Nordic News, Business and Life in Asia
Foreigners in Vietnam could now face faster deportation under sweeping new rules that came into force this week. The changes allow authorities to remove people more quickly if they fail …
Break the rules and you’re gone: Vietnam tightens deportation laws Read More
Northern Thailand is heading into Songkran under a blanket of toxic smog. And tourists are staying away. Chiang Mai was this week ranked the most polluted city in the world, …
Toxic smog hits Chiang Mai: Tourists flee as Songkran approaches Read More
Empty bottles are getting a second life in Singapore. The city-state has launched Southeast Asia’s first nationwide deposit return scheme for beverage containers, targeting a waste stream of more than …
Singapore launches bottle recycling system with Norwegian technology Read More
Touring Malaysia is becoming significantly more expensive. Tour bus and van rental prices have surged by up to 80 per cent due to rising diesel costs linked to the ongoing …
Price shock in Malaysia too: Tours up to 80 percent more expensive Read More
A hot air balloon carrying tourists collided with power lines in Vang Vieng, Laos, during a sunset flight on March 26, according to a video shared by Newsflare. The incident …
Tourist balloon slams into power lines in Laos Read More
Thailand’s strengthening currency is raising concerns across the tourism industry, Bangkok Post reports. The baht is currently trading between 30 and 32 per US dollar and has appreciated significantly in …
Thailand’s travel sector faces pressure from stronger currency and rising costs Read More
Eurovision goes asian. Bangkok will host the first-ever Eurovision Song Contest Asia in November 2026, marking the competition’s first multinational expansion beyond its traditional format, according to an announcement from …
Bangkok to host massive new song contest as Eurovision invades Asia Read More
The Philippines is moving closer to Nordic partners as global tensions intensify and humanitarian concerns grow, The PhilBiz News reports. At a Nordic Day event in Manila, Philippine officials highlighted …
Shared values bring Philippines and Nordic countries closer in crisis Read More
Northern Thailand and neighbouring countries are being hit by worsening haze, as fire activity increases across the Mekong region. More than 1,450 fire hotspots were detected in Thailand alone at …
Haze spreads across Mekong region as fires rise Read More
Passengers travelling to and from Thailand are being warned to take extra care of their belongings after a rise in credit card thefts during flights, according to Thai authorities. The …
Credit card theft tops 8 million baht: Immigration police now warn passengers Read More
Thailand is planning to introduce a 300 baht (around USD 9) entry fee for foreign tourists arriving by air in 2026, as part of efforts to strengthen tourism infrastructure and …
Entering Thailand could soon cost you extra: Visitors must pay on arrival Read More
Singapore-based Bitdeer Technologies Group, a tech firm focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) and Bitcoin mining infrastructure, is teaming up with local partner Data Center Installations AS to create what could …
Singapore tech firm to build Norway’s largest AI data center by 2026 Read More
Filipinos in the Nordic country are among the best integrated foreign communities, according to Norwegian Ambassador Christian Halaas Lyster. He highlighted their contribution during a recent meeting in the Philippines. …
Filipinos praised for strong integration in Norway Read More
Vietnam is among the countries where women travelling alone feel relatively safe, according to a recent overview by BBC. The assessment is based on global data, including the Women, Peace …
Vietnam praised as safe for solo women travellers Read More
Norway and Vietnam are looking to work closer together to improve conditions for workers, according to Lao Dong. Representatives from Norwegian General Confederation of Labour met with Vietnam’s main labour …
Norwegian union moves in: New push for workers’ rights in Vietnam Read More
Authorities in Laos are warning the public about thunderstorms, lightning, strong winds and a risk of hail in some areas. According to Xinhua, citing the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology, …
After hail chaos in Vientiane: More storms could be on the way Read More
Airlines in Asia are raising fares and reducing flight operations as jet fuel prices surge following the conflict in the Middle East. Jet fuel prices have surged sharply, with some …
