☀️ Morning digest March 18

The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last weekend by the Vietnam News Agency.
☀️ Morning digest March 18 ảnh 1
Hanoi (VNA) - The following is a list of selected news summariesreported last weekend by the Vietnam News Agency.

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on March 16 urged the plan on building atleast 1 million social housing units for low-income earners and industrialworkers in the 2021 - 2030 period to be implemented quickly and effectively.

Chairing a national hybrid conference on the issue, he emphasised that housingis one of the three pillars of social security, and that Vietnam does notpursue pure economic growth at the expense of social equality, security or theenvironment. Read fully story

- The People’s Committee of Quang Nam held a conference on March 16 to announcethis central province’s master plan for the 2021 -2030 period with a vision to2050, and launch the National Biodiversity Restoration Year 2024.

Addressing the event, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang stressed that themaster plan of Quang Nam, approved by the Prime Minister in January, shows areformed mindset and a new viewpoint, targets, and vision matching the nationaldevelopment orientation and the development targets for the north and coastalcentral region. It prioritises promoting a green economy and economicrestructuring in tandem with growth model reform to secure comprehensive andsustainable development. Read full story

- Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha said that the newly approved master planfor the northwestern province of Dien Bien will create a solid foundation forits development while he handed over the approval decision to local authoritiesat a ceremony on March 17.

Ha asked the local authorities to prioritise resources to invest ininfrastructure projects for regional and global connection, creating aconnection axis between Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries and China. Read full story

- A legal and technical writeshop was held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairsand the Vanuatuan Government in Ha Long city, the northern province of QuangNinh, on March 16 - 17 to look into the proceedings of the International Courtof Justice (ICJ)’s advisory opinion on climate change.

The event, gathering ASEAN and other Asian member states of the ClimateVulnerable Forum, aimed to provide an overview of the proceedings of the ICJ’sadvisory opinion on climate change on the basis of the UN General Assembly’sResolution 77/276, adopted on March 29, 2023, which requested the ICJ providean advisory opinion on the obligations of states in respect of climate change. Read full story

- Policy-makers and scholars gathered in Dien Bien province on March 17 todiscuss measures to optimise the potential and advantages of the northwesternlocality in boosting sustainable tourism development.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha highlighted Dien Bien's advantages innatural landscapes and the cultural values of 19 ethnic minority groups, andunderlined the need for the province to make full use of its potential tocreate unique tourism products, and to call for investment and design culturalplanning. Read full story

- Among the over 33,000ha of drought-hit forest in the southernmost province ofCa Mau, more than 13,530ha has fire potential rated as “dangerous” (Level 4)and nearly 4,000ha “extremely dangerous” (Level 5), local authorities said.

The forest protection sub-department under the provincial Department ofAgriculture and Rural Development said on March 15 that most the drought-hitforests are located in the areas of the U Minh Ha forestry company, the U MinhHa National Park, the forest protection unit of Hon Khoai Island, and U Minh andTran Van Thoi districts. Read full story

- The international watercolour painting exhibition “Colours of Cultures” – thelargest of its kind in Vietnam so far - opened at Van Mieu (Temple ofLiterature) in Hanoi on March 16.

The event is an initiative of VietnamInAcquarello, a branch of theInternational Watercolour Museum – the world’s largest community of watercolourpainters – based in Italy. Read full story

- Nearly 1,500 people took part in a running event to support the Earth Hour2024 Campaign on March 16 in Hanoi.

Within the framework of the national programme on economical and efficient useof energy in the period 2019-2030, the Ministry of Industry and Trade launchedan event for all people to save electricity, Earth Hour 2024. Read full story./.
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Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang speaks at the session (Photo: VNA)

Lawmakers push sharper rules for infrastructure critical to national security

The draft law on protection of infrastructure related to national security should spell out core conditions, including the level of impact on national security, the risk of disrupting essential operations and the need for special protection. He said the Government should set detailed technical criteria, said a deputy from Lam Dong province.

☀️ Morning digest on November 5

☀️ Morning digest on November 5

Party General Secretary and President To Lam's reception for Lao NA President Sonexay Siphandone, Vietnam attending the 11th Lancang–Mekong Cooperation Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, and the Vietnam-EU Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum 2026 are among news highlights on November 4 evening.

