Key Events
- A Facebook User Was Detained Under Article 331 Over a Ride-hailing Review as Việt Nam Considers a Digital ID Law.
- Việt Nam Turns to Russia for Nuclear Know-How as Sanctions Loom.
- Government Drops Morning Peak Power Rates as Solar Output Surges.
- Japan Is Set to Back Việt Nam’s Small Nuclear Reactor Plans as Tô Lâm Visits Tokyo.
- Record Surplus Keeps US Trade Pressure on Việt Nam Even After the Midterm Elections.
A Ride-Hailing App Review Lands a Facebook User in Detention as Việt Nam Moves to Tie Online Accounts to Digital ID
A Facebook user in Hồ Chí Minh City is in police detention after posting a video comparing ride-hailing apps. The case comes as lawmakers weigh a draft law that would tie many online transactions to citizens’ national digital identity, while a separate decree already requires social media accounts to be linked.
On Nov. 5, Hồ Chí Minh City police announced that they had charged and detained Trần Minh Thanh, 36, of Tân Sơn Nhì Ward, who runs the Facebook account “Thanh Thật Thà.” The charge is based on Article 331 of the Penal Code, which punishes “abusing democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the state and the legitimate rights and interests of organizations and individuals.”
According to state media, the case began with a complaint from Green and Smart Mobility, the company behind the electric taxi brand Xanh SM. GSM asked police to investigate a Facebook account that had posted unverified and distorted claims about its business.
Police traced the account to Thanh. On Oct. 24, he had posted a nearly 10-minute video comparing and reviewing ride-hailing apps. Police say it contained false information that damaged GSM’s reputation. Thanh told investigators he posted it to attract viewers and earn money from Facebook. His account had not yet qualified for payouts.
Police have not said which claims were false or which clause of Article 331 applies. They warned that sharing false information about organizations or individuals can bring administrative fines or criminal charges, depending on severity, but did not explain why Thanh’s case warranted the latter.
Luật Khoa Magazine asked GSM which parts of the video it considered false and what action it had sought from police. The company had not responded by the evening of Nov. 5.
Thanh is not the first critic of a company tied to Vingroup chairman Phạm Nhật Vượng to face legal trouble. In 2021, VinFast reported a YouTuber to police over videos complaining about the car he had bought. In 2023, police interrogated VinFast critic Trần Mai Sơn for about 35 hours over four days. He later left Việt Nam and sought political asylum. In 2025, Vingroup announced lawsuits against 68 organizations and individuals over alleged false information.
The arrest comes as the National Assembly considers a draft Law on Electronic Identification and Authentication. Under Clause 5, Article 23, online transactions in 11 sectors, including banking, e-commerce, health care, telecommunications, and online gaming, must be authenticated with and linked to a national electronic identity. Ministers could add more sectors.
Public Security Minister Lương Tam Quang told lawmakers on Nov. 4 that data collection requires “the consent of the data subject.” The draft does not say what happens to people who refuse to link. Its full text has not been made public. It is expected to pass before the session closes Nov. 21.
Social media falls outside the 11 sectors, but a separate rule covers it. Under Decree 320/2026, accounts on digital platforms, including Facebook, TikTok, and Zalo, must complete linking and authentication by Dec. 31.
Together, the two measures tie citizens’ digital footprints directly to their official identities—at a time when posting a bad review can trigger criminal charges.
Việt Nam Deepens Nuclear Ties With Russia as Sanctions Cloud Its First Power Plant
Việt Nam has taken another step toward obtaining Russian help for its nuclear ambitions, even as Western sanctions on Moscow raise questions about how the projects will be financed.
On Nov. 3, the Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute (Vinatom) and a subsidiary of Rosatom, the Russian State Atomic Energy Corp. leading the MBIR International Research Center, announced a memorandum of understanding to cooperate on nuclear research. The MOU also explores Vinatom’s possible membership in the center’s international consortium. MBIR is a multipurpose fast-neutron research reactor under construction in Dimitrovgrad, Russia.
