What you need to know today in Vietnam:

Politics

-- Vietnam is keenly interested in the Funan Techo canal project and urges Cambodia to collaborate closely with Vietnam and the Mekong River Commission on exchanging information and evaluating the project's effects on the water resources and ecological environment of the Mekong Delta, Doan Khac Viet, deputy spokesperson for the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a regular press conference in Hanoi on Thursday. This collaboration aims to safeguard the mutual interests of the countries along the river and the residents of the region. 

-- Relations between Vietnam and Thailand are in their most flourishing stage, Bui Thanh Son, Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs, said during his meeting with Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin in Bangkok on Thursday. 

Society

-- During the 'Hanoi Air Quality Management Plan - Collaboration and Action' seminar held on Thursday by the Hanoi Department of Natural Resources and Environment, it was revealed that the Vietnamese capital experiences approximately 110 days per year of poor air quality.

-- Two people will share the jackpot of VND314.1 billion (US$12.4 million) of the Vietlott lottery draw result annnounced on Thursday.

-- A mother transported her daughter from Cambodia to Vietnam for medical treatment, where the girl, afflicted with severe dengue fever, was rescued by doctors at Children's Hospital 2 in Ho Chi Minh City. On Thursday, the hospital's medical team announced that they had diligently treated and saved the life of the Cambodian girl, who faced extensive liver and kidney damage due to multiple-organ failure stemming from the illness.

Business

-- The Ford Everest Platinum was officially priced at VND1.545 billion ($61,825) in the Vietnamese market on Thursday, with all units being fully imported from Thailand.

-- Despite facing a 13-percent import tax and VAT in Vietnam, Washington State apples from the United States continue to strive for a new sales record in the Vietnamese market, where similar products from various other countries enjoy tax exemptions.

Sports

-- A match between past luminaries from Brazil, namely Dunga, Rivaldo, Lucio, Giovanni, Kleberson, and Paulo Sergio, and former Vietnamese national team members is scheduled to occur in a 7-player format at Hoa Xuan Stadium in Da Nang on the evening of April 27.

World News

-- "Britain's defence ministry on Friday said it would install lasers on warships designed to cheaply shoot down drones from 2027, five years earlier than previously expected, under reforms designed to speed up the deployment of new technology," according to Reuters.

-- The European Central Bank said Thursday slowing inflation could open the door to a loosening of monetary policy, fuelling hopes of a first interest rate cut in June, after holding borrowing costs steady again, AFP reported.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam!