Afternoon briefing

☕ Afternoon briefing on July 12

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

☕ Afternoon briefing on July 12

Hanoi (VNA) - The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.

- State President To Lam arrived at the Phnom Penh International Airport on July 12 afternoon, starting his two-day state visit to Cambodia at an invitation of King Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni.

Welcoming the President and his entourage at the airport were Senior Minister in charge of General Affairs of the Ministry of the Royal Palace Kuy Sophal, Minister of Tourism Sok Soken, Cambodian Ambassador to Vietnam Chea Kimtha, and Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Huy Tang, among others. Read full story

- President To Lam's state visit to Cambodia from July 12-13 holds great significance, demonstrating and reaffirming the highest level of close relations between the two countries, said Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sok Chenda Sophea.

Speaking to the Vietnam News Agency in Phnom Penh, the official called the visit a symbol of the "fine neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability" motto that characterises relations between the two countries. Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Chairman of the National Emulation-Commendation Council, chaired the council’s 8th meeting in Hanoi on July 12 to review its operations in the first half of 2024 and launch tasks for the rest of the year.

Opening the meeting, the Government leader highlighted the country’s comprehensive achievements across all fields, with macro-economic situation stabilised, inflation controlled, economic balances ensured, and people’s living conditions improved, as well as the country’s position in the world arena enhanced. Read full story

- Major newspapers and media outlets of Laos have run articles praising the bilateral relationship with Vietnam and welcoming the state visit by President To Lam to the neighbouring country from July 11-12.

In its article on July 11, Pasaxon, the official newspaper of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee, underlined the significance of President Lam’s first trip abroad after taking office in June, saying it demonstrates the importance that the Vietnamese Party, State, and people, as well as President Lam himself place on the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries. Read full story

- Vietnam's economy recovered rapidly in the first half of 2024 after a challenging period at the end of 2022 and early 2023, thanks to its government’s drastic actions, according to Paulo Medas, head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)’s 2024 Article IV Mission to Vietnam.

The IMF team, led by Paulo Medas, held the 2024 Article IV consultation with Vietnam from June 12-26. Read full story

- A series of events were held in Ho Chi Minh City from July 10-12 to promote trade exchanges among leather and footwear businesses of Vietnam and Italy.

They were jointly organised by Italian Trade Office in Vietnam, the National Association of Italian Manufacturers of Footwear, Leathergoods and Tanning Technologies of Italy (Assomac), and the Vietnam Leather, Footwear and Handbag Association (Lefaso). Read full story

- A ceremony to kickstart the construction of a scientific research and training centre at the National University of Laos was held by the Vietnam National University - Hanoi (VNU) and the Lao Ministry of Education and Sports on July 12 under an agreement between the two governments. Read full story

- Children's Hospital No.2 in Ho Chi Minh City has recently performed a liver transplant for a three-year-old child with Budd-Chiari syndrome, a rare vascular disorder occurring in only 1 in 1,000,000 people.

This is the first liver transplant for a child with the syndrome in Vietnam and the 36th liver transplant performed at Children's Hospital No. 2. Read full story

- Phu Quoc island off the coast of the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang has been voted as the world's second most beautiful by readers of US magazine Travel Leisure at this year’s World's Best Awards.

According to the magazine, the top three winners include two destinations that need little introduction, the Maldives (No.1) and Indonesia's Bali (No.3). Sneaking in at No.2 is the under-the-radar Vietnamese island located off the country’s western shoreline in the Gulf of Thailand. Read full story

- The Da Lat railway station in the resort city of Da Lat, which has captured visitors’ hearts with its unique architecture and ambience, was officially named a tourist destination of the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong at a ceremony on July 11.

Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Trung Kien said the top-hill station is not only an architectural marvel of the city but also a place that preserves the railway sector’s history. Read full story

- The Hue Monuments Conservation Centre, in collaboration with IV COM Joint Stock Company, on July 11 launched a new virtual reality (VR) experience for tourists visiting the Hue Imperial Citadel in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue.

The experience, named "Dau Ho", is based on a traditional court game popular during the Nguyen Dynasty (1802 – 1945). It involves skillfully throwing long arrows into a jar from a certain distance. The rules are not complicated but the game demands high precision to achieve victory. Read full story./.

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Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang (L) pays a courtesy call on Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Laos strengthen cooperation on overseas community affairs

The two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in overseas Vietnamese and overseas Lao affairs for the 2026–2030 period, providing a framework for future collaboration. Laos will send a delegation to Vietnam to study preparations for the World Conference of Overseas Vietnamese, scheduled for December 2026.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Greece Pham Thi Thu Huong meets with representatives of the Patras Chamber of Commerce. (Photo courtesy of the Vietnamese Embassy in Greece)

Vietnam seeks stronger ties with Greece’s Patras

Mayor Kostas Peletidis said Patras is ready to work with the Vietnamese Embassy to promote the country as well as its culture and people through local cultural events and festivals, including the Patras Carnival, one of Greece’s largest annual festivals, the mayor remarked.

Nearly 1,000 students and lecturers from universities and colleges across Can Tho city attend the event at Can Tho University on July 15, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Philippines strengthen people-to-people friendship

Shirley Nuevo, Acting Consul General of the Philippines in Ho Chi Minh City, said the past 50 years have demonstrated how the two countries and their peoples have grown together as friends, trusted partners and close neighbours within the ASEAN family.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung addresses the working session with the Standing Board of the Tuyen Quang Party Committee in Vi Xuyen commune on July 15, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

PM urges Tuyen Quang to accelerate measures to achieve double-digit growth

The PM chaired a working session on July 15 with the Standing Board of the Tuyen Quang Party Committee on socio-economic development, the double-digit growth target, public investment disbursement, the operation of the two-tier local government model, implementation of Politburo Resolution No. 57, and measures to address local challenges.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang (right), who is also head of the ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) delegation of Vietnam, and EU Ambassador to ASEAN Sujiro Seam at their meeting in Hanoi (Photo published by VNA)

Vietnam pledges continued contributions to ASEAN-EU ties: Deputy FM

Deputy FM Dang Hoang Giang, who is also head of the ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) delegation of Vietnam, spoke highly of the positive progress in the ASEAN-EU Strategic Partnership, noting that the EU has become one of ASEAN's most reliable partners and has provided substantial support for the ASEAN Community-building process.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung (R) receives Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Tshering Sherpa in Hanoi on July 15. (Photo: VNA)

Foreign Minister receives Indian Ambassador

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung said Vietnamese authorities are expediting investigations into the cause of the recent speedboat accident and will strictly address any violations while strengthening safety regulations to prevent similar incidents.