Vietnam

Đổi mới toàn diện công tác sát hạch và cấp Giấy phép lái xe

Bao Dien Tu | Local Language | News | Jan. 16, 2026 | Regulation

The Government Office issued Notice No. 26/TB-VPCP on January 14, 2025, summarizing Vietnam's traffic safety outcomes in 2025 and establishing targets for 2026. Despite challenges such as extreme weather and administrative reforms, traffic accidents decreased significantly in 2025, with incidents down over 22%, deaths over 6%, and injuries nearly 30% compared to 2024. Improvements included a stronger legal framework, enhanced law enforcement, and progress in transport infrastructure projects like the North-South Eastern expressways and the Lào Cai - Hà Nội - Hải Phòng railway. However, serious accidents involving commercial vehicles, motorbikes, and students remain prevalent, with ongoing issues in rural areas and urban congestion in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

For 2026, the government aims to halve traffic accidents, deaths, and injuries per 100,000 population, with even higher targets of 60-70% reductions in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. Emphasis is placed on addressing serious accidents, urban congestion, environmental impacts through "Green Transport," and better law enforcement using technology such as cameras and vehicle tracking. The Ministry of Public Security will focus on reforming driver’s license testing to ensure legal knowledge and practical driving skills, strict enforcement of blood alcohol limits, and expansion of traffic safety education, especially for students. Ministries and local authorities are to integrate traffic safety into planning and development, complete legal frameworks, and improve data-sharing systems for enforcement.

The Ministry of Construction is tasked with removing illegal crossings, managing railway safety corridors, coordinating funding for infrastructure, and promoting lane separation between cars and motorcycles. It will also accelerate development of rail, waterway, and aviation transport to ease road traffic, while improving standards for passenger vessels and rest stops, and expanding parking infrastructure in major cities. The Ministry of Health will strengthen first-aid capacities at grassroots levels and develop digital tools for accident reporting. Education authorities will incorporate traffic law education into curricula, certify electric vehicle operation skills for students, and clarify responsibilities for school and family oversight of student drivers.

Local governments, especially in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, must treat traffic safety as a continuous political priority, completing removal of high-risk spots and unauthorized railway crossings by the end of 2026. Both cities will finalize Safe City Schemes targeting green, modern, clean, and safe urban environments, focusing on infrastructure issues and environmental pollution control from vehicles and construction waste transport. Performance in traffic safety will be a key metric in evaluating local leadership, and strict measures will be taken against officials if conditions worsen in their areas of responsibility.

Kỷ lục 1.200 tỷ USD thặng dư thương mại: Hàng Trung Quốc đang tràn đi đâu?

Dantri | Local Language | News | Jan. 16, 2026 | UndeterminedTrade Issues and Numbers

China's trade surplus reached a record $1.19 trillion in 2025, the largest ever recorded globally even after adjusting for inflation. This figure surpasses historical peaks from other major economies, including Japan and Germany. Total exports increased by 5.5% to $3.77 trillion despite significant trade barriers, particularly U.S. tariffs, which caused exports to the U.S. to fall by 20%. However, China compensated by significantly expanding exports to emerging markets: Africa (26% increase), Southeast Asia (13%), the European Union (8%), and Latin America (7%). Key export products driving this growth are computer chips, electronic equipment, production inputs, and electric vehicles.

The record surplus reflects a dual challenge of excess production capacity and weak domestic demand. China's policy of maintaining a weaker currency has made exports more competitive but imports have stalled at $2.58 trillion due to higher import costs and Beijing’s push for economic self-reliance. The prolonged real estate market collapse since 2021 has also reduced household savings and spending power, particularly on imported luxury goods. This has weakened domestic consumption, forcing factories to rely on foreign markets to sustain operations and employment.

Looking ahead to 2026, experts expect export growth to slow to around 3%, but the trade surplus should remain above $1 trillion due to continued weak imports. The large manufacturing surplus, accounting for over 10% of China’s GDP, is increasing pressure on trade partners and global economic imbalances. The IMF has advised China to let its currency appreciate and shift towards a domestic consumption-driven growth model to mitigate global trade tensions. However, with no clear recovery in the real estate market, exports are anticipated to remain a critical buffer supporting China’s economy against shocks in the near term.

Trung tâm hành chính Bình Dương chuyển thành tòa nhà Khoa học công nghệ

VN Express | Local Language | News | Jan. 16, 2026 | UndeterminedTech Development/Adoption

The Bình Dương Administrative Center building, originally put into use in 2014 and housing nearly 60 provincial agencies, will be converted into a Science and Technology building within 2026. This conversion is part of the first phase of the Project for Developing the Science and Technology Urban Area – North Ho Chi Minh City, approved by the City People's Committee on January 14, with an investment of about 2,000 billion dong. The two 23-story towers will accommodate research and development (R&D) spaces, centers of excellence for universities and enterprises, a microchip design area, and science and technology services including testing, certification, consulting, and innovation support.

The building will also serve as a hub for the startup ecosystem, featuring incubators, co-working spaces, a technology exhibition area, and facilities for international conferences and exhibitions. Utilizing the existing structure is expected to shorten implementation time and reduce costs. Strategically located at the center of Bình Dương New City within a 4,000-hectare industrial-service-urban complex, the building will act as a coordination hub linking key zones such as the Science–Ecology Park, Science Discovery Center, WTC complex, digital technology zones, and a high-tech production belt.

The Science and Technology Urban Area – North Ho Chi Minh City is planned to develop on a 220-hectare core zone, potentially expanding by another 100 hectares. It aims to become a center for R&D, workforce training, technology testing, and innovation, encompassing a Digital Technology Area, BWID Supply Chain City, Science–Ecology Park, and Education–Research Park. Implementation will occur in three phases: finalizing legal and infrastructure groundwork in 2026, accelerating development over the following four years, and completing and populating subzones by 2035. The total project investment will reach hundreds of thousands of billions of dong, supported by a state-creating model combined with special mechanisms, transit-oriented development (TOD), and public–private partnerships.

Additionally, the former Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu Administrative Center will be repurposed as university training bases following its 1,000 billion dong investment on a 220-hectare site. Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City plans to build a new political and administrative center of about 26 floors in the Thủ Thiêm New Urban Area to serve as a modern governance hub for the metropolis.