Summary of press information related to Ho Chi Minh City on May 30, 2025

Naval Ship INS Darshak visits Ho Chi Minh City

Tien Phong Newspaper reported that on May 29, at Saigon Port (District 4), representatives of Naval Region 2 and the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Foreign Affairs held an official welcoming ceremony for the Indian Navy ship INS Darshak, which is on a courtesy visit to Ho Chi Minh City.

With the consent of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense , the Indian Navy ship INS Darshak paid a courtesy visit to Ho Chi Minh City from May 28 to 31, 2025. The visit aims to exchange professional expertise, contributing to further deepening the cooperative relationship, understanding and mutual trust between the armies in general and the navies of the two countries in particular.

During the visit, the group of officers and ship commanders laid wreaths at the President Ho Chi Minh Monument Park; paid courtesy visits to leaders of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, Military Region 7, and Naval Region 2; welcomed Vietnamese delegations to visit the ship; officers and sailors played volleyball with officers and soldiers of Naval Region 2; visited and learned about local culture...

INS Darshak, meaning “The Navigator”, is a dedicated hydrographic survey ship of the Indian Navy and one of the first ships of the Darshak class. It was built at the Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) and commissioned on 28 April 2001.

Ho Chi Minh City bids to break bus monopoly

Regarding the information that many bus cooperatives in Ho Chi Minh City are worried about the risk of losing the bid after the bidding opening on April 29 organized by the Public Transport Management Center, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Construction has provided information stating that organizing the bidding for subsidized buses is one of the important implementation steps of the project to strengthen public passenger transport combined with controlling the use of personal vehicles. News on Thanh Nien newspaper.

Accordingly, this activity is carried out in accordance with the provisions of Decree 32/2019/ND-CP of the Government , with the goal of ensuring effective use of the state budget from regular expenditure sources.

The latest bidding round in May 2025 continued to attract attention when up to 17 bidding packages were opened, including 37 subsidized bus routes with a scale of up to 600 vehicles (40-60 seats). These routes are currently operated by 8 units, including 7 cooperatives and 1 enterprise, XKSG Joint Stock Company.

Information about the bidding period has been widely announced by the Ho Chi Minh City Public Transport Management Center, so that transport units, including cooperatives, have time to fully prepare bidding documents. The bidding is organized transparently, in accordance with legal procedures, through the national bidding network system. Currently, the bidding evaluation is being carried out by the consulting unit, the results will be announced publicly soon.

Vietnamese consumers prefer smart electronic products at original prices from Chinese manufacturers.

According to Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper, the Vietnam International Electronics and Smart Equipment Exhibition 2025 (IEAE) taking place from May 29 to 31 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) attracted more than 350 enterprises from China and Vietnam to participate, spread over an exhibition area of more than 10,000 m².

Flooded with Chinese accessories at the Vietnam International Electronics and Smart Devices Exhibition 2025 - Photo 4. — IEAE attracts the attention of technology-loving customers

On the opening day, many booths selling smart home appliances and consumer electronics attracted a large number of customers to experience the products and inquire about purchasing. The B2B trade connection area was also crowded with Vietnamese and Chinese businesses and sales agents looking for cooperation partners.

The event featured an overwhelming presence of Chinese brands with a wide range of consumer electronics and smart home appliances, attracting a large number of visitors. From audio-visual devices such as smart speakers, wireless headphones, livestreaming devices to a range of phone accessories, smart wearables such as watches and glasses integrated with AI technology – the booths were always packed with international users and buyers.

Among them, new products such as sleep-aid speakers, smart glasses with integrated voice control and eye movement recognition, 3D printers, etc. are popular with Vietnamese users.

Ho Chi Minh City's "drug market" is quiet and strange

According to Phu Nu TP newspaper, before the information that Ho Chi Minh City will inspect and review the sales of drugs, functional foods, and medical equipment, many stores in the "drug market" of the District 10 Pharmaceutical and Medical Equipment Trade Center operated quietly, limiting sales to strangers.

Most stores do not display drugs and operate discreetly and discreetly - PHOTO: PA

In contrast to the usual bustling image of one of the big “drug markets” in Ho Chi Minh City, recently, the District 10 Pharmaceutical and Medical Equipment Trade Center has become sparsely populated. Most drugstores only display a few popular drugs and functional foods. Many stores have closed, leaving signs saying they are no longer selling.

We tried to ask to buy a drug store, the owner immediately waved his hand: "Today we are waiting for goods, not selling medicine". Going to the store next door, although we asked to buy wholesale medicine and functional foods, the seller also replied "out of stock".

