Hanoi (VNA) – The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.
– State President Luong Cuong affirmed Vietnam’s commitment to bolstering relations with Cambodia, Saudi Arabia and the Commonwealth of Dominica while receiving these nations’ newly appointed ambassadors to Vietnam on March 18 as they presented their credentials.
Receiving Cambodian Ambassador Touch Pharat, President Cuong expressed his confidence that with her diplomatic experiences, the diplomat will help further promote the good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term sustainability between the two nations. Read full story
– The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on March 18 discussed a draft law amending and supplementing several articles of the Law on Overseas Representative Missions of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam at its 55th session.
Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung said the draft aims to address practical shortcomings, institutionalise new Party and State policies, and enhance the professionalism and effectiveness of overseas missions in line with decentralisation, delegation of power, and modern diplomacy goals. Read full story
– Activities under the 10th Vietnam – China Border Defence Friendship Exchange officially got underway on March 18, launching a two-day programme aimed at strengthening defence cooperation between the two countries.
The exchange is taking place on March 18–19 in Vietnam’s Quang Ninh province and China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Read full story
– Japan is set to extend a new-generation official development assistance (ODA) loan worth 50 billion JPY (around 320 million USD) to Vietnam, featuring streamlined procedures and faster disbursement to support the country’s green transition efforts.
Expected to be signed in March 2026, the agreement will represent the second budget-support loan provided by the Japanese Government for Vietnam since 2023. Read full story
– The Election Committee of Hue city held a conference on March 18 to announce the results of the election of deputies to the municipal People’s Council for the ninth tenure (2026–2031).
Nguyen Quang Tuan, Standing Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Council and Vice Chairman of the city’s Election Committee, said there were 89 candidates running in 14 constituencies while the number of seats allocated was 53. All 53 candidates who gained the required vote-count results were reported to the Election Committee for consideration and official announcement as elected deputies. No constituency is required to hold a re-election or an additional vote. Read full story
– Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung has signed a decision to approve the strategy for the development and application of atomic energy for peaceful purposes through 2035, with a vision to 2050.
The decision affirms developing and applying atomic energy for peaceful purposes will become a techno-economic sector, helping enhance national capacity and standing, advancing scientific and technological capabilities, and improving people’s quality of life, with an appropriate roadmap towards building a full-fledged atomic energy industry. Read full story
– Vietnam’s coffee and tea chain market is valued at more than 1.3 billion USD, making it the third largest in Southeast Asia after Indonesia and Thailand, according to Singapore-based venture capital firm Momentum Works.
Its report Southeast Asia Coffee and Tea Chains 2026 shows Vietnam’s coffee chain segment reached 725 million USD last year, up 27% year-on-year, the region’s second-fastest growth after Malaysia. Tea chains were valued at 617 million USD, rising 28%, behind Thailand. Read full story./.
