Hanoi (VNA) – The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.
- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on March 12 chaired a working session with the Ministry of National Defence on the development of the defence industry during which he highlighted the importance of strengthening internal capacity, self-reliance, self-strengthening and strategic autonomy in this work.
PM Chinh commended the army for their outstanding achievements in developing the national defence industry over the past time, which, he said, have contributed to strengthening the country’s self-reliance and accelerating the building of a revolutionary, regular, elite and modern Vietnam People’s Army. Read full story
- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has issued an official dispatch, requesting stronger measures to ensure sufficient petrol supply for production, business activities and consumption by people and enterprises.
In the document, PM Chinh asked the Minister of Industry and Trade to take full responsibility before the Government and the PM for managing and ensuring petrol supply for the domestic market. Read full story
- National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man has requested subcommittees of the National Election Council to stay highly vigilant in the final days before the election of deputies to the 16th NA and People’s Council at all levels for the 2026 – 2031 tenure, aiming to ensure a democratic, lawful, safe election and a true nationwide festival of the people.
Chairing a meeting with the subcommittees on March 12 to review preparations for the election, NA Chairman Man, who is also NEC Chairman, highlighted the special importance of the political event, saying that it demonstrates the people’s right to exercise their democratic power by directly choosing qualified representatives to the legislative body and People’s Councils at all levels. Read full story
- Across the Party, the armed forces and the entire political system, preparations are being carried out at pace for the country’s election day. Streets and neighbourhoods are festooned with flags and flowers, while polling stations are being carefully prepared and decorated. Yet, in stark contrast to this atmosphere of anticipation, hostile forces and reactionary elements continue their attempts to distort and undermine the electoral process.
On March 15, 2026, voters across the country will exercise their sacred right and civic duty to elect deputies to the 16th National Assembly and members of People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026 – 2031 term. Read full story
- The upcoming election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly (NA) and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026–2031 term will play a significant role in further consolidating Vietnam’s political system, advancing reform and creating new momentum for national development amid a rapidly changing global landscape.
This assessment was made by Marcelo Rodriguez, head of the commission for foreign affairs of the Communist Party of Argentina Central Committee, in an interview with Vietnam News Agency correspondents in Buenos Aires. Read full story
- Vietnam’s upcoming election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly (NA) and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term represents a crucial step in realising the strategic objectives outlined at the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, helping the country move confidently into a new era of growth and transformation, according to Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Rogelio Polanco Fuentes.
Speaking to the Vietnam News Agency, the Cuban diplomat expressed admiration for the meticulous preparations for the election, particularly the extensive public consultations and the careful vetting of candidates. He stressed that the vote, scheduled for March 15, will be decisive in strengthening Vietnam’s democratic political system and enhancing governance capacity in the coming period. Read full story
- The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) on March 12 launched a digital platform on overseas market development, with Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son attending and delivering a keynote address.
Son affirmed that building an integrated digital platform connecting information from Vietnam’s trade offices abroad, domestic regulatory agencies and the business community is a timely and appropriate move that should be implemented decisively, systematically and effectively. Read full story
- Asia is emerging as one of the regions attracting the greatest interest from French travellers in 2026, with Vietnam ranking among the most searched destinations, according to a recent survey.
The findings were released on March 11 by the organisers of the World Tourism Fair ahead of the event, scheduled to take place in Paris from March 12 to 15. The survey, conducted in November 2025 with nearly 900 respondents, showed that 98% of residents in the Île-de-France region plan to travel in 2026, reflecting a growing preference for international trips./. Read full story
