Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung's meetings with DPRK officials, the State President's order to promulgate nine laws adopted by the 16th National Assembly at the first session, and the repatriation of 28 rare turtles from the RoK to Vietnam are among news highlights on May 13 evening.

In late April and early May, coffee blossoms burst into bloom across the hillsides of Son La province, covering the mountainous landscape in white, and creating a picturesque scene.

Vietnamese firms invested nearly 714 million USD abroad in the first four months of 2026, up 2.3-fold year-on-year, according to the National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Finance.

Companies that register industrial designs in both Vietnam and export markets, with properly licensed software, have significantly strengthened their competitiveness and tripled profit margins compared to five years ago.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has instructed relevant agencies to accelerate measures against the use of Thai nominees on behalf of foreign individuals and organisations involved in illegal business activities.

Da Nang's foreign direct investment (FDI) attraction showed strong growth, reaching 237.7 million USD, double the level recorded a year earlier. The city granted licences for 47 new FDI projects, approved capital adjustments for 16 projects and recorded 10 transactions involving capital contributions and share acquisitions in economic organisations.

A key target under the new plan is the establishment of five digital technology incubators, or Deeptech Hubs, at universities and research institutes with strong potential. The education ministry also plans to launch a training programme for 1,000 outstanding technology entrepreneurs and develop criteria for selecting and supporting startup ecosystems within educational institutions.

Combined revenue from Daesang’s Southeast Asian subsidiaries reached about 790 billion KRW in 2025, up 29% compared to 2021.

As the economy increasingly shifts towards knowledge-based growth, innovation and digital transformation, demand for IP and technology valuation is becoming more urgent.

Chief Financial Officer Makoto Shibuya said regions connected to southern China, including Laos and Cambodia, were among the areas the company viewed as having strong potential for future development.

The Booking.com’s Travel Trends 2026 data revealed that a growing number of Vietnamese travellers, about 74% of respondents, are channelling “Main Character Planning Energy”, where planning and booking is just as enjoyable as the trip itself.

The PM cautioned that deeper integration of AI into sectors such as healthcare and autonomous vehicles could pose greater challenges, including wrong medical diagnoses and fatal self-driving car incidents, raising critical questions over liability for AI-related failures.