☕ Afternoon briefing on November 28

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

☕ Afternoon briefing on November 28

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

- The 15th National Assembly passed a law on amending and supplementing several articles of the Law on Officers of the Vietnam People's Army, with 458 deputies present at its ongoing eighth sitting on November 28 voting in favour, equivalent to 95.62% of the total.

The new legislation, set to take effect from December 1 this year, introduces notable changes to the retirement age and rank structure of the Vietnamese military officers. Read full story

- The National Assembly (NA) on November 28 passed the revised Law on Human Trafficking Prevention and Control with approval from 454 out of 455 deputies participating in the voting.

The amended law stipulates regulations on prevention, detection, and handling of human trafficking offences; and the reception, verification, identification, and provision of support and protection to victims of human trafficking. Read full story

- President Luong Cuong hosted a welcome ceremony in Hanoi on November 28 afternoon for Cambodian King Preah Bat Samdech Preah Boromneat Norodom Sihamoni, who is on a two-day state visit to Vietnam.

Prominent at the welcome ceremony were Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Thanh, head of the Presidential Office Le Khanh Hai, and many officials of Vietnam. Ambassadors and Charge d'Affaires of ASEAN countries in Vietnam were also present at the event. Read full story

- Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha on November 27 said Vietnam urgent needs Finland’s expertise and technology in green energy to expedite its energy transition.

During a Helsinki meeting, Vietnamese and Finnish enterprises explored collaborative opportunities. The event, held within Ha's ongoing official visit to Finland, marked a key milestone in advancing bilateral cooperation toward a green economic transformation, featuring prominent Finnish companies such as Oilon, Merus Power, Operon, Hermia Business, and Wärtsilä, and presenting advanced solutions in renewable energy, wastewater treatment, carbon reduction, and smart technologies. Read full story

- The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) on November 28 organised the 12th Vietnam-Japan disaster management cooperation dialogue, discussing new approaches to flood reduction using risk information.

The dialogue brought together representatives from Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development of northern and central provinces and cities in Vietnam. Read full story

- The number of passengers traveling through airports managed by the Airports Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) during the 2025 Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday is expected to reach 10.5 million, exceeding the 10 million recorded during the same period last year, according to Nguyen Dang Minh, head of ACV’s airport operations department.

With the holiday spanning nine days, passenger numbers are projected to surge during this peak period, Minh told the press on November 27, outlining ACV's plans for the upcoming Tet. Read full story

- Coffee export revenue is projected to reach a record 5.6 billion USD this year, driven by rising global coffee prices.

Nguyen Nam Hai, Chairman of the Vietnam Coffee and Cocoa Association, noted that the recent surge in world coffee prices has also pushed up domestic prices. He explained that while prices might fluctuate as Vietnam's main coffee harvest begins next month, they are expected to remain higher than last year since other major coffee-producing countries have yet to enter their harvest season. Read full story./.

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Prime Minister Le Minh Hung (third, left) meets with Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, Politburo member and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cuba, in New Delhi on September 12 (Photo: VNA)

Prime Minister meets with Cuban FM

Vietnam always attaches importance to its special friendship with Cuba, closely follows the situation in the Caribbean island nation, shares difficulties and challenges with Cuba, and stands ready to provide support within its capacity, said Prime Minister Le Minh Hung.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung (L) shakes hands with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi before their talks in New Delhi on September 12. (Photo: VNA)

Prime Minister holds talks with Indian counterpart

Vietnam and India are among the world's fastest-growing economies and have highly complementary strengths, with substantial untapped potential for cooperation. They expressed determination to step up measures to achieve the target of 25 billion USD in bilateral trade at an early date and facilitate market access for products from both countries, particularly pharmaceuticals, agricultural products, fisheries and livestock products.

Hélène Luc, French Honorary Senator and Honorary President of the France-Vietnam Friendship Association talks to Vietnam News Agency correspondents in Paris (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam-France ties poised for deeper, more substantive cooperation

Vietnam-France relations are entering a new phase with opportunities to translate high-level orientations and agreements into concrete cooperation programmes while expanding bilateral ties in economy, science and technology, education, culture and people-to-people exchanges.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung and a high-ranking delegation of Vietnam lay a wreath at the statue of President Ho Chi Minh in G20 Park in the Indian capital of New Delhi on September 12 (Photo: VNA)

Prime Minister pays tribute to President Ho Chi Minh in New Delhi

The statue of President Ho Chi Minh stands prominently in the Diplomatic Enclave of Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. It holds special political and diplomatic significance, reflecting the close ties between the leaders and people of the two countries, as well as India’s special sentiments toward President Ho Chi Minh in particular and Vietnam in general.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung leaves Hanoi on September 12 morning for the 18th BRICS Summit and bilateral activities in India. Photo: VNA

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung sets off for 18th BRICS Summit in India

Vietnam's participation in the 18th BRICS Summit in India further reflects its consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, self-strengthening, peace, friendship, cooperation and development; multilateralisation and diversification of external relations; and proactive, active, comprehensive, extensive and effective international integration.

