☕ Afternoon briefing on October 8

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

- The 13th meeting of the 13th Party Central Committee concluded in Hanoi on October 8 morning after completing its entire agenda.

In his closing speech, Party General Secretary To Lam stressed that the meeting was a success, marked by thorough preparations, candid and scientific discussions, and a high level of consensus on many strategic decisions. These included “backbone” issues linked to the success of the upcoming 14th National Party Congress, the country’s rapid and sustainable development goals, and the improvement of people’s living standards. Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on October 8 visited the northern province of Thai Nguyen to inspect flood-hit areas, encourage local residents, and direct efforts to overcome the consequences of severe flooding triggered by typhoon Matmo.

Heavy rains from the circulation of typhoon Matmo between October 6 and 7 caused record flooding in Thai Nguyen, with rainfall reaching 250–400mm, and in some places exceeding 500mm. At 5:00 on October 8, the Cau River’s water level at Gia Bay station rose to 29.9m, 2.9m above warning level 3 and surpassing the historic 2024 flood peak by 1.09m. Read full story

- The circulation of Typhoon Matmo have unleashed catastrophic flooding and landslides across northern Vietnam, claiming three lives, leaving four missing, and submerging nearly 10,000 hectares of paddies and crops.

As of October 7 evening, more than 4,800 houses were inundated and suffered damage, while major transport networks were badly affected. Local authorities are racing against time to settle the typhoon aftermath and ensure safety for residents in high-risk areas. Read full story

- As torrential rains and severe flooding isolated multiple communes across the northern province of Lang Son, the Ministry of National Defence ordered the Air Defense and Air Force Service (ADAFS) to launch emergency relief flights to the affected areas on October 8 morning.

The Mi-171 helicopter coded Sar-03 and Mi-17 coded 7844 under Regiment 916 of the ADAFS’s Division 371 departed Gia Lam Airport, carrying four tonnes of relief supplies, including water, instant noodle, field rations, and milk to Van Nham and Yen Binh communes. Read full story

- Ambassador Do Hung Viet, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UN and designated President of the 11th Review Conference (RevCon11) of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), chaired the first informal meeting with member states of the treaty in New York on October 7 to discuss preliminary priorities, orientations, and consultation processes ahead of the conference in April 2026.

The meeting was attended by representatives of NPT member states, regional groups, and relevant international organisations. Many delegates praised Vietnam’s appointment as President of RevCon11 amid a complex international security environment, expressing confidence in its ability to promote dialogue, coordinate negotiations, and foster consensus. Read full story

- Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Cao Huy led a Vietnamese delegation to the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) High-Level Forum, which opened in Selangor, Malaysia, on October 7 with a focus on an inclusive and sustainable regional community.

Initiated by the Malaysian Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture in its role as ASCC Chair, the forum brought together officials to advance shared goals amid rapid technological shifts. Read full story

- FTSE Russell has officially announced that Vietnam will be reclassified from frontier to secondary emerging market status, marking a major milestone for the country’s capital market after more than a decade of reforms.

The announcement was made early on October 8 (Hanoi time), following the close of US markets on October 7, as part of the index provider’s September 2025 Country Classification Review. Read full story./.

VNA