Vietnam news in brief - March 4

Kyrgyz Prime Minister to visit Vietnam

Kyrgyz Prime Minister Adylbek Kasimalyev will pay an official visit to Vietnam on March 6-7 at the invitation of Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. In the BRICS Summit in Russia on October 24-26, the two leaders agreed to expand trade cooperation under the Vietnam-EAEU Free Trade Agreement and strengthen ties in agriculture, education, healthcare, culture, sports, tourism and aviation.

Vietnam to build 1 million social housing units by 2030

Vietnam plans to build at least one million affordable housing units for low-income individuals and industrial park workers by 2030, starting with 100,275 units in 2025. Annual completion targets include 116,347 units in 2026 and 271,161 units in 2030.

Viettel showcases technology at Mobile World Congress 2025

Telecommunications group Viettel, Vietnam's sole representative, showcased 22 technology products at the Mobile World Congress 2025 (MWC) in Barcelona. The event, held from March 3 to 6, gathered over 200 countries for business and research cooperation. Viettel presented products in three key areas: infrastructure, platforms, and applications, addressing connectivity, data management, and enterprise and consumer needs.

Driving licenses to be issued within seven working days

Vietnam's Traffic Police Department will issue driver's licenses within seven working days of a test, according to a new regulation that took effect on March 1. Electronic licenses will be integrated into the national database within three days. The updated regulation also introduces exemptions from the theory test for certain types of applicants and updates testing procedures for various vehicle categories.

Military parade rehearsal held in Hanoi

The Ministry of National Defense conducted a rehearsal for the military parade marking the 50th anniversary of Vietnam's national reunification (April 30, 1975 - 2025) at Military Training Center 4 in Hanoi on March 4. The rehearsal involved various military units, including the army, navy, air force, and peacekeeping forces. General Nguyen Tan Cuong was present at the event, offering encouragement to the participants.

Danang becomes hot search destination for US tourists 

The central city of Da Nang ranked among the top five most searched cities by US tourists in January 2025, according to Agoda, with search interest soaring by 1,538% compared to 2024, surpassing Tokyo and Bangkok. This growth is in line with Vietnam's goal of attracting 1.3 million American tourists by 2028, positioning the US as one of the country’s top three source markets.

Quang Ninh aquaculture recovers from typhoon Yagi

Six months after typhoon Yagi, the northern province of Quang Ninh's aquaculture has restored more than 3,500 hectares of aquaculture areas and 4,670 tons of seafood output to nearly pre-storm levels. The storm caused an estimated loss of nearly US$160 million. Quang Ninh is one of Vietnam's top aquaculture hubs with an expected revenue of approximately US$1.12 billion in 2024.

Nearly 600 artists join Quan Ho Folk Singing Festival in Bac Ninh

As many as 580 artists participated in the 2025 Quan Ho Folk Singing Festival held in the northern province of Bac Ninh on March 2-4. The festival aims to promote Quan ho folk singing while contributing to the development of Vietnam’s "soft power" through cultural products. Quan ho (love duet singing) has been recognized as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2009.