☕ Afternoon briefing on August 16

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

☕ Afternoon briefing on August 16

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

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chaired the 9th session of the Central Emulation and Commendation Council in Hanoi on August 16, urging the focused, practical, and effective emulation and commendation work to harness the intrinsic strength of the nation.

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PM Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the meeting. (Photo: VNA)

PM Chinh, who is also chairman of the council, emphasised the critical role of patriotic emulation movements in propelling Vietnam's socio-economic development and accomplishing tasks set by the Party Congresses, particularly the 13th National Party Congress.Read full story

- Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Sao Mai has emphasised the purposes and significance of the upcoming state visit to the neighbouring country by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and State President To Lam.

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Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Sao Mai. (Photo: VNA)

In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency ahead of the top leader’s visit from August 18-20, Mai said this is the first trip abroad by Party General Secretary and State President Lam in his new position, and that it demonstrates the great importance the Vietnamese Party and State attach to the development of the friendly neighbourliness and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.Read full story

- Through the upcoming visit of Party General Secretary and State President To Lam, China hopes to continue carrying forward the China-Vietnam traditional friendship, further consolidate bilateral political trust, and promoting the building of the China-Vietnam Community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, stated Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo.

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Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Xiong Bo (Photo: VNA)

The ambassador granted an interview to the press before Party General Secretary and President Lam and his spouse make a state visit to China from August 18-20 at the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and Chinese President Xi Jinping and his spouse.Read full story

-Politburo member and standing member of the Party Central Committee's Secretariat Luong Cuong hosted a delegation from the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) led by General Secretary Paulo Raimundo in Hanoi on August 16.

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Politburo member and standing member of the Party Central Committee's Secretariat Luong Cuong (R) and Portuguese Communist Party General Secretary Paulo Raimundo at their meeting in Hanoi on August 16. (Photo: VNA)

Cuong affirmed that the PCP delegation's visit will help further strengthen the traditional solidarity between the two Parties, and the friendship and all-round cooperative ties between the states and peoples of Vietnam and Portugal, heading to the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties in 2025.Read full story

- Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang affirmed Vietnam's strong commitment to and effective contributions to the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) at the 9th MLC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Chiang Mai, Thailand, on August 16, which saw the participation of representatives from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, China and Vietnam.

Hang, who was authorised by Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son to lead a Vietnamese delegation to the meeting, highlighted five key achievements and contributions of the cooperation mechanism in recent times, including closer coordination mechanisms, more effective and practical cooperation, broader areas of collaboration, deeper involvement of various social sectors, and more tangible benefits for the people.Read full story

- The Politburo has concluded that teachers' salaries must be placed on the top of the salary scale system for the administrative and non-productive sector, with additional allowances tailored to the work's nature and regions.

Signed by permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Luong Cuong, the conclusion is for the continued implementation of the 11th Party Central Committee’s Resolution No.29- NQ/TW dated November 4, 2013 on “Fundamental and Comprehensive Innovation in Education and Training, Serving Industrialisation and Modernisation in a Socialist-Oriented Market Economy During International Integration”.Read full story

- The Laos - Vietnam Joint Venture Bank (LaoVietBank) on August 15 was awarded the Lao state’s first-class Labour Order on the occasion of its 25th founding anniversary, in recognition of its contributions to the socio-economic development of Laos over the years.

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Acting Governor of the Bank of the Lao PDR Vathana Dalaloy, on behalf of the Lao state, presents first-class Labour Order to LaoVietBank (Photo: VNA)

As one of the largest commercial banks in Laos, with a network of branches and transaction offices in nine out of the 18 provinces and cities there, the bank consistently performs its role as a bridge for payments and transactions between the two countries using Vietnamese dong (VND) and Lao kip (LAK). It plays a central role in facilitating payments and solving issues for businesses in bilateral transactions, thus contributing to the enhancement of economic cooperation between the two nations.Read full story/.

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NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man (R) presents the first-class Labour Order to NA Vice Chairman Nguyen Doan Anh on May 19. (Photo: VNA)

NA Vice Chairman Nguyen Doan Anh awarded first-class Labour Order

On behalf of Party and State leaders, NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man presented the noble reward to Anh, describing him as a well-trained official who has matured through practical experience and held many important leadership positions within the Party, State, military and local administrations.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang and Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh review the guard of honour of the Vietnam People's Army at the welcome ceremony for the latter in Hanoi on May 19, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Indian Defence Minister pays official visit to Vietnam

Following the ceremony, the two sides held talks during which the Vietnamese minister emphasised the significance of the visit as the two countries celebrate the 10th anniversary of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and recently upgraded ties to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership under the spirit of “Shared Vision, Strategic Convergence and Substantive Cooperation,” during the state visit to India by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam from May 5-8.

Vietnamese Ambassador to New Zealand Phan Minh Giang congratulates NZMAM 2026 on its great success. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam supports first Model ASEAN Meeting in New Zealand

As the coordinator for ASEAN-New Zealand relations for the 2024-2027 period, Vietnam remains committed to closely coordinating with New Zealand and ASEAN member states to further deepen the newly established Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, bringing more practical benefits to people and contributing more effectively to peace, stability, prosperity and sustainable development for both sides and the wider region.

The meeting between Vietnamese Ambassador to Bulgaria Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet and leader of the Alcomet factory. (Photo courtesy of the Vietnamese Embassy in Bulgaria)

Vietnam, Bulgaria expand cooperation between key localities

Ambassador Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet noted that the Vietnam – Bulgaria Strategic Partnership has opened up fresh opportunities for cooperation in logistics, maritime transport, port operations, information technology, education and coastal tourism.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam (first, right) presents the National Assembly’s resolution on the establishment of Dong Nai city to local officials at the ceremony on May 18, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

City status marks great turning point for Dong Nai: top leader

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam noted that the new status requires a new development vision; a larger development space demands stronger governance capacity; and greater pride must be transformed into a greater sense of responsibility toward the people and the nation.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung receives Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman in Hanoi on May 18. Photo: VNA

Vietnam treasures ties with Croatia: PM

Vietnam and Croatia should strive to double bilateral trade turnover from the current level of 161 million USD; study the establishment of a Joint Committee on Economic Cooperation to create a long-term, stable, and effective framework for collaboration, said Prime Minister Le Minh Hung.

At the working session between NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man and standing members of the NA's Committee for Cultural and Social Affairs. (Photo: VNA)

National Assembly Chairman urges renovation in leadership, working style

The NA's Committee for Cultural and Social Affairs has moved fast to reshuffle its organisation after the 14th National Party Congress and the election of deputies to the 16th NA, updating its work agenda to match new directives set out in the resolutions of the 14th National Party Congress and the first Congress of the NA Party Organisation for the 2025–2030 term.

Delegates visit a photo exhibition about the career of President Ho Chi Minh. (Photo: VNA)

President Ho Chi Minh’s legacy of peace, friendship honoured in Japan

Consul General Trinh Thi Mai Phuong said the celebration was an occasion for Vietnamese people at home and abroad to express profound gratitude and respect for President Ho Chi Minh – the great leader of the Vietnamese nation, a national liberation hero and a great man of culture.

Delegates pose for a group photo at the welcoming ceremony for the ship. (Photo: VNA)

Thailand's naval ship pays friendship visit to Ho Chi Minh City

The visit is expected to strengthen mutual trust and cooperation between the defence ministries of Vietnam and Thailand, as well as between the two countries’ navies, while contributing to activities marking 50 years of diplomatic ties between the two nations.