☕ Afternoon briefing on October 19

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

☕ Afternoon briefing on October 19

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

- General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and President To Lam, his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation arrived at Copenhagen Airport on the morning of October 19 (local time), beginning a three-day State visit to Denmark at the invitation of King Frederik X and Queen Mary.

The King and Queen presided over the solemn welcome ceremony at the airport, greeting the top Vietnamese leader and his spouse at the foot of the aircraft stairs. Read full story

- National Assembly President Tran Thanh Man called for tighter safeguards against collusion, bid rigging, sham bidders and last-minute bid withdrawals, as lawmakers reviewed a draft revision of the Law on Property Auction during the 16th legislature’s second session in Hanoi on October 19.

Speaking at a group discussion, NA President Man said the revised law must track the Party’s policies closely, especially resolutions on refining the socialist-oriented market economy, fighting corruption and other negative practices, accelerating digital transformation, and managing public assets and land. Read full story

- Vietnam and Germany are marking 15 years of their Strategic Partnership, established on October 11, 2011, with cooperation expanding across politics, trade, defence, education, science and technology, and people-to-people exchanges.

The partnership was formalised through the “Hanoi Joint Declaration: Vietnam and Germany – Strategic Partnership for the Future”, signed by then Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. It provided a framework for developing bilateral relations with a long-term vision. Read full story

- Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) Pham Duc An has called on commercial banks to cut lending rates selectively, prioritising production, business activities and sectors encouraged by the Government, while ensuring banking system safety.

He made the remarks at a meeting in Hanoi on October 19 between the central bank and 46 commercial banks, held after the SBV issued Official Dispatch No. 9608/NHNN-CSTT, urging credit institutions implement measures to support the economy, with a focus on reducing lending rates while safeguarding banking system stability. Read full story

- As part of the 500-day campaign to search for, recover and identify the remains of fallen soldiers, forces in the central province of Khanh Hoa are stepping up efforts using various search methods, particularly in difficult-to-access mountainous areas.

In mid-October, widespread rain affected areas from the North to the South of Khanh Hoa. Whenever the weather allowed, the team tasked with searching for and recovering fallen soldiers’ remains took the opportunity to use ground-penetrating radar to scan the area around Ru Ri Pass and the memorial stele commemorating the 1968 Tet Offensive campaign. Read full story

- A workshop on artificial intelligence (AI) governance opened in Ho Chi Minh City on October 19, aiming to strengthen APEC economies’ capacity for AI management and promote responsible, transparent and ethical AI development.

The two-day event, which is part of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) framework, brings together representatives from member economies, international organisations, regulatory agencies, standards bodies, experts and businesses. Read full story

- Vietnam's Le Van Cong took silver in the men’s 49kg powerlifting event on October 19, behind Omar Qarada of Jordan - the reigning Paralympic champion, delivering Vietnam’s first medal at the 2026 Asian Para Games.

Cong faced seven rivals in the final, from Jordan, China, the Republic of Korea (RoK), Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Nepal and Kazakhstan. Qarada, who won gold at the Paris 2024 Paralympics, was his toughest opponent. Read full story./.

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General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and President To Lam and Danish King Frederik X review the guard of honour. (Photo: VNA)

Top leader arrives in Copenhagen, beginning State visit to Denmark

The top Vietnamese leader’s visit to Denmark is expected to strengthen political trust, set long-term cooperation priorities and further deepen bilateral relations. It also offers an opportunity to promote economic, trade and investment ties, as well as cooperation in science-technology and innovation, in line with the development priorities and needs of both countries.

At a group discussion in Hanoi on October 19 (Photo: VNA)

NA President urges tougher rules to curb bid rigging in property auctions

National Assembly President Tran Thanh Man called for tighter safeguards against collusion, bid rigging, sham bidders and last-minute bid withdrawals, as lawmakers reviewed a draft revision of the Law on Property Auction during the 16th legislature’s second session in Hanoi on October 19.

Minister of Justice Hoang Thanh Tung presents the Government’s proposal on the draft revised Law on Asset Auction at the ongoing second session of the 16th-tenure NA on October 19, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

NA considers revised law to curb auction profiteering

To curb the activities of intermediaries who manipulate auctions and participants who have no genuine intention to buy, the draft stipulates that bidders who submit valid applications, pay the required deposits and attend an auction are deemed to have agreed to bid at least the starting price.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam (R) and Swiss President Guy Parmelin at their meeting in Hanoi on October 17, 2026 (Photo: VNA)

New chapter in Vietnam-Switzerland comprehensive partnership

With the positive outcomes achieved during the visit and the continued efforts of ministries, sectors and localities, Vietnam and Switzerland will make the most of their respective strengths and opportunities for cooperation to foster stable and sustainable bilateral relations, said Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang.

Benjamín Robles Montoya, Politburo member of the Labour Party (PT) and the party’s coordinator in Oaxaca state, congratulates Ambassador Nguyen Van Hai on his speech. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam shares development vision, promotes cooperation in Mexico

Vietnam regards improving people’s living standards and linking economic growth with social progress and equity as an overarching goal throughout its development process, said Vietnamese Ambassador to Mexico Nguyen Van Hai at an international seminar organised by Mexico’s Labor Party (PT), which concluded on October 17 in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca.

Swiss President Guy Parmelin (Photo: VNA)

Swiss President wraps up successful visit to Vietnam

Vietnam consistently attaches importance to its friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Switzerland, they stressed, describing the visit as a vivid demonstration of the two countries' commitment to realising and further deepening their Comprehensive Partnership, established in January 2025, the Vietnamese leaders said.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam, his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly, and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation leave Hanoi on October 19 for a state visit to Denmark and official visits to the European Union and Belgium. (Photo: VNA)

Top leader and spouse depart for Denmark, European Union and Belgium

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam, his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly, and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation left Hanoi on October 19 for a state visit to Denmark and official visits to the European Union and Belgium.

Former Vietnamese Ambassador to Denmark Luong Thanh Nghi (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Denmark work together to build greener, more prosperous, sustainable future

Over the 55 years since diplomatic relations were established, Vietnam and Denmark have built a solid foundation of friendship, trust and increasingly close cooperation. Rooted in historical ties and the affection shared by the Royal Family and the two countries’ people, their relationship is entering a new chapter centred on the green transition, innovation and sustainable development.

National Assembly President Tran Thanh Man (R) meets with Swiss President Guy Parmelin in Hanoi on October 18 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Switzerland seek to deepen parliamentary cooperation

National Assembly President Tran Thanh Man and Swiss President Guy Parmelin agreed to leverage parliamentary cooperation to promote the implementation of high-level agreements, linking exchanges of legislative experience with oversight of implementation.

Visitors at the “Da Nang – Copenhagen: A Green Journey Along the Han River” event held in Da Nang on June 20, 2026 (Photo: VNA)

Top leader’s visit to elevate Vietnam-Denmark relations in new era

The State visit to Denmark by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam is expected to provide fresh impetus for increasingly deep and effective Vietnam-Denmark relations, delivering tangible benefits to the people and businesses of both countries

Politburo Member and Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung (Photo: VNA)

Foreign Minister heads organising committee for CLMV 12, ACMECS 11

Politburo Member and Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung has been named head of the organising committee for the 12th Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam Cooperation Summit (CLMV 12) and the 11th Ayeyawady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy Summit (ACMECS 11).