Vietnamese president resigns, criticized for major scandals
January 17, 2023 GMTBANGKOK (AP) — Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc resigned Tuesday, becoming the most senior member of the government to step down after a series of high-profile corruption scandals for which he was held responsible.
Correction: Taiwan-US story
September 10, 2022 GMTTAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — In a story published September 8, 2022, about a U.S. congressional delegation visiting Taiwan, The Associated Press erroneously reported Stephanie Murphy was born in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Death toll climbs to 33 in Vietnamese karaoke parlor fire
September 8, 2022 GMTHANOI, Vietnam (AP) — The death toll from a fire at a karaoke parlor in southern Vietnam has climbed to 33, officials said Thursday, with police blaming some of the fatalities on customers who failed to heed employees’ warnings to flee and remained inside locked rooms.
Vietnam court upholds 9-year prison sentence for journalist
August 26, 2022 GMTHANOI, Vietnam (AP) — A Vietnamese court has rejected an appeal by prominent journalist and democracy activist Pham Doan Trang, who had been sentenced to nine years in prison on charges of “propaganda against the state,” state media said.
Russian foreign minister stops in Vietnam ahead of G-20
July 6, 2022 GMTHANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited Vietnam on Wednesday as part of an effort to bolster ties with a country that has not openly condemned its invasion of Ukraine or imposed sanctions against it.
Vietnam’s health minister arrested over COVID test gouging
June 8, 2022 GMTHANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam’s health minister and the mayor of the capital Hanoi have been arrested as part of an expanding investigation into massive price gouging of COVID-19 tests, state media reported.
Delayed Southeast Asian Games begin in Vietnam’s capital
May 12, 2022 GMTHANOI, Vietnam (AP) — The Southeast Asian Games officially kicked off Thursday with a mask-optional opening ceremony in Vietnam's capital, the first major gathering in the country since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.
Japanese, Vietnamese leaders reject use of force in Ukraine
May 1, 2022 GMTHANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida discussed the war in Ukraine with Vietnamese leaders on Sunday and said they agreed on the respect for international law and rejection of the use of force.
Vietnam drops COVID-19 restrictions for foreign visitors
March 16, 2022 GMTHANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam on Wednesday scrapped quarantine and other travel restrictions for foreign visitors in an effort to fully reopen its border after two years of pandemic-related closure, the government said.
High school seniors return to classrooms in Vietnam capital
December 6, 2021 GMTHANOI, Vietnam (AP) — High school seniors returned to their classrooms in Hanoi, Vietnam's capital, on Monday for the first time in more than six months as the city eases coronavirus restrictions.
Only 50% of normal school attendance will be allowed to reduce the risk of infections, so students will spend alternate days attending classes in person and online, an announcement by the capital city authority said.
Vietnam seeks information from Iran about seized oil tanker
November 4, 2021 GMTHANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam was seeking more information Thursday about a Vietnamese oil tanker that was seized at gunpoint last month by Iranian soldiers in the Gulf of Oman, while vowing to ensure the safety and humane treatment of the ship's crew members.
Cuba launches commercial exports of COVID-19 vaccines
September 27, 2021 GMTHAVANA (AP) — Cuba has begun commercial exports of its homegrown COVID-19 vaccines, sending shipments of the three-dose Abdala vaccine to Vietnam and Venezuela.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel announced the arrival in Vietnam on his Twitter feed Sunday.
Vietnam speeds up Hanoi vaccine drive; 1M jabs over weekend
September 13, 2021 GMTHANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam is speeding up its vaccination program in an effort to loosen coronavirus lockdown restrictions in major cities by the end of the month, the government said Monday.
Health workers administered vaccines throughout the night in the capital, Hanoi, which has been under lockdown since July.
Japan, Vietnam sign defense transfer deal amid China worries
September 12, 2021 GMTTOKYO (AP) — Japan can now give defense equipment and technology to Vietnam under an agreement signed Saturday, as the two countries step up their military cooperation amid worries about China's growing military influence.
