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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

The Kuomintang’s then-chairwoman Hung Hsiu-chu with Communist Party leader Xi Jinping, in Beijing in 2016. Photo: Xinhua

Taiwan

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

Social media post from Hung Hsiu-chu comes days ahead of sitting KMT chairwoman Cheng Li-wun’s visit to mainland.

2 hours ago

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

3 Apr 2026 - 5:42AMvideocam

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

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi with Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son, in Hanoi on March 17. They co-chaired a meeting on bilateral cooperation. Photo: Xinhua

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

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

A screen capture of a video of the Philippines setting up at monitoring station on Thitu Island, which is part of the contested Spratly Islands in the disputed South China Sea. Image: SCMP

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

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

US sailors and marines aboard the USS Tripoli at an unspecified location in the Middle East on Friday. Photo: US Central Command via AP

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

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

Men use their phones at a cafe in Hanoi, Vietnam, in January. Photo: AFP

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

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

Antelope Reef in the disputed Paracels is believed to be China’s most significant reclamation project in the strategic waters since it declared a halt to such activities about a decade ago. Photo: Handout

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

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

Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh after attending a session during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting of the New Champions (AMNC25) in Tianjin on June 25 last year. Photo: AFP

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

An employee (second left) pumps fuel into the vehicle of a customer in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on March 9. Photo: AFP

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

Hong Kong tourism

Hong Kong Tourism Board to woo overnight big spenders, diversify visitor mix

Board executive director Anthony Lau says 75 per cent of its resources will go towards overseas markets.

18 Mar 2026 - 9:44PM

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Vietnam

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

Social media post from Hung Hsiu-chu comes days ahead of sitting KMT chairwoman Cheng Li-wun’s visit to mainland.

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

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

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.

Hong Kong Tourism Board to woo overnight big spenders, diversify visitor mix

Board executive director Anthony Lau says 75 per cent of its resources will go towards overseas markets.

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