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang (right) and Undersecretary for Political Affairs at the Foreign Ministry of Oman Khalifa bin Ali bin Issa Al-Harthy in Hanoi on November 4 (Photo: baoquocte.vn)

Vietnam, Oman convene fifth political consultation

The officials agreed to use the 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2027 as an important milestone to further deepen bilateral relations, enhance economic resilience and diversify partners amid global uncertainties.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung (first, right) and other heads of the delegations at the 11th Lancang–Mekong Cooperation Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Beijing on November 4, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam proposes stronger Mekong–Lancang connectivity to respond to challenges

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung suggested a resilient and innovative Mekong–Lancang region be built, regional connectivity strengthened, coordination between the MLC and other regional and Mekong cooperation mechanisms boosted, cooperation in addressing non-traditional security challenges fostered, and people placed at the centre of the MLC.

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang (right) and her Tajik counterpart Idibek Kalandar at the meeting in Hanoi on November 4, 2026 (Photo: Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Vietnam, Tajikistan to boost high-level exchanges, bilateral cooperation

Officials agreed that their foreign ministries should continue working together to promote high-level and other-level mutual visits and meetings; strengthen their role as focal points in supporting the countries' ministries, agencies and localities to step up economic, trade and investment partnerships; and make better use of the potential and complementary strengths of the two economies.

Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Chairman of its Commission for Internal Affairs Le Minh Tri (left) and Vice Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission (ACRC) of the Republic of Korea at their meeting in Hanoi on November 4, 2026 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, RoK strengthen anti-corruption cooperation

Speaking highly of the RoK's achievements in combating corruption, Chairman of the Commission for Internal Affairs Le Minh Tri stressed that as Vietnam pursues its target of double-digit economic growth in 2026 and subsequent years, anti-corruption efforts must not only focus on detecting and handling violations but also contribute to development.

NA President Tran Thanh Man and delegates witness the signing of coordination regulations between the NA's Council for Ethnic Affairs and the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs. (Photo: VNA)

Top legislator urges stronger inter-agency coordination in ethnic policy development

National Assembly (NA) President Tran Thanh Man said the coordination programme aims to link legislative work, appraisal and supervision with State management, improve the legal and policy framework, and address obstacles to policy implementation in ethnic minority, mountainous and border areas. It also seeks to strengthen information sharing and inter-agency coordination, improve living conditions for ethnic minority communities and reinforce public trust in the Party and State.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam (right) receives visiting President of the Lao National Assembly Sonexay Siphandone in Hanoi on November 4, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Top Vietnamese leader hosts Lao NA leader

The two leaders expressed satisfaction with the strong development of the great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and strategic cohesion, which have grown increasingly substantive across Party, State, local and people-to-people channels.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam greets veteran Party members at the ceremony held by the Hanoi Party Committee on November 4, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Top leader attends Hanoi ceremony honouring veteran Party members

Top leader To Lam said the Party Central Committee expects much from the capital and has granted it breakthrough mechanisms, meaning greater responsibility and higher determination. Hanoi must lead not only in economic growth but also act as a standard-bearer in Party building and rectification, a model in renewing thinking and administrative reform, a leader in preserving and spreading Thang Long-Hanoi cultural values, and a driver of better living standards.

Politburo Member, Standing Member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat and Secretary of the Party Committee of Central Party Agencies Tran Cam Tu speaks at the conference (Photo: VNA)

Key Party leader urges clearer job roles, KPI-based performance review

Politburo Member, Standing Member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat and Secretary of the Party Committee of Central Party Agencies Tran Cam Tu asked each Standing Board member and Secretary of subordinate Party committees of the Party Committee of Central Party Agencies to keep up responsibility and uphold exemplary role, lead resolutely, fix shortcomings and limitations, and strive to complete 2026 tasks well.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung speaks at the Government’s regular meeting to review socio-economic performance in October and the first 10 months of the year, and discuss key tasks and solutions for the remaining months. (Photo: VNA)

PM requests controlling inflation while pursuing double-digit growth

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung called for more concrete measures to boost exports, reduce the trade deficit, stimulate private investment, remove obstacles facing businesses and improve productivity through science, technology and the development of new economic sectors. He stressed the need to accelerate the development and completion of databases, connect information systems and simplify administrative procedures through the reuse of existing data.