☕ Afternoon briefing on October 15

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

☕ Afternoon briefing on October 15

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 and National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man on October 15 co-chaired a conference on preparation for the 8th session of the 15th legislature, scheduled to open on October 21.

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A view of the conference on preparation for 15th legislature’s 8th session in Hanoi on October 15. (Photo: VNA)

Speaking at the event, PM Chinh affirmed that the Government will make all-out efforts to prepare documents for submission to the NA at the 8th session, and asked Government and NA agencies to closely coordinate in the work. Read full story

- National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man’s trip to Laos from October 17-19 for an official visit and the 45th General Assembly of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA-45) will help enhance the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States, and legislatures, and peoples of Vietnam and Laos, a diplomat has said.

In an interview granted to the Vietnam News Agency, Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Minh Tam expressed his belief that the visit will be a success, continuing to make the cooperation a rare exemplary relationship in the world. Read full story

- The official visit to Vietnam by Chinese Premier Li Qiang was a success, Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam He Wei has said.

Talking to the Vietnamese press to share his insights on the outcomes of the Chinese leader’s visit, the diplomat highlighted the significance of the trip to the bilateral relations, saying that both sides attach importance to the event. Read full story

- Vietnam's shrimp export turnover is estimated at nearly 2.8 billion USD in the first nine months of this year – the highest among aquatic products, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

The figure represented a surge of 10.5% compared to that of the same period last year, the association reported. Read full story

- Vietnam improved its business environment the most over the past two decades, according to a recent analysis by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).

The findings, revealed in the EIU’s Business Environment Rankings (BER), highlight Vietnam’s impressive transformation, driven by significant investments in infrastructure and strategic international trade agreements. The study, covering the period from 2003 to 2023, shows that Vietnam experienced a 1.7-point rise on the index, marking the largest improvement among 82 countries evaluated. Read full story

- The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) is drafting a circular to better manage foreign investment protocols and hopefully make them speedier.

The new circular will regulate the opening and use of Vietnamese dong -denominated accounts for foreign investors, in order to conduct foreign indirect investment activities in Vietnam./. Read full story

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Minister of Industry and Trade Le Manh Hung holds talks with US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick to discuss major orientations for advancing bilateral economic and trade cooperation.(Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, US seek to advance economic, trade cooperation

During a working visit to the US in mid-July, Minister of Industry and Trade Le Manh Hung, accompanied by the Vietnamese Ambassador to the US and senior officials from several ministries, met with US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick on major directions for bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

The article posted on the official Facebook page of Pathet Lao. (Photo published by VNA)

Vietnam–Laos special relationship to deepen over time

The editorial says the historical milestones demonstrate and reaffirm that the great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and strategic cohesion between the two Parties, States and peoples will continue to develop and deepen in the years ahead.

☕ Afternoon briefing on July 20

☕ Afternoon briefing on July 20

The third meeting of the 14th Party Central Committee, Standard Chartered sharply raising its forecast for Vietnam’s economic growth in 2026, and all six Vietnamese students winning medals at the 67th International Mathematical Olympiad are among news highlights on July 20.

Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Chairman of the Party Central Committee's Commission for Information, Education and Mass Mobilisation Trinh Van Quyet. (Photo: VNA)

Proactive strategy needed to counter cognitive warfare: Experts

Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Chairman of the Party Central Committee's Commission for Information, Education and Mass Mobilisation Trinh Van Quyet said hostile forces are increasingly using AI and digital platforms to wage cognitive warfare targeting the ideological foundation, public confidence and internal unity. He stressed that the challenge requires continuous innovation in both methods and capabilities.

The presidium of the preparatory session of the 14th National Party Congress. (Photo: VNA)

📝 OP-ED: Where public trust is secured, everything else falls into place

Instead of merely handling information after an incident already occurred, it is necessary to proactively gauge public sentiment, anticipate trends in public opinion and address at an early stage issues that could undermine public trust. In other words, the focus must shift from “managing information” to proactively “governing public trust”.

Vietnam News Agency reporters covering the 14th National Party Congress (Photo: VNA)

Telling Vietnam’s story to build national soft power

Former Director of the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam Associate Professor Dr. Duong Van Quang said digital-era communications must help build knowledge, trust and credibility through authentic and culturally distinctive stories.

☀️ Morning digest on July 20

☀️ Morning digest on July 20

The government meeting with the business community, heavy losses caused by floods and landslides in the northern mountainous region, and Vietnamese students' impressive performance at the 2026 International Chemistry Olympiad and International Biology Olympiad are among news highlights last weekend.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietn Nam (CPV) Central Committee and State President To Lam (left) meets with Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. during his visit to the Philippines in June 2026 (Photo: VNA)

Congratulatory messages mark 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Philippines diplomatic ties

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and State President To Lam and Prime Minister Le Minh Hung sent congratulatory messages to Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Philippines (1976-2026).

Speakers at a panel discussion on Vietnamese language teaching and learning in Thailand. (Photo: VNA)

People-to-people, cultural ties strengthen Vietnam-Thailand friendship

Delivering a keynote speech on the future of Thailand-Vietnam relations after five decades of diplomatic ties, Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung underscored the important role of universities not only in preserving shared history but also in shaping the future of the bilateral partnership through education, research and people-to-people connections.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung welcomes Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs George Gerapetritis in Hanoi on July 17 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam values traditional friendship with Greece: FM

To deepen practical cooperation, Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung proposed increasing exchanges at all levels, especially high-level visits, while strengthening coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums, particularly as Greece serves as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2025–2026 term.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam present greeting flowers to the People'sPolice force on the occasion of the 64th anniversary of the force's traditional day (Photo: VNA)

Top leader asks for building stronger, more modern people's police force

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam highlighted the country's recent socio-economic achievements, recognising the significant contributions by the People's Public Security force, particularly the People's Police, senior police leaders over different periods and the Association of Former People's Public Security Officers through grassroots movements safeguarding national security.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung chairs a government meeting with the business community in Hanoi on July 18 (Photo: VNA)

PM urges stronger development foundations for sustainable growth

Opening the event, the PM underscored the significance of the meeting, saying that it is the first engagement between the new-term government’s members and the business community - the vanguard on the economic front, playing a key role in driving growth, generating employment, and enhancing national competitiveness.