Key Events
- Parents Defend Đà Nẵng Educator Held on Fraud Charges.
- Visa-Free Nha Trang, for Chinese Tour Groups Only.
- Việt Nam Wants a Drone Economy. Its Airports Are Paying the Price.
- Hà Nội Clears Land Seizures for Sun Group Projects Mid-consultation.
- IMF: Việt Nam to Overtake Indonesia in Per Capita GDP
Đà Nẵng Police Delete Arrest Post On Social Media After Parents Defend Detained English Center Director
Police in Đà Nẵng deleted their Facebook post announcing the arrest of a local education director after commenters claiming to be parents of his students came to his defense, Luật Khoa Magazine reported on Facebook on Oct. 31, 2026.
On Oct. 29, Đà Nẵng police announced they had prosecuted and detained Trương Văn Thiên Tư, 56, director of the Thiên Lập Nhân English Center. He is under investigation for “fraudulent appropriation of property” under Article 174 of the Penal Code, which criminalizes fraudulent appropriation of property, meaning the use of deception to unlawfully obtain another person’s money or property.
Police say the center was licensed only to provide English tutoring for children. Instead, it ran a full-time general education program called Prinberk Academy for students aged 5 to 16. Tuition was 7 to 8 million đồng (about US$265 to $305) per month.
Investigators accuse Tư of hiding the center’s legal status and providing parents false information about the program. They say these actions led many parents to pull their children out of regular schools and enroll them at the center.
Comments under the police post suggested a different view from the parents.
“In my view, he didn’t deceive anyone,” wrote a user named Lua. “Parents looked into it themselves and decided to send their children to that program.” The user said they had seen the teaching at the center firsthand and urged authorities to handle the case fairly.
“My child studies here too. My child is doing very well,” wrote another user, Hồ. “The learning environment is full of love, support, and encouragement. No one defrauded us parents.”
A user named Hà said their child had studied at the center for five years and called it “a wonderful time.” A parent named Bic said Tư had waived tuition for two years for five children from a poor family.
These comments drew many likes and supportive replies.
By 5 p.m. on Oct. 31, according to Luật Khoa Magazine, Đà Nẵng police had taken down their post.
The case highlights a legal gray area in Việt Nam. Article 14 of the amended Education Law, effective since Jan. 1, 2026, makes both primary education and lower secondary education compulsory. The law does not explicitly ban parents from educating their children at home. However, no legal mechanism fully recognizes homeschooling as a substitute for formal schooling.
International bodies take a broader view. In a June 2025 report to the UN Human Rights Council, Farida Shaheed, the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to education, wrote that international law makes primary education compulsory, not schooling, and that homeschooling is part of educational freedom.
A September 2025 UNESCO report, “Homeschooling through a human rights lens,” recognizes parents’ freedom to choose their children’s education. It also calls on states to ensure every form of education meets minimum quality standards.
Luật Khoa reported on Nov. 1, 2026, that its report on this story had been geoblocked by Facebook upon receiving the request from the Ministry of Public Security, the police in Việt Nam.
Vietnam Waives Visas to Lure Chinese Tourists Back to Nha Trang
Khánh Hòa Province has begun letting Chinese tourists visit the province without visas, hoping to win back a market that collapsed after the COVID-19 pandemic, Nikkei Asia reports.
The pilot program began in October and runs through the end of 2027. Khánh Hòa is the first province on Việt Nam’s mainland to test such a scheme. Until now, only the island of Phú Quốc has let foreigners of all nationalities stay 30 days without a visa.
The waiver comes with strict conditions. Chinese visitors may stay up to 30 days, but only on group tours of at least two people booked through approved Vietnamese companies. They must fly directly from mainland China to Cam Ranh International Airport and remain inside the province. Hong Kong and Macao passport holders do not qualify.
Travel companies must ensure tourists enter and leave through Cam Ranh, register at hotels, and stay with their tour groups. That rules out trips beyond the province, such as the popular motorbike route from Đà Lạt to Nha Trang.
