Politics

☕ Afternoon briefing on May 19

The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.

☕ Afternoon briefing on May 19

Hanoi (VNA) – The following is a brief review of the day’s events as reported by the Vietnam News Agency.

- A delegation representing the Party Central Committee, State President, National Assembly, and Government laid a wreath at Ho Chi Minh mausoleum in Hanoi on May 19 to pay tribute to the late leader on his 136th birth anniversary.

Attending the ceremony were Politburo members, including General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, and permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Tran Cam Tu. Read full story

- General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and State President To Lam attended a ceremony in Hanoi on May 19 to award 80-, 75- and 70-year Party membership badges to 34 veteran Party members in the capital on the occasion of the 136th birth anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh (May 19, 1890–2026).

On this occasion, the Hanoi Party Organisation presented the badges to 8,511 members with at least 30 years of Party membership, including 36 members receiving 80-year badges, 12 receiving 75-year badges and 38 receiving 70-year badges. Read full story

- The National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on May 19 held a ceremony to present the first-class Labour Order to NA Vice Chairman Nguyen Doan Anh in recognition of his outstanding contributions to national development.

On behalf of Party and State leaders, NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man presented the noble reward to Anh, describing him as a well-trained official who has matured through practical experience and held many important leadership positions within the Party, State, military and local administrations. Read full story

- A groundbreaking ceremony for the National Highway 1A spatial axis project associated with urban renovation and reconstruction was held in Hanoi on May 19, with National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man in attendance.

The project covers the section from Ring Road No.1 to the Cau Gie interchange and is considered one of the capital city’s key transport infrastructure projects. Read full story

- Construction began on the expansion of the international passenger terminal (Terminal T2) at Da Nang International Airport on May 19, with total investment nearing 1.5 trillion VND (nearly 57 million USD).

The project, invested by the Da Nang International Terminal Investment and Operation Joint Stocks Company (AHT), aims to meet rising demand in the international aviation market while enhancing operational capacity and passenger services. Read full story

- The Immigration Department under the Ministry of Public Security on May 19 held a conference in Hanoi to launch the ministry’s shared software system for temporary residence declarations for foreigners and lodging notifications for Vietnamese citizens.

Colonel Pham Hoang Diep, Deputy Director of the Immigration Department, said the rollout of the shared platform marks an important step toward a more synchronised and modern approach to residence and foreigner management. Read full story

- University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City has successfully performed Vietnam’s first awake brain surgery on a paediatric patient, marking a major milestone in neurosurgery and opening up new opportunities to preserve neurological function and long-term quality of life for children with high-risk brain tumours.

The hospital announced on May 19 that the patient, a 12-year-old boy, recovered well after surgery, remained fully conscious and showed no new focal neurological deficits. Post-operative imaging indicated that the tumour had been almost completely removed. Doctors are continuing close monitoring and preparing further treatment plans to support the child’s full recovery. Read full story./.

VNA
#Afternoon briefing
Follow VietnamPlus

Related News

See more

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.

NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man (R) presents the first-class Labour Order to NA Vice Chairman Nguyen Doan Anh on May 19. (Photo: VNA)

NA Vice Chairman Nguyen Doan Anh awarded first-class Labour Order

On behalf of Party and State leaders, NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man presented the noble reward to Anh, describing him as a well-trained official who has matured through practical experience and held many important leadership positions within the Party, State, military and local administrations.

Minister of Public Security Luong Tam Quang (right) and Croatian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Gordan Grlić Radman at their meeting in Hanoi on May 19 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Croatia seek stronger law enforcement cooperation

In recent years, the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security (MoPS) and Croatian partners have carried out various practical cooperation activities, including the signing of a cooperation agreement on fire prevention, firefighting, search and rescue as well as coordination in verifying criminal information at the request of the Croatian INTERPOL Office.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang and Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh review the guard of honour of the Vietnam People's Army at the welcome ceremony for the latter in Hanoi on May 19, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Indian Defence Minister pays official visit to Vietnam

Following the ceremony, the two sides held talks during which the Vietnamese minister emphasised the significance of the visit as the two countries celebrate the 10th anniversary of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and recently upgraded ties to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership under the spirit of “Shared Vision, Strategic Convergence and Substantive Cooperation,” during the state visit to India by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam from May 5-8.

Vietnamese Ambassador to New Zealand Phan Minh Giang congratulates NZMAM 2026 on its great success. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam supports first Model ASEAN Meeting in New Zealand

As the coordinator for ASEAN-New Zealand relations for the 2024-2027 period, Vietnam remains committed to closely coordinating with New Zealand and ASEAN member states to further deepen the newly established Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, bringing more practical benefits to people and contributing more effectively to peace, stability, prosperity and sustainable development for both sides and the wider region.

The meeting between Vietnamese Ambassador to Bulgaria Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet and leader of the Alcomet factory. (Photo courtesy of the Vietnamese Embassy in Bulgaria)

Vietnam, Bulgaria expand cooperation between key localities

Ambassador Nguyen Thi Minh Nguyet noted that the Vietnam – Bulgaria Strategic Partnership has opened up fresh opportunities for cooperation in logistics, maritime transport, port operations, information technology, education and coastal tourism.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam (first, right) presents the National Assembly’s resolution on the establishment of Dong Nai city to local officials at the ceremony on May 18, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

City status marks great turning point for Dong Nai: top leader

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam noted that the new status requires a new development vision; a larger development space demands stronger governance capacity; and greater pride must be transformed into a greater sense of responsibility toward the people and the nation.