Vietnam news in brief - March 3

UNICEF helps prevent severe diarrhoea in Vietnamese children

UNICEF and the Vietnamese Ministry of Health have launched the "Protect Your Baby from the First Steps" campaign to raise awareness of the Rota vaccine to prevent severe diarrhea. Caregivers are urged to ensure that infants receive two full doses of Rota vaccine between two and six months of age. In Vietnam, Rota virus is responsible for 20-50% of acute diarrhea cases in children between 2016 and 2023, leading to hundreds of thousands of hospitalizations each year. 

Vietnamese visitor inflow to South Korea up 22% in 2024

Vietnamese visitors to South Korea reached over 511,000 in 2024, an increase of 21.7% from 2023, ranking second in Southeast Asia behind the Philippines (515,000 visitors). The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) is planning a series of activities to attract more Vietnamese tourists by launching promotional campaigns, special gifts, and cost reduction programs.

Vietnam's pepper productivity doubles global average

Vietnam's pepper exports hit $1.32 billion in 2024, with a yield of 2.6 tons/ha, twice the global average, according to the report of the Vietnam International Pepper and Spice Conference (VIPO 2025) 2025, held on March 3. The event brought together over 300 experts and companies to discuss solutions for sustainable agriculture, spice production, and market value enhancement. During the conference, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment also approved the plan to develop key crops according to Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) standards.

Vietnam builds US$300 million 500kV power line

Vietnam Electricity (EVN) on March 3 started constructing the US$300-million 500kV Lao Cai-Vinh Yen power transmission project. Construction is expected to be completed by September 2. The project will help deliver approximately 2,000 MW from hydropower plants in the Northwest Region and neighboring provinces to the national grid, optimizing operations, improving safety, and reducing power losses. It will also strengthen connectivity within the power system.

Vietnam's mobile internet speed ranks 22nd in the world

Vietnam's mobile internet speed reached 134.19 Mbps, a 54% increase from 86.96 Mbps, ranking 22nd globally, according to Ookla's January report. This is Vietnam's highest ranking ever, largely due to the rapid expansion of 5G networks. Since its launch in October 2024, Vietnam's 5G speed has averaged over 300 Mbps, nearly six times faster than 4G.

Vietnamese cueist wins Billiards World Cup

Vietnamese cueist Tran Thanh Luc won the Billiards World Cup after defeating a Turkish opponent in the final, becoming the third Vietnamese champion after Tran Quyet Chien and Tran Duc Minh. His victory makes Vietnam the fifth country with at least three billiards World Cup champions, joining the Netherlands, Belgium, Turkey, and South Korea. Luc is currently ranked 11th in the world and second in Vietnam behind Quyet Chien.

Cat Ba to promote green transport in tourism

Cat Ba, part of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago, will become Vietnam's first carbon-free island through a new green transportation initiative in partnership with Sun Group. The plan includes introducing electric buses, taxis, and buggies for tourists while restricting high-emission vehicles. Charging stations and parking areas will be set up at ferry terminals and cable car stations to promote eco-friendly travel.