The deal gives Vietnamese specialists access to the reactor’s infrastructure. Vinatom President Trần Chí Thành said the institute looks forward to long-term joint research. However, the agreement only sets a framework for cooperation and opens talks on the terms for Vinatom to join the consortium.
The memorandum builds on a larger deal. On March 23, during former Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính’s official visit to Moscow, the two governments signed an intergovernmental agreement on building the Ninh Thuận 1 nuclear power plant. The plant would have two Russian-designed VVER-1200 reactors with a combined capacity of 2,400 megawatts.
Rosatom will build the plant in Khánh Hòa Province, and it is expected to begin operating between 2030 and 2035. In August, Việt Nam split the Ninh Thuận program into three independent projects to speed it up. On Sept. 9, Petrovietnam and South Korea’s KEPCO agreed to accelerate talks for Ninh Thuận 2.
The obstacle is money. Sanctions by the United States and other Western countries against Russia have raised questions about the Hà Nội–Moscow nuclear partnership and its financing.
An analyst quoted by the South China Morning Post said the sanctions create real payment and counterparty-screening hurdles but do not ban civilian nuclear cooperation with Russia outright. They may not make the project impossible, but they could make it more complicated and costly.
This analyst noted that U.S. sanctions affect Russian banks supporting civil nuclear projects launched after Nov. 21, 2024, and it remains unclear whether that will extend to Ninh Thuận 1.
Because Việt Nam “cannot neutralize sanctions,” the analyst said, it should prioritize transparent, legally workable financing and enforceable commitments on technology transfer and training and use its new international financial center as supporting infrastructure rather than a way around the restrictions. Russian think tank Geofor Analytics has argued that the Ninh Thuận 1 agreement could give Việt Nam’s financial sector a spillover boost.
The partnership is not new. Việt Nam and Rosatom first signed a construction agreement for the plant on Oct. 31, 2010. Hà Nội agreed to an $8 billion Russian loan for the first facility, with construction originally planned to begin in 2014. The program was later shelved. In 2024, the National Assembly approved its revival, largely as a continuation of the frozen project.
Solar Boom Pushes Việt Nam to Scrap Morning Peak Power Rates and Shift Pricing to the Evening
The country’s state power utility has dropped its morning peak electricity rates and lengthened its evening peak, a sign that the country’s rapid solar buildout is changing when the grid is under the most strain.
Under a new tariff structure that took effect on Nov. 1, Vietnam Electricity (EVN) eliminated the 9:30–11:30 a.m. peak pricing window. The evening peak now runs for five hours, from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., two hours longer than before, Nikkei Asia reported.
The same day, EVN cut retail electricity prices by an average of 2% under a government order to ease costs for households and businesses. The government said the cut would lower inflation by 0.08 of a percentage point, as energy prices remain high because of the Middle East war.
State-run Vietnam News said the change came in response to growing daytime use of solar power. Việt Nam is now ASEAN’s top solar producer. With solar farms covering much of midday demand, officials are less worried about daytime shortages. Their concern has shifted to the evening, when solar output disappears but demand stays high. Power producers will no longer earn higher prices during the day.
The new structure will not affect all users equally. Factories that run night shifts after the evening peak ends could pay less. Companies with battery storage could capture solar power at midday and use it during the evening peak.
The change also comes as Việt Nam’s market for direct power purchase agreements (DPPAs) takes shape, with dozens of projects in development. In June, Samsung announced the country’s first virtual DPPA.
Under the deal, it will buy 70 gigawatt-hours of solar power a year for its plant in Thái Nguyên Province, cutting carbon emissions by 46,000 tons. Lego signed a DPPA last year with the Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park for what it calls its most sustainable factory worldwide.
Not everyone welcomes the change. Giles Cooper, a DPPA specialist and partner at law firm Allens, told Nikkei Asia that removing a peak period could be “a speed bump to incentivizing industrial sector decarbonization.” He warned it could misrepresent the real cost of supplying power as the grid absorbs more variable renewable energy.