China pledges 3 million COVID vaccine shots to Vietnam
September 11, 2021 GMTHANOI, Vietnam (AP) — China plans to donate 3 million doses of its coronavirus vaccine to Vietnam, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Saturday as he wrapped up a visit to Hanoi.
Yi's pledge comes amid a virus lockdown in Vietnam to contain a COVID-19 surge.
Australia, South Korea, Japan complete 1-0 WC qualifier wins
September 7, 2021 GMTSEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Australia edged Vietnam 1-0 in Hanoi on Tuesday to make it two wins out of two in Group B of Asia World Cup qualifying, but China's campaign was teetering after a second consecutive defeat.
Harris says she urged Vietnam to free political dissidents
August 27, 2021 GMTHANOI, Vietnam (AP) — U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris said Thursday she raised issues of human rights abuses and restrictions on political activism in her conversations with Vietnamese leaders this week, but offered no indication those talks bore fruit.
Possible ‘Havana Syndrome’ incidents probed in Harris delay
August 25, 2021 GMTHANOI (AP) — U.S. officials are continuing to investigate two possible cases of so-called Havana Syndrome health incidents that delayed Vice President Kamala Harris' trip from Singapore to Vietnam.
Harris urges Vietnam to join US in opposing China ‘bullying’
August 25, 2021 GMTHANOI (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris called on Vietnam to join the U.S. in challenging China’s “bullying” in the South China Sea, continuing her sharp rhetoric against Beijing as she met with Vietnamese leaders on Wednesday.
Possible Havana syndrome case delays Harris trip to Vietnam
August 24, 2021 GMTHANOI (AP) — U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris' trip from Singapore to Vietnam was delayed several hours Tuesday by an investigation into two possible cases of the so-called Havana Syndrome in Hanoi, administration officials said.
Harris rebukes China in speech on Indo-Pacific vision
August 24, 2021 GMTHANOI (AP) — U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris delivered a sharp rebuke to China for its incursions in the South China Sea, warning its actions there amount to “coercion” and “intimidation” and affirming that the U.S.
Vietnam tightens virus lockdown ahead of Harris visit
August 23, 2021 GMTHANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam’s largest metropolis, Ho Chi Minh City, went into a tightened lockdown Monday to battle its worst outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, just a day ahead of the arrival of U.S.
Vietnam calls on army for food delivery ahead of lockdown
August 21, 2021 GMTHANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam's government said it is sending troops to Ho Chi Minh City to help deliver food and aid to households as it further tightens restrictions on people’s movements amid a worsening surge of the coronavirus.
US defense secretary broadens cooperation with Vietnam
July 29, 2021 GMTHANOI, Vietnam (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met his Vietnamese counterpart on Thursday to deepen cooperation in security and pandemic recovery, after Washington vowed support for Southeast Asian nations embroiled in territorial rifts with China.
US defense secretary visits Vietnam, vows support for region
July 29, 2021 GMTHANOI, Vietnam (AP) — U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is seeking to bolster ties with Vietnam, one of the Southeast Asian nations embroiled in a territorial rift with China, during a two-day visit starting Wednesday.
Vietnam locks down capital Hanoi for 15 days as cases rise
July 24, 2021 GMTHANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam announced a 15-day lockdown in the capital Hanoi starting Saturday as a coronavirus surge spread from the southern Mekong Delta region.
The lockdown order, issued late Friday night, bans the gathering of more than two people in public.
After lull, cases spread in Vietnam’s cities, provinces
May 8, 2021 GMTHANOI, Vietnam (AP) — After over a month with no local infections, Vietnam has recorded 176 confirmed coronavirus cases from several outbreaks that have spread to 19 provinces during the past 10 days, the Health Ministry said...
Vietnam vaccinates COVID-19 front-liners with its 1st doses
March 8, 2021 GMTHANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam administered its first COVID-19 doses Monday to the front-line workers who made the nation's relative success in controlling the pandemic possible — health workers, contact tracers and security forces who handled quarantine duties...
Vietnam’s Communist Party reelects chief to lead the nation
January 31, 2021 GMTHANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam’s Communist Party on Sunday reelected Nguyen Phu Trong to be its chief, the state Vietnam News Agency reported. His selection makes him the nation’s de facto leader for a third five-year term.
