☕ Afternoon briefing on August 5

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

☕ Afternoon briefing on August 5

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 on August 5 demanded all-level authorities, sectors, and localities take timely, flexible, and efficient moves to achieve better and more inclusive socio-economic development in 2024 compared to last year.

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PM Pham Minh Chinh chairs the Government’s monthly meeting on August 5. (Photo: VNA)

He made the request while chairing the Government’s monthly meeting to review the socio-economic situation in July and the first seven months of 2024.Read full story

-A delegation from the National Assembly (NA), led by Vu Hong Thanh, member of its Standing Committee and Chairman of its Economic Committee, visited Argentina and Chile from July 29 to August 4.

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Vu Hong Thanh (2nd from left), member of the Vietnamese National Assembly's Standing Committee and Chairman of its Economic Committee, in a group photo with the freshly launched Argentina-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group. (Photo: VNA)

At a meeting on August 2 with the Vietnamese delegation, Luciana Termine, chairperson of the Argentine Chamber of Deputies’ committee for external relations and international cooperation, underscored the growing depth of parliamentary cooperation between the two countries at bilateral forums and international inter-parliamentary platforms, contributing to strengthening the Vietnam-Argentina relations.Read full story

-Deputy Minister of Public Security Tran Quoc To recently met with Jacqueline Maguire, Assistant Director of the Training Division at the US’s Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), in Quantico, Virginia, with their discussion focusing on training and collaboration.

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At the meeting in Quantico, Virginia on August 3 (Photo: VNA)

At the August 3 meeting, To expressed satisfaction at the effective cooperation between the ministry and the bureau in combating crime, law enforcement, and maintaining public order, particularly since the signing of their memorandum of understanding on transnational crime prevention in 2019.Read full story

-The Vietnamese Embassy in Israel on August 4 issued a warning to Vietnamese citizens, advising them to stay vigilant amidst complicated Israel-Hezbollah tensions.

In its announcement, the embassy said a stabbing spree in Holon city near Tel Aviv on August 4 killed two people and wounded three others. Local authorities said this was a terror attack, and forecast an increase in criminal activities of the Arab community in Israel as well as attacks deeper into Israel’s territory.Read full story

-A cultural space dedicated to the life and legacy of late Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong was inaugurated in the central city of Da Nang on August 5, which coincided with the 94th anniversary of the Communist Review where he served as Editor-in-Chief for nearly three decades.

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Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's books and articles on display (Photo: VNA)

The space showcases a rich collection of his books and articles published in the review, serving as a tribute to his exceptional leadership and contributions to the revolutionary cause of the Party and the country, said head of the standing office of the Communist Review for the central and Central Highlands Tran Tho Quang.Read full story

-Vietnam’s fisheries export revenue in July grew 14% year-on-year to over 885 million USD, the highest recorded since the beginning of the year, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

The export during January – July was worth 5.28 billion USD, up 7% against the same period last year. Of the total, the shipment of shrimp rose 7% to nearly 2 billion USD, tra fish 7.7% to nearly 1.09 billion USD, and tuna 21% to 555 million USD.Read full story

-A conference to respond to the National Breastfeeding Week and launch the "ENOUGH" Nutrition Initiative took place on August 5 in Hanoi.

The event was jointly organised by the National Institute of Nutrition under the Ministry of Health, and the World Vision International in Vietnam, in response to the "World Breastfeeding Week" held annually from August 1-7.Read full story

-Ha Long city in the northern province of Quang Ninh on August 5 hosted the 43rd Session of the Executive Board of the World Federation of UNESCO Clubs, Centres and Associations (WFUCA) and an international conference on the role and contributions of UNESCO movements to the cultural industries.

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Nguyen Xuan Thang, President of the Vietnam Federation of UNESCO Associations (VFUA) and member of the WFUCA Executive Board addresses the event (Photo: VNA)

The annual event drew 40 representatives from WFUCA member states and hundreds of delegates from agencies, sectors, and prestigious cultural, educational, and scientific organisations in Vietnam.Read full story

-Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, two major cities in Việt Nam, have been named among Asia's top ten cities with the lowest travel costs, according to Travel & Leisure.

The US-based travel magazine has published a list of the ten cities in Asia with the lowest travel costs, with HCM City in southern Vietnam ranking second with an average trip cost of 1,452 USD.Read full story/.

