☕ Afternoon briefing on March 16

The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.
☕ Afternoon briefing on March 16 ảnh 1
Hanoi (VNA) - The following is a brief review of the day’sevents as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.

- Military youths should continuously study to improve their capacity, enhancetheir knowledge of science and technology, and master modern weapons andtechnical equipment, said President Vo Van Thuong at a ceremony in Hanoi onMarch 16 to honour 10 outstanding youths and 43 promising figures of the armedforces in 2022. Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh suggested the northern province of Hai Duongfocus on green growth, digital transformation and innovation based on thepillars of hi-tech and support industries, hi-tech agriculture, smart and greenurban development, during his working session with standing board of theprovincial Party Committee on March 16. Read full story

- Chairman of the People’s Committee of Vung Tau city, the southern province ofBa Ria-Vung Tau, Hoang Vu Thanh on March 16 had a meeting with a visitingdelegation of the Tourism Promotion Organisation for Asia-Pacific Cities (TPO)led by Secretary-General Woo Kyoungha.

He called for stronger cooperation among the TPO member cities, suggesting themsend delegates and art troupes to cultural, sports, festive, and tourism eventsin Vung Tau and other cities, and increase popularising the land and people oftheir cities and countries. Read full story

- Developing offshore wind power is a great dual opportunity for Vietnam,Danish Ambassador to Vietnam Nicolai Prytz told a seminar themed “PromotingVietnam’s offshore wind power development: International practices and policyrecommendations” in Hanoi on March 16. Read full story

- Vietnam was Spain's largest supplier of coffee by volume in 2022, with113,550 tonnes worth 269 million EUR (287 million USD), up 21.6% in volume and78.9% in value against 2021. The market share of Vietnamese coffee in Spain'stotal imports from the global market accounted for 30.16% in 2022. Read full story

- The second Mini Thailand Week kicked offin the northern province of Quang Ninh on March 16, showcasing outstanding Thaiproducts. The event, which runs until March 19, aims to promote bilateral tradeactivities between Vietnamese importers and Thai exporters, and enhance mutualunderstanding between the two countries. Read full story

- Vietnam’s coast guards have been working closely with localities to fightillegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU) with concerted measures overthe past years. Read full story

- An eight-volume Russian version of “Dai Viet su ky toan thu” (Complete Bookof the Historical Records of Dai Viet), a famous chronicle of Vietnam, has beentranslated from the Han (Chinese) language and debuted. The Institute of Chinaand Contemporary Asia under the Russian Academy of Sciences held an event on March15 to introduce the Russian version, a work by a team of five scholars. Read full story

- The Institute for Innovation and Development (IID) on March 15 held a “DriveInnovation for Impact” event to announce three digital innovation platformsboosting sustainable development. They are iMapVietnam athttp://imapvietnam.org, impactUP at https://impactup.site, and V.innovate athttp://vinnovate.vn. Read full story

- The People’s Committee of the central province of Quang Ngai held a ceremonyat the Son My memorial site in Tinh Khe commune, Quang Ngai city, on March 16to commemorate the 504 civilians massacred exactly 55 years ago. The masskilling, also called the My Lai massacre, took its name from one of thefour hamlets where it happened. Read full story

- A press conference was held in the central province of Quang Ngai on March 15to announce the content of the agreement on the right to use a foreignphotographer's works on the Son My massacre.

The massacre happened on March 16, 1968, taking the lives of 504 civilians,including many children and women. Ronald L. Haeberle's images of the incidentwere published on the US’s Life magazine in 1969. Read full story

- The forest coverage in the southern province of Tra Vinh increased fromabout 9,160 ha in 2020 to 9,538 ha by the end of 2022, according to theprovincial People’s Committee. The figures were released on March 16 as theprovince announced its forest status after two years implementing a project ongrowing coastal protection forests to respond to climate change during the2021-2025 period. Read full story

- A 100-kg sea turtle, entangled in a fishing net, was rescued by a localfisherman in the waters of Lang Co township, Phuc Loc district of the centralprovince of Thua Thien-Hue, and later released to the nature, leaders of theLang Co Border Post said on March 16. Read full story

- Four rare civet species have been found in Xuan Lien Natural Reserve in thenorth-central province of Thanh Hoa thanks to photo traps. Read full story

- The Hanoi VPBank International Marathon (VPIM) 2023, an official annualsporting event of the capital city, is scheduled to take place on October 8. Thenon-profit race, an activity to mark the Capital Liberation Day (October 10),is expected to attract about 10,000 professional and amateur runners this time,the organising committee told a press conference on March 16. Read full story

- A nine-strong contingent from Vietnam is expected to have a strong showing atthe IBA Women’s World Boxing Championships in New Delhi, India on March 15-26. Read full story./.
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Vietnamese Ambassador to the RoK Vu Ho speaks at the event. (Photo: VNA)

President Ho Chi Minh honoured in RoK on 136th birth anniversary

With Vietnam–Korea ties expanding across multiple fields, he noted that honouring President Ho Chi Minh in the RoK carries significance beyond the overseas Vietnamese. It offers a chance to raise mutual understanding, empathy, and bonds between the Vietnamese and Korean people built on shared values of peace, cooperation, and development.

President Ho Chi Minh works at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi. (File photo: VNA)

Ho Chi Minh Thought guides development path: Top leader

In an article written on the occasion of President Ho Chi Minh’s 136th birth anniversary (May 19, 1890 – 2026), the top Vietnamese leader affirmed that “Ho Chi Minh Thought serves as a guiding light along our development path.”

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.