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Vietnam

Latest news, in-depth features and opinion on Vietnam, covering politics, economy, society and the country's relationships with the United States, Australia, China and neighbouring Southeast Asian countries.

Capital

Hanoi

Head of State

President To Lam

Head of Government

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh

Sri Lanka

152 arrested in Sri Lanka in alleged Chinese-run cyberscam

Among those arrested in a raid on a hotel rented by Chinese men in the coastal town of Chilaw were 133 Chinese people.

3 Apr 2026 - 11:23PMvideocam

Taiwan

Former KMT chairwoman calls for ‘profound mutual trust’ with mainland China

3 Apr 2026 - 8:44PM

Malaysia

‘Feels unreal’: Indonesian grandma freed from Malaysian death row flies home

3 Apr 2026 - 12:49PMvideocam

US-China trade war

As Xi-Trump summit approaches, tariffs continue to choke direct trade

Deficit with mainland hits two-decade low as trade shifts to Taiwan, Mexico and Vietnam amid tariff fallout and efforts to stabilise ties.

3 Apr 2026 - 5:42AMvideocam

Shipping containers wait to be transported along a railroad at the port of Los Angeles in Long Beach, California, one of the busiest gateways for US trade. Photo: Reuters

South China Sea

Why China and Vietnam are shifting from confrontation to calm in South China Sea

Disagreements continue, but the two sides are showing notable restraint in contrast with Beijing’s fierce exchanges with Manila.

2 Apr 2026 - 5:44PMvideocam

Asean

How Asean’s neutral stance in Iran war protects its energy security

Granting Southeast Asian vessels safe passage through the strait allows Iran to come across as a diplomatic good guy, analysts say.

2 Apr 2026 - 3:19PMvideocam

Science

As Mandarin dominates Cantonese, this Hong Kong AI firm is pushing back

Hong Kong-based tech firm Votee AI aims to replicate its model for other low-resource languages in Southeast Asia and Africa.

1 Apr 2026 - 9:45AMvideocam

Unlike Mandarin, English or Spanish, which have vast troves of digital text for AI training, Cantonese lacks written text that accurately reflects how it is spoken. Image: Shutterstock

The Philippines

Philippines to rename disputed South China Sea islands

The features to be renamed belong to the Spratly archipelago, site of repeated confrontations between Philippine and Chinese vessels.

31 Mar 2026 - 11:29PM

US, Israel war on Iran

Why spike in fertiliser prices could boost China’s political clout

Beijing could see its regional leverage grow as the Iran war hits supply, though weaponisation of exports is unlikely, analysts say.

31 Mar 2026 - 11:10PM

US-China relations

Letters | Unfinished business: the delay of Trump’s China visit

Readers discuss the postponement of the US president’s visit to Beijing, and the underlying impulse behind American military action.

31 Mar 2026 - 11:30AM

US President Donald Trump greets Chinese President Xi Jinping ahead of a bilateral meeting at Gimhae Air Base on October 30, 2025, in Busan, South Korea. Photo: Getty Images

China travel

Amid soaring airfares, Chinese bookings up 20% ahead of Ching Ming holiday

Global instability fails to deter Chinese holidaymakers with airlines selling 2.04 million tickets in the lead-up to Ching Ming Festival.

31 Mar 2026 - 10:55AMvideocam

A China Eastern Airlines flight takes off from an airport in Shanghai. Demand for flights over the upcoming Ching Ming Festival holiday remains robust in China despite soaring airfares. Photo: Xinhua

US-Iran tensions

Why Trump needs a short-term win in Iran before he visits Xi in China

A surge in US service members in the Middle East suggests the makings of a protracted and low-intensity conflict, analysts say.

30 Mar 2026 - 9:51PMvideocam

Mainland China

Vietnam arrests 74 over falsified environmental, waste water data

Police arrested officials at state environmental agencies and dozens of businesses that discharge waste water and install monitoring equipment.

29 Mar 2026 - 10:24PM

China-Africa relations

Why are smugglers swarming East Africa for ants to send to China and Europe?

A black market in harvester ants has sprung up in Kenya, with big implications for the environment.

29 Mar 2026 - 12:00PM

Kenya’s Wildlife Service detected five cases of smugglers trying to take live queen ants out of the country on flights last year. Photo: AP

Singapore

Singapore seizes record Asian pangolin scales disguised as ‘dried fish skin’

The scales – estimated to be from more than 2,200 pangolins – were found after officials intercepted an inbound truck carrying sea cargo.

