Politics

☕ Afternoon briefing on June 19

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

☕ Afternoon briefing on June 19

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

- Vietnam's high-level delegation, led by Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, made significant contributions to the success of the ASEAN-Russia Commemorative Summit marking the 35th anniversary of dialogue relations, reaffirming Vietnam's support in promoting ASEAN’s central role and advancing the bloc's strategic partnership with Russia, Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung has said.

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Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung (Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Foreign Minister Trung told the press following the PM’s participation in the summit, held in Kazan, Russia, on June 17-18, that the event has yielded "highly positive and comprehensive" results, laying a strategic foundation for cooperation between ASEAN and Russia – Vietnam’s comprehensive strategic partner. Read full story

- Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Lan Anh, Vice President of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, has been elected as a judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) for the 2026–2035 term, becoming the first Vietnamese national to serve on the tribunal since its establishment in 1996.

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The Vietnamese delegation participating in the ITLOS judge voting session. (Photo: VNA)

Lan Anh, Vietnam’s candidate, secured the highest number of votes among candidates from the Asia-Pacific region in elections held on June 18 at the 36th Meeting of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) at the United Nations headquarters. Read full story

- Vietnam Coast Guard vessel CSB 8001 paid a visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) from June 15–19, reinforcing cooperation between the two countries' maritime law enforcement agencies and contributing to their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

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Delegates from the Vietnam Coast Guard and the Korea Coast Guard pose for a commemorative photo. (Photo: VNA)

The vessel, operated by Coast Guard Region 3 Command and led by Colonel Nguyen Tran Dong, Deputy Commander of the Coast Guard Region 3, visited the Port of Yeosu in South Jeolla province for exchanges and working sessions with the Korea Coast Guard. Read full story

- The Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations under the Ministry of National Defence on June 18 organised practical aeromedical evacuation (AME) training for Level-2 Field Hospital No. 8, with support from Australia.

Taking place from June 13–22, the course aims to equip members of the hospital’s Aeromedical Evacuation Team (AMET), who are preparing for deployment to the United Nations peacekeeping mission in South Sudan, as well as other participating personnel, with essential knowledge and skills in aeromedical evacuation. Read full story

- Ho Chi Minh City plans to offer free bus services to all passengers from July 1 through the end of 2026 under a proposal expected to be approved by the municipal People's Council at its meeting on June 19–20.

The city's People's Committee has proposed allocating an additional 665 billion VND (about 26 million USD) to cover 100% of bus fares during the six-month period. Read full story

- Vietnam’s Vinh Thanh Dat Food JSC on June 18 exported its first container of ready-to-eat eggs to Japan.

The shipment marks the outcome of cooperation between Vinh Thanh Dat and its Japanese partner. The two sides spent nearly two years preparing, researching, and refining the product. Developed with support from Japanese experts, the ready-to-eat eggs are tailored to Japanese consumers and meet the country’s stringent food safety standards. Read full story

- The prestigious Travel + Leisure magazine has unveiled the winners of its Luxury Awards 2026, with Phu Quoc making a remarkable impression by climbing one place from 2025 and surpassing Indonesia's Bali to become the second-best island in Asia-Pacific.

Travel + Leisure is one of the world’s leading travel publications, boasting a global readership of millions of experienced travelers with a strong affinity for luxury travel. The Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards Asia Pacific are announced annually to honor outstanding destinations, resorts, and luxury travel experiences across the Asia-Pacific region – one of the world’s most dynamic tourism markets. The judging criteria are considered particularly rigorous, covering service quality, tourism-resort-entertainment ecosystems, brand reputation, and the ability to deliver personalized experiences for travelers./. Read full story

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