☕ Afternoon briefing on August 27

The Party leader's meeting with generations of National Assembly deputies, Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament Gerry Brownlee's arrival in Hanoi for an official visit, and the removal of the state monopoly on gold bullion production are among news highlights on August 27.

☕ Afternoon briefing on August 27

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 urged the National Assembly (NA) to take one step ahead in terms of institutions; and dare to pave the way, make adjustments, and decide on difficult issues, new matters, and unprecedented areas while meeting with generations of NA deputies in Hanoi on August 27.

This is the first time that a Party chief has chaired a meeting with generations of deputies, who have made important contributions to nearly 80 glorious years of the Vietnamese NA. Read full story

– Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh issued an official dispatch on August 26, calling for rapid recovery from Typhoon Kajiki and subsequent flooding that has left seven dead and dozens injured, and caused widespread devastation across northern and central regions.

typhoon-kajiki.jpg
Typhoon Kajiki causes widespread devastation across northern and central regions. (Photo: VNA)

The Government leader also extended condolences to families of the deceased and missing, and expressed sympathy with residents affected by the disaster. Read full story

– Through its activities, especially in law building, external relations and supreme supervision over external affairs, the National Assembly (NA) has make great contributions to the country’s overall foreign relations over the past eight decades, NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man told the press on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of Vietnam’s diplomatic sector (August 28, 1945–2025).

Over the past 80 years, under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the NA has steadily consolidated its position as the highest representative body of the people and the supreme body of state power of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, significantly contributing to the effective implementation of the country's foreign policy. Read full story

– Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives (Parliament) Gerry Brownlee arrived in Hanoi on August 27, beginning his five-day official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of Chairman of the National Assembly (NA) Tran Thanh Man.

The visit is expected to consolidate political trust, deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and promote more practical and effective bilateral cooperation. Read full story

– Vietnamese Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Maldives Trinh Thi Tam made a working visit to the Maldives from August 22 to 26, on the occasion of the 50th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries (1975–2025).

Tam made a courtesy call on Parliament Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla, who agreed that there are ample opportunities for cooperation between the two countries in areas such as tourism, trade, investment, and seafood processing. Read full story

– A delegation of the Vietnam Coast Guard led by Commander of Coast Guard Region 3 Major General Ngo Binh Minh paid a courtesy call on Indonesian coast guard leaders and co-chaired a bilateral meeting on August 26, as part of their visit to Indonesia.

The trip aims to further intensify friendship and mutual trust between the two coast guard forces, while providing an opportunity to coordinate responses to traditional and non-traditional security challenges, and exchange experiences in maritime safety, search and rescue operations at sea, thus actively contributing to regional peace, security, and friendship. Read full story

– Vietnam has officially removed the state monopoly on gold bullion production, marking a significant shift in the country’s gold market dynamics.

state-monopoly-on-gold-production-eliminated.jpg
SJC gold bars are trading at a record high. (Photo: VNA)

On August 26, the Government issued Decree 232/2025/ND-CP, repealing Clause 3, Article 4 of Decree 24, thereby eliminating the state monopoly on gold bullion production, raw gold exports, and raw gold imports for bullion production. Read full story

– The Da Nang city People’s Committee has approved the Basal Pay, the country’s first crypto asset conversion project, operating within the city’s controlled fintech sandbox environment.

Basal Pay, developed by AlphaTrue Solutions JSC, a member of the Vietnam Blockchain and Digital Asset Association, integrates the Financial Action Task Force (FATF)’s Travel Rule standards to ensure compliance with international requirements on transparency, anti-money laundering, and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CFT). Read full story./.

VNA

See more

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh addresses the third National Forum on Digital Economy and Digital Society in Hanoi on December 20. (Photo: VNA)

Digital economy as driver, digital society as foundation of growth: PM

The forum, themed “Developing an inclusive and comprehensive digital economy and digital society to achieve double-digit GDP growth in the 2026–2030 period,” brought together leaders of ministries and localities, technology enterprises, research institutions, experts and representatives of international organisations in Vietnam.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang (R) and Benoit Guidée, Director of the Asia–Oceania Department at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs meet in Hanooi on December 19. (Photo: VNA)

Deputy FM meets French official

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang stressed that Vietnam attaches great importance to its relationship with France, the first European Union country with which Vietnam has established a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, noting that the two sides enjoy a solid foundation and significant potential for further cooperation.

Politburo member and permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Tran Cam Tu speaks at the event in Hanoi on December 19 (Photo: VNA)

Senior Party official reviews preparations for 14th National Party Congress

Politburo member and permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Tran Cam Tu expressed his belief that relevant agencies will continue to make efforts to basically complete organisation- and service-related preparations by December 31, ensuring readiness for the final rehearsals ahead of the opening of the 14th National Party Congress.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh addressing the conference of the the Ministry of Industry and Trade on December 19 (Photo: VNA)

PM urges industry, trade sector to pioneer in six key areas

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that to make a substantive contribution to national development, the industry and trade sector must also achieve double-digit growth, generate new jobs, strengthen traditional growth drivers such as export and consumption, and accelerate emerging engines of growth, including the green, digital, circular, knowledge-based and sharing economies.

State President Luong Cuong (middle) presents congratulatory flowers to the two promoted officers (Photo: VNA)

Two military officers promoted to rank of Senior Lieutenant General

Lieutenant General Do Xuan Tung, Vice Director of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA), and Lieutenant General Do Van Banh, Political Commissar of the National Defence Academy were promoted to the rank of Senior Lieutenant General at a ceremony in Hanoi on December 19.

Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone (R) hosts a reception for Prosecutor General of the Supreme People’s Procuracy of Vietnam Nguyen Huy Tien. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam–Laos step up cooperation in procuracy sector

They highly valued the effective and substantive cooperation results achieved by the Supreme People’s Procuracies of Vietnam and Laos in recent years, and called on both sides to continue enhancing coordination, stepping up exchanges of delegations at all levels, sharing professional and technical experience, and maintaining and expanding training and capacity-building programmes for officials.

NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man and other leaders, former leaders at the 4th Dien Hong Awards honouring journalistic works on the NA and People’s Councils in Hanoi on December 18, 2025. (Photo: daibieunhandan.vn)

NA Chairman urges journalists to reflect legislature's strategic vision

The NA leader expressed his confidence that in 2026, journalists will continue to uphold their responsibility, report objectively and from multiple perspectives, accompany the NA in conveying its activities promptly and comprehensively, and identify shortcomings in law-making and legal enforcement to help people-elected agencies operate more effectively and efficiently.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) receives Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane in Hanoi on December 18, 2025. (Photo: VNA)

Prime Minister calls for stronger Vietnam–Laos economic connectivity

Receiving Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane in Hanoi on December 18, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh proposed that the two sides further strengthen economic connectivity, coordinate closely and share development experience for the tangible benefit of the two peoples.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man (R) and Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane in Hanoi on December 18 (Photo: VNA)

Top legislator receives Lao foreign minister in Hanoi

The top legislator requested that the two sides continue to work closely together to effectively implement the Vietnam-Laos Joint Statement, the intergovernmental cooperation agreement, and bilateral cooperation programmes, thereby contributing to preserving and developing the bilateral special traditional friendship.