28 Mar 2026 - 5:59PM

Pangolin scales are examined following their seizure in Singapore on December 29, 2025. Photo: AFP/Singapore’s National Parks Board and Immigration & Checkpoints Authority

Artificial intelligence

‘Economic own goal’? Vietnam’s AI law sets a risky pace for Southeast Asia

From Malaysia’s sovereign cloud to Vietnam’s data curbs, critics say the rush to regulate will deter investment.

28 Mar 2026 - 12:30PM

US, Israel war on Iran

Iran says Hormuz closed for shipping to and from ‘enemy’ ports

The Revolutionary Guards said that they had turned back three vessels seeking to cross the transit point.

27 Mar 2026 - 8:22PMvideocam

SCMP Highlights

China’s 7-day hypersonic design; Andy Lau’s Ming mystery: 7 science highlights

From top mathematician on leaving the US to China’s coal-to-medicine feat, here are some highlights from SCMP’s recent science reporting.

25 Mar 2026 - 12:32PM

Hong Kong actor and singer Andy Lau appears to have shared a name with a Ming dynasty brickmaker. Photo: Getty Images

South China Sea

Why military base on contested Paracels will be of ‘limited’ value to Beijing

Chinese observers weigh in amid rising concern over Beijing’s land reclamation activities at Antelope Reef.

24 Mar 2026 - 10:00PMvideocam

Energy

Why Vietnam is leaning on Russia to weather energy turmoil

The energy shortage is ‘seriously threatening’ Vietnam’s growth objective and could dent the new leadership’s legitimacy, analysts say.

24 Mar 2026 - 8:20PMvideocam

US, Israel war on Iran

‘Getting worse each day’: why Southeast Asia is vulnerable to the fuel crisis

From Laos to Thailand, long queues are forming at petrol stations while residents are reeling from surging fuel prices.

23 Mar 2026 - 9:02PMvideocam

People queue to buy petrol at a station in Hanoi amid disruptions in supply and price surges due to the Iran war. Photo: Reuters

South China Sea

‘No dispute’: Beijing defends construction on Paracels in South China Sea

China says living conditions and local economy stand to benefit, days after Vietnam states opposition to land-reclamation activities.

23 Mar 2026 - 8:37PM

China and Vietnam have competing territorial claims over the Paracels, which Beijing calls the Xisha Islands and Hanoi calls the Hoang Sa Islands. Photo: Shutterstock

Energy

Vietnam PM visits Russia to sign energy deal amid Iran war disruption

Since the US-Israel war against Iran began, the cost of 95-octane petrol and diesel in Vietnam has soared by 50 per cent and 70 per cent respectively.

22 Mar 2026 - 9:26PM

South China Sea

Vietnam protests as China’s Paracels build-up escalates at Antelope Reef

Satellite images suggest accelerated dredging at the disputed South China Sea reef, sparking formal complaint from Hanoi.

22 Mar 2026 - 6:09PM

China manufacturing

China’s exports are booming – so why are plants in this factory hub closing?

Dongguan reflects a growing polarisation in the Chinese economy, with many factories and workers left behind as hi-tech firms surge ahead.

22 Mar 2026 - 6:41AM

SCMP Highlights

China’s jet designer removed online; US warships’ Malaysia stop: 7 highlights

From US warships’ stop in Penang to Jollibee representing Southeast Asian brands globally, here are highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting.

20 Mar 2026 - 1:20PM

The United States Navy’s USS Tulsa and USS Santa Barbara are seen docked at the North Butterworth Container Terminal in Penang, Malaysia, on Sunday. Photo: Facebook / Sherwynd Kessler

Cambodia

Cambodia boosts Singapore and Malaysia fuel imports to survive energy crisis

Energy Minister Keo Rottanak says ‘an Asean power grid is the way to go’ as Vietnam and China restrict exports to Phnom Penh.

19 Mar 2026 - 12:57PMvideocam

China-Latin America relations

As Trump ramps up pressure on Cuba, China has ‘very limited options’

Any response from Beijing is likely to be constrained to diplomatic opposition and humanitarian aid, according to analysts.

19 Mar 2026 - 12:30PMvideocam

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Vietnam

152 arrested in Sri Lanka in alleged Chinese-run cyberscam

Among those arrested in a raid on a hotel rented by Chinese men in the coastal town of Chilaw were 133 Chinese people.

Former KMT chairwoman calls for ‘profound mutual trust’ with mainland China

‘Feels unreal’: Indonesian grandma freed from Malaysian death row flies home

As Xi-Trump summit approaches, tariffs continue to choke direct trade

Deficit with mainland hits two-decade low as trade shifts to Taiwan, Mexico and Vietnam amid tariff fallout and efforts to stabilise ties.

