Vietnam
The supply chain’s newest favorite alternative to China, absorbing factories and foreign investment faster than its roads, ports, and power grid can keep up.
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Jun- 2026 -1 JuneCompass
Southeast Asia just closed the party visa era for Western travellers
A viral incident in Da Nang crystallised a regional shift: Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia now enforce visa cancellations and multi-year re-entry bans for behaviour that would draw a fine at…
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May- 2026 -31 MayEarth
Vietnam’s clean-air gamble rests on a struggling state champion
Vietnam targets 30% electric motorbikes by 2030 under National Power Development Plan VIII to combat severe urban air pollution. But the strategy relies on loss-making VinFast, disputed pollution data showing…
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31 MayCompass
Iran war is emptying Southeast Asia’s guesthouses this summer
Southeast Asia's tourism economies are absorbing their second major shock in five years as the Iran conflict drives up energy prices and chokes long-haul travel demand. Visitor numbers to Cambodia's…
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30 MayPower
US defense chief softens China rhetoric while urging allies to boost military spending
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth urged Asian allies to increase defence spending against China's military buildup while describing US-China relations as improved and omitting Taiwan from his prepared remarks. The…
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29 MayPower
Vietnam warns of three converging crises destabilizing Asia-Pacific security at Shangri-La Dialogue
Vietnam's President To Lam warned at the 23rd Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on May 31, 2026, that three converging crises — collapsing international order, eroding development models, and breakdown of…
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29 MayTech & AI
Asia’s financial institutions move from crypto pilots to production infrastructure ahead of the West
Major Asian financial institutions including Mirae Asset Securities are moving from blockchain pilots to production infrastructure. Hong Kong introduced its Stablecoin Issuance Regulatory Regime (SIRR) bill on April 24, 2026,…
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27 MayTech & AI
Southeast Asia’s fragmented AI strategy leaves countries vulnerable to tech giants
Southeast Asia has secured over USD 55 billion in AI investment commitments, yet lacks a binding regional framework for data sovereignty, tech transfer, or investment terms. The ASEAN Guide on…
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26 MayCompass
Singapore’s tourism revenue falls despite rising arrivals, squeezing mid-market businesses
Singapore's tourism sector recorded 16.9 million international visitor arrivals in 2025 and S$32.8 billion in tourism receipts. However, the Singapore Tourism Board projects 2026 receipts at S$31–32.5 billion, a decline…
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26 MayCompass
Southeast Asian nations impose new tourist levies and caps to combat overtourism
Southeast Asia's top destinations are shifting to managed tourism with new fees, caps, and zoning rules. Bali charges a US$10 levy, Komodo National Park caps visitors after 221,000 arrivals in…
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24 MayPower
Sydney gangland kingpin murdered in Vietnam, testing new Australia-Vietnam security pact
Lorenzo Lomalu, leader of Sydney's Coconut Cartel, was shot dead in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on May 23, 2026. This assassination tests the Australia–Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, signed March…
