Politics

☕ Afternoon briefing on December 28

The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.
☕ Afternoon briefing on December 28 ảnh 1

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 December 28tasked the banking sector with ensuring monetary security and safety, as wellas legitimate rights and interests of people, businesses and relevant subjectsin 2023 and the following years.

Speaking at a hybrid conference held by the StateBank of Vietnam (SBV) in Hanoi, the leader stressed that the sector shouldoperate transparently and healthily, with liquidity flowing smoothly in anycircumstances.Read full story

-Inflation has so far been controlled in linewith the set target, and the macro-economic situation stabilised with majorbalances of the economy ensured, Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai said at theyear-end meeting of the Price Management Steering Committee on December 28.

The official called this a great success,attributing it to the effective price management solutions.Read full story

-Vietnam'sindustrial sector grew by 9% in 2022, according to a report published on Mondayby the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT).

Minister Nguyen Hong Dien said the sector had madesignificant progress despite numerous difficulties and challenges includingcomplicated geo-political developments around the world, rising tradeprotectionism, disrupted supply chains in the aftermath of a global pandemicand tightened monetary policies by major central banks. Read full story

-Foreigndirect investment (FDI) in real estate topped 4.4 billion USD as of December20, accounting for over 16% of the total FDI capital registered in Vietnam, andup 1.8 billion USD year-on-year.

According to the Foreign Investment Agency underthe Ministry of Planning and Investment, there were 75 new projects in thesector during this year with a combined capital of more than 1.8 billion USD,and 37 others adjusting their investment capital up by a total 1 billion USD.

Meanwhile, 103 transactions of capitalcontribution and share purchase were recorded in the sector with anaccumulative value of around 1.6 billion USD.Read full story

-TheCentral Institute for Economic Management (CIEM) in collaboration with theJakarta-based Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) held aworkshop on industrial development in Vietnam in Hanoi on December 28.

Speaking at the event, CIEM Director Tran Thi HongMinh said that the Vietnamese economy has been recovering strongly from severeimpacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, it is facing the risk of fragmented andunfocused reforms which leads to difficulties in creating more breakthroughs ifno newer and more drastic ways and solutions are taken.Read full story

-The annual “Xuan Que Huong” (Homeland Spring), the biggestexternal and cultural event held for overseas Vietnamese (OVs) on the occasionof the Lunar New Year festival, will take place in Hanoi on January 14, withabout 3,000 people taking part, including 1,000 OVs.

Theinformation was revealed by deputy head of the State Commission for OverseasVietnamese Affairs Mai Phan Dung during a press conference in Hanoi on December28.Read full story

-PrimeMinister Pham Minh Chinh has asked the Ministry of Agriculture and RuralDevelopment (MARD) to build a 180-day action plan to combat illegal, unreportedand unregulated (IUU) fishing, as recommended by the European Commission (EC),and submit it to him and the Government for approval and issuance.Read full story

-The HoChi Minh City Department of Tourism on Monday began the programme “HCMCity-100 interesting things” to promote the city as an attractive touristdestination.

The programme themed “Vibrant experiences”features 10 categories covering ten exciting sightseeing programmes, tenexciting attractions, ten interesting entertainment spots, ten interestingshopping spots, ten interesting tourist accommodation establishments, teninteresting restaurants, ten interesting coffee shops, ten interesting tourism,cultural and sports events, ten interesting check-in places, and teninteresting delicacies.Read full story

-The Hoi An People’s Committee in the central province of QuangNam on December 28 started work to restore Cau (Bridge) Pagoda - an iconictourist attraction of the ancient city.

Therestoration work is expected to cost 20.3 billion VND (nearly 861,000 USD).Read full story

-Vietjet offers a new option for travelers fromVietnam to explore Kazakhstan with a new route from Nha Trang to the capitalAstana with just 9-hour long direct flights on every Wednesday and Sunday,besides the Nha Trang - Almaty route.Read full story

-Vietnamis among the top three markets where residents plan to travelwith the whole family in the coming year, a new survey by Agodarevealed.

Agoda’s Family Travel Trend survey 2022 found that61% of travelers from Singapore and Taiwan (China) and59% from Vietnam  are most likely to take at least one trip withthe immediate family.Read full story/.

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At the meeting between Vietnam's Politburo member Nguyen Thanh Nghi and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Sri Lanka G. Weerasinghe and General Secretary of the Sri Lanka-Vietnam Solidarity Association Sudasinghe Sugathapala. (Photo: VNA)

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Europe Day 2026 marked in Hanoi

EU Ambassador to Vietnam Julien Guerrier reaffirmed the bloc's commitment to accompanying Vietnam in achieving its goals of becoming a developed economy by 2045 and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050, while ensuring energy security amid global uncertainties.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam (L) and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meet the press to announce the outcomes of their talks. The two sides issued a joint statement on the Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and India. (Photo: VNA)

Top leader’s visits opening new phase of deeper, more effective ties with India, Sri Lanka: FM

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung described the visits as particularly important and historic, taking place at a meaningful moment as Vietnam and India mark the 10th anniversary of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and just one month after the top leader of Vietnam assumed his new position. For Sri Lanka, this was the highest-level visit by a Vietnamese leader since the two countries established diplomatic relations.

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

PM’s presence in ASEAN Summit spreads message of dynamic, strongly rising Vietnam: official

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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

Vietnam and Sri Lanka agreed to elevate political trust and comprehensively develop the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation as well as expand high-level and all-level exchanges and contacts, regularly implement bilateral cooperation mechanisms across various fields.

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)

Top Vietnamese leader meets with Sri Lankan PM in Colombo

The two leaders agreed that their countries will work together to turn the good intentions and aspirations for bilateral relations into tangible outcomes so that in the future, they could look back with pride on the achievements born from today’s determination.

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)

Vietnam PM meets with Lao, Malaysian counterparts in Philippines

Vietnam always gives the highest priority to the Vietnam–Laos relationship and will continue joining Laos in nurturing and deepening bilateral cooperation in a sustainable and practical manner for the benefit of the two countries' people, said Prime Minister Le Minh Hung.

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

Vietnam wishes to continue working closely with ASEAN member states and the ASEAN Secretariat in the community building process, said Prime Minister Le Minh Hung while meeting ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn on May 8 on the sidelines of the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, the Philippines.

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)

Vietnamese PM meets leaders of Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia

Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung held separate meetings with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on May 8 as part of his trip to attend the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, the Philippines.

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)

PM outlines three key proposals to respond to energy crisis at ASEAN Summit

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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)

Top leader of Vietnam stresses parliamentary ties' importance to relations with Sri Lanka

Highlighting the important role of parliamentary cooperation, the Party and State leader of Vietnam expressed his wish for the two legislatures to strengthen coordination, soon sign a cooperation agreement, and work together to effectively supervise the implementation of the high-level agreements and signed cooperation documents, especially economic cooperation initiatives aimed at achieving 1 billion USD in bilateral trade turnover.