Afternoon briefing

☕ Afternoon briefing on August 13

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

☕ Afternoon briefing on August 13

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

- Vice Chairman of the National Assembly (NA), Sen. Lt. General Tran Quang Phuong on August 13 hosted Lt. Gen. Vongsack Phanthavong, Chairman of the Lao NA’s Defence and Security Committee, in Hanoi.

Appreciating the results of the talks between the Defence and Security Committees of the two NAs, Phuong said that the talks demonstrated a strong commitment to consolidating and developing the great relationship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos in general, and the two legislatures in particular. Read full story

- Newly-accredited Vietnamese Ambassador to Tanzania Vu Thanh Huyen on August 12 presented credentials to Tanzania’s President Suluhu Hassan, who affirmed that her country treasures the friendship with Vietnam and praised the strong cooperation between the two countries in political, economic, and trade fields. Read full story

- The Vietnam Border Guard High Command and the National Immigration Administration of China on August 12 held talks over the implementation of an agreement regarding land border management.

The agreement on the establishment of a three-level law enforcement coordination mechanism in border control at border gates and land border management was reached by the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence and the Chinese Ministry of Public Security. Read full story

- A high-ranking delegation of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence led by Minister Gen. Phan Van Giang is attending the International Military-Technical Forum “Army-2024” that kicked off at the Patriot Exhibition and Convention Centre in the suburb of Moscow on August 12.

The delegation came to the forum at the invitation of Russian Minister of Defence Andrey Removich Belousov. Read full story

- A monument to the Vietnamese volunteer soldiers participating in the defence of Moscow in the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945) was unveiled at Patriot Park in the suburb of the Russian capital on August 12. Read full story

- Special mechanisms and policies must be put in place to encourage investments in the processing of rice by-products, a bold step that helps deliver significant benefits to farmers while contributing to carbon footprint reduction, according to insiders.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD)’s Department of Crop Production said Vietnam produces some 44-45 million tonnes of rice every year, with around 45 million tonnes of straw, 8-9 million tonnes of husk and 4-4.5 million tonnes of bran. However, most of the by-products have not been fully tapped, causing wastefulness, and making it hard for the rice industry to concretise its circular economic development target. Read full story

- Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Hoang Hiep on August 12 chaired a meeting on the progress of the World Bank-funded Mekong Delta Climate Resilience and Integrated Transformation Project (MERIT – WB11), which costs more than 17.75 trillion VND (approximately 741 million USD).

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD)'s Central Project Office, MERIT – WB11 will be implemented in the provinces of Dong Thap, Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Kien Giang, Bac Lieu, Hau Giang, Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, Ca Mau, and An Giang, aiming to enhance climate resilience in their agricultural production and rural communities. Read full story

- Vietnam’s export turnover of processed and manufactured industrial goods hit nearly 192 billion USD in the first seven months of 2024, accounting for 84.6% of the total export value, up 15.4% year-on-year, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has reported.

Many groups of products recorded high growth such as cameras, camcorders, and components (51.5%); and computers, electronic products, and components (30%). Read full story

- The Government earned over 149 billion VND (5.93 million USD) from capital divestment at four State-owned enterprises during January – July, the Ministry of Finance (MoF) said on August 12.

The People’s Committee of Hai Phong city divested capital at three firms, and the Ministry of Construction at one company. Read full story

- The Women’s Union of the central province of Phu Yen and the Australian People for Health, Education and Development Abroad (APHEDA) organised a workshop on August 13 to seek ways to promote the role of female leaders, managers and elected deputies.

The workshop was part of the project promoting gender equality and capacity building for women in politics funded by the governments of Ireland and Australia, and the APHEDA. Read full story

- “Pho” (Noodle soup) of Hanoi capital city and the northern province of Nam Dinh has been named in the national intangible cultural heritage list by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

There are many theories regarding Pho’s origin. Some say it started as a variation on pot-au-feu, a French beef stew dish. Others believe it’s the heir to a Chinese beef noodle soup or to a traditional Vietnamese dish of noodles with buffalo meat. What is certain is that “pho”, a simple yet deceptively complex dish of noodles served with beef or chicken in a hot bowl of broth, has become Vietnam’s pride on the world map of cuisine. Read full story./.

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Prime Minister Le Minh Hung attends the plenary session of the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, the Philippines. (Photo: VNA)

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General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam reviews the honor guard. Photo: VNA

Vietnam’s top leader concludes successful state visit to Sri Lanka

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General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President of Vietnam To Lam (R) meets with Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Harini Amarasuriya in Colombo on the afternoon of May 8. (Photo: VNA)

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Prime Minister Le Minh Hung (fifth, left) and heads of delegations from ASEAN countries attend the opening ceremony of the 48th ASEAN Summit on May 8, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

PM Le Minh Hung concludes trip to 48th ASEAN Summit

The trip was considered a success both multilaterally and bilaterally, leaving a positive impression of Vietnam’s proactive, active and responsible spirit, as well as its substantive and effective contributions to ASEAN’s common work and efforts to promote ties with member states.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung (right) and his Lao counterpart Sonexay Siphandone at their meeting in Cebu on May 8 (Photo: VNA)

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Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung (right) meets with ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn in Cebu, the Philippines, on May 8. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese Prime Minister meets ASEAN Secretary-General

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Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung (right) and Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at their meeting in Cebu, the Philippines, on May 8 (Photo: VNA)

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Prime Minister Le Minh Hung (fifth, left) and the heads of delegations attend the retreat session of the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, the Philippines, on May 8 (Photo: VNA)

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General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central and President of Vietnam To Lam (second, right) talks to Speaker of Sri Lanka's Parliament Jagath Wickramaratne at their meeting in Colombo on May 8 (Photo: VNA)

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