Others expect the market to continue growing. Thái Hoàng Quỳnh, vice president of power systems at Schneider Electric, stated that DPPAs provide companies with fixed costs and certified renewable power. Suppliers increasingly face green targets set by global brands, Quynh said. More industrial parks are expected to adopt direct purchases, allowing one tenant to buy electricity from another.
The challenge for policymakers remains: expanding solar energy while ensuring a reliable electricity supply at night.
Japan Returns to Việt Nam’s Nuclear Plans, This Time Betting on Small Reactors
Japan and Việt Nam are set to sign an agreement on bringing small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) to Việt Nam as early as 2040, reviving nuclear cooperation that Tokyo stepped away from last year, Nikkei Asia reported.
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Tô Lâm, Communist Party general secretary, are expected to confirm the plan in Japan on Nov. 9. Tô Lâm visits Japan from Nov. 8 to 11 for talks with Takaichi and Emperor Naruhito.
Under the memorandum of understanding, Japan would supply technology and help train the workforce Việt Nam needs to deploy next-generation reactors, including SMRs. The deal could lead to the first Japanese-backed SMR construction project in Southeast Asia. Việt Nam is the only country in the region with a bilateral nuclear cooperation agreement with Japan, which Tokyo requires before it can provide nuclear equipment and materials.
The agreement marks a turnaround. Việt Nam aims to bring its first nuclear power plant online by 2035 and has chosen two sites. Japan had discussed building one of these sites but pulled out in 2025, judging the 2035 target too ambitious to meet.
The Takaichi government now wants to restart cooperation with a focus on SMRs. The two countries have agreed to continue talks on nuclear cooperation beyond 2040, and next week’s meeting will add concrete details.
Other partners are already involved. In March, Việt Nam signed an intergovernmental agreement with Russia for the Ninh Thuận 1 plant, which would have two Russian-designed VVER-1200 reactors with a combined 2,400 megawatts. For Ninh Thuận 2, Petrovietnam and South Korea’s KEPCO agreed in September to speed up talks. And on Nov. 3, the Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute signed a research memorandum with a Rosatom subsidiary.
Energy cooperation with Japan will not stop at nuclear power. The two leaders are expected to sign a loan agreement for a high-efficiency combined-cycle gas turbine plant in southern Việt Nam. The plant would generate electricity from both gas and steam to support the region’s economic growth.
Artificial intelligence is also on the agenda. A separate memorandum on AI research and development would have Japan support Việt Nam’s goal of producing 100 AI specialists with doctorates. A joint statement is expected to include plans for the Japan AI Safety Institute to work with Vietnamese institutions on evaluating the safety of advanced AI.
The visit is also drawing scrutiny from rights groups. Human Rights Watch has urged Takaichi to press Tô Lâm for concrete progress on human rights, noting that Việt Nam holds more than 160 political prisoners.
Record Surplus Keeps U.S. Trade Pressure on Việt Nam After Midterms, Businesses Say
Foreign businesses in Việt Nam expect Washington’s tough trade stance toward the country to hold, even after the midterm elections weakened President Donald Trump, Reuters reported on Nov. 5. The outlook comes as Việt Nam has become the country with the largest trade surplus with the United States.
U.S. trade data released on Nov. 4 showed Việt Nam overtaking China and Mexico to post the largest goods trade surplus with the United States. Electronics, apparel, footwear, and wood products drove its exports. In the first nine months of 2026, Việt Nam’s surplus reached nearly $190 billion, about 47% higher than a year earlier. China’s surplus fell to about $130 billion from nearly $163 billion.
The widening gap has complicated more than a year of negotiations on a trade deal that could end tariff uncertainty. In July, the Trump administration imposed a general 12.5% tariff on Vietnamese goods over alleged failures to stop imports of products made with forced labor. The duty partly replaced 20% tariffs that the Supreme Court had struck down.