Not only in the “drug market”, some other retail pharmacies are also very cautious when selling antibiotics and prescription drugs. Normally, just saying the name of the product, whether it is medicine, functional food, medical equipment, etc., will immediately satisfy the buyer. Now, the seller requires the customer to show a prescription.

AI helps predict and warn of infectious diseases early

According to Phap Luat TP Newspaper, on May 29, the Hospital for Tropical Diseases (HCMC) organized a conference on Application of artificial intelligence and big data in clinical practice of infectious diseases.

Dr. Nguyen Van Vinh Chau, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, shared at the conference on Application of artificial intelligence and big data in clinical practice of infectious diseases. Photo: THAO PHUONG

Specialist Doctor 2 Nguyen Le Nhu Tung, Deputy Director of the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, said that from 2018 to now, the hospital has carried out 22 research projects applying AI and big data, including studies on forecasting flu and dengue fever, remote monitoring of vital signs via wearable devices...

According to Dr. Tung, AI and big data help hospitals improve their ability to predict and provide early warning of infectious disease outbreaks. A typical example is the epidemic surveillance system in Ho Chi Minh City that detected an increase in measles cases in 2024, helping the city promptly announce the outbreak and deploy widespread vaccination.

“In addition to infectious disease expertise, the hospital also aims to develop supporting departments such as endocrinology, immunology, allergy and palliative care. This will be the foundation for implementing personalized medicine models in the future,” Dr. Tung shared.

However, according to the hospital's Deputy Director, the implementation of AI and big data still faces many challenges. Specifically, data quality is uneven, there is a lack of personnel with in-depth knowledge of both medicine and technology, and large infrastructure investment costs. To overcome these challenges, the hospital is promoting cooperation with domestic and foreign partners, especially universities and technology companies.

Ho Chi Minh City Electricity Industry Installs 100% Remote-Reading Electricity Meters

According to Ho Chi Minh City Electricity Corporation (EVNHCMC), in the period of 2020 - 2024, the Ho Chi Minh City electricity sector has invested in building a power grid with a disbursement value of VND 13,657.5 billion. Thereby, the unit ensures safe and stable power supply for the city's development. The investment and construction are focused on operating according to the digital transformation model and have had positive changes.

Electricity industry - Photo 1. — Ho Chi Minh City electricity workers check and ensure power supply for the recent April 30 event - Photo: DOAN DUY

Many key projects have been energized such as Tan Cang 220kV station, Cat Lai - Tan Cang 220kV line, Cau Bong - Binh Tan 220/110kV line (phase 1), 220kV branch of Tan Son Nhat 220kV station... These projects provide power for the Northeastern area of the city and power stations for metro line 1 Ben Thanh - Suoi Tien.

The highlight of this period is the groundbreaking of the underground power distribution grid project on Thanh An island commune, Can Gio district. This has helped Thanh An become the first island commune in the country to have an underground power grid, contributing to natural disaster prevention and ensuring national defense and security for the coastal border area.

Regarding customer service, we have completed 100% of remote meter installations and improved customer experience with the EVNHCMC application.

Large quantity of suspected counterfeit goods seized at Saigon Square

SGGP newspaper reported that yesterday afternoon, the Department of Domestic Market Management and Development coordinated with functional forces to inspect business activities at Saigon Square Commercial Center (District 1).

Market management forces inspect goods suspected of counterfeiting brands at Saigon Square on the afternoon of May 29.

At the time of inspection, many traders could not present invoices or documents proving the origin of the goods. Thousands of products showing signs of counterfeiting famous brands such as Rolex, Longines, Patek Philippe watches; handbags and wallets of brands such as LV, Gucci, Dior, Chanel, Hermès, Prada, etc. were recorded and seized for verification.

This is part of a high-point plan to inspect and handle counterfeit, fake, and poor-quality goods. The task force was divided into 6 groups, and simultaneously inspected from noon on the same day, focusing on products such as watches, handbags, suitcases, glasses, etc. that showed signs of counterfeiting famous products.

According to Mr. Tran Viet Hung, Head of Market Management Department, inspection activities will continue in the coming time because Saigon Square is a key area, attracting a large number of domestic and foreign visitors.

Source: https://ttbc-hcm.gov.vn/tong-hop-thong-tin-bao-chi-lien-quan-den-tp-ho-chi-minh-ngay-30-5-2025-1018805.html