Prime Minister urges planning for international financial center 

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired a meeting on September 30 to discuss establishing an international financial center in Vietnam which will help leverage Vietnam's competitive advantages to attract resources for economic growth.

Meta to produce VR headsets in Vietnam 

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh meets Meta’s Global Affairs President Nick Clegg in Hanoi on September 30. Photo: VGP

Meta will expand production of its latest virtual reality headset, Quest 3S, in Vietnam by 2025, creating 1,000 jobs. Meta also plans to launch Vietnamese-language Meta AI. The Quest 3S, unveiled on September 25, is priced at US$300.  

Vietnam boosts digital payments in transportation 

Vietnam is pushing for electronic transportation payments based on the existing electronic toll collection (ETC) system to enhance efficiency and reduce costs. The country targets that by 2026, all road-related services, including parking and inspections, will be paid through digital accounts.

Vietnamese children in Typhoon Yagi-affected to benefit from tuition exemption

In recovery efforts after Typhoon Yagi, several provinces in Vietnam have approved 100% tuition fee exemptions for the 2024-2025 academic year with their budget. They include Yen Bai, which will exempt an estimated amount of VND48 billion (US$2 million), Quang Nam VND52 billion (US$2.2 million), Quang Ninh VND30 billion (US$1.3 million), Danang VND25 billion (US$1.1 million), Haiphong VND40 billion (US$1.7 million), Ba Ria-Vung Tau VND15 billion (US$635,000), and Khanh Hoa VND20 billion (US$850,000) in this initiative.

Vietnamese Cultural Day takes place in Mongolia

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam and State President To Lam and Mongolian President Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh attended an opening ceremony for the first Vietnamese Cultural Day in Mongolia held on September 30 during To Lam's state visit to the country.

Emphasizing the role of cultural exchange cooperation between the two sides, the Vietnamese Cultural Day in Mongolia is an important milestone that helps strengthen friendships and develop a comprehensive partnership.

Pontoon bridge in Phu Tho opened to traffic after Typhoon Yagi

Vietnam's Engineering Corps on September 30 opened the Phong Chau pontoon bridge, spanning the Red river and connecting districts of Lam Thao and Tam Nong in the northern province of Phu Tho.

It is to replace the Phong Chau bridge which collapsed in the wake of Typhoon Yagi that hit the northern region in early September.

Artists work to recycle discarded plastic materials into artworks

Artists from Germany, France, and Vietnam on September 30 joined the Community Garden project in the Red River Bank area, a formerly trashed wasteland in the heart of Hanoi, and used their own art to introduce a children's playground project made from recycled products.

The project, supported by the German-French Cultural Fund 2024, will run from September to November.

Photo festival highlights Mekong Delta’s landscapes and culture

The beautiful landscapes of the Mekong Delta, the cultural traits of local ethnic people, and socioeconomic achievements are featured in an art photo exhibition that opened in the southern city of Vinh Long between September 30 and October 4.

More than 1,850 color and black-and-white entries were sent to the festival by 252 photo artists from 13 regions of Vietnam. The art photos will also go on to national and international contests.