping up to compensate

25 May 2023
A construction site for an apartment building in Hanoi. Vietnamese housing sales have stalled due to high interest rates.
Politics

Vietnam eyes higher taxes to curb real estate speculation

Parliament to consider levy on second homes as debt risk soars

23 May 2023
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indonesian President Joko Widodo are both among the invitees to this week's Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima. (Source photos by AP and Reuters)
G-7 in Japan

From India to Indonesia, G-7 invitees aim to be heard in Hiroshima

Modi's G-20 perch presents chance to highlight debt, development in 'Global South'

15 May 2023
Leaders of ASEAN countries pose for photos during the opening of the 42nd ASEAN Summit in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia on May 10.
Economy

ASEAN's patchy economic growth suggests long road to recovery

At regional summit, leaders discuss how to push bloc past COVID pains

10 May 2023
The Philippines and the U.S. are expanding maritime cooperation, including joint patrols, with one analyst saying Manila's newfound assertiveness could "encourage other Southeast Asian claimants to be more confident in protecting their rights in the South China Sea."
Asia Insight

Philippines' Marcos muscles up ASEAN's South China Sea posture

China tensions loom over bloc summit as Malaysia asserts gas rights, Vietnam hones defense

9 May 2023
Vinfast cars at a port in Haiphong city, Vietnam, to be shipped to the U.S. A decline in exports has hurt the country's economy.
Economy

Vietnam readies another sales tax cut to prop up flagging economy

Value-added tax to decrease to 8% as weak exports bite

27 April 2023
Apple is among U.S. investors in Vietnam, set to be the first country outside China to produce MacBooks, adding to the other Apple devices it already makes there. (Photo by Lien Hoang)
Technology

Vietnam's digital ambitions spur hopes among U.S. businesses

Country needs American tech to hit internet targets, lobby says

26 April 2023
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, left, meets with Vietnam's Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in Hanoi on April 15 (Pool via Reuters)
Biden's Asia policy

Blinken urges Vietnam to upgrade U.S. ties amid China tensions

Economy and security on agenda in meetings with Communist Party leader Trong, PM Chinh

15 April 2023
Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang this week.
International relations

Vietnam strikes balance between U.S., China via phone diplomacy

Hanoi leaders talk with Chinese premier Li, President Biden

6 April 2023
Container ships at the Port of Felixstowe in England. CPTPP members have agreed on Britain's entry into the grouping.
Trade

U.K. accepted as 12th member of CPTPP trade bloc

Group aims to finalize first nonfounding member's accession in July

31 March 2023
Lawyers and supporters of Le Thi Thuy Linh head to the Supreme Court in February for an appeal hearing against her conviction for abandoning the bodies of her stillborn twins. The court ultimately found her not guilty.
Japan immigration

Vietnamese trainee acquitted in Japan of abandoning stillborn twins

Supreme Court case exposed foreign technical interns' fears of deportation

24 March 2023
Vietnamese leader Nguyen Phu Trong speaks at a February 2021 news conference in Hanoi after being reelected as Communist Party general secretary for a third term.
Politics

How viable is Vietnam as a 'friend-shoring' destination?

Leadership shake-up sparks concern about possible shift toward China, Russia

5 March 2023
New Vietnamese President Vo Van Truong, left, is a close ally of Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, right.
Politics

New Vietnam president moves party chief Trong closer to one-man rule

Power struggle with echoes of Xi's tactics raises fears for economy

3 March 2023
Vo Van Thuong, the youngest member of Vietnam's Politburo, has been elected to become the country's next president.
Politics

Vietnam's parliament elects Thuong as new president

Party chief Trong to solidify grip on power with appointment of ally

2 March 2023
The Vietnamese government has an 86% stake in Vietnam Airlines, while Japan's ANA Holdings is about 5.6%.
Transportation

Vietnam Airlines faces delisting after 3 straight years of loss

Carrier in talks with stock exchange, but corruption crackdown clouds fate

17 February 2023
Nguyen Thi Thanh speaks by video with supporters in Seoul on Feb. 7: The landmark ruling in her favor puts the South Korean government in a difficult position.
Opinion

Vietnam and South Korea have to address wartime legacy together

Landmark ruling for 1968 massacre survivor is awkward for both governments

17 February 2023
Vietnam's Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, left, meets with Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at the Istana presidential office in Singapore on Feb. 9.
International relations

Vietnam PM Chinh seals green deals on Singapore visit

Neighbors align on renewable energy as Hanoi turmoil clouds prospects

9 February 2023
A coal mine in northern Vietnam. The country is having difficulty finding a cheap and environmentally friendly alternative.
Energy

Vietnam's energy plan delayed for 2 years, risking blackouts

Decarbonization goals, low costs prove difficult balance for officials

2 February 2023
Vietnam's then-President Nguyen Xuan Phuc attends the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting in Bangkok on Nov. 19. Experts fear the economy may slow following the sudden dismissal of the president.
Economy

Vietnam president's ouster may hamper business, analysts say

Communist Party's corruption purge could clean up economy -- or stem innovation

27 January 2023
Ho Chi Minh City has one of the lowest restroom densities in the world, adding another challenge as Vietnam tries to shake off a disappointing year for the travel industry. (Photo by Lien Hoang)
Travel & Leisure

Vietnam ranks among worst tourist hubs on bathroom wall of shame

Tropical country still struggling to shake travel blues amid visa rules, COVID

21 January 2023
General Secretary of Vietnamese Communist Party Nguyen Phu Trong, right bottom, and President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, left bottom, attend a ceremony of the national congress of the party in Hanoi on Feb. 1, 2021.
Politics

Vietnam's President Phuc dismissed amid Trong's anti-graft drive

Observers look at whether swift succession will help avoid intraparty struggle

18 January 2023
Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc in 2021. Phuc ranked second in the Communist Party to party chief Nguyen Phu Trong.
Politics

Vietnam Communist Party says President Phuc to resign

Latest dismissal seen as further cementing party chief Trong's grip on power

17 January 2023
Nguyen Phu Trong, left, is presented with a bouquet by Nguyen Xuan Phuc in Hanoi in January 2021: Trong has viewed Phuc with suspicion due to his pro-Western stance and policy pragmatism.
Opinion

Vietnam is losing appeal as a land of stable, competent leadership

Purge of top officials is taking down technocrats favored by foreign investors

17 January 2023