☕ Afternoon briefing on March 8

The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.
☕ Afternoon briefing on March 8 ảnh 1
Hanoi (VNA) - The following is a brief reviewof the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visited the CommonwealthScientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) of Australia inCanberra on March 8 as part his official trip to the country.

At a working session with CSIRO leaders, theVietnamese Government leader expressed his impression on the sound cooperationbetween Vietnam and CSIRO over the past time, and congratulated theorganisation on its valuable research that has contributed significantly toAustralia and the whole world. Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on March 8 (local time)visited the Australian National University (ANU) and attended an educationforum in Canberra, as part of his official visit to Australia.

In his remarks, the PM highlighted the close andpractical friendship between Vietnam and Australia, and the elevation of thebilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership made on theoccasion of his visit. Read full story

- The coming official visit to New Zealand by Prime MinisterPham Minh Chinh holds special significance as it is an occasion for the twosides to further intensify bilateral cooperation and strategic partnership,said Vietnamese Ambassador to the South Pacific country Nguyen Van Trung.

He told Vietnam New Agency that the visit on March10 - 11, to be made at the invitation of PM Christopher Luxon, is the first toNew Zealand – a strategic partner of Vietnam since 2020 – by PM Chinh, who isalso the first foreign government leader to arrive in New Zealand since thiscountry shaped a new government. Read full story

- Ambassador Mai Phan Dung, Permanent Representative ofVietnam to the UN in Geneva, on March 7 affirmed the importance the Associationof Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) attaches to fisheries cooperation andVietnam’s achievements in developing this sector.

He delivered speeches while attending aninteractive dialogue with the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food. Read full story
☕ Afternoon briefing on March 8 ảnh 2Vietnam has been putting gender equality, women’s empowerment, and human rights at the centre of development. (Photo: VNA)
- United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Representative inVietnam Matt Jackson has affirmed that Vietnam has been putting genderequality, women’s empowerment, and human rights at the centre of development.

In his article, titled “Women and girls areempowered to make their own decision” and penned on the occasion of the 114thanniversary of International Women’s Day (March 8), Jackson said over recentyears, dedicated investments in the health and rights of women and girls haveimproved – and saved – millions of lives but progress is slow. Globally, in thelast 20 years, maternal mortality rates have declined by 34%, yet a woman stilldies every two minutes during pregnancy or childbirth, pointing to a hiddenglobal crisis. Read full story

- The Vietnamese Embassy in Egypt and Djibouti is takingcitizen protection measures for Vietnamese sailors working on theBarbados-flagged True Confidence cargo ship which was struck by a Houthiballistic missile off the coast of Yemen on March 6.

Ambassador Nguyen Huy Dung said that one of thefour Vietnamese crewmen on the ship died in the attack and his body is now keptat a hospital in Djibouti city, Djibouti. Read full story

- Together with countries around the world that are makingefforts to protect and restore rivers, the Government of Vietnam has beenimplementing many important policies and practical actions to protect andrevive the Earth's source of life and respond to the International Day ofAction for Rivers (March 14), according to insiders.

Data of the Ministry of Natural Resources andEnvironment show that Vietnam has 3,450 rivers and streams with a length of 10km or more. They are located in 108 river basins spreading across the countrywith a total basin area of about 1.16 million sq.km, of which only 330,990sq.km, or 28.3%, are located within Vietnam's territory. Read full story

- The Ministry ofForeign Affairs and the Algerian Embassy on March 8 co-organised a ceremony tocommemorate Vietnamese and Algerian officials and journalists who perished in aplane crash five decades ago. 

On the occasion, the upgraded memorial site for the victims inSoc Son district, Hanoi was inaugurated. Read full story
☕ Afternoon briefing on March 8 ảnh 3Vietnamese women wearing Ao dai (Photo: VNA)
- Over 5,000 people clad in "Ao dai" (Vietnamesetraditional gown) joined a parade in Ho Chi Minh City on March 8 as part of thecity’s ongoing 10th Ao Dai Festival.

Head of the city Women’s Union Nguyen Tran PhuongTran said that the annual festival has been held for a decade on the occasionof the International Women’s Day (March 8), with an aim of honouring thetraditional costume as well as the beauty of Vietnamese women. Read full story

- Four red-crowned cranes were spotted at the Tram Chim NationalPark in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap on March 7, the forest’smanagement board has reported.

