For Dr. Truong Thai Phuong, PhD, each medical specimen is not merely a blood vial, a sputum sample or a test code, but is tied to the hope of a patient, the anxious anticipation of a family, and the treatment decisions of clinical physicians.

"My life has been full of hardship, and I didn't want four young children to suffer like me," said a woman in Nghe An who decided to become a stepmother to four motherless children.

Leaving well-paid chef jobs, Kim Ngoc and My Loan decided to start their own business in Canada, opening a snack shop selling banh trang tron (mixed rice paper), sweet dessert soups and savory sticky rice.

Hanoi is studying direct rail links between the city center and Gia Binh and Noi Bai airports, aiming to minimize travel distances and reduce journey times to 30–45 minutes.

Vietnam is considering making July 27, War Invalids and Martyrs Day, a paid public holiday from 2027, allowing workers to take part in activities honoring those who sacrificed for the country.

China accounted for 95.5% of Vietnam's durian export revenue in the first nine months of 2026, up from 93.5% a year earlier, highlighting the industry's growing dependence on its largest market.

Foreign investment registered in Vietnam reached $54.85 billion in the first 10 months of 2026, surging 74% year on year to its highest level since 2009, according to official statistics.

Grab will lower driver fees, reimburse around VND3.9 billion for excessive deductions and allocate nearly VND3 trillion to driver support and promotions following a review by Vietnam's competition regulator.

Vietnam's exports are expected to see new growth opportunities in 2027, with wood products, construction materials, agricultural goods, consumer products and energy commodities showing promising prospects.

A Vietnamese lawmaker has called for stronger safeguards against the unauthorized commercialization of ethnic cultural heritage, warning that traditional music, designs and knowledge could be exploited without community consent.

Vietnam's health minister says a proposed lifetime tobacco ban for people born from 2010 onward was removed from draft legislation because international evidence remains insufficient to assess its effectiveness and impact.

Seventy-two Vietnamese companies made the 2026 Fortune Southeast Asia 500 list, generating nearly $178 billion in combined revenue, up 10.5% year on year, nearly three times the ranking's average growth rate.

Hanoi is considering free school lunches, textbooks and enhanced educational programs in two pilot "socialist communes and wards", aiming to establish living standards and public services above existing benchmarks.

Japanese stationery giant Kokuyo has completed its acquisition of Thien Long An Thinh Investment JSC, gaining an indirect 46.82% stake in Thien Long Group, one of Vietnam's leading stationery manufacturers.

Vietnam's central bank has introduced two liquidity measures in a week to inject dong into the banking system, ease interest rate pressures and support the country's 10% GDP growth target, sending the VN-Index sharply higher.

A Vietnamese lawmaker has warned that proposed incentives for cultural industries could be exploited by property developers unless stricter safeguards are introduced, calling for targeted investment and measurable outcomes.

Ho Chi Minh City has ordered government agencies to complete all administrative reform tasks, fully disburse allocated public investment funds and ensure at least 80% of administrative applications are processed entirely online.

Taoist beliefs surrounding sacred caves extend beyond China into Vietnam. Field research by a Japanese scholar and ancient inscriptions at Hang Son Cave in Quang Ninh offer fresh insights into this little-explored religious heritage.

A powerful cold front has brought sharply lower temperatures to northern Vietnam, with Hanoi forecast to reach 16°C overnight. Meanwhile, central provinces face widespread heavy rain, with some areas expected to receive more than 500mm.

In the mountains of central Vietnam, the Co Tu ethnic community uses an ancient art of improvised singing to debate, persuade and resolve disagreements.

Heavy rain and strong winds have uprooted trees and damaged billboards in Da Nang, while landslides have blocked roads in neighboring Hue. Authorities are clearing debris and adjusting hydropower reservoir discharges amid continuing rainfall.

Ho Chi Minh City broke ground on November 9 on the first construction package of an VND8.55 trillion ($325 million) project to dredge Van Thanh Canal, improve drainage, upgrade infrastructure and tackle environmental pollution.

Vietnam needs stronger research environments, better infrastructure and ambitious projects to attract scientific talent, says Professor Tran Hong Thai, highlighting the role of DNA technology in identifying fallen soldiers.

Vietnam and Japan issued a joint vision statement on November 9 during Vietnamese top leader To Lam's official visit to Japan, outlining a shared vision for bilateral relations.

In the historic town of Hoi An in central Vietnam, discarded wooden fishing boats are being transformed into one-of-a-kind furniture, giving weathered timber a second life while creating jobs for local craftsmen.