Rising oil prices hit tourism in Asia as flight and transport costs surge Read More
Foreign travelers to Thailand are being warned about fraudulent websites charging fees for the country’s digital arrival card, Bangkok Post reports. The system, known as the Thailand Digital Arrival Card …
Tourists warned against fake Thailand arrival card websites Read More
Thousands of passengers are being impacted as a wave of flight disruptions is hitting major airports across Asia, Travel and Tour World reports. Nearly 2,800 flights are delayed and more …
Nearly 3,000 flights disrupted across Asia Read More
Bangkok is once again at the center of Thailand’s tourism success. When digital travel platform Agoda revealed its 2025 Gold Circle Awards, the Thai capital stood out with nearly 100 …
Thailand ranks among world’s best hotels in Agoda awards Read More
As global energy markets grow unstable and traditional trade routes falter, the Philippines is looking north for reliable partners, The Philbiznews reports. At the first Nordic Day celebration in Manila, …
Nordic ties bring trust and opportunity to Manila Read More
As Hanoi chokes on congestion and fumes, Norway shows how a 30‑year plan can turn electric mobility into everyday reality. At the Zhongguancun Annual Forum, experts stressed that countries moving …
Cleaner streets ahead: Vietnam looks to Norwegian models Read More Thailand’s tourism sector, a pillar of its economy, is under threat as global travel faces disruption from rising fuel costs and the ongoing Middle East war, Bangkok Post reports. The …
Tourism at risk: Thailand could lose millions of visitors Read More
China has expanded its 240-hour visa-free transit policy to include several European countries, including Nordic nations such as Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Finland, Travel and Tour World reports. The …
Nordic travellers can now stay visa-free in China for up to 10 days Read More
Vietnam has become the fastest-growing market for Norwegian salmon in Southeast Asia, with strong demand expected to continue through 2026, Vietnam Plus reports. Fresh salmon exports to Vietnam rose 16% …
Vietnam emerges as fastest growing market for Norwegian salmon Read More
China’s seafood market is showing mixed trends, with strong demand for salmon but weaker interest in cod. Norwegian salmon exports increased in week 12, with 18,383 metric tonnes of fresh …
China expands domestic “salmon” production as Norwegian exports rise and cod weakens Read More
A dramatic rescue unfolded in the Norwegian Sea on March 24 when the bulk carrier LMZ Pluto, carrying a cargo of artificial fertilizer from Murmansk to Santa Marta, lost propulsion …
Filipino crew rescued in Norway after storm hits bulk carrier Read More
A Filipino-Norwegian entrepreneur, Anne Virginia Låte, has launched a new travel company aimed at promoting the Philippines as a destination, Philippine Embassy in Norway said in a Facebook post. Anne …
Filipino-Norwegian entrepreneur launches Philippines-focused travel company Read More
Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) has hosted a delegation from Veterans for Peace Chapter 160 during their annual visit to Vietnam. The group visited Quang Tri Province on 19–20 March. The …
Norwegian People’s Aid hosts US veterans delegation in Quang Tri Read More
Norway’s ambassador to Vietnam, Hilde Solbakken, has emphasised the importance of transparency and public participation as Vietnam rolls out changes to its local governance system, according to VietnamPlus. She said …
Norwegian ambassador on Vietnam’s new local system: Trust and transparency are key Read More
The Norwegian hydrogen company, Umoe Advanced Composites, has opened a 12,000 square metre factory in Jiaxing, China, where it has begun producing hydrogen storage cylinders as part of its expansion …
Norwegian hydrogen company opens factory in China Read More
Thai Airways International is increasing ticket prices by 10-15 percent as jet fuel prices surge due to the conflict in the Middle East, Bangkok Post reports. The airline says the …
Thai Airways lifts ticket prices amid soaring fuel costs Read More
Nordic embassies across Southeast Asia marked Nordic Day on 23 March, highlighting cooperation between Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, along with the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Åland. The day …
Nordic embassies mark Nordic Day across Southeast Asia Read More