Security concerns run alongside the tourism push. Hà Nội has been cracking down on foreigners accused of crimes, including alleged Chinese leaders of online scam rings. In October, Khánh Hòa issued a regulation assigning agencies to handle foreigners who violate laws on “national security and social order.” All foreigners in Việt Nam must register their passports with local authorities.
According to figures from the Khánh Hòa Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, Chinese visitor arrivals to Nha Trang have dropped significantly. Khánh Hòa drew 2.5 million Chinese visitors in 2019 but only 680,000 in 2025, according to state broadcaster Voice of Vietnam. South Koreans and Russians, who hold visa exemptions until 2028, now outnumber Chinese visitors. The decline came even as China overtook South Korea as Việt Nam’s largest source of tourists last year. Chinese travelers chose Hồ Chí Minh City, Hà Nội, and Phú Quốc instead.
The pilot follows talks in Beijing in April between Communist Party chiefs Tô Lâm and Xi Jinping, who discussed easing visa rules. China later granted Vietnamese citizens 30 days of visa-free travel to Hainan Island. The central government approved Khánh Hòa’s program by resolution. A 2025 resolution had already waived visas for Japan, South Korea, and 10 European countries.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Phạm Thu Hằng said authorities would monitor the pilot program and consider adjustments based on the results.
Not everyone thinks visas are the main obstacle. David Jackson, CEO of Avison Young Vietnam and Cambodia, a global commercial real estate consultancy, told Nikkei Asia that Việt Nam must also speed up airport procedures, improve service quality, and offer more authentic cultural experiences. Long airport lines have frustrated investors and travelers and earned the country poor marks in global rankings.
Other destinations want the same treatment. A manager at a five-star resort in Đà Nẵng told Nikkei Asia she hopes her city gets similar status because Chinese visitors have been choosing Phú Quốc instead.
Two Drone Sightings Disrupted 73 Flights. Now Police Want Citizens to Photograph Drone Operators.
Việt Nam is tightening its response to drones flying near airports after a series of incursions disrupted flights across the country, Nikkei Asia reports.
The issue escalated in August when two drone sightings in a single day disrupted 73 flights at Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport in Hồ Chí Minh City, the country’s busiest air hub. Some planes circled in holding patterns before making unscheduled landings, according to Tiền Phong newspaper.
Similar violations have occurred near airports in Hà Nội, Hải Phòng, Bình Định, Thanh Hóa, and Khánh Hòa, the government said. The incidents have delayed thousands of passengers and forced police and other agencies to divert resources.
Last week, Deputy Prime Minister Phạm Gia Túc convened agencies to coordinate a nationwide response. He assigned ministries to develop counter-drone technology, improve information sharing, and strengthen enforcement.
Authorities are now using equipment to detect and intercept drones. They warn that flying a drone in restricted airspace can carry a prison sentence of up to 15 years.
Police have also asked the public for help. They urged people to report anyone launching drones near airports and, when it is safe, to photograph the operators and tell them to stop. The police released a statement urging citizens to promptly report incidents as a matter of civic duty.”
Airports Corporation of Vietnam, which runs most of the country’s airports, said the incursions have seriously disrupted takeoffs and landings, with knock-on effects for flight schedules.
The corporation recently held joint drills at Đà Nẵng International Airport with Vietnam Airlines and the Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corp. Staff practiced using cameras and signal jammers, alerting flight crews, rerouting aircraft, and coordinating with the military. Hồ Minh Tấn, deputy director of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, told the three companies to share more data. He also told them to apply lessons from the drills to Long Thành International Airport, which is under construction near Hồ Chí Minh City.
Air traffic controllers face particular strain. The Việt Nam Air Traffic Management Corp. said mixed civil and military traffic, runway layouts, fast-changing weather, and difficult terrain put heavy pressure on controllers during peak hours.
The crackdown comes as Việt Nam tries to build what officials call a “low-altitude economy.” State media estimate the drone industry could eventually be worth $10 billion. Hồ Chí Minh City is testing drones for e-commerce deliveries, and companies including military-run Viettel have entered the market. Drones are also increasingly used in farming, logistics, tourism, real estate, and filmmaking.
