Politics

☕ Afternoon briefing on July 16

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

☕ Afternoon briefing on July 16

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 on July 16 urged Son La to develop into the Northwest's centre for ecological agriculture, agro-processing and distinctive tourism while maintaining environmental sustainability and social welfare.

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Party General Secretary and State President To Lam addresses a working session with the Son La provincial Party Committee's Standing Board on July 16 (Photo: VNA)

At a working session with the provincial Party Committee's Standing Board, the leader acknowledged the province's efforts but pointed to persistent bottlenecks, including limited improvements in economic growth quality, productivity and resilience, slow growth in tourism revenue despite rising visitor numbers, delayed investment projects, sluggish labour restructuring, constrained financial capacity, and mounting risks from natural disasters, climate change and resource degradation. Read full story

- Prime Minister Le Minh Hung on July 16 reaffirmed the Party and State’s commitment to caring for invalids, sick soldiers and people who rendered service to the nation, describing the responsibility as a continuation of Vietnam’s long-standing tradition of gratitude and national solidarity.

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Prime Minister Le Minh Hung (R) talks with invalids and sick soldiers receiving treatment at Kim Bang Invalids Nursing Centre in Ninh Binh province. (Photo: VNA)

During a visit to the Kim Bang Invalids Nursing Centre in the northern province of Ninh Binh ahead of the 79th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs’ Day (July 27, 1947–2026), PM Hung extended his warm regards and profound appreciation to invalids, sick soldiers and revolutionary contributors across the country. Read full story

- The Vietnamese Embassy in Timor-Leste inaugurated its office in the capital city of Dili on July 15, marking its transition to fully functional, centralised operations just over three months after its establishment.

The ceremony was attended by Timor-Leste's Deputy Prime Minister Francisco Kalbuadi Lay, who is also Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs and Minister of Tourism and Environment; Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Bendito dos Santos Freitas; Vice Minister for ASEAN Affairs Milena Maria da Costa Rangel; representatives of the Office of the President of Timor-Leste; heads of ASEAN missions in Dili; as well as representatives of Telemor - Viettel's subsidiary in Timor-Leste, and the Vietnamese community in Timor-Leste. Read full story

- Vietnam's economy maintained strong momentum in the second quarter and first half of 2026, posting GDP growth above expectations despite persistent global uncertainties, underscoring the economy's resilience and the Government's flexible policy management.

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Marnufacturing garments for export at Hung Yen Jute and Garment Joint Stock Company. (Photo: VNA)

According to the National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Finance, GDP expanded by 8.39% in the second quarter, up from 8.14% a year earlier. Growth for the first six months reached 8.18%, exceeding the 7.63% recorded in the same period of 2025. Read full story

- US agricultural exports to Vietnam have increased significantly over the past two years, with improved market access creating new opportunities for fruit trade, according to Fruitnet.com website.

The US was Vietnam's second-largest supplier of agricultural products, with export turnover reaching 4.7 billion USD in 2025, a remarkable increase from less than 3.5 billion USD in 2024, Fruitnet said, citing a new report by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Read full story

- Retail prices of all major fuel products in Vietnam were increased from 3pm on July 16, according to a joint decision by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Finance.

E5RON92 petrol rose by 635 VND to a maximum of 19,826 VND (0.76 USD) per litre, while E10RON95-III went up 547 VND to 20,550 VND per litre. Read full story

- Vietnam’s domestic consumer market reached a new record in the first half of 2026, reaffirming its role as a key driver of economic growth. However, despite double-digit expansion in retail sales, consumer spending remains cautious, highlighting the need for stronger demand-stimulation measures, higher-quality Vietnamese products and continued development of the modern retail sector.

According to the National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Finance, total retail sales of goods and consumer service revenue reached an estimated 3.89 quadrillion VND (148.1 billion USD) in the first six months of the year, up 12.9% year-on-year. This marked the highest first-half figure on record, underscoring the growing importance of domestic consumption as one of the economy’s main pillars. Read full story

- Vietnam will need to mobilise around 5.4 quadrillion VND (approximately 205.6 billion USD) through the stock market between 2026 and 2030, more than twice the amount mobilised in the previous five-year period, underscoring the market's growing importance in supporting the country's long-term growth strategy.

Addressing a seminar on restructuring capital mobilisation channels hosted by the Finance and Investment newspaper on July 15, Bui Hoang Hai, Vice Chairman of the State Securities Commission of Vietnam (SSC), said the domestic economy continues to face considerable external challenges in 2026, including the effects from the Middle East conflict./. Read full story

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