Politics

☕ Afternoon briefing on July 17

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

☕ Afternoon briefing on July 17

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

- Continuing its fourth session, the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on July 17 discussed the draft revised Criminal Procedure Code.

According to the Supreme People's Procuracy, the revised code aims to fully and promptly institutionalise the Party's policies on improving the socialist rule-of-law state, advancing judicial reform, enhancing judicial governance, meeting new crime prevention requirements, and promoting digital transformation and international integration in criminal proceedings. Read full story

- Vietnam’s cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has underscored the vital role of nuclear science and technology in addressing practical development challenges, from protecting water resources and strengthening food security to developing standards for industry and healthcare.

Vietnam is implementing 19 cooperation projects with the IAEA in different areas, including agriculture, healthcare, nuclear safety and security, and physical and chemical sciences. The initiatives demonstrate how nuclear technologies can contribute to socio-economic development. Read full story

- After more than 14 years of negotiations, Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) have officially concluded talks on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), paving the way for its signing in the fourth quarter of 2026 and opening a new chapter in economic cooperation with some of Europe's most advanced economies while reaffirming Vietnam's commitment to deep and comprehensive international integration.

The Vietnam-EFTA FTA is one of the longest-negotiated trade agreements in Vietnam's history, reflecting its broad scope of commitments covering trade in goods and services, investment, intellectual property, government procurement, environmental protection, sustainable development, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and other areas of cooperation. Read full story

- Processed agricultural products from Vietnam's Central Highlands took centre stage at the Malaysian International Food and Beverage Trade Fair (MIFB) 2026, as businesses from Dak Lak province sought to expand their presence in the country's fast-growing Halal market.

A delegation of Dak Lak enterprises led by representatives of the provincial Department of Industry and Trade showcased a range of locally processed products at the three-day event, held from July 15-17 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. Read full story

- The Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City air route ranked among the world’s four busiest domestic routes by passenger traffic in 2025, according to data released by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) on July 16.

The world’s busiest domestic route was Jeju-Seoul in the Republic of Korea, carrying 13.3 million passengers. It was followed by Japan’s Sapporo-Tokyo and Fukuoka-Tokyo routes, with 9.6 million and 9.5 million passengers, respectively. Vietnam’s Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City route ranked fourth with 8.9 million passengers. Read full story

- Building an integrated and standardised database has become essential to developing a smart tourism ecosystem and supporting Vietnam's goal of making tourism a key economic sector, according to insiders.

According to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT), the country welcomed more than 12.2 million international visitors in the first half of 2026, up 14.8% year on year and equal to 48.8% of the annual target. Domestic holidaymakers numbered 81 million, or 54% of the year's goal, while tourism revenue totalled 569 trillion VND (21.66 billion USD), achieving 50.5% of the annual plan. Read full story

- Ho Chi Minh City is mobilising more than 10,000 healthcare workers and 480 public and private medical facilities in a 150-day campaign to provide free health checks for 16 million residents in the southern metropolis.

The campaign, launched on July 16, aims to ensure that all residents receive health examinations, have electronic health records and benefit from continuous health management. Read full story./.

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