Vietnam Passport Ranking Drops to 91st Globally
Vietnam's passport ranks 91st globally in the 2025 Henley Passport Index, down four places from 2024, granting visa-free or e-visa access to 51 destinations; this is Vietnam's third low ranking since 2005.
Vietnam Passport Ranking Drops to 91st Globally
Vietnam's passport ranks 91st globally in the 2025 Henley Passport Index, down four places from 2024, granting visa-free or e-visa access to 51 destinations; this is Vietnam's third low ranking since 2005.
Progress
36% Bias Score
Vietnam's Controversial New Traffic Fines: A 50-Fold Increase Sparks Public Outcry
Vietnam's new traffic law, effective January 1, 2025, increases fines significantly, with some reaching 100 million VND (approximately 4,167 USD), leading to immediate public backlash and concerns about its impact on low-income citizens and potential corruption.
Vietnam's Controversial New Traffic Fines: A 50-Fold Increase Sparks Public Outcry
Vietnam's new traffic law, effective January 1, 2025, increases fines significantly, with some reaching 100 million VND (approximately 4,167 USD), leading to immediate public backlash and concerns about its impact on low-income citizens and potential corruption.
Progress
48% Bias Score
Munitions Accident Kills 12 Vietnamese Soldiers
Twelve Vietnamese soldiers died in a munitions accident during a military exercise on December 2, 2024, in Dong Nai province; initial reports suggest a lightning strike ignited the explosives, but questions about safety protocols remain.
Munitions Accident Kills 12 Vietnamese Soldiers
Twelve Vietnamese soldiers died in a munitions accident during a military exercise on December 2, 2024, in Dong Nai province; initial reports suggest a lightning strike ignited the explosives, but questions about safety protocols remain.
Progress
40% Bias Score
Ho Chi Minh City Opens First Metro Line After 12 Years
Ho Chi Minh City opened its first metro line on Sunday, after 12 years of construction and 17 years of planning, spanning 14 stations from Ben Thanh Market to Soui Tien Theme Park to alleviate traffic congestion in the city of 9 million; the line is free for the first month.
Ho Chi Minh City Opens First Metro Line After 12 Years
Ho Chi Minh City opened its first metro line on Sunday, after 12 years of construction and 17 years of planning, spanning 14 stations from Ben Thanh Market to Soui Tien Theme Park to alleviate traffic congestion in the city of 9 million; the line is free for the first month.
Progress
36% Bias Score
Climate Change and Increased Demand Drive Coffee Prices to Record Highs
Brazil's coffee harvest is down by as much as 25% due to drought, and Vietnam also faced harvest problems, leading to a 70% price increase for Arabica beans and a doubling of Robusta prices; experts predict the era of cheap coffee is over.
Climate Change and Increased Demand Drive Coffee Prices to Record Highs
Brazil's coffee harvest is down by as much as 25% due to drought, and Vietnam also faced harvest problems, leading to a 70% price increase for Arabica beans and a doubling of Robusta prices; experts predict the era of cheap coffee is over.
Progress
24% Bias Score
Enpal Diversifies Solar Module Sourcing to Reduce China Dependency
German solar installer Enpal imports 1,000–1,200 containers of solar modules yearly, mainly from China, but is diversifying to Vietnam and plans to source from India by 2026 to mitigate geopolitical risks and supply chain vulnerabilities, reflecting a broader industry trend.
Enpal Diversifies Solar Module Sourcing to Reduce China Dependency
German solar installer Enpal imports 1,000–1,200 containers of solar modules yearly, mainly from China, but is diversifying to Vietnam and plans to source from India by 2026 to mitigate geopolitical risks and supply chain vulnerabilities, reflecting a broader industry trend.
Progress
32% Bias Score
Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security Proposes Eliminating District-Level Police
Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security proposed a three-tiered police structure, eliminating the district level, aiming for improved efficiency and cost reduction, although initial reports of the proposal have been removed from most major news outlets.
Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security Proposes Eliminating District-Level Police
Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security proposed a three-tiered police structure, eliminating the district level, aiming for improved efficiency and cost reduction, although initial reports of the proposal have been removed from most major news outlets.
Progress
36% Bias Score
Cocoa and Coffee Shortages Drive Record High Prices in 2024
Adverse weather conditions and disappointing harvests in major cocoa-producing countries like Ivory Coast, Ghana, and West Africa, coupled with wildfires and drought in Brazil and Vietnam, have caused a significant shortfall in cocoa and coffee production, leading to record high prices in 2024.
Cocoa and Coffee Shortages Drive Record High Prices in 2024
Adverse weather conditions and disappointing harvests in major cocoa-producing countries like Ivory Coast, Ghana, and West Africa, coupled with wildfires and drought in Brazil and Vietnam, have caused a significant shortfall in cocoa and coffee production, leading to record high prices in 2024.
Progress
24% Bias Score
Ho Chi Minh City Opens First Metro Line After 12 Years
Ho Chi Minh City opened its first metro line on Sunday, after 12 years of construction, spanning 14 stations from Ben Thanh Market to Suoi Tien Theme Park, aiming to alleviate traffic congestion and includes free rides for the first month.
Ho Chi Minh City Opens First Metro Line After 12 Years
Ho Chi Minh City opened its first metro line on Sunday, after 12 years of construction, spanning 14 stations from Ben Thanh Market to Suoi Tien Theme Park, aiming to alleviate traffic congestion and includes free rides for the first month.
Progress
32% Bias Score
Vietnam's Government Restructuring: Short-Term Pain, Long-Term Gain for Investors?
Vietnam's government is undertaking a major restructuring involving the reduction of ministries and agencies to improve efficiency and reduce administrative burdens, a move anticipated to cause short-term delays but potentially increase long-term foreign investment.
Vietnam's Government Restructuring: Short-Term Pain, Long-Term Gain for Investors?
Vietnam's government is undertaking a major restructuring involving the reduction of ministries and agencies to improve efficiency and reduce administrative burdens, a move anticipated to cause short-term delays but potentially increase long-term foreign investment.
Progress
44% Bias Score
Vietnam to Radically Restructure Government by April 2025
Vietnam's communist government will radically restructure its bureaucracy by April 2025, reducing the number of government bodies from 30 to 21, merging key ministries, and dissolving VCP commissions and state-run media to improve governance and economic growth.
Vietnam to Radically Restructure Government by April 2025
Vietnam's communist government will radically restructure its bureaucracy by April 2025, reducing the number of government bodies from 30 to 21, merging key ministries, and dissolving VCP commissions and state-run media to improve governance and economic growth.
Progress
40% Bias Score
Indonesia's Protectionist Policies Risk Backfiring, Economists Warn
Indonesia's rejection of a $100 million Apple investment proposal in favor of a $1 billion demand, coupled with its strict local content requirements, is drawing criticism from economists who warn of potential negative impacts on foreign direct investment and long-term economic growth, contrasting w...
Indonesia's Protectionist Policies Risk Backfiring, Economists Warn
Indonesia's rejection of a $100 million Apple investment proposal in favor of a $1 billion demand, coupled with its strict local content requirements, is drawing criticism from economists who warn of potential negative impacts on foreign direct investment and long-term economic growth, contrasting w...
Progress
52% Bias Score