Two other investigations could add duties as early as this month, as White House officials repeatedly accuse Việt Nam of serving as a transshipment hub for Chinese goods. Việt Nam says it is taking steps against illegal transshipment and imports of goods made with forced labor. On Nov. 5, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said trade talks were continuing.
Business leaders said the election results would not change the fundamentals. Sun Hong, honorary chairman of the South Korean Chamber of Business in Vietnam, whose members include Samsung, Việt Nam’s largest foreign investor, said Washington’s core priorities of reducing trade deficits and curbing transshipment from China are likely to stay the same.
Bruno Jaspaert, head of DEEP C Industrial Zones, a network of industrial parks in northern Việt Nam that hosts export factories run by multinationals, said trade and foreign policy are largely set by the president rather than Congress. In his view, “the problems of today will remain the problems of tomorrow.”
Others saw some room for change over time. One foreign business representative, speaking anonymously, said Congress might oppose some measures but that the president still has many tools available. Another said no immediate policy shifts are expected, though Congress could give more weight to labor and environmental standards. Several business representatives said uncertainty remains.
The surplus that marks Việt Nam’s rise as a manufacturing hub is also what keeps it in Washington’s sights.
Quick Takes:
Việt Nam’s Energy Transition Draws Investors but Leaves Justice Behind, Report Warns
Three years into Việt Nam’s Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP), the “just” part is falling behind, International Rivers warned in a report released Nov. 4, ahead of COP31 in Antalya. The JETP’s $15.5 billion in initial pledges covers only about 11% of the $136.3 billion Việt Nam needs for its power plans through 2030, and grants make up just 2% of financing. While six jailed climate and environmental defenders who worked on coal power have been freed, their organizations remain closed or restructured, and new laws further restrict civil society. Việt Nam also lacks a funded plan to support coal workers and affected communities.
Japan-Linked Startups Bet on Cold Chains as Việt Nam Loses Up to a Quarter of Its Farm Produce
Japan-linked food distributors are betting on cold-chain logistics in Việt Nam, where government estimates suggest 20% to 25% of agricultural products are lost during storage and transport, Nikkei Asia reported. Kamereo, the local operator of Singapore-based Kamereo International, supplies more than 6,000 retailers and restaurants from temperature-controlled hubs in Hà Nội and Hồ Chí Minh City, sourcing from about 300 suppliers and a farm collection center. Founder Taku Tanaka said few companies offer reliable cold chains. Japanese trading house Sumitomo invested in Kamereo in 2024, and food service giant Zensho plans a new vegetable-processing facility in Hồ Chí Minh City.
Driver Protests Push Grab to Cut Its Take on Việt Nam Rides to 32%
Grab will cap its take from car and motorbike rides in Việt Nam at 32% of fares, down from about 40%, starting Nov. 10, Nikkei Asia reported, citing the Vietnam Competition Commission (VCC). The move follows a VCC review launched after drivers complained about fees and called for a boycott in September. Grab will also reimburse drivers overcharged because of algorithm errors or other issues. The VCC estimates the measures, including lower fees, a small fare cut, and incentives for drivers and riders, will cost Grab 2.95 trillion đồng ($115 million). Grab’s third-quarter revenue rose 27% to $1.11 billion.
Families of Allegedly Abducted Việt Tân Members Press Their Case as Tô Lâm Visits Japan
The families of Trần Hiệp, Nguyễn Đức Thuận, and Thái Công Trường Sơn, Việt Tân members allegedly abducted in Cambodia, are stepping up their campaign for their release of the detained men. The wife of Australian activist Trần Hiệp and the brother of Norwegian citizen Nguyễn Đức Thuận have published op-eds in their local media, and Danish media criticized Denmark for granting Tô Lâm its highest royal honor. Việt Tân, through their media liaison, says Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong met Việt Nam’s ambassador after a senator raised the case on Oct. 28, and the UN is investigating the alleged abduction site. Supporters plan a protest in Tokyo during Tô Lâm’s Nov. 8 visit, plus vigils in Melbourne and Oslo.
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