What you need to know today in Vietnam:

Politics

-- Vietnam regrets a U.S. decision to sanction the Vietnam Gas and Chemicals Transportation Corporation over its trade with Iran in petroleum products for civilian purposes and to serve essential needs of people, Le Thi Thu Hang, spokesperson of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a press briefing on Thursday.

Society

-- At least 15 sailors went missing on Thursday after a Panama-flagged cargo ship capsized in rough seas off Vietnam, Reuters cited Vietnamese media as saying.

-- Vietnam's Ministry of Health on Thursday confirmed two new imported coronavirus cases, taking the national tally to 1,407 patients, with 1,263 recoveries and 35 virus-related deaths.

-- The management of the Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens have decided to hike admission from next year in order to have extra funds to maintain and upgrade facilities.

-- Ho Chi Minh City authorities have allowed six additional hotels in Tan Binh District, Phu Nhuan District, and District 7 to offer paid collective quarantine services to international arrivals to the city to prevent COVID-19 spread. 

Business

-- Vietnam will consult the U.S. about ways to solve currency issues after Washington labeled the Southeast Asian country as a currency manipulator on Wednesday, Le Thi Thu Hang, spokesperson of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a regular press meeting on Thursday.

-- The Vietnamese dong has appreciated by 0.2 percent against the dollar this year, HSBC Vietnam said in a report released on Thursday.

-- State-run mobile carrier Mobifone started offering free 5G services to users near its store at 80 Nguyen Du Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City on Thursday. 

-- Walmart has bought many goods from Vietnam but 95 percent of them were shipped by foreign-invested companies, the retail giant's representative in the country said at a meeting on Thursday.

Sports

-- Viettel and Song Lam Nghe An have set up a final showdown at the national football tournament for under-21 players on Saturday after defeating their opponents in the semifinals on Thursday.

World News

-- "A panel of outside advisers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday overwhelmingly endorsed emergency use of Moderna Inc’s coronavirus vaccine, virtually assuring a second option for protecting against COVID-19 for a pandemic ravaged nation," Reuters reported.