☕ 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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Party General Secretary To Lam receives US Ambassador Marc Evans Knapper in Hanoi on January 9, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

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Vietnam always values its relationship with the US and looks forward to continuing close cooperation with the US government to deepen bilateral relations based on mutual respect for each other’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political institutions, contributing positively to peace, stability, cooperation, and development regionally and globally.

Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Nguyen Quoc Dung (Photo: VNA)

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Deputy Minister of Finance Nguyen Duc Chi (standing) addresses the press conference (Photo: VNA)

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General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee Thongloun Sisoulith delivers a closing speech at the 12th National Congress of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese Party chief congratulates Lao counterpart on re-election

General Secretary Lam firmly believed that, under the leadership of the LPRP Central Committee and the important role played by comrade Thongloun, the Lao Party and people would successfully fulfil the goals set out by the 12th Party Congress, building a peaceful, independent, democratic, unified and prosperous Laos.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang (right) and Norwegian Ambassador to Vietnam Hilde Solbakken (Photo: VNA)

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☕ Afternoon briefing on January 8

☕ Afternoon briefing on January 8

The Government's conference reviewing its 2025 performance and set tasks for 2026, Vietnam – Japan trade exceeding 50 billion USD for the first time, and five cultural practices listed as national intangible cultural heritage are among news highlights on January 8.