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Vietnamese Ambassador to Hungary Bui Le Thai (L) shakes hands with Prof. Dr. Csaba Gyuricza, Rector of the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences Research (MATE). (Photo published by VNA)

Vietnam, Hungary promote cooperation in agriculture, science, technology

Noting that Vietnam is accelerating its shift towards a growth model driven by science and technology, innovation and digital transformation, the Ambassador called on MATE to strengthen cooperation with Vietnamese partners in areas of shared strengths and complementary needs, including biotechnology, climate-resilient crop breeding, agricultural product processing and preservation, sustainable aquaculture, smart agriculture and artificial intelligence (AI) applications.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam (second from right) and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly pose for a photo with Swiss President Guy Parmelin and his spouse Caroline Parmelin. (Photo: VNA)

Top Vietnamese leader hosts welcome ceremony for Swiss President

Over the past 55 years since establishing diplomatic relations, Vietnam and Switzerland have become reliable and effective partners across various fields. Political trust has continued to be strengthened through visits and high-level meetings. In January 2025, the two countries established a Comprehensive Partnership, marking a new milestone in the bilateral relations. Since then, their cooperation has continued to deepen and become more effective.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang (R) receives State Secretary at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Astrid Bergmål in Hanoi on October 16. (Photo: Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Vietnam, Norway promote multifaceted cooperation

Hang welcomed Bergmål’s first visit to Vietnam, affirming that Vietnam attaches importance to its traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Norway. She expressed her satisfaction with the positive development of the bilateral ties, underpinned by political trust, mutual respect and a shared commitment to sustainable development.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung delivers a report on the implementation of the 2026 socio-economic development plan and a proposed plan for 2027 at the 16th National Assembly’s second session, which opened on October 17 morning. (Photo: VNA)

Fourteen of 15 key targets for 2026 to be met or exceeded: PM

Amid a complex international and regional environment, proactive engagement across the entire political system has yielded major and relatively comprehensive socio-economic achievements, with 14 out of the 15 primary socio-economic targets expected to be met or exceeded.

The opening session sees the presence of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam (sixth from left, first row), and incumbent and former Party and State leaders. (Photo: VNA)

NA President calls for high-quality legislation to drive national development

NA President Tran Thanh Man said the session takes place shortly after the fourth plenum of the 14th Party Central Committee and less than two months after the NA’s first extraordinary session, demonstrating the determination and urgency to institutionalise the Party’s guidelines and decisions, address bottlenecks, mobilise resources and create new drivers for rapid and sustainable national development.

Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Vu Dai Thang (R) welcomes Swiss President Guy Parmelin and his spouse Caroline Parmelin at Noi Bai International Airport. (Photo: VNA)

Swiss President Guy Parmelin arrives in Hanoi, beginning official visit to Vietnam

Over 55 years of trust-building and cooperation, Vietnam and Switzerland have maintained friendly relations while gradually expanding collaboration across a wide range of areas. The elevation of bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Partnership in January 2025 reflected the two sides’ determination to usher their relations into a new phase of development.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam, other Party and State leaders, and NA deputies come to pay tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his Mausoleum before the opening of the 16th NA's second session on October 17 morning. (Photo: VNA)

16th National Assembly commences second session

The parliament’s second session is scheduled to last until November 21. It is divided into two phases, with the first from October 17 to November 14, and the second from November 20 to 21.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium and Head of the Vietnamese Mission to the European Union Nguyen Huong Tra speaks in an interview with the VNA. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam-EU, Belgium ties poised for new heights

The upcoming official visits to the European Union (EU) and Belgium by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam aims to strengthen political trust, deepen ties and translate high-level commitments into concrete action, laying the groundwork for a new phase in relations with both partners.

Politburo member and Standing Member of the Secretariat of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee Vilay Lakhamphong (Photo: VNA)

Laos’ senior Party official concludes official visit to Vietnam

The Vietnamese Party and State leaders welcomed the visit, describing it as significant as the two Parties and States are actively implementing their respective Party congress resolutions and high-level agreements, and seeking to further strengthen the great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and strategic cohesion between the two countries.

The Vietnamese delegation meet with Desmond Choo, a member of the Central Executive Committee of Singapore’s People’s Action Party (PAP) and Minister of State for Defence, and Singaporean MP Lee Hong Chuang. (Photo published by VNA)

Vietnam, Singapore promote cooperation through Party-to-Party channel

Nguyen Long Hai, member of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and Standing Deputy Secretary of the committee, praised Singapore’s experience in personnel training, green transition, digital transformation and economic development, saying these offer valuable lessons for Vietnam.

EU Ambassador to Vietnam Julien Guerrier grants an interview to the Vietnam News Agency ahead of the official visit to the European Union (EU) by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and President To Lam (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam-EU ties set for new heights with concrete, practical outcomes: Ambassador

The upcoming official visit to the European Union (EU) by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and President To Lam is expected to provide a chance for the two sides to bring bilateral ties to a new height, EU Ambassador to Vietnam Julien Guerrier told the Vietnam News Agency ahead of the visit.