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 visited the Party Central Committee’s Office on February 23, or the first day back to work after the nine-day Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, calling on its officials and staff to immediately resume work and ensure the smooth, uninterrupted performance of duties as the country enters a new development phase.
General Secretary Lam underscored that the country just concluded a year marked by major events, an extensive workload, and many unprecedented and complex tasks; and is now moving decisively to implement the strategic decisions adopted at the 14th National Party Congress. Read full story
- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has issued an official dispatch ordering urgent measures to address the aftermath of a particularly serious inland waterway traffic accident on Thac Ba lake in Lao Cai province which left one person dead and five others missing.
The accident occurred on Thac Ba lake in Bao Ai commune at around 7:15 pm on February 21, when a stone-laden ferry (registration No. YB-0919H) collided with a passenger vessel (registration No. YB-0876H), causing the passenger vessel to sink. Read full story
- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with officials and staff of the Government Office in Hanoi on February 23, extending Lunar New Year (Tet) greetings and directing immediate action on the first working day after the nine-day holiday.
Commending the office’s contributions to the Government’s operations over the past five years, particularly in 2025, PM Chinh noted 2026 will bring exceptionally heavy tasks.
National priorities include maintaining macroeconomic stability, curbing inflation, driving growth, ensuring major economic balances, and effectively managing the state budget deficit along with public, government and external debts. At the same time, efforts must intensify to bolster social welfare, improve material and spiritual lives; safeguard independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity; ensure security and social order, and advance foreign affairs. Read full story
- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) has affirmed its position as a trailblazer and the core force in the national science system during his visit to the academy on February 23, the first working day after the Lunar New Year holiday.
He also underscored the pivotal role of science and technology researchers in creating new knowledge, technologies, and value for the country, and contributing to national independence and self-reliance through intellect. Read full story
- State President Luong Cuong has called on ministries, sectors and localities to further elevate the tree-planting movement, intensify public awareness of the annual Tree-Planting Festival, and closely link the initiative with livelihood enhancement, ecological landscape development, environmental protection and climate change response.
Speaking at the launch of the Tree-Planting Festival in Cam Duong ward, Lao Cai province, on February 23 (the seventh day of the Lunar New Year), the President praised Lao Cai’s achievements and the country’s overall progress in 2025. He commended innovative and practical approaches under the festival, noting their contribution to the effective implementation of the national programme to plant one billion trees. Read full story
- National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man has called for solidarity and concerted efforts across the legislature to overcome all difficulties and challenges, thereby further enhancing the role and standing of the NA and its affiliated bodies, and meeting the requirements of law-making, supreme oversight and making decisions on matters of national importance.
He made the appeal on the morning of February 23, the first working day following the nine-day Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, during a meeting with full-time NA deputies at the central level, as well as officials, civil servants, public employees and staff of NA agencies and the NA Office. Read full story
- National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man visited and extended Lunar New Year (Tet) greetings to the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee on February 23, the first working day after the nine-day Tet holiday.
He commended the VFF Central Committee's effective cooperation with the NA Standing Committee, the NA Party Committee and the National Election Council over the past year. Such coordination, he noted, contributed significantly to the fulfilment of an extensive workload involving many new, complex and unprecedented tasks. Read full story
- A delegation from the Authority of Publication, Printing and Distribution under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, led by Deputy Director Dinh Tien Dung, paid a working visit to Cuba from February 9 to 21 to update a memorandum of understanding on cooperation with and present books to the Cuban Book Institute.
At their working session, the two sides agreed to further strengthen collaboration and share experience in both print and digital publishing, with a view to promoting each country’s literature to readers in Vietnam, Cuba and the wider world. Read full story
- Minister of Finance Nguyen Van Thang, who heads the Central Steering Committee for the 2026 Economic Census, has affirmed that initial results of the census will be announced on June 30, 2026, seven months earlier than originally scheduled
Under the revised plan, stages of information collection, data consolidation and preparation of the preliminary report will all be accelerated, Thang stressed. Read full story
- During the nine-day Lunar New Year break, the rail sector operated more than 1,800 train services, ensuring safety and meeting high travel demand.
According to the Vietnam Railways Corporation, the Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City route accounted for 906 services, providing 384,000 seats. Other routes operated 988 services, offering a further 377,700 seats. Read full story
- Over the nine days of Tet, Hanoi’s two urban railway lines, Cat Linh–Ha Dong Line 2A and Nhon–Hanoi Railway Station Line 3.1, handled over 243,000 passenger trips, marking a year-on-year increase of more than 32% compared to Tet 2025.
During this period, Hanoi Metro maintained absolute safety while running over 3,333 passenger train services, with every train arriving and departing right on schedule./. Read full story
