Politics

☕ Afternoon briefing February 13

The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.

☕ Afternoon briefing February 13

Hanoi (VNA) - The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.

- Party General Secretary To Lam offered incense in tribute to late Prime Minister Pham Van Dong and extended Lunar New Year (Tet) greetings to his family in Hanoi on February 13.

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Party General Secretary To Lam offers incense in tribute to late PM Pham Van Dong. (Photo: VNA)

In tribute to late PM Pham Van Dong (1906 - 2000), the Party chief expressed great respect and deep gratitude for the immense contributions of the late Government leader — an outstanding disciple and close and trusted comrade of President Ho Chi Minh; a steadfast proletarian revolutionary, and a prominent leader of Vietnam’s revolution in the 20th century, who made great contributions to the cause of national liberation, construction and defence. Read full story

- A delegation of the Party Central Committee, National Assembly, State President, Government and Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee laid wreaths and paid tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum in Hanoi on February 13 on the occasion of the Lunar New Year (Tet) 2026.

The delegation included Party General Secretary To Lam, State President Luong Cuong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man, Permanent Member of the Party Central Committee's Secretariat Tran Cam Tu, and Secretary of the Party Central Committee, President of the VFF Central Committee Bui Thi Minh Hoai. Read full story

- State President Luong Cuong on February 13 offered incense in commemoration of President Ho Chi Minh at House 67, within the relic site dedicated to the late leader in the Presidential Palace on the occasion of the 96th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the Lunar New Year (Tet) 2026.

President Cuong expressed his profound gratitude for the immense contributions of President Ho Chi Minh - the beloved leader of the Vietnamese nation, who dedicated and sacrificed his entire life for the independence and freedom of the country and the happiness of the people. Read full story

- Cooperation between Vietnam and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) continued to yield tangible results in 2025, particularly as Vietnam accelerates its green transition and digital transformation, JICA Chief Representative Kobayashi Yosuke has said.

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Kobayashi Yosuke, Chief Representative of JICA Vietnam. (Photo: JICA Vietnam)

In an interview with the local press ahead of the Lunar New Year 2026, Kobayashi noted that over more than three decades of partnership, Japanese official development assistance (ODA) projects implemented by JICA have been aligned with Vietnam’s evolving development priorities, contributing to climate action, sustainable growth and digital innovation. Read full story

- Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City is expected to handle 164,433 passengers on February 13 (the 26th day of the last lunar month), marking the highest daily volume ever recorded at the airport.

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Passengers check in for their flight at Tan Son Nhat Airport. (Photo: VNA)

According to airport authorities, a total of 1,062 flights are scheduled for the day, including 531 outbound flights with 104,884 passengers, and 531 inbound flights carrying 59,549 passengers. Most travellers are departing HCM City for other localities or international destinations ahead of the Lunar New Year (Tet). Read full story

- Ho Chi Minh City on February 12 officially inaugurated No.1 Ly Thai To Park, a 4.3-hectare public space developed with a total investment of more than 263 billion VND. The project was implemented under the city’s policy of converting idle land into public parks and was completed ahead of the Tet holiday. More than a memorial dedicated to victims of the COVID-19 pandemic, the park introduces a humane and contemplative green space into the centre of the city.

No.1 Ly Thai To Park is one of nine priority projects that concretise Ho Chi Minh City’s direction to make green areas and community spaces a central pillar of its next-stage metropolitan development strategy. The 4.3-hectare site, located in the urban core and once associated with significant natural, historical, and spiritual values, had remained unused for years. Its transformation reflects the city’s determination to return land to the public and to build a sustainable and compassionate living environment for residents. Read full story

- Hanoi’s tourism sector has continued to make a strong impression, earning recognition in several major categories of the Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best Destinations 2026 Awards recently announced by Tripadvisor.

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Foreign tourists visit Hanoi on the Lunar New Year. (Photo: VNA)

Specifically, the capital city was honoured in four categories: Top 25 Best Destinations in the World (4th place), Top 25 Best Cultural Destinations in the World (7th place), Top 25 Best Solo Travel Destinations in the World (7th place), and Top 25 Best Food Destinations in the World (11th place). Read full story

- A spring flower market officially opened on February 12 (the 25th day of the last lunar month) on Nguyen Van Cua Street in Phu Dinh ward, Ho Chi Minh City, offering a vibrant Tet shopping and cultural space for residents and visitors.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vice Chairwoman of the municipal People’s Committee Tran Thi Dieu Thuy said the market features more than 500 booths selling a wide variety of flowers and ornamental plants. The space combines traditional and modern elements, recreating the distinctive river culture of southern Vietnam./. Read full story

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