The birds stayed on the feeding ground in Zone A5 for about 30minutes then flew towards Zone A4 in the park. The park has sent specialisedstaff to monitor around the clock at A5 feeding area and other zones where thebirds used to feed./.
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The talks between General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army (VPA) and Deputy Minister of National Defence, and General Ukris Boontanondha, Chief of Defence Forces of Thailand on November 3. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Thailand step up defence cooperation

Vietnamese and Thai military officials agreed to strengthen defence cooperation in various fields, including peacekeeping operations, joint patrols, cybersecurity and digital transformation, during talks in Thailand on November 3.

Vietnamese Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung attends the 37th APEC Ministerial Meeting, held online on November 3. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam advances cooperation initiatives ahead of APEC 2027

As host of APEC 2027, Vietnam stands ready to work closely with member economies, build on existing cooperation achievements and further advance substantive and effective APEC collaboration towards an open, dynamic, resilient and peaceful Asia-Pacific community.

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Lao, Vietnamese front organisations urged to strengthen cooperation

Hoai stressed the need for the leaders of both Parties and countries, including the Lao NA President, to continue providing guidance and favourable conditions for the Vietnam Fatherland Front and the Lao Front for National Construction to enhance cooperation and exchange experience in mobilising and uniting people from all walks of life to participate in national construction and development.

National Assembly President Tran Thanh Man (R) and his Lao counterpart Sonexay Siphandone. (Photo: VNA)

National Assembly President holds talks with Lao counterpart

Parliamentary cooperation is an important pillar of overall Vietnam-Laos relations, helping strengthen the legal foundation, oversee the implementation of high-level agreements, translate the policies and agreements of the high-ranking leaders of the two Parties and countries into concrete action, and support each other's development.

VNA General Director Vu Viet Trang (R) presents a book entitled "80 Years of the National Assembly of Vietnam" to Deputy Speaker of the RoK’s National Assembly Nam In-soon. (Photo: VNA)

RoK NA Deputy Speaker lauds VNA, Yonhap’s role in bilateral ties

The Vietnam News Agency and Yonhap agreed to coordinate closely on information and communications for the 35th anniversary of Vietnam-RoK diplomatic ties next year, and continue information and delegation exchanges, support for resident correspondents, anti-fake news work and technology cooperation.

Politburo Member and Standing Member of the CPV Central Committee’s Secretariat Tran Cam Tu welcomes the LPRP delegation. (Photo: VNA)

Key Vietnamese Party leader welcomes LPRP delegation

Tu cast Vietnam–Laos ties as a special solidarity asset cultivated by generations of leaders and people, strategically vital to the construction and defence cause of both countries. With global and regional conditions shifting rapidly, he said the “great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation, strategic cohesion” motto requires shared resolve and responsibility from all sectors and levels, especially the two Parties and States’ leaders.

Congratulations extended to Commonwealth of Dominica, Panama on National Days

Congratulations extended to Commonwealth of Dominica, Panama on National Days

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and President To Lam on November 3 sent a congratulatory message to President of the Commonwealth of Dominica Sylvanie Burton on the occasion of the 48th anniversary of the Caribbean country's Independence Day (November 3, 1978 – 2026).

An overview of the meeting (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Czech Republic step up parliamentary cooperation, people-to-people exchanges

Ha Thi Nga, member of the Party Central Committee and Vice President and Secretary-General of the VFF Central Committee, expressed her wish for the VFF and its counterpart bodies under the Czech Chamber of Deputies to step up exchanges of experience in legislative work, receiving and addressing voters’ petitions, supervision and social governance.

President of the Lao NA Sonexay Siphandone (right) presents a souvenir to the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Association (VLFA) at the meeting in Hanoi on November 2, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Top Lao legislator backs friendship activities ahead of 2027 milestones

Lao NA Sonexay Siphandone, who is on official Vietnam visit, urged the Vietnam-Laos and Laos-Vietnam friendship associations to keep coordinating closely and step up messaging on the two countries’ great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and strategic cohesion, especially around the treaty’s 50th anniversary.

President of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man speaks at the eighth session of the NA Standing Committee on November 2, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Top legislator asks for harnessing people’s power to curb crime

The top legislator stressed that to curb drug-related offences and other crimes, it is vital to leverage the collective strength of the entire people, describing every citizen as a soldier, every family as a battleground, and every locality as a fortress.