Politics

☕ Afternoon briefing on July 8

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

☕ Afternoon briefing on July 8

Hanoi, July 8 (VNA) – The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.

- Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh put forward five key proposals on environmental protection and global health during a high-level session held on July 7 on environment, COP30 and global health as part of the expanded BRICS Summit 2025 in Rio de Janeiro.

PM Chinh expressed his support for Brazil’s selection of environment protection and global health as priorities for this year’s BRICS Summit, saying the issues are existential for the planet. Read full story

- After more than a week in its implementation, the two-tier local administration model in Hanoi has been operating smoothly and without interruption, demonstrating its effectiveness in state management, and receiving strong support and satisfaction from citizens and businesses.

This positive response stems from a shift not only in thinking but also in action among commune and ward leaders and officials, marked by a service-oriented attitude, enhanced decentralisation, proactive law enforcement, and the restructuring of an operating system that is more transparent and modern. All of these efforts contribute to building a public administration that is truly for the people and closer to them. Read full story

- Amid multiple risks and uncertainties in the global economy, the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) will maintain a proactive, flexible, timely, and effective monetary policy in harmony with fiscal and macro-economic measures to prioritise growth, uphold macroeconomic stability, and control inflation, according to SBV Deputy Governor Pham Thanh Ha.

The official said that the SBV has instructed credit institutions to reduce operational costs, advance digital transformation, and adopt IT solutions to lower lending rates. It will also manage exchange rates flexibly according to market movements, using monetary tools to ensure foreign exchange stability—a foundation for macro-economic balance and inflation control. Read full story

- The Singapore-based United Overseas Bank (UOB) revised its forecast projection for Vietnam’s GDP growth upward to 6.9% for 2025 from its previous projection of 6%, following the strong performance in the second quarter.

According to a report released by UOB's Global Economics & Market Research Unit released on July 8, Vietnam’s real GDP grew by a robust 7.96% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2025, significantly exceeding Bloomberg’s forecast of 6.85%, UOB’s projection of 6.1%, and the revised growth figure of 7.05% in the first quarter. Read full story

- Vietnamese telecommunications operators are ramping up efforts to build infrastructure, increase user uptake, and commercialise wide-scale 5G services across the country.

According to the latest report from the Authority of Radio Frequency Management under the Ministry of Science and Technology, the country’s three major network providers – Viettel, VNPT and MobiFone – have so far deployed around 11,000 5G base stations, equivalent to 7.7% of existing 4G stations. These stations now cover all provinces and cities, reaching approximately 26% of the population. Read full story

- The Vietnamese People’s Police sports delegation won 15 gold, four silver, and six bronze medals, making a strong impression at the 2025 World Police and Fire Games (WPFG) in Birmingham city, Alabama State of the US from June 23 to July 7.

The event brought together thousands of athletes from over 70 countries around the world. Read full story

- Vietnam’s athletes delivered a strong performance at the 2025 Wushu Taolu Asian Cup in China, securing third place overall with a total of 12 medals, including two golds, eight silvers, and two bronzes.

The standout achievement came in the Sanda (combat) events, where Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy and Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hien claimed gold medals after impressive victories over opponents from China and Hong Kong (China), respectively. Thu Thuy edged out Zhang Xiaoyu in the 60kg category with a 2-1 win, while Ngoc Hien dominated her 56kg bout 2-0. Read full story./.

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Nghia described the ongoing 500-day campaign as a sacred mission that embodies the Vietnamese tradition of remembering those who served and sacrificed for the nation. The current generation, he said, must spare no effort in carrying out the Party’s policy and fulfilling the aspirations of the people, particularly the families of the fallen.

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In Vietnamese cultural life, gratitude toward preceding generations has long been preserved as an integral part of the nation's identity. This tradition is reflected in ancestor worship practiced in families, the Worship of the Hung Kings, village deities, national heroes and eminent cultural figures, as well as tributes to generations who sacrificed their lives for the nation's independence and freedom.