Vietnam News in Brief - March 14

Vietnam Airlines resumes direct flights to Russia

Vietnam Airlines will resume direct flights between Hanoi and Moscow on May 8 after a three-year hiatus. The airline will initially operate two flights per week, increasing to three from July 2026. Russia remains an important market for Vietnam's tourism and trade. In 2024, the total number of passengers between the two countries exceeded 220,000, about 2.3 times higher than in 2023, but still only 26% of the 2019 level. 

Vietnam accelerates AI development with large-scale Vietnamese datasets

ViGen, a newly launched project, aims to develop large-scale, high-quality, open-source Vietnamese datasets for AI training and evaluation. Led by NIC, AI for Vietnam, and Meta, the project ensures that AI is aligned with Vietnamese cultural values. With support from Nvidia, Viettel, and VAST, ViGen aims to improve Vietnamese-language AI models and accelerate AI innovation in Vietnam by 2027.

Nearly 600 companies certified as Vietnam promotes sustainability

The 2025 Vietnam High Quality Goods Award will be announced on March 25, recognizing 562 enterprises. Hanoi leads the northern region with 66 winners. The nationwide survey received more than 121,000 votes from consumers. Now in its 29th year, the event focuses on sustainability and digital transformation as key challenges for Vietnamese businesses.

HCMC to spend $2.6B connecting metro line 1 to Binh Duong

Ho Chi Minh City has announced plans to invest US$2.57 billion to extend Metro Line 1 to Binh Duong Center in the neighboring Binh Duong province. Construction is set to begin in 2027, with completion expected by 2031. The 32-kilometer extension will pass through four cities in Binh Duong: Thu Dau Mot, Tan Uyen, Thuan An, and Di An. The new metro line is expected to significantly enhance economic development in both Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Duong, one of Vietnam’s key industrial hubs.

Coffee exports hit record $5 billion

Vietnam's coffee exports reached $5 billion for the first time in 2024, reaffirming its position as the world's largest Robusta producer and second-largest coffee exporter. Targeting $20 billion in revenues annually in the future, the industry is focusing on high-value processing and branding. Trung Nguyen and Phuc Sinh, Vietnam's top coffee exporters, are investing in sustainability and premium coffee production.

Tuna exports worth nearly $1 billion in 2024

Vietnam's tuna exports stood at nearly $1 billion in 2024, an increase of 17% from the previous year. Free trade agreements such as the UKVFTA and CPTPP offer tariff benefits for the exports. Tuna accounts for 10% of Vietnam's total seafood exports and is the country's top three seafood export items.

Pepper prices reach highest level in almost 10 years

Pepper prices have risen to around US$6.4/kg, the highest in almost 10 years. Global demand is expected to remain strong, potentially pushing prices even higher. In the first two months of 2025, Vietnam exported 27,416 tons of pepper, earning US$184.9 million, accounting for about 40% of global pepper production and nearly 55% of exports. These achievements are solid evidence of Vietnam's key role in the international market.

Special activities for Hung Kings' Commemoration Day 2025

The Hung Kings Commemoration Day and the 2025 Land of Ancestors Culture & Tourism Week will run from March 29 to April 7 in the northern province of Phu Tho. A series of 25 special activities will be held, including temple visits, tours of historical sites, and cultural and culinary events. The festival honors the Hung Kings, the founders of Vietnam's first kingdom - the Van Lang Nation. The commemoration of the Hung Kings was inscribed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2012.