Politics

☕ Afternoon briefing on March 13

The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.
☕ Afternoon briefing on March 13 ảnh 1

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

- Permanent Vice Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA) Tran Thanh Man had separate meetings with President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Duarte Pacheco and Vice President of the Lao NA Sounthone Xayachak in Manama, Bahrain, on March 12 on the sidelines of the 146th IPU Assembly.

☕ Afternoon briefing on March 13 ảnh 2NA Permanent Vice Chairman Tran Thanh Man (R) meets with IPU President Duarte Pacheco on the sidelines of the 146th IPU Assembly in Bahrain. (Photo: VNA)

Meeting with IPU President Duarte Pacheco, Man affirmed that since Vietnam became a member of the IPU in 1979, the country has always actively and responsively engaged in its activities, including the successful hosting of some big events such as the 132nd IPU Assembly and the IPU Asia-Pacific conference on climate change response. Read full story

- A delegation of the Vietnamese National Assembly (NA)Secretariat is attending a meeting of the Association of Secretaries General ofParliaments (ASGP) in Manama capital of Bahrain from March 11 to 15.

The annual meeting is held in parallel with theAssembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). This year’s event covers such issues as citizens’participation in parliamentary activities, gender inequality in parliaments,parliamentarians and conflicts of interest, the role of parliaments in theclimate change combat, and questionnaire to create a best practice guide fordigital parliaments. Read full story

- Honda Vietnam has reported its fall in motorcycle andautomobile sales at 36.8% and 7.3% respectively in February.

That is the second month in a row the company recorded salefalls after seeing a growth of nearly 19% for motorcycles and 62% for theautomobile last December. Read full story

- Seventeen Vietnamese enterprises areparticipating in the 2023 Seafood Expo North America, which opened at theBoston Convention & Exhibition Centre in Massachusetts state on March 12.

This year’s three-day expo draws theparticipation of hundreds of aquatic product and seafood exporters fromdifferent states of the US, and other countries like Canada, Brazil, Japan,India, Scotland, Ireland, Norway, Spain, and Vietnam. Read full story

- Despite the Government’s efforts to removechallenges facing the real estate market, it won’t prosper until the end ofnext year, experts have warned.

☕ Afternoon briefing on March 13 ảnh 3A view of HCM City's downtown. Experts have said the real estate market won’t recover until late 2024. (Photo: VNA)

Speaking at a forum last week, Nguyen QuocHiep, Chairman of the Vietnam Association of Construction Contractors, said themarket would continue facing prolonged hurdles such as a lack of access tocapital, credit tightening, legal bottlenecks and delays in bond payments. Read full story

- Credit growth in the first months of thisyear slowed significantly due to high interest rates and firms’ poor health,raising concerns about rising bad debts.

Credit growth by the end of February 2023increased by nearly 0.8%, equal to only one-third of the rate in the sameperiod last year. Read full story

- A workshop seeking ways to build ahigh-quality Vietnamese coffee chain associated with green growth andsustainable development was held in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lakon March 12 within the framework of the eighth Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival.

According to a report delivered at the event,coffee is one of Vietnam’s key agricultural products with a combined area ofover 710,000 hectares and a total output of 1.8 million tonnes per year. Thesector has created jobs and income for around 2 million people. Read full story

- Investors from Taiwan (China) are particularly keen onVietnam’s industrial, office and retail real estate, motivated by the country’sprogress in improving the legal framework and substantial investment in keyinfrastructure, property consultancy Savills Vietnam said.

This year, Taiwan has been the second largestforeign investor in Vietnam with 407.1 million USD, according to the ForeignInvestment Agency under the Ministry of Planning and Investment./. Read full story

VNA
#Afternoon briefing #VietnamPlus #Vietnam News Agency
Follow VietnamPlus

Related News

See more

Vietnamese Ambassador to Venezuela Vu Trung My speaks at the event (Photo: VNA)

President Ho Chi Minh’s enduring legacy highlighted at Venezuela commemoration

Vice President of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) Jesús Faria expressed deep admiration for President Ho Chi Minh and Vietnam’s indomitable struggle for national independence. He described President Ho Chi Minh as an immortal symbol of 20th-century national liberation movements, whose legacy continues to inspire leftist parties, progressive movements, and peoples across Latin America, including Venezuela.

