☀️ Morning digest on September 17

The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last night by the Vietnam News Agency.

☀️ Morning digest on September 17

Hanoi (VNA) - The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last night by the Vietnam News Agency.

- General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam chaired a conference in Hanoi on September 16 to approve a draft report on the results of the third inspection and supervision round of the Standing Board of the National Assembly (NA) Party Committee.

The top leader, who also heads Inspection and Supervision Team No. 218 of the Politburo, said that the third inspection and supervision round focuses on personnel work, a factor that directly determines the quality of and ability to implement Party guidelines. Read full story

- Prime Minister Le Minh Hung has called for continued improvements to Vietnam’s legal framework to remove institutional bottlenecks, unlock resources and create stronger foundations for socio-economic development.

The PM made the request while chairing a Government meeting on law building on September 16 to discuss eight draft laws and resolutions expected to be submitted to the second session of the 16th National Assembly (NA). Read full story

- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang met with Senior Lieutenant General Zhang Shengmin, Vice Chairman of China's Central Military Commission, on September 16 on the sidelines of the 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum.

Zhang welcomed the high-level Vietnamese delegation, emphasising that Vietnam’s participation reflects its active and responsible role in regional and international issues. Read full story

- A delegation from the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee’s Commission for Policy and Strategy, led by its Deputy Chairman Nguyen Duc Trung, paid a working visit to France from September 13-16.

During the visit, the delegation met with the Vietnamese Embassy in France, visited Station F and held a working session with Paris-Saclay University, focusing on exchanging experience in science and technology, innovation, startup ecosystems and human resources development. Read full story

- The Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia has recently provided citizen protection and assistance for 10 Vietnamese fishermen facing hardship in Perak state, helping them return home safely and reunite with their families, while warning of the risks of labour exploitation and recruitment scams overseas.

Following a request for assistance from the Office of the People’s Committee of Ca Mau province on August 27, the embassy promptly verified the case and contacted the fishermen directly. Read full story

- The 24th Vietnam Int'l Printing & Packaging Industry Exhibition (VietnamPrintPack 2026) opened in Ho Chi Minh City on September 16, featuring 800 booths of 300 exhibitors from 13 countries and territories.

The exhibition serves as a hub connecting the supply chain, showcasing breakthrough solutions in automation, digital printing, radio-frequency identification (RFID)-integrated smart packaging, and eco-friendly materials across Vietnam's industrial landscape. Read full story

- Read full story is the only hotel from Vietnam to have made the list of the World’s 100 Best Hotels 2026, announced in two stages by The World’s 50 Best Hotels this September.

In the first announcement, covering hotels ranked 51st to 100th, Capella Hanoi made its debut at 81st place. This also marks the hotel’s first appearance in The World’s 50 Best Hotels rankings. Read full story./.

VNA

See more

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam (8th from left, first row) and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly, and Swiss President Guy Parmelin and his spouse Caroline Parmelin present flowers to artists performing at the banquet. (Photo: VNA)

Top Vietnamese leader hosts banquet in honour of Swiss President

The General Secretary and President noted that since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1971, Vietnam and Switzerland have consistently nurtured their friendship, strengthened political trust and expanded cooperation across various fields for the benefit of their people.

Madam Ngo Phuong Ly (second from right) and Madam Caroline Parmelin (second from left) make herbal pillows using traditional ingredients. (Photo: VNA)

Spouses of Vietnamese, Swiss leaders visit Hanoi University of Pharmacy

Hanoi University of Pharmacy holds special significance in bilateral relations as it is closely associated with Alexandre Yersin, a French scientist of Swiss origin born in 1863 in the canton of Vaud, the homeland of President Parmelin. Yersin was the first principal of the Indochina Medical College, the predecessor of today’s Hanoi University of Pharmacy and Hanoi Medical University. He also made important contributions to the development of medicine in Vietnam.

