IP Crackdown: Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung ordered ministries and localities to intensify enforcement against intellectual property violations, aiming for at least a 20% rise in handled cases in 2026; a May 7–30 nationwide drive netted over 2,000 cases, with fines topping 17.87 billion VND and nearly 115.6 billion VND in seized goods, and officials floated an AI-powered monitoring system to flag suspected counterfeit sellers. Energy Policy: The government is rolling out E10 biofuel petrol nationwide from June 1, with PM-directed “breakthrough” coordination to keep fuel supply stable, enforce strict quality rules, and protect consumers as ethanol blending expands. Finance & Governance: PM Le Minh Hung pushed for “breakthrough mechanisms” to speed up Vietnam International Financial Centre (VIFC) implementation, stressing a transparent legal framework to attract medium- and long-term capital while controlling risks and safeguarding macro stability. HCMC Investment: Ho Chi Minh City reported 2.33 billion USD in foreign inflows via M&A and equity deals in the first five months, with capital contributions and share acquisitions dominating. Regional Diplomacy: Vietnam and the Philippines upgraded ties to an “Enhanced Strategic Partnership,” expanding political, defense, economic, and people-to-people cooperation.