☕ Afternoon briefing on July 13

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

☕ Afternoon briefing on July 13

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

- Party General Secretary and State President To Lam called for a stronger emphasis on three major overhauls to reshape Vietnam’s socialist culture in the new era while addressing the second session of the Central Steering Committee for Vietnamese culture development in Hanoi on July 13.

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Party General Secretary and State President To Lam speaks at the second session of the Central Steering Committee for Vietnamese culture development in Hanoi on July 13. (Photo: VNA)

The meeting saw the presence of Prime Minister Le Minh Hung; Permanent member of the Party Central Committee's Secretariat Tran Cam Tu, who is also head of the steering committee; other Politburo members; members of the Party Central Committee and its Secretariat; along with officials of ministries, sectors and central agencies. Read full text

- Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung has affirmed that Vietnam consistently regards Myanmar as a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and views the Five-Point Consensus as an important framework for ASEAN’s continued support for the country.

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Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung (front, second from left), other foreign ministers of ASEAN and their Myanmar counterpart attend an informal meeting in Bangkok on July 12. (Photo: VNA)

He made the statement at an informal meeting between the foreign ministers of ASEAN and their Myanmar counterpart in Bangkok on July 12 under the chairmanship of Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Maria Theresa P. Lazaro, whose country holds the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2026. Read full text

- Cooperation in capital market development, cross-border payment, fintech and green finance has been identified as focal areas of the Vietnam – Republic of Korea (RoK) financial ties as the Vietnam International Financial Centre in Ho Chi Minh City (VIFC-HCMC) officially begins operations, heard a forum held in the southern metropolis on July 13.

At the Vietnam – RoK Financial Cooperation Forum, organised by VIFC-HCMC and the Consulate General of the RoK in Ho Chi Minh City, experts, policymakers and business representatives discussed ways to strengthen financial market connectivity and attract international capital flows. Read full text

- A 100-day action plan has been launched aimed at removing long-standing bottlenecks in digital transformation across the country's political system.

The plan requires ministries, agencies and local authorities to deliver measurable outcomes by the end of November. Read full text

- Following the speedboat capsize in Phu Quoc on July 11, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has been working closely with the People’s Committee of the southern province of An Giang, the Phu Quoc Special Zone, relevant authorities, the Embassy of India in Hanoi and the Consulate General of India in Ho Chi Minh City to urgently implement consular protection measures.

Immediately after learning about the incident, which left 15 Indian tourists dead, the ministry sent diplomatic notes to the Indian Embassy and Consulate General. The Vietnamese Embassy in India also informed the Indian Ministry of External Affairs through a diplomatic note. Read full text

- The last seriously injured victim of the deadly canoe capsize off Phu Quoc Island was transferred to Cho Ray Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City on July 13 for further treatment.

The emergency transfer was carried out through close coordination between authorities of Phu Quoc special zone in An Giang province and Cho Ray Hospital to give the patient the best chance of recovery. Read full text

- Sun Group and Accor, one of the world's largest hospitality groups have signed an agreement to elevate their decade-long strategic partnership, adding nearly 6,000 premium hotel rooms and serviced apartments spanning virtually every segment from mid-scale to luxury, and from traditional hospitality to lifestyle brands, across Phu Quoc and Da Nang.

The signing took place in the presence of Sébastien Bazin, Chairman & CEO of Accor - a signal of the group's commitment to partnering with Sun Group in shaping new standards of hospitality and lifestyle, and a testament to Vietnam's growing appeal as a world-class destination./. Read full text

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At the NA Standing Committee's session on August 4. (Photo: VNA)

National Assembly Standing Committee to look into 25 draft laws, resolutions

The committee will take up 25 draft laws and resolutions, including the revised Penal Code, the revised Law on Organisation of Criminal Investigation Agencies, and the review of the draft law amending Article 6 and Appendix IV on conditional business sectors and lines under the Law on Investment, among others.

ASEAN ambassadors in Beijing and the Secretary-General of the ASEAN-China Centre pose for a group photo. (Photo:VNA)

Vietnam underscores ASEAN unity, centrality

Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Thanh Binh highlighted ASEAN’s ability to listen to one another, respect diversity, manage differences and build consensus as among the key lessons underpinning the bloc’s strength and enabling it to move forward together.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam (L) and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon (Photo: VNA)

Top Vietnamese leader’s New Zealand visit draws media attention

Reports, articles and assessments published on August 12-13 highlighted that Vietnam-New Zealand relations are shifting strongly from high-level political commitments to concrete cooperation programmes, with a focus on trade, investment, education, agriculture, science and technology, defence and security, and climate change response.

☕ Afternoon briefing on August 13

☕ Afternoon briefing on August 13

Activities during Party General Secretary and President To Lam's state visit to New Zealand, a ceremony marking the 100th birth anniversary of Cuban leader Fidel Castro in Quang Tri, and a series of expos opened at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre are among news highlights on August 13.

Party General Secretary and President To Lam leaves Auckland on August 13 evening (local time), concluding a state visit to New Zealand. (Photo: VNA)

Party General Secretary, President To Lam concludes state visit to New Zealand

At the meetings during the visit, the two sides agreed to further strengthen political trust and advance bilateral relations comprehensively by stepping up high-level and all-level exchanges through Party, State, parliamentary and people-to-people channels, thereby making more effective use of existing policy dialogue mechanisms.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President of Vietnam To Lam (R) meets with Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives Gerry Brownlee in Auckland on August 13 (Photo: VNA)

Top Vietnamese leader meets with New Zealand House Speaker

Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives Gerry Brownlee welcomed the state visit by the Vietnamese leader and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, stressing that it will further deepen the Vietnam–New Zealand Comprehensive Strategic Partnership across various fields, ushering bilateral ties into a new, more profound, substantive and effective phase.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon witness the exchange of cooperation agreements between the two countries on August 13, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam - New Zealand joint statement

Vietnam and New Zealand have issued a joint statement on the occasion of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam’s state visit to New Zealand from August 12-13.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam (left) and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon at their talks in Auckland on August 13 (Photo: VNA)

Top Vietnamese leader holds talks with New Zealand Prime Minister

Welcoming General Secretary and President Lam and the Vietnamese delegation, New Zealand PM Luxon said the visit marked an important milestone in strengthening bilateral ties after more than half a century. He affirmed Vietnam is an important partner of New Zealand and expressed his impression at the Southeast Asian country’s remarkable achievements, including its strong economic growth.

☀️ Morning digest on August 13

☀️ Morning digest on August 13

Party General Secretary and President To Lam's meeting with Vietnamese Embassy staff and representatives of the Vietnamese community in New Zealand, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung's receptions for the Singaporean and Israeli ambassadors, and the 8th Vietnam–Australia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting are among news highlights on August 12 evening.