☕ Afternoon briefing on October 30

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

- UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer chaired an official welcome ceremony for and held talks with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam in London on October 29 (local time), as the Vietnamese Party leader is paying an official visit to the UK.

At the talks, PM Starmer welcomed General Secretary To Lam, his spouse, and a high-level Vietnamese delegation on their official visit to the UK, affirming that the trip marks an important milestone in strengthening the traditional friendship between the two countries. Read full story

- State President Luong Cuong received John Denton, Secretary-General of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), in Gyeongju city, the Republic of Korea (RoK), on October 30, on the occasion of the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Week.

At the meeting, Denton expressed his admiration for Vietnam’s economic development journey as well as the goals and measures it has set for its growth. Read full story

- The Government is implementing a range of concerted measures to control the gold market, stabilise public sentiment, and address difficulties in the real estate market, aiming for healthy and sustainable development, according to Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long.

Long made the statement on October 30 at the 15th National Assembly's ongoing 10th session, where legislators evaluated the 2025 socio-economic development plan, the plan for 2026, and the results of implementing the NA’s 2021–2025 five-year plans for socio-economic development and economic restructuring during its ongoing 10th session on October 30. Read full story

- Standard Chartered has revised its forecast for Vietnam’s economic growth in 2025 to 7.5%, up from its earlier projection of 6.1%. The bank also raised its 2026 growth forecast for the country from 6.2% to 7.2%.

In its latest macroeconomic report, Standard Chartered highlighted Vietnam’s growing role in the global supply chain, driven by robust trade performance and deeper integration into global trade through multiple free trade agreements (FTAs). Read full story

- Digital payments in Vietnam have continued to expand rapidly, with QR code transactions soaring by more than 150% in value, according to a report released by the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) on October 29.

Internet and mobile payment channels also recorded robust growth, highlighting the strong presence of digital payments in both daily life and business activities. Read full story

- Ho Chi Minh City holds numerous advantages in attracting the business community and foreign investors; however, it needs to continue administrative reforms and improve policy implementation to mobilise high-quality and sustainable capital for its metropolis development goals.

This message was shared at the 2025 conference between the city’s leaders and representatives from foreign-invested enterprises, organised by the Investment and Trade Promotion Centre of Ho Chi Minh City (ITPC) on October 30. Read full story

- Vietnam plans to restructure its overseas labour mobility markets, advancing to high-skill labour migration and expanding into advanced economies facing worker shortages such as Germany, Canada, and Australia, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Vu Chien Thang has said.

At a dialogue with more than 100 labour export service providers on October 30, Thang highlighted that Vietnam is transforming the ways it manages the sending of Vietnamese workers abroad for employment under contract, shifting from pre-approval control to post-inspection while slashing unnecessary business conditions and administrative procedures to create a transparent environment. Read full story./.

VNA