That growth has costs. Authorities say more drones mean more intrusions into no-fly zones. In Đà Nẵng alone, officials estimated direct losses from drone violations at 10 billion đồng ($390,000), excluding indirect costs.
Hà Nội Approves Taking Vĩnh Hưng Ward’s Land Before Public Consultation Ended
The Hà Nội’s People’s Council has cleared the way for the state to appropriate land for two Sun Group projects while residents were still being asked for their opinions, Luật Khoa Magazine reports.
On Oct. 28, the council passed a resolution adding 580 projects, covering about 10,660 hectares, to the city’s list of land recoveries “in the national and public interest.” For projects on this list, the state takes the land directly and pays compensation at prices it sets. Developers do not have to negotiate with each household.
Two of the projects belong to Sun Group. The Ba Vì Safari Park will occupy 299.51 hectares. The city approved Sun Group as its investor on Oct. 9. The Vĩnh Hưng Urban Redevelopment Project will take more than 206 of the ward’s 447 hectares. A Sun Group subsidiary registered the project, which is worth nearly 186,000 billion đồng ($7 billion).
The timing raised questions. Vĩnh Hưng Ward was collecting public comments on the project’s detailed plan from Oct. 12 to Nov. 1, and the council voted before that process ended. About 7,250 households, or roughly 20,000 people, are expected to relocate into high-rise apartment buildings on site.
The legal basis for Ba Vì is also unclear. Article 79 of the 2024 Land Law lists 31 grounds for land recovery, and no report has said which one covers the safari park. Nor is it clear whether the city relied on Capital Law No. 02/2026. Authorities have not said how many Ba Vì households will lose land, though Bloomberg estimates nearly 4,000 people could be affected. Officials have promised three times since early October to consult Ba Vì residents. Luật Khoa Magazine found no published results.
Residents of Vĩnh Hưng Ward have protested since early October by gathering at government offices, marching, and filing petitions. Their main grievance is that the state is taking residential land for commercial apartments. Ward police warned residents against gathering or marching and threatened strict action.
Residents also accused Hà Nội Television of interviewing opponents but airing only supporters.
Residents fear their consultation will end up like the Red River Scenic Boulevard project. “People complain, but no one listens,” one woman told Luật Khoa. She pointed to Hồng Hà Ward, where she said no one signed in agreement, yet officials still claimed more than 71% support.
That figure came from President Tô Lâm, who announced 71.8% approval on Sept. 27, less than a day after the Red River Scenic Boulevard consultation closed. More than a month later, the city has not released detailed results. Most affected wards, including Hồng Hà and Bồ Đề, have published nothing. Only a few less-affected communes, such as Bát Tràng and Đông Anh, have released numbers, all showing high approval.
An online conference the Department of Construction planned for Sept. 28 was postponed and has not been rescheduled.
The Red River Scenic Boulevard project covers about 11,418 hectares across 16 communes and wards, with an estimated investment of 736,963 billion đồng. It could affect about 200,000 people.
Factories and State Spending Put Việt Nam on Track to Overtake Indonesia in Per Capita GDP
Việt Nam is on track to overtake Indonesia in per capita GDP this year, driven by heavy public spending and a surge in high-tech manufacturing, according to International Monetary Fund projections reported by Nikkei Asia.
The IMF expects Việt Nam’s nominal GDP per person to rise 8.9% in 2026 to $5,259, nearly double its level a decade ago. That would edge past Indonesia’s $5,153 and make Việt Nam fifth among ASEAN members on this measure, just behind Thailand.
Hà Nội has set a growth target of at least 10% for 2026, and the economy is close. Real GDP grew 9.95% in the quarter ending in September.
Public money is doing much of the work. State investment jumped 46% year on year from January to September as roads, airports, and other infrastructure projects advanced nationwide. The government plans to spend 1 quadrillion đồng ($38.7 billion) on public investment this year. Mai Fujita, a senior research fellow at Japan’s Institute of Developing Economies, told Nikkei Asia that this spending is supporting growth.
