Politics

☕ Afternoon briefing on July 31

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

☕ Afternoon briefing on July 31

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

- Party General Secretary To Lam expressed gratitude to the boundless sacrifices of millions of revolutionary soldiers, heroic martyrs and people, including ex-revolutionaries, heroic Vietnamese mothers, generals, high-ranking military officers, war veterans and Heroes of the People’s Armed Forces while speaking at a gathering in Hanoi on July 31.

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Party General Secretary To Lam (R) meets with ex-revolutionaries and war heroes in Hanoi on July 31. (Photo: VNA)

The meeting took place ahead of the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution (August 19, 1945 - 2025) and National Day (September 2, 1945 - 2025). Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on July 31 called on ministries, sectors, and localities to make every effort to meet the expressway and coastal road development targets set by the 13th National Party Congress, aiming to report strong results to the upcoming 14th National Party Congress.

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Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chairs the 19th meeting of the State Steering Committee for National Key Transport Projects on July 31. (Photo: VNA)

Concluding the 19th meeting of the State Steering Committee for National Key Transport Projects, PM Chinh urged stronger efforts to reach the goal of completing 3,000 kilometres of expressways in 2025, especially key sections such as Ring Road 3 in Ho Chi Minh City, Bien Hoa–Vung Tau expressway, and Tuyen Quang–Ha Giang expressway. He also noted that Long Thanh International Airport remains a large-scale project requiring greater effort to welcome the first flight by the end of 2025. Read full story

- National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man, his spouse Nguyen Thi Thanh Nga, and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation arrived in Hanoi on July 31 morning, concluding their working trip to attend the 6th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament and bilateral activities in Switzerland.

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The farewell ceremony for National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man (R) and his spouse at Geneva International Airport, Switzerland, on July 30. (Photo: VNA)

During the trip, NA Chairman Man attended the opening ceremony and delivered an important speech at the general debate of the 6th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament. Read full story

- Vietnam’s economy surged in the first half of 2025, clocking decade-high growth of 7.52%, outpacing global forecasts and cementing its status as a standout performer amid a turbulent global landscape.

The stellar result prompted upward revisions from international forecasters. The ASEAN+3 Macroeconomic Research Office boosted its 2025 projection to 7%, positioning Vietnam as a potential growth leader in the region. Singapore’s UOB Bank also raised its estimate from 6% to 6.9%, citing a clear rebound in manufacturing and trade. Read full story

- As digital assets become increasingly popular in Vietnam, experts are calling for the urgent creation of a legal framework to protect users, manage risks, and boost state budget revenues.

According to blockchain research firm Chainalysis, blockchain-related capital inflows to Vietnam reached over 105 billion USD between 2023 and 2024, with estimated profits of 1.2 billion USD. A report by Triple-A shows that more than 17 million Vietnamese people, around 17% of the population, own digital assets, far above the global average of 6.5%. Read full story

- Vietnam’s decision to restart its nuclear power programme has received applause from both international experts and the overseas Vietnamese community as it is estimated a timely and strategic step that helps meet the country’s growing energy demands and ensure sustainable economic development.

In a recent interview with the Vietnam News Agency, Associate Professor Kei Koga from the Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) said that the decision reflects Vietnam’s strategic orientation toward economic development amid the increasingly urgent need for a stable and long-term energy supply. Read full story

- The curtain fell on the 9th Asian Pencak Silat Championship on July 30 in the central province of Ha Tinh, wrapping up six days of thrilling, high-intensity competition.

In his closing remarks, Vice Chairman of the provincial People's Committee Duong Tat Thang hailed the tournament as a success, and stressed that it not only showcased elite martial arts talents but also strengthened friendship and cultural exchanges across the region./. Read full story

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