Vietnam's Rare Earth Sector on the Rise

FILE - Rare earth oxide samples are seen at mining company VTRE in Hanoi, Vietnam, Sept. 7, 2023.

Vietnam, with the world’s second-largest reserves of the rare earths used in such modern devices as electric vehicle batteries and smart phone screens, is intensifying mining of the critical minerals. The industry, though, faces high processing costs, environmental concerns, and the takedown of industry leaders for illegal mining and mineral sales.