Foreign manufacturers are the other engine. As companies seek alternatives to China, disbursed foreign direct investment rose 12% to $21.1 billion in the first nine months. Registered FDI commitments, a key gauge of future investment, soared 76% to $50.3 billion. Taiwan’s Foxconn is expanding production in northern Việt Nam. South Korea’s Samsung Electronics makes smartphones and other devices there for export.
Exports climbed 25% to $434.3 billion over the same period. The boom has also widened the U.S. trade gap. According to U.S. data, America’s goods trade deficit with Việt Nam reached about $160 billion from January to August, its largest with any country and bigger than its deficits with China or Mexico.
Indonesia, by contrast, is growing about 5% a year. Its investment in industries such as electric vehicles has done little so far to increase job numbers and raise incomes. A weak currency also shrinks its GDP when measured in dollars.
Việt Nam aims to lift per capita GDP to $8,500 by 2030, roughly Thailand’s level today. Thailand itself is growing only about 2% a year, held back partly by heavy household debt.
Việt Nam is not expected to keep up its current pace. The IMF and the Asian Development Bank both forecast growth of about 7.5% in 2027, well below the double-digit pace Hà Nội is aiming for this year. Fujita said infrastructure spending lifts growth in the short term, but lasting gains will require investment in people and technology.
Quick Takes:
Hà Nội Takes Land for Police Housing. Residents Get a Sign-Up Form.
Residents losing land to a police housing project in Hà Nội’s Bình Minh Commune have been invited by the government to register their interest in buying social housing, Luật Khoa Magazine reports. Officials have named no project, price, or priority on this social housing project.
The offer came at an Oct. 27 meeting with households in Thạch Bích Hamlet that have refused to hand over their land. Of 35 holdouts, 27 say the compensation is too low. The 10.4-hectare project affects 384 households, and the commune wants all payments completed by Nov. 30.
Police have 39 social housing projects for their officers nationwide, 23 of them approved in Hà Nội, according to RFA.
At the UN, Việt Nam Again Urges Washington to Lift Its Cuba Embargo
Việt Nam has renewed its call for the United States to lift its embargo on Cuba immediately, completely, and unconditionally, state media outlet VietnamPlus reports.
Nguyễn Hải Lưu, Việt Nam’s deputy permanent representative to the UN, spoke at the General Assembly’s annual debate on the embargo on Oct. 27–28. He said U.S. energy restrictions were disrupting Cuban hospitals, schools, and water supplies. He also urged Washington to remove Cuba from its list of state sponsors of terrorism, echoing General Secretary and President Tô Lâm’s September address to the assembly.
Lưu pledged continued support for Cuban rice, maize, and aquaculture production. The assembly adopted its annual resolution against the embargo, first considered in 1992.
A Hà Nội Company Is Flooding Facebook Feeds With AI-Generated Fake News Aimed at Canadians
A joint investigation by CBC’s visual investigations team and Radio-Canada’s Décrypteurs traced hundreds of websites and Facebook pages spreading fake news to audiences worldwide, including in Canada, back to a company in Việt Nam.
The company, HTV, presents itself as an international media firm and has at least 100 employees, according to a Vietnamese job listing inside the country. Its CEO is Ngô Anh Tân.
Working from an office in Hà Nội, the team posted AI-generated stories, including a false claim that Elon Musk had banned Teslas in Canada and clickbait exploiting the Tumbler Ridge shooting, a mass shooting that took place on Feb. 10 in the small town of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia. The posts steered users to outside websites. Some of the pages were also monetized.
With Births Below Replacement, Hà Nội Will Pay Women to Have Two Children Before 35
From Jan. 1, 2027, women living in Hà Nội who have two children before turning 35 will receive a one-time payment of 4 million đồng (US$155). The city’s People’s Council approved the measure on Oct. 28.
Hà Nội’s fertility rate has fallen from 2.11 children per woman in 2011 to 1.87 in 2025, below the replacement level. The city expects about 15,000 women to qualify each year, at a cost of roughly 60 billion đồng.
The payment is double the national minimum set by Decree 168/2026/NĐ-CP. Hồ Chí Minh City has offered 3 million đồng since December 2024.