Fresh outbreak in Vietnam grows to 82, company closed
January 28, 2021 GMTHANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam reported 82 new coronavirus cases on Thursday, hours after confirming the first two infections in nearly two months.
Seventy-two of the cases came from an electronic company in Hai Duong province, where a 34-year-old female employee tested positive after her colleague was found to carry the virus from Osaka, Japan, several days earlier, the Health Ministry said.
ASEAN summit begins online meetings with regional leaders
November 12, 2020 GMTHANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam's prime minister highlighted challenges Southeast Asian nations and others faced this year as he opened a regional summit Thursday that is again largely being held online due to the pandemic...
Pompeo wraps up anti-China tour of Asia in Vietnam
October 30, 2020 GMTHANOI, Vietnam (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo wrapped up a five-nation, anti-China tour of Asia in Vietnam on Friday with a call for regional unity to counter Beijing's growing assertiveness, as the fierce American presidential election race entered its final stretch...
Typhoon, landslides leave 35 dead, dozens missing in Vietnam
October 29, 2020 GMTHANOI, Vietnam (AP) — A typhoon that officials said was the most powerful to hit Vietnam in 20 years blew away from the country on Thursday after setting off landslides, sinking boats and knocking out power to at least 1...
Japan’s PM, in Indonesia, says SE Asia key for his nation
October 20, 2020 GMTJAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, in Indonesia on his first overseas trip since taking office, expressed his backing Tuesday for Southeast Asian efforts toward achieving peace in the South China Sea, while promoting Japan's “free and open Indo-Pacific” concept of regional cooperation in countering China...
Japan, Vietnam agree to boost defense ties, resume flights
October 19, 2020 GMTHANOI, Vietnam. (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, in his first overseas summit since taking office last month, agreed with his Vietnamese counterpart to step up defense and security cooperation in the face of China's expanding influence in the region...
Vietnam reports 2nd death, more cases linked to hospital
August 1, 2020 GMTHANOI, Vietnam (AP) — A second person died of coronavirus complications in Vietnam, officials said Saturday, a day after the country recorded its first death from the virus, while more than two dozen new cases were confirmed...
F1 expanding in Europe, not reaching the Americas in 2020
July 24, 2020 GMTPARIS (AP) — Formula One is expanding in Europe and will not be reaching the Americas, where the coronavirus pandemic forced the cancellation of races in Brazil, Canada, Mexico and the United States on Friday...
ASEAN tackles emergency virus fund, sea feud in video summit
June 26, 2020 GMTHANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Southeast Asian leaders held their annual summit by video Friday to show unity and discuss a regional emergency fund to respond to the immense crisis brought by the coronavirus pandemic...
Vietnam receives last of 39 remains of trafficking victims
November 30, 2019 GMTDO THANH, Vietnam (AP) — The last remains of the 39 Vietnamese who died while being smuggled in a truck to England last month were repatriated to their home country on Saturday...
Bodies of victims found in UK truck repatriated to Vietnam
November 27, 2019 GMTDIEN CHAU, Vietnam (AP) — The bodies of 16 of the 39 Vietnamese who died when human traffickers carried them by truck to England last month were repatriated to their homeland on Wednesday and have been taken to their families...
Korean peninsula troubles pose US security challenge
November 21, 2019 GMTHANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Defense Secretary Mark Esper is returning from Asia with the U.S. still facing a trio of troubles on the Korean peninsula that pose risks to the national security of the U...
US concerned over China’s ‘interference’ in South China Sea
July 21, 2019 GMTHANOI, Vietnam (AP) — The United States said it's concerned by reports of China's interference with oil and gas activities in the disputed waters of the South China Sea, where Vietnam accuses Beijing of violating its sovereignty...
Vietnam, European Union sign free trade agreement
June 30, 2019 GMTHANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam and the European Union signed a free trade agreement on Sunday, opening opportunities to further boost trade between the euro bloc and one of Southeast Asia's biggest manufacturing nations.
