ASEAN is poised to enter 2025–2026 with strong momentum in education benchmarking, as Vietnam’s Grade 5 students recorded the highest scores in Mathematics and Reading in the 2024 cycle of the Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics, according to results released on December 4 in Manila.

Vietnam sees growing advantages in the global race to develop versatile humanoid robots - machines which are capable of performing complicated physical tasks, interacting naturally with humans and operating safely in a real-world environment.

VOV.VN - Vietnam and Australia on December 4 celebrated a decade of the Australia-Vietnam Human Resource Development program (Aus4Skills), highlighting its contribution to building a skilled workforce and promoting inclusive education to support Vietnam’s long-term growth.

VOV.VN - A Vietnamese naval vessel left the port of Brigade 171 on December 4 to participate in the second ASEAN–US maritime exercise, scheduled for December 9–13, in Indonesia.

VOV.VN - More than 7,500 university students from across Vietnam are competing in the final round of the 27th Eureka Award competition in Ho Chi Minh City on December 5.

VOV.VN - World-leading scientists and innovators will gather at Hanoi’s Ho Guom Theatre on December 5 for the 2025 VinFuture Prize awards, as Vietnam seeks to position itself as a regional hub for global science dialogue.

VOV.VN - Bach Ma National Park in Hue city along with four other protected areas in Vietnam have officially been recognised as ASEAN Heritage Parks.

In 2025, the Coast Guard Region 2 Command has strengthened patrol and surveillance operations through new methods and improved mastery of modern weapons and technical equipment, significantly enhancing its capacity to safeguard sovereignty, as well as national security and maritime interests.

In its determined efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, Quang Tri province is tightening supervision, from fishing ports to offshore grounds. Alongside strict monitoring of unqualified vessels, the province is encouraging livelihood transition to foster a sustainable and efficient fisheries sector.

VOV.VN - Google on December 5, released its “Year in Search 2025” list, featuring the top 10 trending topics among Vietnamese internet users, with AI-related searches topping the rankings.

VOV.VN - A fierce fire broke out at an eatery on Tran Hung Dao street in Cau Ong Lanh Ward (former District 1), Ho Chi Minh City, just after 4 a.m. on December 5, killing four people from smoke inhalation, while a young boy was rescued in time.

VOV.VN - The Da Nang City Police have arrested and handed over three nationals of the Republic of Korea wanted by Interpol for allegedly running an online romance scam network in Cambodia.

VOV.VN - The Vietnamese Navy’s missile frigate 015-Tran Hung Dao on December 4 departed Qingdao in China’s Shandong province, ending a goodwill visit and beginning a journey to Japan.

VOV.VN - Heavy rain triggered by a cold spell and strong upper-level winds over the past few days has increased the risk of flashfloods and landslides in seven cities and provinces in Central Vietnam, according to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh on December 4 highlighted notable achievements in the implementation of the amnesty policy in 2025 when he attended a conference reviewing this year’s amnesty programme and community reintegration efforts for those granted early release.

Authorities in the central province of Nghe An on December 3 released an endangered Indochinese box turtle (Cuora galbinifrons) back into its natural habitat in the Pu Huong Nature Reserve.

VOV.VN - The Committee for Foreign Non-Governmental Organisation Affairs (COMINGO) in coordination with the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO), hosted the fifth International Conference on Vietnam- Foreign Non-Governmental Organizations (FNGOS) and Partners Cooperation for Prosperous and Sustainable Development” 4 in Hanoi on December 4.

VOV.VN - Ho Chi Minh City is planning to widen Nguyen Tat Thanh Street to 30-40 metres, build a new Tan Thuan 1 Bridge and construct the Hoang Dieu underpass at a total estimated cost of VND2.95 trillion (about US$112 million) to ease chronic congestion on the southern gateway connecting downtown with the city’s southern areas.

The Vietnam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP) is reducing the lending interest rates for its credit programmes to support the people in overcoming difficulties and stabilising their lives, effective from December 1, 2025.

VOV.VN - Ho Chi Minh City is pursuing four key policy directions to curb pollution from vehicle emissions, focusing on regulatory and emission standards reform, wider adoption of clean technologies and environmentally friendly fuels, development of a green logistics ecosystem, and the mobilization of social resources t

VOV.VN - Ho Chi Minh City has seen a surge in hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD) cases with some affected children experiencing severe symptoms, according to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health on December 4.

VOV.VN - National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting reported that on December 4, a surge of cold air affected the Northeastern region and parts of the North Central region, bringing rain and scattered light showers. Temperatures dropped by about 1-3 degrees Celsius, while the Bach Long Vi station recorded strong northeast winds at force 6 (39-49 km/h).

The central province of Quang Tri, which has more than 191 km of coastline and over 8,000 fishing vessels, has been stepping up efforts in line with the national drive to eradicate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Indonesia, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Vietnam are among the countries currently worst affected by a combination of monsoon-related rainfall and tropical cyclone activity, according the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).

The seminar “Global Frontiers - AI Ethics and Safety for Humanity” in Hanoi on December 2 kicked off the “Science for Life” workshop series as part of the 2025 VinFuture Sci-Tech Week.

VOV.VN - The Federal Government of Germany has pledged EUR185.5 million to support development projects in Vietnam over the next two years, the German Embassy in Vietnam said on December 2.

VOV.VN - The Marshall-flagged cruise ship Seven Seas Explorer docked at Cam Ranh International Port December 3, bringing 700 international visitors, to explore the South-central coastal province of Khanh Hoa.

VOV.VN - Hanoi has issued an official directive ordering urgent measures to curb air pollution across the city, signed by Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen.

First Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council of the Russian Federal Assembly Andrey Vladimirovich Yatskin praised the Joint Vietnam-Russia Tropical Science and Technology Research Centre in Hanoi as a prime example of bilateral cooperation during his visit to the institution on December 2.

The People's Committee of Can Tho city had a working session with Australia’s La Trobe University on December 2 to discuss ways to expand cooperation in developing high-quality education.