Thailand has joined a growing Indo-Pacific defense cooperation initiative as its 15th member, alongside countries including Norway and Sweden, The Dallas Express reports. The United Kingdom was also added as …
Thailand teams up with Nordic countries in defense cooperation in Asia Read More
Malaysia may step in to help tourism businesses as rising diesel prices make it more expensive to run tour buses, coaches, and shuttle services. The issue comes just as the …
Malaysia looks at help for tourism firms as diesel prices rise Read More
Travellers pass by on scooters and on foot while Arne watches the street from his usual spot just inside the entrance of what used to be Nam Song Garden Guesthouse. …
Looking for Arne? Forget Google. Try the streets of Vang Vieng Read More
The 2025 World Happiness Report is out, and the Nordic model reigns supreme. Finland tops the 2025 World Happiness Report once more, followed closely by Denmark, Iceland, and Sweden. The …
World Happiness Report: Nordic happiness tops the World, Asia trails behind Read More
China will introduce revised rules for imported food from June 1, tightening oversight of overseas manufacturers, according to the General Administration of Customs. The new regulations require foreign food producers …
China tightens food import rules, affecting overseas exporters including Nordic producers Read More
A Vietnamese tourist, Nguyen Le Quang Vinh, was rescued after suffering from hypothermia while hiking alone in the snow-covered mountains of Norway, according to Vietnam.nv. The incident took place in …
Vietnamese tourist rescued after hypothermia scare in Norway Read More
Vietnam is looking to improve access to public services by learning from Nordic countries’ use of digital solutions, VnEconomy reports. The country is currently working to streamline its administrative system …
Vietnam plans easier access to public services using Nordic digital solutions Read More
Air ticket prices between Asia and Europe have risen sharply after the war involving Iran disrupted air traffic across the Middle East. Bloomberg reported that more than 46,000 flights were …
Middle East conflict sends Asia-Europe airfares soaring Read More
Thailand is facing a sharp surge in scam calls and text messages – and expatriates are increasingly among the targets, Bangkok Post reports. New figures show that Thailand has become …
Scam wave hits Thailand with expats increasingly targeted Read More
Global fintech company Wise has become the first non-bank to secure five regulatory licences in Thailand, allowing it to expand its services and operate locally, the company said in a …
Wise secures licences in Thailand: Sending money just got easier for expats Read More
Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has warned travellers to check both destinations and flight routes before travelling abroad for Easter or the summer holiday, after recent conflict in the Middle …
Norway warns travellers to check Southeast Asia routes before Easter holidays Read More
Thailand is considering bringing back an idea for free domestic flights for foreign tourists as authorities try to protect the tourism sector from fallout linked to the war in the …
Thailand revisits proposal for free domestic flights for tourists Read More Thailand is now preparing a series of measures to protect its vital tourism sector if the conflict in the Middle East begins to affect international travel. On March 13, the …
Thailand prepares tourism crisis plan over Middle East conflict Read More
Foreign nationals whose legal stay in the Philippines expired on or after 28 February 2026 will be allowed to remain in the country without penalties until 1 April 2026, according …
Philippines allows foreign nationals to stay without penalty until April 1 Read More
Sweden’s Candela, Norway’s Ocean Sun and Singapore’s Canopy Power have joined forces to develop floating solar-powered charging stations for electric vessels in remote parts of Asia-Pacific. The partnership aims to …
Swedish, Norwegian and Singapore firms team up on floating solar charging for electric boats Read More
True Corporation has confirmed that the share sale between Norway’s Telenor and Arise Digital Technology was completed on 13 March. Under the deal, Arise acquired shares equal to 24.95 percent …
Telenor completes True stake sale Read More
Indonesia is reviewing a possible scheme under which Norway would buy carbon credits from planned floating solar power projects in the country. Eniya Listiani Dewi, Director General of New and …
Norway eyes carbon credits from Indonesia floating solar projects Read More