Vietnam has underscored the vital role of forests in driving sustainable economic growth as it joins global celebrations of the International Day of Forests, observed annually on March 21.

National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and Pacific Airlines have been named the official carriers of the Hue Festival 2026 under a sponsorship agreement signed with the festival organising committee on March 17.

VOV.VN - Border guards received 344 Vietnamese citizens handed over by the Cambodian side at Hoa Lu International Border Gate on March 17, where four people were found to be wanted under decisions issued by police in several provinces and cities.

As part of the 10th Vietnam – China Border Defence Friendship Exchange, military medical teams from the two countries on March 17 jointly provided medical examinations and treatment for residents in Hoanh Mo commune in Vietnam’s Quang Ninh province and Dongxing city in China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Ho Chi Minh City is set to commence construction of the Ben Thanh–Thu Thiem section of Metro Line No. 2 this April, in a push to fast-track its modern urban rail network and create a strategic corridor connecting key economic centres and major airports.

Traffic police in Ho Chi Minh City have detected more than 84,500 traffic violations since the beginning of 2026 through a network of surveillance cameras combined with direct on-road monitoring.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on March 16 signed a decision issuing a plan for enforcing the Law on Cybersecurity, setting out detailed tasks, deadlines and responsibilities for relevant units to drive its effective rollout.

VOV.VN - Three crew members have died and two others were hospitalised in a suspected gas asphyxiation incident aboard a cargo vessel anchored off the coast of Ca Na, central Khanh Hoa province, authorities said.

VOV.VN - Storm activity in the East Sea in 2026 is forecast to be no higher than the multi-year average, but forecasters warn of a higher risk of stronger storms and more extreme rainfall as ENSO (El Niño-Southern Oscillation) shifts phase, with weather becoming more unpredictable and disaster risks increasing.

VOV.VN - The National Innovation Centre (NIC) in coordination with the Consulate General of Vietnam in San Francisco, recently held a seminar to strengthen connections with Vietnamese experts worldwide and mobilise their expertise to support science, technology and innovation development in Vietnam.

VOV.VN - The North–South railway line through the Hai Van Pass, the only railway artery connecting northern and southern Vietnam, has resumed operations after a two-day suspension caused by a rockfall that damaged the track.

VOV.VN - A VIP terminal is under construction at Phu Quoc International Airport as part of an upgrade and expansion project to serve APEC 2027.

VOV.VN - Commanders of Vietnamese and Chinese naval task groups held a courtesy meeting on March 16 at Fangchenggang Port as part of activities linked to the 10th Vietnam–China Border Defence Friendship Exchange and a planned joint patrol and training exercise in the Gulf of Tonkin.

VOV.VN - Early in spring, local people of the K'Ho ethnic group in Lac Duong commune, Lam Dong province, head into the forest together, trekking upstream along the Krong No River to search for a special species of stream fish, which they bring home to enjoy or share as gifts.

For nearly two decades, the charity kitchen “Hieu va Thuong” (Understanding and Compassion) at the Ninh Thuan General Hospital, Khanh Hoa province, has kept its fires burning daily, providing free meals for poor patients and their relatives.

With the Law on Artificial Intelligence entering into force on March 1, 2026, the debate has moved beyond whether to embrace the technology to how best to develop and deploy it in a systematic, effective manner tailored to national circumstances.

A Chinese scholar has highlighted the significance of Vietnam’s election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026–2031 term, describing the event as an important political milestone as the country enters a new stage in socio-economic development and national governance.

A training course on Women, Peace and Security Agenda (WPS) for 2026, supported by Canada, officially opened on March 16 at the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations (VDPO) in Hanoi, highlighting the military’s role in promoting gender equality and supporting peace and security commitments.

VOV.VN - The Starlink satellite internet service for individual users in Vietnam is expected to cost about US$435 in the first month, including equipment and subscription fees, according to the Vietnam Telecommunications Authority under the Ministry of Science and Technology.

VOV.VN - A suspected drone was recently sighted near the approach path of Cat Bi International Airport, forcing several flights to enter holding patterns or divert to alternate airports, raising concerns over aviation safety.

Many members of the Vietnamese community in Japan have expressed their desire for the home country to have an increasingly professional and modern National Assembly (NA) capable of making breakthrough decisions to ensure sustainable development and enhance its standing on the international stage.

VOV.VN - A memorial ceremony was held on March 16 at the Son My Memorial Site in Tinh Khe commune, central Quang Ngai province, to mark the 58th anniversary of the massacre of 504 civilians in Son My village (March 16, 1968 – 2026).

VOV.VN - On the evening of March 15, at Noi Bai International Airport, the Ministry of Public Security held a departure ceremony for Task Group No. 8, whose members will serve in the United Nations peacekeeping mission at the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in the Republic of South Sudan in 2026.

VOV.VN - Police in central Da Nang city have dismantled a drug trafficking ring that used social media platforms and messaging applications to sell cannabis online, seizing around 20 kilograms of suspected marijuana during the investigation.

The Ho Chi Minh City Management Centre of Public Transport under the municipal Department of Construction launched a public electric bicycle service on March 15, marking a new step in efforts to expand green urban mobility.

VOV.VN - Authorities at Mong Cai International Border Gate, Quang Ninh province, have detained a foreign national for allegedly attempting to smuggle more than 750 grams of gold into Vietnam while completing immigration procedures.

VOV.VN - Northern Vietnam is forecast to turn sunny and warmer from March 17 as the ongoing cold air weakens, with temperatures in many areas expected to exceed 33°C.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Israel has advised members of the Vietnamese community living, studying and working in the country to closely follow updated civil defence instructions issued by the Israeli Home Front Command amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

Tran Xuan Binh, an English teacher at Le Hong Phong High School for the Gifted (Ninh Binh), has spent nearly 10 years training the school's national merit exam teams and has served as the head coach three times.

VOV.VN - Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Nguyen Thi Ha has laid stress on the importance of ensuring women’s access to justice and shared Vietnam’s experience in legal aid and the prevention of gender-based violence at the 70th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) in New York.