Vietnam News Today (May 16): Vietnam advocates building independent, self-reliant economy linked to global integration; Vietnam documents 1,594 Covid-19 cases on May 15; SEA Games: Vietnam advance to semi-finals as Group A winners; Vietnam to ban plastic bags from markets by 2030.

Japan made it mandatory for retailers across the country to charge for disposable plastic shopping bags, effective Wednesday (July 01).

Thailand began 2020 with a ban on single-use plastic bags at major stores.