Prof. Reena Marwah in the interview with Vietnam News Agency reporters in New Delhi. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam can bring much to BRICS as partner country: Indian expert

Vietnam has demonstrated robust growth capacity, extensive integration and a foreign policy of independence. As a result, Vietnam can contribute to BRICS on multiple issues as a partner country, while BRICS members can draw lessons from Vietnam’s experience in development, integration and supply chain connectivity.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam, his wife, and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation are seen off by French officials at Orly Airport in Paris. Photo: VNA

Vietnam’s top leader concludes official visit to France

Party General Secretary and President To Lam’s official visit reaffirmed Vietnam’s particular importance attached to its comprehensive strategic partnership with France. It also provided an opportunity to connect France’s strengths in science and technology, innovation and strategic technology sectors with Vietnam’s emerging development needs.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam (R) and President of the French Senate Gérard Larcher. (Photo: VNA)

Top Vietnamese leader meets with President of French Senate in Paris

The Vietnamese leader expected that the French National Assembly would soon complete the ratification of the European Union - Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA); and asked France to continue leveraging its role in the European Union to support stronger Vietnam-EU ties and tackle the illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and the list of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes.

Deputy Chief of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee's Office Vo Thanh Hung (fifth, right) receives archives on President Ho Chi Minh handed over by the French National Overseas Archives on September 10. (Photo: VNA)

France hands over archival materials for exhibition at Communist Party of Vietnam Museum

The materials include a reproduction of the front page of the August 24, 1945 issue of Cuu Quoc (National Salvation) Newspaper, its first publicly printed edition after previously being secretly circulated in handwritten form, featuring the Vietnamese national flag; and documents and reports on Nguyen Ai Quoc's activities related to the establishment and orientation of the Communist Party of Annam.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam receives Vietnamese technology experts in France. (Photo: VNA)

Top leader receives Vietnamese technology experts in France

General Secretary and President Lam stressed that while the experts work in different fields, they all share a fundamental common view that Vietnam can achieve rapid, sustainable growth and greater self-reliance only by building robust scientific and technological capacity and fully pooling the brainpower of Vietnamese talents at home and abroad.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang (Photo published by VNA)

Vietnam, BRICS partners to push new growth drivers: Deputy FM

Vietnam’s BRICS attendance gives it a platform to engage members and partners, debate global and regional governance, especially economic and development issues tied to emerging and developing economies; and identify directions and solutions. That supports Vietnam’s shift “from engaging in rule-making to contributing to shaping rules”, raising its voice in international frameworks, rules and standards, and cementing its global standing.

Delegations from Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance and France’s Ministry of Economy, Finance, and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty. (Photo: nhandan.vn)

Vietnam, France boost economic and financial cooperation

Economic ties have continued to grow across trade, investment and development cooperation. Bilateral trade surpassed 5 billion USD in the first eight months of 2026, with Vietnam exporting 3.1 billion USD worth of goods to France and importing 1.9 billion USD worth of products from the European country.

Madame Ngo Phuong Ly (L), spouse of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam, meets with French Minister of Culture Catherine Pégard. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, France step up cultural cooperation

Following the Vietnamese Film Week in France in 2025, Madame Ly put forth the idea of holding a Vietnamese Theatre Week in France in October, featuring water puppetry, musical theatre, contemporary dance and excerpts from traditional Vietnamese performances.

Standing Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu (Photo: Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

NA President’s official visits to RoK, Mongolia a success: Standing Deputy FM

The discussions showed that both countries attach importance to Vietnam’s role, position, potential and growth prospects, and highly value the Vietnamese Party and State’s vision and recent reforms. Parliaments and political parties of both countries expressed their desire to accompany Vietnam’s development, further tightening the Vietnam-RoK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and the Vietnam-Mongolia Comprehensive Partnership.

At the Vietnam-Poland Deputy Foreign Minister-Level Political Consultation in Hanoi on September 11. Photo published by VNA

Vietnam, Poland hold deputy foreign minister-level political consultation

Vietnam attaches importance to and wishes to further deepen comprehensive cooperation with Poland, both bilaterally and multilaterally. The country is determined to effectively implementing high-level commitments and agreements to make bilateral ties more substantive and effective and bring them to a new level.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam meets with representatives of the Vietnamese community in France. (Photo: VNA)

Top leader meets embassy staff, representatives of Vietnamese community in France

The top leader acknowledged and highly appreciated the pioneering and active role played by Vietnamese associations, particularly the Vietnamese Association in France, in strengthening community solidarity and cohesion, promoting Vietnamese culture, maintaining Vietnamese-language teaching and learning among younger generations, and making practical contributions to national development.