Liechtenstein Prime Minister Brigitte Haas (L) is welcomed at Noi Bai International Airport by Minister of Finance Ngo Van Tuan. (Photo: VNA)

Liechtenstein Prime Minister arrives in Hanoi, starting official visit to Vietnam

The visit comes at a favourable time, following the conclusion of negotiations on a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) in July 2026. The agreement is expected to provide an important framework for further expanding Vietnam’s economic ties with Liechtenstein and other EFTA members, facilitating trade, investment and business connections.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Hungary Bui Le Thai (L) shakes hands with Prof. Dr. Csaba Gyuricza, Rector of the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences Research (MATE). (Photo published by VNA)

Vietnam, Hungary promote cooperation in agriculture, science, technology

Noting that Vietnam is accelerating its shift towards a growth model driven by science and technology, innovation and digital transformation, the Ambassador called on MATE to strengthen cooperation with Vietnamese partners in areas of shared strengths and complementary needs, including biotechnology, climate-resilient crop breeding, agricultural product processing and preservation, sustainable aquaculture, smart agriculture and artificial intelligence (AI) applications.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam (second from right) and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly pose for a photo with Swiss President Guy Parmelin and his spouse Caroline Parmelin. (Photo: VNA)

Top Vietnamese leader hosts welcome ceremony for Swiss President

Over the past 55 years since establishing diplomatic relations, Vietnam and Switzerland have become reliable and effective partners across various fields. Political trust has continued to be strengthened through visits and high-level meetings. In January 2025, the two countries established a Comprehensive Partnership, marking a new milestone in the bilateral relations. Since then, their cooperation has continued to deepen and become more effective.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang (R) receives State Secretary at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Astrid Bergmål in Hanoi on October 16. (Photo: Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Vietnam, Norway promote multifaceted cooperation

Hang welcomed Bergmål’s first visit to Vietnam, affirming that Vietnam attaches importance to its traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Norway. She expressed her satisfaction with the positive development of the bilateral ties, underpinned by political trust, mutual respect and a shared commitment to sustainable development.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung delivers a report on the implementation of the 2026 socio-economic development plan and a proposed plan for 2027 at the 16th National Assembly’s second session, which opened on October 17 morning. (Photo: VNA)

Fourteen of 15 key targets for 2026 to be met or exceeded: PM

Amid a complex international and regional environment, proactive engagement across the entire political system has yielded major and relatively comprehensive socio-economic achievements, with 14 out of the 15 primary socio-economic targets expected to be met or exceeded.

The opening session sees the presence of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam (sixth from left, first row), and incumbent and former Party and State leaders. (Photo: VNA)

NA President calls for high-quality legislation to drive national development

NA President Tran Thanh Man said the session takes place shortly after the fourth plenum of the 14th Party Central Committee and less than two months after the NA’s first extraordinary session, demonstrating the determination and urgency to institutionalise the Party’s guidelines and decisions, address bottlenecks, mobilise resources and create new drivers for rapid and sustainable national development.

Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Vu Dai Thang (R) welcomes Swiss President Guy Parmelin and his spouse Caroline Parmelin at Noi Bai International Airport. (Photo: VNA)

Swiss President Guy Parmelin arrives in Hanoi, beginning official visit to Vietnam

Over 55 years of trust-building and cooperation, Vietnam and Switzerland have maintained friendly relations while gradually expanding collaboration across a wide range of areas. The elevation of bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Partnership in January 2025 reflected the two sides’ determination to usher their relations into a new phase of development.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam, other Party and State leaders, and NA deputies come to pay tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his Mausoleum before the opening of the 16th NA's second session on October 17 morning. (Photo: VNA)

16th National Assembly commences second session

The parliament’s second session is scheduled to last until November 21. It is divided into two phases, with the first from October 17 to November 14, and the second from November 20 to 21.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium and Head of the Vietnamese Mission to the European Union Nguyen Huong Tra speaks in an interview with the VNA. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam-EU, Belgium ties poised for new heights

The upcoming official visits to the European Union (EU) and Belgium by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam aims to strengthen political trust, deepen ties and translate high-level commitments into concrete action, laying the groundwork for a new phase in relations with both partners.