☕ Afternoon briefing on March 31

The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.
☕ Afternoon briefing on March 31 ảnh 1

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 31asked the Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam(Vietcombank) to carry forward its leading role among credit institutions whileaddressing a meeting celebrating the 60th anniversary of the State-owned lenderin Hanoi on March 31.

☕ Afternoon briefing on March 31 ảnh 2PM Pham Minh Chinh presents the Labour Hero title to Vietcombank. (Photo: VNA) 

Pointing to the complex, unpredictable globalsituation, the PM asked the State Bank and the banking sector to continueimplementing cautious and flexible monetary policies, in concerted coordinationwith suitable fiscal policies and clear focuses in order to maintain the macro-economicstability, control inflation, spur growth and ensure major economic balances. Read full story

- Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang hosted areception for Kim Myoung-kyu, Vice President of LG Display Co Ltd, a subsidiaryof LG Group of the Republic of Korea (RoK), on March 31 in Hanoi.

☕ Afternoon briefing on March 31 ảnh 3Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang (R) and  Kim Myoung-kyu, Vice President of LG Display Co Ltd. (Photo: VNA)

During the meeting, Quang suggested the RoK firmexpand its investment in Hai Phong and other Vietnamese localities and build aresearch & development centre in Vietnam. Read full story

- Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son hosted a reception for LiuNing, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region,in Hanoi on March 30, discussing a wide range of issues to boost ties betweenthe two sides.

During the session, the host proposed that the two sides promoteexisting bilateral cooperation mechanisms and programmes, expand friendshipexchange between the people along the shared border, and effectively implementlegal documents regarding land border and related agreements. Read full story

- Vietnamese Deputy Ministerof Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang and Italian Undersecretary for ForeignAffairs and International Cooperation Maria Tripodi co-chaired the fifthpolitical consultation between the two ministries to discuss orientations topromote the bilateral Strategic Partnership in the coming time.

The two sides expressedtheir delight that the consultation was held on the occasion of the 50thanniversary of the establishment of the bilateral diplomatic ties, and the 10thfounding anniversary of the Strategic Partnership. Read full story

- Minister Counselor Le Thi Minh Thoa, Deputy PermanentRepresentative of Vietnam to the United Nations, has called for a comprehensiveand all-society approach to sustainable waste management.

Addressing the United Nations General Assembly’s session on zerowaste – breakthrough solution to sustainable development goals (SDGs) on March30, Thoa said sustainable waste management plays a crucial role in achievingthe SDGs, especially Goal No.12 on sustainable production and consumption andGoal No.13 on climate change response. Read full story

- Vietnam is one of the most potential marketsin the Asia-Pacific region for shoppertainment - a trend that combines onlineshopping with entertainment, according to a report named “Shoppertainment:APAC’s Trillion-Dollar Opportunity” by the US-based Boston Consulting Group(BCG) and TikTok.

☕ Afternoon briefing on March 31 ảnh 4Illustrative image (Source: baodautu.vn)

The report shows that the shoppertainmentopportunity in the region is projected to expand to a market value of over 1trillion USD by 2025, doubling from the 500 billion USD value last year. Read full story

- The United Overseas Bank (UOB) has lowered its 2023 economicgrowth forecast for Vietnam from 6.6% to 6% due to a low base in the firstquarter (Q1) of this year.

In the latest economic growth in Q1/2023 report of Vietnam, thebank said that the country's GDP growth in the period only increased 3.32% yearon year, a sharp fall from 5.92% in Q4/2022.Read full story

- The Government has agreed to propose to theNational Assembly some new policies relating to the immigration, transit andresidence of foreigners in Vietnam, including one on a visa extension to 90days.

Do Van Thuc, Deputy Director of Dat Viet TourCompany, said his trans-national tours are favoured by many internationaltourists, adding that such tours offer six days in the north and another sixdays in the central region./. Read full story

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General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam speaks at the working session in Hanoi with the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Policies and Strategies and relevant agencies on assessing national development resources. (Photo: VNA)

Top leader orders decisive action to unlock idle resources for growth

Public resources must lead and activate private resources, while public investment should stimulate broader social investment. FDI, meanwhile, should move from quantity-based attraction toward quality-based absorption linked with technology transfer and stronger domestic linkages, said top leader To Lam.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang speaks at the event. (Photo: VNA)

Editorial team meets to begin review of 100-year Party leadership

Politburo member Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang described the review as a major strategic political task, adding that the process must deliver historical depth, theoretical vision, and strategic foresight to guide Vietnam toward fast and sustainable development in the decades ahead.

NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man speaks at the working session with standing members of the NA's Committee for Economic and Financial Affairs in Hanoi on May 20. (Photo: VNA)

NA Chairman asks for enhanced policy advisory to support double-digit growth target

National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man has demanded the NA's Committee for Economic and Financial Affairs to enhance its policy advisory capacity, stressing that robust and evidence-based policymaking is essential to achieving the country’s ambition of double-digit economic growth while safeguarding macroeconomic stability.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung (R) and Ambassador Rick Switzer, Deputy US Trade Representative, in Hanoi on May 20, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Prime Minister receives Deputy US Trade Representative

The Vietnamese Government will continue to work closely with the US side to soon finalise the agreement, thereby further deepening economic, trade, and investment cooperation as the main driving force for bilateral relations, said Prime Minister Le Minh Hung.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung (R) and Swedish State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Dag Hartelius in Hanoi on May 19, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam sees Sweden one of leading European partners in innovation, green development

Discussing regional and international issues of mutual concern, both sides affirmed their support for multilateralism and free trade, as well as the peaceful settlement of disputes and conflicts in line with international law and the UN Charter. They also stressed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Minister of Public Security General Luong Tam Quang (R) and US Deputy Trade Representative Rick Switzer. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam wants to boost stronger economic, trade ties with US: Minister

Quang said the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security and relevant agencies are willing to work closely with the US side to address existing challenges, advance substantive and mutually beneficial cooperation, and ensure balanced interests for businesses and citizens of both countries.

Vietnamese Consul General in Hong Kong and Macau Le Duc Hanh and representatives of Vietnamese agencies in Hong Kong offer flowers in tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at the Tai Kwun heritage site. (Photo: VNA)

Historic relic sites in Hong Kong inspire national pride among overseas Vietnamese

In addition to Tai Kwun, Hong Kong is home to several other historic landmarks linked to President Ho Chi Minh’s revolutionary activities in the early 20th century, including Sung Wong Toi Park, where a stone from Sung Wong Toi Hill marks the site where he convened the conference leading to the establishment of the CPV. House No. 186 Tam Kung also served as one of his secret residences before his arrest.

Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung and Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman hold talks in Hanoi on May 19, 2026. (Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Vietnam always treasures bilateral relations with Croatia: FM

Welcoming the first-ever visit to Vietnam by a Croatian foreign minister since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1994, Trung described the trip as a strong signal of Croatia’s commitment to expanding multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam. He affirmed that Vietnam always treasures relations with traditional friends, with Croatia regarded as one of its priority partners in the Balkan region.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang (R) receives Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman. (Photo: VGP)

Vietnam, Croatia seek to enhance defence cooperation

Affirming that Vietnam always values its traditional friendship with countries in the Balkan region, with Croatia regarded as one of its priority partners, Giang spoke highly of bilateral collaboration achievements in politics-diplomacy, economy, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges.