☕ Afternoon briefing on May 8

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

☕ Afternoon briefing on May 8

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 has set three major digital transformation targets for the banking sector, including creating the most favourable conditions for people, businesses and agencies to access banking services.

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Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh addresses the event (Photo: VNA)

At an event on digital transformation in the banking industry held by the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) in Hanoi on May 8, the PM said digital transformation should contribute to reducing time and compliance cost for people, businesses and agencies and the banking system itself, while helping control risks and prevent corruption. Read full story

- Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Pham Hung Tam had a meeting on May 7 with Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia Tim Watts who expressed his hope to see economic, trade and investment cooperation between the two countries develop commensurate with the new stature of the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership.

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Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Pham Hung Tam (R) and Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia Tim Watts (Photo: VNA)

The Australian official highlighted the positive development in the Vietnam-Australia relations, especially after Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit to Australia and the upgrade of bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership in March.Read full story

-Vietnamese electric vehicles maker VinFast Auto announced it will officially enter the Philippine EV market at the end of May with diverse and smart green mobility solutions, affirming its determination to conquer the regional market.

As one of the pioneering automobile manufacturers with a pure-electric strategy, VinFast has affirmed its reputation with its presence in many international markets such as the US, Canada, Europe and recently Indonesia, India and Thailand. Read full story

- Vietnam exported 83,067 tonnes of pepper worth 352 million USD in the first four months of this year, down 19.4% in volume but up 10.3% in value, the Vietnam Pepper and Spice Association (VPSA) has reported.

The average export price of black pepper was 4,065 USD per tonne and white pepper 5,678 USD per tonne, up 19.4% and 14.5%, respectively, compared to the same period in 2023.Read full story

- Japan's renewable energy firm Erex is going to invest in a 50MW biomass power plant project in Van Yen district, the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai.

Chairman of the Yen Bai provincial People's Committee Tran Huy Tuan presented a decision approving investment policy for the Yen Bai 1 biomass power plant project to Representative Director and President of Erex Co. Ltd Honna Hitoshi in Tokyo on May 8.Read full story

- The Nine Dynastic Urns, housed in the Hue Imperial Citadel in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue, have been inscribed in the Memory of the World Register.

This prestigious recognition was awarded unanimously by all 23 participating countries during the 10th plenary meeting of the Memory of the World Committee for Asia and the Pacific, held in both online and in-person format in Mongolia on May 8.Read full story

-The ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory, with the French Minister of Armed Forces in presence, has been widely covered in the French media as an action to recall the past but also look toward the future.

Major television channels, including TF1, France Info, Euronews, TV5 Monde, and France 24, all featured the event, which was held in Dien Bien province on May 7 morning (Vietnam time), prominently. The first presence of French Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu and Secretary of State for Veterans' Affairs and Memory Patricia Mirallès at the ceremony was widely interpreted as a gesture of "reconciliation".Read full story

- Vietnam's inbound tourism is experiencing a remarkable resurgence, exceeding pre-pandemic levels as of the late April, signaling a promising season for the sector.

Statistics from the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) showed that in April alone, the country welcomed nearly 1.6 million foreign arrivals, a 58.2% increase compared to the same period last year. This momentum propelled the total number of international arrivals in the first four months of this year to 6.2 million, representing a 68.3% annual growth. This figure surpassed that recorded during the pre-pandemic "golden era" of tourism.Read full story

- Ho Chi Minh City has caught the eye of foreign travelers to earn a spot on a list of Agoda’s top Asian destinations for extended stays.

Ranking seventh on the list, HCM City, famous for its bustling streets, pulses with vibrant energy that is best enjoyed when embraced fully, Agoda said, suggesting visitors step in the rhythm of the locals and experience the city slowing down by enjoying a traditional Ca Phe Sua Da, Vietnamese coffee, in the morning.Read full story/.

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The meeting between National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man and Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan Adylbek Kasymaliev in Hanoi on March 6. (Photo: VNA)

Top legislator meets with Kyrgyz PM

Vietnam and Kyrgyzstan will deepen parliamentary ties, including maintaining close coordination and mutual support at multilateral parliamentary forums.

