Vietnam

Xây hồ điều hòa gần 600 tỷ đồng giảm ngập cho Nha Trang

VN Express | Local Language | News | Jan. 19, 2026 | Regulation

The Khánh Hòa Provincial People's Committee approved an adjustment to the investment policy for a regulation lake project in Tây Nha Trang Ward on January 14, 2026. The project, classified as Group B, is scheduled for implementation from 2025 to 2027 and includes a system of regulation lakes, waterside walking paths, greenery, and water channels connecting the lake to the railway and Cái River. The project aims to improve urban drainage infrastructure, mitigate flooding risks amid rapid urbanization, and provide additional green public spaces.

The project's budget has increased from over 380 billion VND in 2021 to 585 billion VND, funded by the provincial budget. The costs cover compensation, assistance, resettlement (over 322 billion VND), construction (over 152 billion VND), and project management, consultancy, and related expenses. The project’s name was changed to "regulation lake for Tây Nha Trang Ward" to align with updated subzone planning for the Hòn Nghê area. The Provincial Development Project Management Board will oversee project implementation, ensuring adherence to schedules and quality standards.

Additionally, Khánh Hòa authorities proposed a nearly 2,000 billion VND flood drainage channel project combined with Road D25 to further reduce flooding risks in Tây Nha Trang Ward and Diên Điền Commune. This proposal follows severe flooding in November 2025, which caused 22 deaths and extensive damage in Khánh Hòa, particularly heavily affecting Tây Nha Trang and Diên Điền, with total losses exceeding 5,000 billion VND.

Vietnam Net - E | English | News | Jan. 19, 2026 | Geopolitical Conflict and Disputes

On January 17, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a high-level cabinet meeting where the government reviewed several key agendas, notably the national rare earth strategy. Emphasizing the importance of rare earth development as a foundation for national self-reliance, the Prime Minister outlined five main policy directions and stressed strengthened state management. Vietnam, home to some of the world's largest rare earth reserves, plans to transition from raw extraction to advanced processing and application, focusing on institutional reform, deep processing technologies, and high-quality value chains.

The strategy encourages public-private partnerships, backed by financial incentives aimed at attracting domestic and foreign investments. Government agencies are tasked with facilitating technology transfer and adopting sustainable extraction and processing methods. Additionally, digital transformation will be utilized to enhance governance, transparency, and resource tracing throughout the rare earth value chain. Collaboration between central and local governments, scientific institutions, and the private sector is set to be a cornerstone, with an emphasis on smart governance and environmental protection to balance economic and ecological priorities.

The meeting also addressed challenges in transitional build-transfer (BT) infrastructure projects initiated before regulatory updates. The Prime Minister directed the Ministry of Finance and related bodies to expedite drafting a government resolution to resolve legal issues promptly. For projects already audited, the resolution will guide compliance and corrections, while those pending oversight will be managed by provincial authorities, emphasizing local accountability. The resolution aims to respect legal standards, fairness, and risk balance among the state, investors, and the public.

Vietnam’s accelerated rare earth strategy arises amid increasing global demand for rare earths used in electric vehicles, smartphones, and defense technologies, with supply concentrated in few countries. By advancing processing capabilities and technology, Vietnam aims to add strategic value to its rare earth resources, enhancing its role in the green economy, digital transformation, and global tech supply chains, thereby reinforcing its economic sovereignty.

Gánh nặng khôn lường do sốt xuất huyết Dengue: Góc nhìn từ người trong cuộc

Bao Dien Tu | Local Language | News | Jan. 19, 2026 | Epidemics and Pandemics

From December 14, 2024, to December 17, 2025, Vietnam recorded 181,200 cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever with 43 deaths, marking a 33% increase in cases and 17 additional deaths compared to the previous year. The southern region remains the most affected, particularly in the Southeast provinces such as Bac Tan Uyen, Bau Bang, and Ben Cat, while Hanoi in the North has reported over 6,000 cases with a rising trend.

Severe complications often result from late hospital admissions, as symptoms can worsen between days three and seven, when patients may experience plasma leakage, shock, bleeding, and organ failure. Cases highlighted include a 7-year-old child developing acute liver failure due to hemophagocytic syndrome and an adult with underlying health conditions falling into severe shock. Adults with conditions like kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes face a threefold higher risk of severe illness.

Long-term effects after recovery also burden patients and families, including physical weakness, hair loss, menstrual irregularities, and memory issues, impacting quality of life and work capacity. Financial strain is substantial; severe dengue cases require costly intensive care treatments, with expenses exceeding 280 billion dong in the first nine months of 2025. The disease stresses both the healthcare system and the socioeconomic fabric through missed school and work.

Prevention remains the primary strategy, as there is no specific antiviral treatment for dengue hemorrhagic fever. Public health measures focus on eliminating mosquito breeding sites, protecting against bites, and seeking early medical attention upon symptom onset. Dengue vaccination has emerged as a promising preventive tool, with experts stressing that investment in prevention saves significant treatment costs and safeguards long-term health.