Why China and Vietnam are shifting from confrontation to calm in South China Sea

Disagreements continue, but the two sides are showing notable restraint in contrast with Beijing’s fierce exchanges with Manila.

How Asean’s neutral stance in Iran war protects its energy security

Granting Southeast Asian vessels safe passage through the strait allows Iran to come across as a diplomatic good guy, analysts say.

As Mandarin dominates Cantonese, this Hong Kong AI firm is pushing back

Hong Kong-based tech firm Votee AI aims to replicate its model for other low-resource languages in Southeast Asia and Africa.

Philippines to rename disputed South China Sea islands

The features to be renamed belong to the Spratly archipelago, site of repeated confrontations between Philippine and Chinese vessels.

Why spike in fertiliser prices could boost China’s political clout

Beijing could see its regional leverage grow as the Iran war hits supply, though weaponisation of exports is unlikely, analysts say.

.css-19im5qg{color:#c79a00;}Letters | Unfinished business: the delay of Trump’s China visit

Readers discuss the postponement of the US president’s visit to Beijing, and the underlying impulse behind American military action.

Amid soaring airfares, Chinese bookings up 20% ahead of Ching Ming holiday

Global instability fails to deter Chinese holidaymakers with airlines selling 2.04 million tickets in the lead-up to Ching Ming Festival.

Why Trump needs a short-term win in Iran before he visits Xi in China

A surge in US service members in the Middle East suggests the makings of a protracted and low-intensity conflict, analysts say.

Vietnam arrests 74 over falsified environmental, waste water data

Police arrested officials at state environmental agencies and dozens of businesses that discharge waste water and install monitoring equipment.

Why are smugglers swarming East Africa for ants to send to China and Europe?

A black market in harvester ants has sprung up in Kenya, with big implications for the environment.

Singapore seizes record Asian pangolin scales disguised as ‘dried fish skin’

The scales – estimated to be from more than 2,200 pangolins – were found after officials intercepted an inbound truck carrying sea cargo.

‘Economic own goal’? Vietnam’s AI law sets a risky pace for Southeast Asia

From Malaysia’s sovereign cloud to Vietnam’s data curbs, critics say the rush to regulate will deter investment.

Iran says Hormuz closed for shipping to and from ‘enemy’ ports

The Revolutionary Guards said that they had turned back three vessels seeking to cross the transit point.

China’s 7-day hypersonic design; Andy Lau’s Ming mystery: 7 science highlights

From top mathematician on leaving the US to China’s coal-to-medicine feat, here are some highlights from SCMP’s recent science reporting.

Why military base on contested Paracels will be of ‘limited’ value to Beijing

Chinese observers weigh in amid rising concern over Beijing’s land reclamation activities at Antelope Reef.

Why Vietnam is leaning on Russia to weather energy turmoil

The energy shortage is ‘seriously threatening’ Vietnam’s growth objective and could dent the new leadership’s legitimacy, analysts say.

‘Getting worse each day’: why Southeast Asia is vulnerable to the fuel crisis

From Laos to Thailand, long queues are forming at petrol stations while residents are reeling from surging fuel prices.

‘No dispute’: Beijing defends construction on Paracels in South China Sea

China says living conditions and local economy stand to benefit, days after Vietnam states opposition to land-reclamation activities.

Vietnam PM visits Russia to sign energy deal amid Iran war disruption

Since the US-Israel war against Iran began, the cost of 95-octane petrol and diesel in Vietnam has soared by 50 per cent and 70 per cent respectively.

Vietnam protests as China’s Paracels build-up escalates at Antelope Reef

Satellite images suggest accelerated dredging at the disputed South China Sea reef, sparking formal complaint from Hanoi.

China’s exports are booming – so why are plants in this factory hub closing?

Dongguan reflects a growing polarisation in the Chinese economy, with many factories and workers left behind as hi-tech firms surge ahead.

China’s jet designer removed online; US warships’ Malaysia stop: 7 highlights

From US warships’ stop in Penang to Jollibee representing Southeast Asian brands globally, here are highlights from SCMP’s recent reporting.

Cambodia boosts Singapore and Malaysia fuel imports to survive energy crisis

Energy Minister Keo Rottanak says ‘an Asean power grid is the way to go’ as Vietnam and China restrict exports to Phnom Penh.

As Trump ramps up pressure on Cuba, China has ‘very limited options’

Any response from Beijing is likely to be constrained to diplomatic opposition and humanitarian aid, according to analysts.

Letters | Unfinished business: the delay of Trump’s China visit