Vietnam news in brief - February 21

New Zealand to strengthen ties with Vietnam through official visit

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon will pay an official visit to Vietnam and attend the second ASEAN Future Forum from February 25 to 28, at the invitation of Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced. The visit is aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and regional cooperation.

Vietnam Global Innovation Connect 2025 underway in Singapore

The Vietnam Global Innovation Connect 2025 (VGIC 2025) is underway from February 20-22 at Google's Asia-Pacific office in Singapore. The event brings together 100 Vietnamese and Vietnamese-origin talents in Singapore to connect and drive innovative solutions in technology, science and engineering. This year's forum focuses on three key areas: semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and financial technology.

Vietnam becomes Singapore's 9th largest trading partner

The total import-export turnover between Vietnam and Singapore reached US$2.51 billion in January, up 16.83% year-on-year, making Vietnam Singapore's 9th largest trading partner. Vietnam's exports to Singapore amounted to US$587.5 million, up 16.97%, while imports from Singapore reached US$1.9 million, up 16.79%. However, potential risks from trade tensions or political conflicts could slow down growth in the future.

Hanoi's signature dish earns top regional recognition

Hanoi's La Vong Grilled Fish (Cha ca La Vong) ranks third on Taste Atlas' list of the 100 best seafood dishes in Asia, with a rating of 4.6 out of 5 stars. The dish features grilled marinated fish served with fresh vermicelli noodles, herbs, roasted peanuts, and shrimp paste with lime and chili. Taste Atlas recommends eating it hot for the best flavor.

New lizard discoveries honor Vietnamese scientists

Two new lizard species in Vietnam have been named after Vietnamese scientists. Scincella truongi was discovered in the Sop Cop Nature Reserve in the northern highland province of Son La, in honor of Professor Nguyen Quang Truong. Acanthosaura cuongi was found in the central provinces of Khanh Hoa and Phu Yen, named after Dr. Pham The Cuong. The discoveries highlight Vietnam's rich biodiversity in Indochina.

Record number of candidates for Ho Chi Minh City Aptitude Assessment Examination

Ho Chi Minh City National University reported that more than 130,000 candidates have registered and 127,964 have paid the exam fee - a record number compared to 2024. The first phase of the exam will be held in 25 locations on March 30, and the results will be announced on April 16. The Ho Chi Minh City National University Aptitude Test is a separate entrance exam with the largest scale in the country.

Vietnam allocates nearly US$192 million to 26 provinces affected by Typhoon Yagi

A total of US$207.8 million has been raised to help those affected by Typhoon Yagi. To date, 26 provinces have received US$191.3 million, of which US$138.5 million (64%) has been spent and US$70.4 million remains to be distributed. Typhoon Yagi was one of Vietnam's costliest disasters in recent years, causing US$3.275 billion in damages, 366 dead or missing, and 1,980 injured.