Standing Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Loc Ha (R) and EU Ambassador to Vietnam Julien Guerrier. (Photo: VNA)

Ho Chi Minh City, EU boast ample room for sustainable development cooperation

Since the establishment of their diplomatic ties in 1990, Vietnam and the EU have deepened the bilateral ties into one of the bloc’s most dynamic and in-depth partnerships with an ASEAN member, Ha noted, adding that the relationship entered a new chapter in January when the President of European Council’s visit upgraded it to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang speaks at a discussion session on reforming multilateral systems and global governance, held on May 15, 2026, as part of the expanded BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in India. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam ready to strengthen BRICS connection with Asia-Pacific

Hang called on countries to act responsibly in accordance with international law and the UN Charter; respect the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of states; refrain from using or threatening to use force; and settle disputes peacefully through dialogue. She also underscored the importance of ensuring security, safety and freedom of navigation through straits in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung (centre), DPRK Vice Minister Pak of Foreign Affairs Sang Gil (left), and Vietnamese Ambassador to the DPRK Le Ba Vinh cut the ribbon to open the exhibition. (Photo: VNA)

Photo exhibition highlights Vietnam–DPRK relations

Visitors at the exhibition were moved by historical photographs dating back nearly 70 years, including images of the founding leader of the DPRK Kim Il Sung personally welcoming President Ho Chi Minh and a CPV delegation at Pyongyang’s Sunan International Airport during their visit to the DPRK from July 8–12, 1957. In return, the DPRK leader paid an official visit to Vietnam from November 27 to December 3, 1958.

Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

Deputy PM calls for substantive assessment of two-tier local administration operations

Chairing a meeting on the development of a scheme to review the first-year operations of the political system’s organisational apparatus and the two-tier local administration model, Tra emphasised that the review must comprehensively and objectively evaluate the nationwide implementation of administrative unit restructuring and the operation of the new local administration model.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Dang Minh Khoi (right) and First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council of Russia Andrey Yatskin at their meeting in Moscow on May 14. (Photo: VNA)

Key directions for Vietnam–Russia cooperation in 2026

Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Dang Minh Khoi had a working session with a delegation from the Russian Federation Council led by First Deputy Chairman Andrey Yatskin, in Moscow on May 14, discussing the expansion of multifaceted cooperation in 2026.

Officials from Cao Bang province of Vietnam and Baise city in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China hold talks on May 15. (Photo: VNA)

Cao Bang, China’s Baise city eye to boost all-around cooperation

Cao Bang province of Vietnam and Baise city in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China are exploring a “red tourism” route linking Pac Bo and Meng Mo (China) to promote revolutionary tradition education and strengthen bilateral friendship. They are also stepping up cooperation in human resource development through training exchanges and efforts to improve workforce quality.

Atsaphangthong Siphandone (centre), Secretary of the Vientiane Party Committee and Chairman of the municipal People’s Council, speaks at the working session. (Photo: VNA)

Ho Chi Minh City, Vientiane strengthen cooperation for 2026–2030

Under the MoU, the two sides will strengthen cooperation in politics – diplomacy, security – defence, legal and judicial affairs, economic affairs, education, culture and society, cooperation among mass organisations and socio-political organisations, and development support.

Politburo member and Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung (left) meets with Jo Yong Won, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) and Chairman of the SPA of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, in Pyongyang on May 15. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam wishes to unceasingly develop ties with DPRK: Foreign Minister

Jo Yong Won, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA) and Chairman of the SPA of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), expressed confidence that under the leadership of the CPV, headed by General Secretary and President Lam, Vietnam will successfully achieve the strategic goals set forth at the 14th National Party Congress.

New Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar (front) at the swearing-in ceremony of the new Government in Budapest on May 12, 2026. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)

Congratulations to newly-elected Hungarian leaders

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man on May 15 sent messages of congratulations to Magyar Péter and Forsthoffer Ágnes on their election as Prime Minister and Speaker of the National Assembly of Hungary, respectively.

Ministers and deputy ministers from BRICS member and partner countries pose for a group photo while attending the Expanded BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting in India on May 14. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam proposes key cooperation orientations at BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting

Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Hang shared Vietnam’s approach to building an independent and self-reliant economy linked to deep international integration, while proposing several key areas for enhanced cooperation between BRICS and partner countries at the Expanded BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting that opened on May 14 in India.

Dr Anatoly Sokolov from the Oriental Research Institute under the Russian Academy of Sciences in an interview with the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s correspondent in Russia. (Photo: VNA)

President Ho Chi Minh’s experience in Soviet Union crucial to Vietnam’s revolution: Russian scholar

The Russian scholar emphasised that Ho Chi Minh’s years in the Soviet Union provided him with essential experience in organising the masses and conducting political work for revolutionary purposes. This knowledge proved crucial when he later successfully led the August Revolution in 1945, establishing the Democratic Republic of Vietnam - the first people’s democratic state in Southeast Asia - without relying on external assistance. The victory became a powerful inspiration for national liberation movements across colonised countries worldwide, he added