Seoul sees US, NKorea diplomacy as contrast to Iran tensions
June 27, 2019 GMTSEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The U.S. and North Korea feel the need to resume diplomacy and are trying to narrow their differences for new summit talks, a top South Korean official said Wednesday as he contrasted their efforts with the tensions surrounding Iran's collapsing nuclear accord...
North Korea says it won’t surrender to US-led sanctions
June 26, 2019 GMTSEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea said Wednesday it won't surrender to U.S.-led sanctions and accused Washington of trying to "bring us to our knees...
Millions of pigs culled as swine fever spreads through Asia
June 21, 2019 GMTHANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Millions of pigs have been culled in China and Vietnam as a U.N. food agency urges Asian governments to make containing virulent African swine fever their top priority...
Kim Jong Un leaves Russia after summit with Putin
April 26, 2019 GMTVLADIVOSTOK, Russia (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un boarded his private train Friday and headed back to Pyongyang after directing some harsh criticism at Washington during his first summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying the U...
Analysis: NKorea’s Kim back to military optics to raise heat
April 19, 2019 GMTTOKYO (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is cautiously turning up the heat after his unsuccessful summit with President Trump in Hanoi two months ago...
Trump, South Korea’s Moon look for way to curb NKorea nukes
April 12, 2019 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's meeting with South Korean President Moon Jae-in comes amid uncertainty over whether the leader of North Korea is considering backing out of nuclear negotiations or restarting nuclear and missile tests.
N. Korea calls for investigation into Madrid embassy attack
March 31, 2019 GMTTOKYO (AP) — North Korea said Sunday it wants an investigation into a raid on its embassy in Spain last month, calling it a "grave terrorist attack" and an act of extortion that violates international law.
US expects NKorea to live up to moratorium on nuclear tests
March 15, 2019 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Friday that the U.S. expects North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to honor his promise to keep his missile launches and nuclear tests on hold, speaking after a top North Korean official suggested the moratorium was under review and could be lifted...
NKorean official: Kim rethinking US talks, launch moratorium
March 15, 2019 GMTPYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will soon decide whether to continue diplomatic talks and maintain his moratorium on missile launches and nuclear tests, a senior North Korean official said Friday, adding that the U...
North Korea goes to polls to rubber-stamp parliament lineup
March 10, 2019 GMTPYONGYANG, North Korea (AP) — Millions of North Korean voters, including leader Kim Jong Un, went to the polls on Sunday to elect a new lineup of roughly 700 members for the next session of the national legislature, though the vote was more of an endorsement than a competitive contest...
China calls US-North Korea summit an ‘important step’
March 8, 2019 GMTBEIJING (AP) — The U.S.-North Korea summit in Vietnam last week was an "important step" toward denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula, China's foreign minister said Friday, despite criticism that the meeting ended early without leading to an agreement...
N. Korea airs documentary glorifying Kim’s summit with Trump
March 7, 2019 GMTSEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea's state TV has aired a documentary glorifying leader Kim Jong Un's recent visit to Vietnam that omitted the failed nuclear negotiations with President Donald Trump...
AP FACT CHECK: Trump twists Cohen’s words on collusion
March 2, 2019 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — Assailed by his ex-lawyer at every turn, President Donald Trump nevertheless claimed a measure of vindication from Michael Cohen's statement that he possessed no direct evidence of collusion with Russia from his time serving the boss...
North Korea’s Kim leaves Vietnam after summit breakdown
March 2, 2019 GMTDONG DANG, Vietnam (AP) — Smiling and holding up his clasped hands in a victorious pose, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Saturday boarded his private train at the Vietnam-China border for a 60-plus-hour ride home, ending a trip to Vietnam that saw a HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — President Donald Trump said he walked away from his second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un because Kim demanded the U...Officials say Trump overstated Kim’s demand on sanctions
March 1, 2019 GMT
NKorea leader Kim Jong Un tours Hanoi after summit breakdown
March 1, 2019 GMTHANOI, Vietnam (AP) — A day after his stunning summit breakdown with Donald Trump, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un smiled broadly as he strode down a red carpet with Vietnam's president Friday, a military band playing as stiff-backed soldiers goose-stepped by...