☕ Afternoon briefing on June 3

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

☕ Afternoon briefing on June 3

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 on June 3 held a working session with the Standing Boards of the Party Committees of Ben Tre, Tra Vinh and Vinh Long, during which he outlined an ambitious plan for new Vinh Long province, to be formed by merging the three localities, to become a dynamic growth hub capable of leading the Mekong Delta into a new era of development in line with the rest of the country.

The Party chief underlined that the merger is not merely an administrative adjustment but a strategic move to restructure development towards integration, efficiency, and competitiveness. Read full story

- The National Assembly Standing Committee convened its 46th session in Hanoi on June 3 under the chair by NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man.

In his opening remarks, the top legislator highlighted the significance of the first phase of the 15th NA’s 9th session, noting that the eight important resolutions adopted during the event hold special importance as they lay the groundwork for a methodical, cautious, and comprehensive constitutional amendment process that meets the country’s development requirements in the new period. Read full story

- National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man on June 3 stressed the need to clarify the regulations on the jurisdiction of regional People's Courts, emphasising that the amendment and supplementation to certain articles of the Law on the Organisation of People’s Courts this time aims to serve the streamlining of the organisational apparatus.

Man highlighted the importance of provisions aimed at ensuring a smooth transfer of responsibilities and case files, without affecting the rights and interests of organisations and individuals, when the NA Standing Committee discussed a draft Law on the amendment and supplementation to several articles of the Law on the Organisation of People’s Courts, as part of its ongoing 46th session. Read full story

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In Bac Giang province, 16,000 ha of lychee are cultivated under VietGAP standards, 204 ha meet GlobalGAP certification, and 10 ha are grown using organic methods. (Photo: tapchicongthuong.vn)

- As Vietnam gears up for a bumper lychee harvest in 2025, estimated to reach 303,000 tonnes, up 30% from 2024, the agricultural sector, in coordination with localities, is proactively deploying measures to enhance fruit quality, expand markets, and boost exports.

According to the Department of Crop Production and Plant Protection under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Bac Giang remains the nation’s lychee stronghold with an anticipated yield of 165,000 tonnes. It is followed by Hai Duong (60,000 tonnes), Hung Yen and Lang Son (22,000 tonnes each), and Dak Lak (about 21,000 tonnes). The harvest will be concentrated in two main periods -early-season lychees from May 20 to June 10 and the main harvest from June 10 to July 25. Read full story

- Vietnam shipped 6.28 billion USD worth of agro-forestry-fishery products abroad in May, propelling the cumulative total for the first five months of the year to 28.04 billion USD, a year-on-year increase of 19.6% and 15.1%, respectively, heard a press conference in Hanoi on June 3.

Breaking down the figures, agricultural products accounted for 15.29 billion USD, up 16.3% while livestock products totalled 217.2 milion USD, an 11.7% increase. Meanwhile, aquatic products grew by 15.1% to 4.11 billion USD and forestry products 11.7% to 7.48 billion USD. Read full story

- Vietnamese artist Luu Thi Huong from the Vietnam Circus Federation won the Bronze Crown at the 2025 “Princess of Circus” International Festival held in Saratov, Russia.

The Vietnamese delegation competed with a single performance titled Cat Woman, an aerial silk act choreographed by People’s Artist Tong Toan Thang. Read full story

- To meet travel demand during the 2025 peak summer season, the national flag carrier, Vietnam Airlines has announced an increase in flight frequency on two key international routes from Ho Chi Minh City to Singapore and Bangkok.

The carrier is also rolling out a series of attractive promotional offers across its international network. Read full story

- The Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Hospital in partnership with Operation Smile and the General Hospital of Ba Vi district launched a free surgical programme for underprivileged children with deformities on June 3.

Prior to the surgeries, doctors screened nearly 60 children with cleft lip and palate, many of whom come from disadvantaged families in remote localities./. Read full story

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At the NA Standing Committee's session on August 4. (Photo: VNA)

National Assembly Standing Committee to look into 25 draft laws, resolutions

The committee will take up 25 draft laws and resolutions, including the revised Penal Code, the revised Law on Organisation of Criminal Investigation Agencies, and the review of the draft law amending Article 6 and Appendix IV on conditional business sectors and lines under the Law on Investment, among others.

ASEAN ambassadors in Beijing and the Secretary-General of the ASEAN-China Centre pose for a group photo. (Photo:VNA)

Vietnam underscores ASEAN unity, centrality

Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Thanh Binh highlighted ASEAN’s ability to listen to one another, respect diversity, manage differences and build consensus as among the key lessons underpinning the bloc’s strength and enabling it to move forward together.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam (L) and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon (Photo: VNA)

Top Vietnamese leader’s New Zealand visit draws media attention

Reports, articles and assessments published on August 12-13 highlighted that Vietnam-New Zealand relations are shifting strongly from high-level political commitments to concrete cooperation programmes, with a focus on trade, investment, education, agriculture, science and technology, defence and security, and climate change response.

☕ Afternoon briefing on August 13

☕ Afternoon briefing on August 13

Activities during Party General Secretary and President To Lam's state visit to New Zealand, a ceremony marking the 100th birth anniversary of Cuban leader Fidel Castro in Quang Tri, and a series of expos opened at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre are among news highlights on August 13.

Party General Secretary and President To Lam leaves Auckland on August 13 evening (local time), concluding a state visit to New Zealand. (Photo: VNA)

Party General Secretary, President To Lam concludes state visit to New Zealand

At the meetings during the visit, the two sides agreed to further strengthen political trust and advance bilateral relations comprehensively by stepping up high-level and all-level exchanges through Party, State, parliamentary and people-to-people channels, thereby making more effective use of existing policy dialogue mechanisms.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President of Vietnam To Lam (R) meets with Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives Gerry Brownlee in Auckland on August 13 (Photo: VNA)

Top Vietnamese leader meets with New Zealand House Speaker

Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives Gerry Brownlee welcomed the state visit by the Vietnamese leader and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, stressing that it will further deepen the Vietnam–New Zealand Comprehensive Strategic Partnership across various fields, ushering bilateral ties into a new, more profound, substantive and effective phase.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon witness the exchange of cooperation agreements between the two countries on August 13, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam - New Zealand joint statement

Vietnam and New Zealand have issued a joint statement on the occasion of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam’s state visit to New Zealand from August 12-13.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam (left) and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon at their talks in Auckland on August 13 (Photo: VNA)

Top Vietnamese leader holds talks with New Zealand Prime Minister

Welcoming General Secretary and President Lam and the Vietnamese delegation, New Zealand PM Luxon said the visit marked an important milestone in strengthening bilateral ties after more than half a century. He affirmed Vietnam is an important partner of New Zealand and expressed his impression at the Southeast Asian country’s remarkable achievements, including its strong economic growth.

☀️ Morning digest on August 13

☀️ Morning digest on August 13

Party General Secretary and President To Lam's meeting with Vietnamese Embassy staff and representatives of the Vietnamese community in New Zealand, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung's receptions for the Singaporean and Israeli ambassadors, and the 8th Vietnam–Australia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting are among news highlights on August 12 evening.