Politics

☕ Afternoon briefing on August 18

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

☕ Afternoon briefing on August 18

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 met with veteran revolutionaries, former members of the Party Central Committee, and former leaders of Party commissions, the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF), and central socio-political organisations in Hanoi on August 18 in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution (August 19) and National Day (September 2).

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Party General Secretary To Lam presents the badges marking 80, 75, 60, 55, 50, 45, and 40-year Party membership to the veteran revolutionaries at the meeting. (Photo: VNA)

Attendees included former Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh; State President Luong Cuong; former State President Truong Tan Sang; Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh; former Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung; National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man; former National Assembly Chairpersons Nguyen Sinh Hung and Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan; and Politburo member and standing member of the Party Central Committee's Secretariat Tran Cam Tu; former President of the VFF Central Committee Pham The Duyet; and former members of the Politburo and standing members of the Secretariat Phan Dien, Le Hong Anh, and Tran Quoc Vuong, among others. Read full story

- King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck of Bhutan arrived in Hanoi on August 18, beginning their five-day state visit to Vietnam, at the invitation of State President Luong Cuong and his spouse.

Welcoming the delegation at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi were Minister of Ethnic and Religious Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung, and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Manh Cuong, among others. Read full story

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State President Luong Cuong presents the third-class Labour Order to the Ministry of Public Security in 2025. (Photo: VNA)

- State President Luong Cuong has penned an article titled “80 Years of the Vietnam People’s Public Security Force Joining Efforts in National Construction and Defence” on the occasion of its 80th traditional day (August 19, 1945 –2025). Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended a ceremony at the Yen Tu Historical and Scenic Relic Site in the northern province of Quang Ninh on August 17 to mark the official recognition of the Yen Tu – Vinh Nghiem – Con Son, Kiep Bac Complex as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site.

In his address, PM Chinh emphasised that this prestigious recognition is not only a point of pride for the three localities of Quang Ninh, Bac Ninh, and Hai Phong, but also a meaningful tribute to the distinctive values of the Truc Lam Zen Buddhist tradition - an essential force in shaping Vietnam’s national identity and cultural spirit. Read full story

- The first-ever KOL Summit 2025, themed “KOLs in the era of national rise”, opened in Hanoi on August 18, connecting over 300 key opinion leaders (KOLs) with policymakers, businesses and digital platforms to foster positive values, innovation and sustainable development in Vietnam’s digital era.

In his keynote address, Maj. Gen Le Xuan Minh, Director of the Department of Cybersecurity and High-Tech Crime Prevention under the Ministry of Public Security, said in the digital era, KOLs have emerged as a special force shaping public awareness, driving innovation, and promoting Vietnam’s identity and values to the world. Read full story

- The northern province of Quang Ninh unveiled the global values of the Yen Tu – Vinh Nghiem – Con Son, Kiep Bac Complex of Monuments and Landscapes at a press conference in the locality on August 17.

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Quynh Lam Pagoda is part of the Yen Tu – Vinh Nghiem – Con Son, Kiep Bac Complex of Monuments and Landscapes. (Photo: VNA)

The event celebrated the complex’s designation as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site on July 12, 2025. The recognition is a source of immense pride for Quang Ninh and Bac Ninh provinces, and Hai Phong city, while affirming the global importance of Truc Lam Buddhist Zen sect. Read full story

- The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is proud to have supported Vietnam throughout its development journey, which places people at the centre, and promote human security and quality growth, Chief Representative of JICA Vietnam Office Kobayashi Yosuke has said.

In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA), Yosuke assessed that Vietnam's socio-economic transformation in recent years has been truly impressive. Since the early 2000s, its per capita income has quadrupled, from around 1,000 USD in 2008 to over 4,100 USD in 2023. Alongside this, there have been significant advancements in education and health care, with the proportion of people holding university degrees rising from 20% to 45%, and health insurance coverage expanding from 57% to 93%./. Read full story

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