Vietnam news in brief - April 13

Vietnam performs first partial artificial heart transplant

Doctors at Central Military Hospital 108 on April 12 announced that it had successfully implanted a third-generation left ventricular assist device (LVAD – HeartMate 3), guided by Prof. Jan D. Schmitto, a global pioneer in the procedure. The patient, previously suffering from severe heart failure, can now walk and live normally. This breakthrough offers new hope for end-stage heart failure patients and highlights Vietnam’s advancement in cardiac care.

Vietnam's shrimp exports soar on strong demand

Vietnam's shrimp export prices rose in February 2025 as white leg shrimp reached US$9.01/kg and black tiger shrimp reached US$12.77/kg, up 5% and 14%, respectively from 2024, due to high demand from the US and China. Factories increased purchase prices to secure raw materials and maintain production.

Imports drive strong growth in Vietnam's auto market

Vietnam sold 31,750 cars in March 2025, up 47% from January and 16% from March 2024, according to the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers' Association (VAMA). Imported cars (CBU) led with 16,863 units, surpassing locally assembled cars (CKD) with 14,887 units. Toyota led the sales with 5,370 units, followed by Mitsubishi, Ford, and Honda. The rising demand for CBU vehicles indicates changing consumer preferences and is encouraging companies to upgrade technology and processes to remain competitive as the market grows rapidly.

Cantho to launch major projects worth nearly US$3 billion in 2025

The southern province of Cantho will kick off several key projects in 2025 with a total investment of nearly US$3 billion to boost GRDP growth to 9.5%. These include two power plants worth US$1.3 billion each. The city is also restarting its cancer hospital project and helping businesses speed up capital disbursement. Many major projects are scheduled to start around the 50th anniversary of Reunification Day [April 30] and boost development in the Mekong Delta region.

Vietnam Military History Museum welcomes 20,000 visitors per day

The Vietnam Military History Museum welcomed more than 20,000 visitors after it officially began charging admission on April 12. With more than 150,000 artifacts, including four national treasures, the museum offers an in-depth look at Vietnam's resistance wars, helping visitors understand Vietnam's resilience and strategic legacy through decades of conflict. After a trial period of free admission since November 2024, the museum continues to attract both local and international history lovers.

Website vietnam.travel ranks second in Southeast Asia, draws global attention

Vietnam's official tourism website, vietnam.travel - run by the Tourism Information Center - ranks 120,809 globally and second in Southeast Asia, according to Similarweb.com, a web traffic analysis platform. The top visitors are from India, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, reflecting the growing international interest in Vietnam's tourism, currently boosted by Vietnam's friendly visa policies and active global tourism campaigns.

Vietnamese grandmaster competes in international SJC Cup 2025

Vietnamese chess grandmaster Hoang Thi Bao Tram is competing in the SJC Cup in Hong Kong (China) on April 11-13, along with seven champions from China, India, Mongolia and other countries. After seven rounds on April 12, Tram is in second place. The winner will face AI DeepSeek in a "battle between man and machine." This is a valuable opportunity for Vietnam to shine on the global stage of intellectual sports.

Tan Son Nhat’s Terminal 3 to open before April 30

Tan Son Nhat International Airport's new Terminal 3 is scheduled to open before April 30, the 50th anniversary of Vietnam's Reunification. The terminal covers an area of 112,500 square meters, with a basement and four floors, and designed to handle 20 million passengers per year.