Party General Secretary To Lam (R) welcomes Kyrgyz Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliev in Hanoi on March 6. (Photo: VNA)

Party chief hails Kyrgyz PM’s official visit to Vietnam

Party General Secretary To Lam and Kyrgyz Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliev agreed that both countries have significant potential to foster cooperation based on mutual interests. They emphasised the need to enhance engagements at all levels through bilateral and multilateral channels to strengthen political trust, and establish cooperation mechanisms between ministries, sectors, and localities.

State President Luong Cuong (right) and Kyrgyz Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliev at their meeting in Hanoi on March 6 (Photo: VNA)

State President welcomes PM of Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan always treasures the relationship with Vietnam and highly values the Southeast Asian nation's role in the region and the world, Kyrgyz PM Adylbek Kasymaliev affirmed.

At the talks between Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Kyrgyz counterpart Adylbek Kasymaliev. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese, Kyrgyz government leaders hold talks in Hanoi

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Kyrgyz counterpart Adylbek Kasymaliev agreed to expand cooperation into potential areas such as agriculture, defence-security, education-training, culture-tourism, and locality-to-locality exchange.

Illustrative image (Photo: Internet)

PM urges timely allocation of state investment funds

Son noted that Vietnam’s socio-economic situation in the first two months of 2025 has been highly positive, with macroeconomic stability maintained, inflation under control, and key economic balances ensured.

Kyrgyz PM Adylbek Kasimalyev receives flowers from a Hanoi kid at the welcome ceremony on March 6. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese PM hosts welcome ceremony for Kyrgyz counterpart

This is the first visit to Vietnam by a Kyrgyz prime minister since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1992. The trip is expected to develop the Vietnam – Kyrgyzstan friendship and cooperation in a more substantive and effective manner across all sectors.

The police force of Y La ward, Tuyen Quang city, officially commences operations under the new two-tier policing system on its first working day. (Photo: VNA)

Commune police can handle up to 35 administrative procedures: Govt press conference

Eligible commune-level police units can now process up to 35 administrative procedures and online public services across various domains, including immigration management, citizen identification issuance and management, electronic identification and authentication, security-related business licencing, and registration and management of motor vehicles.

PM Pham Minh Chinh (R) and Chairman and General Director of AstraZeneca Vietnam Nitin Kapoor (Photo: VNA)

PM calls on AstraZeneca to transfer vaccine technology to Vietnam

PM Chinh expressed his appreciation for AstraZeneca and Kapoor’s practical and effective support during Vietnam’s battle against COVID-19 pandemic. He spotlighted the company’s delivery of 30 million vaccine doses ahead of schedule and at a reduced cost, despite global supply chain disruptions.

Delegates at the meeting (Photo: VNA)

Minister of Public Security receives Samsung Vietnam’s General Director

Quang congratulated Na on his appointment as General Director of Samsung Vietnam, emphasising that the strong partnership between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) provides a solid foundation for Samsung’s operations in Vietnam. He also hailed Samsung Vietnam as a bright spot in economic and investment cooperation between the two countries.

At the meeting (Photo: VNA)

Administrative merger must ensure principles, criteria, standards: PM

Chairing a meeting of the Government’s Party Committee in Hanoi on March 5, PM Chinh, who is also its Secretary, stressed the importance of preserving each region's unique geographical, socio-economic, cultural, and historical characteristics, while ensuring that merged units can complement and support one another.

HCMA President Nguyen Xuan Thang (R) and Chairman of the Danish Parliament’s Foreign Policy Committee Michael Aastrup Jensen. (Photo: VNA)

Official urges closer Vietnam-Denmark collaboration in policy research

As Vietnam is set to enter a new era of the nation’s rise, the country is undertaking institutional and political system reforms while restructuring state management at all levels. At the same time, it is fostering new growth drivers and inspiring a strong national spirit, self-reliance, confidence, resilience, a sense of pride and aspiration for national development, said Politburo member, Chairman of the Central Theory Council and President of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMA) Nguyen Xuan Thang.