Those from near-poor households and seniors aged 75 and above receiving social pension benefits qualify for full reimbursement of medical examination and treatment costs under Vietnam's health insurance system from January 1, 2026, according to a resolution passed by the National Assembly on December 11, 2025.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on January 7 demanded the swift completion of the “Quang Trung Campaign” to rebuild and repair houses for people affected by storms and floods in central Vietnam, stressing that all work must be finished ahead of the 14th National Party Congress and the Lunar New Year.

Since the 28th meeting of the National Steering Committee on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has completed and submitted a report on IUU fishing prevention to the European Commission (EC).

Between December 31 and January 4, two cases of organ donation following brain death in Ho Chi Minh City helped save lives and restore sight for 13 patients, highlighting the deep humanitarian significance of organ donation.

Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung has signed Decision No. 2836/QD-TTg approving Vietnam’s national action plan on civil status registration and statistics for the 2026–2030 period, with the overarching goal of fully digitising civil status registration and management.

Hanoi aims to cut average annual PM2.5 concentrations by around 20% by 2030 compared to 2024 levels, lowering them to below 40 µg/m³, as air pollution remains a serious challenge for the capital and other major urban areas.

VOV.VN - A fresh spell of cold air is affecting northern Vietnam and the North Central region, pushing temperatures sharply lower. Much of the North is experiencing severe cold, with hazardous conditions in mountainous areas, while the North Central region remains cold, with severe cold in some areas.

VOV.VN - Vietnamese writer Tran Phi Long, aka jelu.c, has won an Honorable Mention at the annual International Monochrome Photography Awards 2025, one of the world’s leading competitions dedicated to black-and-white photography.

A new book chronicling eight decades of the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) was unveiled in Hanoi on January 5, timed to the 80th anniversary of the nation's first general election (January 6) and in the run-up to the 14th National Party Congress.

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology, in collaboration with the Saigon Hi-Tech Park Management Board and tech companies Saolatek, Real-time Robotics Vietnam, and Di Dong Viet, has kicked off a pilot programme using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for delivery services.

Leaders of An Giang province on January 5 visited and congratulated the Central Executive Committee of the Hoa Hao Buddhist Sangha on the occasion of the 106th birth anniversary of the sect’s founder, Prophet Huynh Phu So (the 25th day of the 11th lunar month).

The Hanoi People’s Court is set to open a first-instance trial of 55 defendants, of whom 34 are currently in custody, in a bribery case involving the Food Safety Authority (VFA) under the Ministry of Health on January 5 morning.

An exhibition titled “National Assembly of Vietnam’s 80 years of accompanying the nation” will open at the National Assembly headquarters in Hanoi on January 6 as part of celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the first nationwide general election (January 6, 1946 – 2026).

VOV.VN - The Ministry of Health is drafting a plan to gradually introduce universal free basic health care, aiming to eliminate out-of-pocket payments for essential medical services covered by health insurance by 2030, officials said.

VOV.VN - Vietnam’s new traffic safety decree, which came into force on January 1, 2025, is delivering initial results by significantly reducing road accidents, serious injuries and fatalities, easing pressure on emergency healthcare services and reinforcing public discipline on the road, experts say.

VOV.VN - The Government of Vietnam has recently approved a long-term initiative to establish English as a second language in schools nationwide, aiming to strengthen students’ language skills and prepare a high-quality workforce for the digital era and global integration.

VOV.VN - Northern and Central Vietnam are preparing for another strong influx of cold air, reported the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF).

VOV.VN - Vietnam recorded 196 traffic accidents nationwide during the four-day New Year holiday in early 2026, killing 94 people and injuring 154 others, according to the Traffic Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security.

Overseas Vietnamese intellectuals in Thailand have stated that the Party’s and State’s increasing support for their participation in policy-making is a key move to tap the expertise of the Vietnamese community abroad as the country enters a new development phase.

Noi Bai International Airport handled around 115,000 passengers on January 4, the final day of the New Year holiday, hitting the peak of the four-day travel period.

The number of traffic accidents nationwide on January 4 (the final day of the New Year holiday) fell by more than 25% compared with the same day last year, reflecting positive results from traffic safety enforcement efforts, though violations remained high with over 12,000 cases handled.

Despite AI's growing footprint, the IT sector continues to command the highest salaries in Vietnam, according to TopCV's latest hiring report.

VOV.VN - Hanoi’s traffic police have intensified patrols and enforcement throughout the capital during the four-day New Year holiday, targeting drink-driving violations in an effort to maintain road safety and public order.

The Youth Union of Ho Chi Minh City launched the 18th annual Spring Volunteer Campaign 2026 on January 3.

VOV.VN - Large numbers of people carrying luggage have begun to return to Hanoi after enjoying a four-day New Year holiday, causing heavy congestion on the city’s southern gateways.

VOV.VN - Recent medical achievements, alongside the application of modern technologies, are contributing to ongoing reform in Vietnam’s healthcare sector.

Vietnam’s Extradition Law, comprising four chapters and 45 articles, will take effect on July 1, 2026, following its passage by the National Assembly on November 26, 2025, aiming to facilitate the settlement of criminal cases involving fugitives abroad.

VOV.VN - Increased travel, social gatherings and commercial activities during the New Year holiday are driving a higher risk of infectious diseases, notably seasonal influenza, bronchitis, pneumonia, hand-foot-and-mouth disease and dengue fever.

VOV.VN - Vietnam recorded 71 road traffic accidents on January 2, resulting in 41 deaths and 56 injuries, according to the National Traffic Safety Committee.

As climate change intensifies and the global push toward net-zero emissions gathers pace, Vietnam is gradually shaping its carbon market, with forestry identified as a key pillar thanks to forests’ long-term capacity to absorb and store carbon dioxide.