Politics

☕ Afternoon briefing on January 2

The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.
☕ Afternoon briefing on January 2 ảnh 1
Hanoi (VNA) - The following is a brief reviewof the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.

- The Mekong Delta province of Hau Giang, boasting strategicgeographical location in the southwestern region, should capitalise on itsstrengths for fast and sustainable growth, making contributions to the regionand country’s development, President Vo Van Thuong said on January 1.

Attending a ceremony to mark the 20th anniversaryof the province’s establishment (January 1) in Vi Thanh city, Thuong said HauGiang should pay due attention to promoting economic restructuring in tandemwith renewing the growth model, improving business climate and competitiveedge, attracting high-quality human resources, and applying advancedscience-technology to serve local livelihoods. Read full story

- Vietnam’s fruit andvegetable exports surged to a record high in 2023, yet insiders said it is justa start as ample room remains for the sector.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) reported that thecountry earned 5.69 billion USD from fruit and vegetable exports in the year,up over 70% year-on-year. Read full story

- As of 9 pm on January 1, there had been no Vietnamese peoplereported dead or injured in the 7.6-magnitude earthquake that hit central Japanearlier the same day, according to Vietnam Embassy in Japan.

The embassy set up a working group to verify information on thesafety of overseas Vietnamese who are living, studying and working in theearthquake-hit localities. Read full story

- Deputy Prime Minister Tran LuuQuang has signed a decision approving a strategy to develop plant cultivationuntil 2030 with a vision to 2050, aiming to turn plant cultivation into acomplete and professional technical-economic sector with highly competitiveproducts, meeting requirements in food safety, national food security and otherneeds of the economy, securing high export values.

Other objectives of the strategy are toeffectively use resources, protect the ecological environment, efficientlyprevent and control natural disasters, and adapt to climate change, whilecreating jobs, improving income and quality of life for farmers, contributingsocial stability, ensuring national defence and security. Read full story

- Air carriers said they are prepared for busyend-of-year holiday travel as the 2024 Lunar New Year (Tet) is approaching.

Vietnam Airlines Group, comprising VietnamAirlines, Pacific Airlines, and Vietnam Air Services Company (VASCO), plans tofly up to 2.1 million passengers between January 25 and February 24, with nearly550 flights added during the period. Read full story

- Vietnam welcomed 12.6 million internationalarrivals in 2023, with the Republic of Korea (RoK) and China being the largestsource markets, according to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT).

The biggest group of visitors came from the RoKwith 3.6 million, while a further 1.7 million arrived from China. Read full story

- Foreign firms contributed 259.95 billion USDor 73.1% of Vietnam’s total export revenue in 2023, statistics show.

The sector has played a crucial role in thenational economy, as reflected through its export turnover, job generation, andthe formation of supply chains in such key industries as electronics,machinery, garment-textile and footwear. Read full story

- The market capitalisation of Vietnam’s stockmarket approximated 6 quadrillion VND (246.7 billion USD) in 2023, rising 9.5%from and equivalent to about 62% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2022,statistics show.

Addressing a gong beating ceremony held at theHanoi Stock Exchange (HNX) on January 2 to mark the first trading session of2024, Deputy Minister of Finance Nguyen Duc Chi said that as of December 29 –the last working day of 2023, Vietnam’s benchmark VN-Index reached 1,129.93points, up by over 12% from the end of 2022. Read full story
☕ Afternoon briefing on January 2 ảnh 2The Da Nang International Airport in the central city of Da Nang has become the first and the only terminal in Vietnam to be certified as a 5-star airport by international airport rating agency Skytrax (Photo: VNA)
- Da Nang International Airport in the centralcity of Da Nang has become the first and the only terminal in Vietnam to becertified as a 5-star airport by international airport rating agency Skytrax,according to Do Trong Hau, Deputy General Director of the Da Nang InternationalTerminal Investment and Operation Joint Stock Company (AHT).

It came nine months after the airport receing a4-star rating from Skytrax thanks to its efforts in improving facilitiesand services to enhance passenger experience./. Read full story
VNA
Follow VietnamPlus

Related News

See more

Politburo member, Standing member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Tran Cam Tu attends the rehearsal. (Photo: VNA)

Security forces stage rehearsal for 14th National Party Congress

The People’s Public Security forces have been praised for their core role in closely working with the army and relevant ministries and agencies, with success in thwarting hostile plots at an early stage, drastically combating fake news and disinformation surrounding the 14th National Party Congress.

Senior Lieutenant General Le Quoc Hung (L), member of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and Deputy Minister of Public Security, and General Vilay Lakhamfong, Politburo member and permanent member of the Secretariat of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee. (Photo: VNA)

Deputy Minister of Public Security congratulates Lao officials following succesful 12th National Party Congress

Deputy Minister of Public Security Senior Lieutenant General Le Quoc Hungconveyed the warmest congratulations of the Central Public Security Party Committee, the Ministry of Public Security leadership, and the Vietnamese People’s Public Security Forces to Lakhamfong and other Lao public security leaders on the congress’s success and their election to key leadership positions for the new term.

A session of the National Assembly Standing Committee. (Photo: VNA)

NA Standing Committee's key work agenda for 2026 approved

A major focus will be preparations for the election of deputies to the 16th NA and to People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026–2031 term. The NASC will coordinate with the National Election Council, the Government, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, and relevant agencies and organisations to continue implementing the election plan, organise oversight of the electoral process, and carry out its duties and powers as prescribed.

Party General Secretary To Lam receives US Ambassador Marc Evans Knapper in Hanoi on January 9, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Party leader receives outgoing US Ambassador

Vietnam always values its relationship with the US and looks forward to continuing close cooperation with the US government to deepen bilateral relations based on mutual respect for each other’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political institutions, contributing positively to peace, stability, cooperation, and development regionally and globally.

Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Nguyen Quoc Dung (Photo: VNA)

Foreign affairs contribute to enhancing Vietnam’s international standing: Diplomat

Foreign affairs played an important role in maintaining a peaceful and stable international and regional environment; expanding friendships and partnerships without creating adversaries; deepening international integration to attract and effectively utilise external resources for development, including markets, investment, science and technology, and human resources training; and promoting the image of a confident, resilient Vietnam actively contributing to global affairs, Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Nguyen Quoc Dung highlighted.

Deputy Minister of Finance Nguyen Duc Chi (standing) addresses the press conference (Photo: VNA)

Solid grounds for double-digit growth in 2026: Press conference

Speaking at the Government’s regular press conference on January 8, Deputy Minister of Finance Nguyen Duc Chi said that the solutions include further improving institutions and legal frameworks to remove bottlenecks and shift governance from control to facilitation; mobilising and efficiently allocating development resources, with public investment playing a leading role.

General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee Thongloun Sisoulith delivers a closing speech at the 12th National Congress of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese Party chief congratulates Lao counterpart on re-election

General Secretary Lam firmly believed that, under the leadership of the LPRP Central Committee and the important role played by comrade Thongloun, the Lao Party and people would successfully fulfil the goals set out by the 12th Party Congress, building a peaceful, independent, democratic, unified and prosperous Laos.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang (right) and Norwegian Ambassador to Vietnam Hilde Solbakken (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Norway step up cooperation in green transition, circular economy

The Deputy Minister highly appreciated the efforts of Solbakken and the Norwegian Embassy in promoting the bilateral ties, and agreed that the two sides should further leverage each other’s strengths and needs to open up new cooperation opportunities, particularly in green transition, circular economy and climate change response.