Politics

☕ Afternoon briefing on June 18

The Party leader's working session with the standing boards of the Party Committees of HCM City, Ba Ria – Vung Tau and Binh Duong, the VNA General Director's remarks on the occasion of the 19th OANA General Assembly, the launch of new NIC - Google initiatives aimed at bolstering AI entrepreneurship and digital literacy in Vietnam are among news highlights June 18.

☕ Afternoon briefing on June 18

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

– The merger of Ho Chi Minh City with Ba Ria – Vung Tau and Binh Duong provinces marks a historic urban transformation, creating a dynamic triad forming a megacity of finance, industry, and seaports, stated Party General Secretary To Lam at a working session with the standing boards of the three localities’ Party Committees on June 18.

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Party General Secretary To Lam chairs a working session with the standing boards of the Party Committees Ho Chi Minh City, Ba Ria–Vung Tau, and Binh Duong on June 18. (Photo: VNA)

He underscored that with the merger, the new HCM City is envisioned as a smart, green, and creative international megacity — a regional hub for finance, trade, logistics, high-tech industry, and marine tourism, based on digital technology, green economy, environmental sustainability, and social harmony. It aims to attract talent, entrepreneurs, and innovators from Vietnam and around the world, foster startups and advanced models, and become both the national economic locomotive and a globally influential city. Read full story

– Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on June 17 issued a dispatch directing all ministries and provincial-level authorities to ensure seamless and uninterrupted administrative services during the reorganising of local administrative units and the implementation of the two-tier local government model.

The document highlighted that in alignment with resolutions from the Party Central Committee's Politburo and Secretariat, Party General Secretary To Lam, the National Assembly, and the Government, the PM as well as ministries and ministry-level agencies have issued 28 resolutions on delegation of authority, clarifying jurisdiction under the new two-tier model. Read full story

– Ahead of her attendance at the 19th General Assembly of the Organisation of Asia-Pacific News Agencies (OANA) and related events in Russia’s Saint Petersburg city this week, General Director of the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) Vu Viet Trang has shared her perspectives on OANA’s operations and the VNA’s active engagement in the organisation.

She said for more than six decades, OANA has functioned as a forum for reputable news agencies. Therefore, the content of cooperation within OANA has always been practical, professional, and closely aligned with the actual context of journalism in the region and around the world. The activities carried out by OANA over the recent years have reflected the mainstream flow of official journalism in the region. Read full story

– Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung has hailed cooperation between the National Innovation Centre (NIC) and Google as profoundly significant, helping accelerate Vietnam’s startup and innovation ecosystem, particularly in strategic technology sectors like artificial intelligence (AI).

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The ceremony to announce new NIC - Google initiatives (Photo: VNA)

He made the remark at a ceremony held in Hanoi on June 18 to announce new initiatives aimed at bolstering AI entrepreneurship and digital literacy in Vietnam. Read full story

– Germany's GEO Group has announced a 50 million USD investment to establish a renewable energy workforce training and development centre in the central province of Binh Dinh.

The announcement was made during a working session between Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Pham Anh Tuan, GEO Group President Franz Josef Claes, and representatives of O-DOOR Vietnam on June 18. Read full story

– Vietnam’s real estate market is on the cusp of a boom in the second half of 2025, fueled by sweeping legal reforms, proactive economic diplomacy, and a pivot toward emerging segments and flexible partnership models, said head of Investment Consulting at Savills Hanoi Nguyen Le Dung.

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Vietnam is becoming a new hub in the regional supply chain, leading to a sharp increase in demand for industrial real estate, logistics and housing for foreign experts. (Photo: VNA)

A suite of newly enacted laws, including the 2024 Land Law, the 2023 Law on Real Estate Business, decrees guiding their enforcement, and another on land use and lease fees, is dismantling long-standing regulatory barriers and laying the groundwork for a more transparent, stable, and investor-friendly legal environment that aligns with international standards. Read full story

– Swedish multinational fast fashion retailer H&M and other Nordic businesses will send a delegation to the Vietnam International Sourcing 2025, slated for early September in Ho Chi Minh City, to seek business partnerships.

H&M’s first presence at the event and the participation of other Nordic companies affirm their growing interest and strong shift in finding supplies in Vietnam. This also opens up opportunities to enhance the position of Vietnam's export sector in the international market. Read full story./.

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