☕ Afternoon briefing on September 9

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

☕ Afternoon briefing on September 9

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

- National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man, who is also Secretary of the NA Party Committee, on September 9 chaired a national scientific conference looking into 80 years of the NA's formation and development.

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National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man speaks at the national conference (Photo: VNA)

The event, held by the NA Party Committee, the Party Central Committee's Commission for Information, Education and Mass Mobilisation, and the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, took place on the threshold of the 80th anniversary of the first general election (January 6, 1946–2026). Read full story

- Vietnam remains steadfast in its "four no's" defence policy, considering military transparency, adherence to international law, and commitment to solving disputes through peaceful means as the foundation for building trust, Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien affirmed while attending the 14th Seoul Defence Dialogue on September 9.

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Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Hoang Xuan Chien (second from right) attends the 14th Seoul Defence Dialogue's session on reducing military tensions and establishing long-term trust. (Photo: VNA)

In his speech at a session on reducing military tensions and establishing long-term trust, Chien said that history has shown that multilateral mechanisms play a pivotal role in preventing crises, reducing tensions, and building long-term trust. Notable examples today include the East Asia Summit (EAS), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, the Seoul Defence Dialogue, the Shangri-La Dialogue, the Moscow Conference on International Security, and especially the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM+). Read full story

- Vietnam comprehensively supports the reform process of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in order to improve the organisation's functions, especially the early and complete restoration of the Dispute Settlement System, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan has affirmed.

Meeting WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in Geneva on September 8 on the sidelines of the 17th negotiation session on a free trade agreement between Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), Tan shared updates on Vietnam’s commitments and actions, demonstrating its role as an active and responsible member of the WTO. Read full story

- Russian logistics companies are expanding rail and sea routes to boost Vietnam – Russia trade, with FESCO Transportation Group playing a central role through its project to develop Ho Chi Minh City port into a Southeast Asian transshipment hub.

Speaking with the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s reporter on the sidelines of the 10th Eastern Economic Forum held recently in Vladivostok, FESCO Deputy CEO for Logistics German Maslov said the sea route connecting Vladivostok with Vietnamese ports has proven highly effective after two years of operation, attracting strong interest from businesses in both countries. Starting with one vessel, FESCO now runs three regular ships. In 2025, cargo volume carried between Vietnam and Russia rose 16% year-on-year, while goods from ASEAN are also being transshipped through Vietnamese ports. Read full story

- Over the past eight decades since its foundation on September 15, 1945, the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) has transmitted millions of pieces of news and stories across the world, chronicling the nation’s heroic struggle for independence, defence, and development. Today, it has grown into Vietnam’s leading national multimedia news organisation with regional and international reputation, providing timely official information for domestic and foreign media outlets. As a trusted and strategic information supplier of the Party, State, and people, the agency continues to accompany Vietnam as the country steps into a new era – that of the nation's rise.

On September 15, 1945, from the Bach Mai radio station in Hanoi, the VNA – then called Viet Nam Thong tan xa (VNTTX) – broadcast the full text of President Ho Chi Minh’s Declaration of Independence and the list of the Provisional Government members in Vietnamese, English, and French. That historic transmission marked the official birth of the news agency of the State of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Since then, September 15 has been celebrated as the VNA’s traditional day. Read full story

- Vietnam’s real estate sector is increasingly attracting foreign investors through mergers and acquisitions (M&A), with cooperative and “friendly” deals emerging as the prevailing trend.

The first half of 2025 saw a number of notable foreign-led transactions. These include CapitaLand’s 553 million USD acquisition of a project from Becamex IDC; the partnership of Sumitomo Forestry, Kumagai Gumi and NTT Urban Development with Kim Oanh Group to develop The One World project; and Nishi Nippon Railroad’s purchase of a 25% stake in Nam Long’s Paragon Dai Phuoc project. Read full story

- The Hue Central Hospital announced on September 8 that it has successfully performed Vietnam’s first allogeneic bone marrow transplant for a child with Thalassemia, using marrow from the patient’s mother despite a blood-type mismatch.

The milestone procedure, completed on August 11, marks a breakthrough in domestic treatment of the inherited blood disorder. The six-year-old patient, now stable, was discharged on September 8. Read full story

- The Vingroup Joint Stock Company (Vingroup) announced that it on September 8 initiated a civil lawsuit, reported to authorities and sent documents to embassies regarding 68 domestic and foreign organisations and individuals posting false information about the company on the Internet.

Vingroup's determination to fight against acts of distortion, fabrication, and intentional manipulation of public opinion is not only to protect the legitimate rights of enterprises, but also for the benefit of society as well as the dignity of the law./.Read full story

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Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang (R) and Benoit Guidée, Director of the Asia–Oceania Department at the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs meet in Hanooi on December 19. (Photo: VNA)

Deputy FM meets French official

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang stressed that Vietnam attaches great importance to its relationship with France, the first European Union country with which Vietnam has established a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, noting that the two sides enjoy a solid foundation and significant potential for further cooperation.

Politburo member and permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Tran Cam Tu speaks at the event in Hanoi on December 19 (Photo: VNA)

Senior Party official reviews preparations for 14th National Party Congress

Politburo member and permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Tran Cam Tu expressed his belief that relevant agencies will continue to make efforts to basically complete organisation- and service-related preparations by December 31, ensuring readiness for the final rehearsals ahead of the opening of the 14th National Party Congress.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh addressing the conference of the the Ministry of Industry and Trade on December 19 (Photo: VNA)

PM urges industry, trade sector to pioneer in six key areas

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that to make a substantive contribution to national development, the industry and trade sector must also achieve double-digit growth, generate new jobs, strengthen traditional growth drivers such as export and consumption, and accelerate emerging engines of growth, including the green, digital, circular, knowledge-based and sharing economies.

State President Luong Cuong (middle) presents congratulatory flowers to the two promoted officers (Photo: VNA)

Two military officers promoted to rank of Senior Lieutenant General

Lieutenant General Do Xuan Tung, Vice Director of the General Department of Politics of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA), and Lieutenant General Do Van Banh, Political Commissar of the National Defence Academy were promoted to the rank of Senior Lieutenant General at a ceremony in Hanoi on December 19.

Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone (R) hosts a reception for Prosecutor General of the Supreme People’s Procuracy of Vietnam Nguyen Huy Tien. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam–Laos step up cooperation in procuracy sector

They highly valued the effective and substantive cooperation results achieved by the Supreme People’s Procuracies of Vietnam and Laos in recent years, and called on both sides to continue enhancing coordination, stepping up exchanges of delegations at all levels, sharing professional and technical experience, and maintaining and expanding training and capacity-building programmes for officials.

NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man and other leaders, former leaders at the 4th Dien Hong Awards honouring journalistic works on the NA and People’s Councils in Hanoi on December 18, 2025. (Photo: daibieunhandan.vn)

NA Chairman urges journalists to reflect legislature's strategic vision

The NA leader expressed his confidence that in 2026, journalists will continue to uphold their responsibility, report objectively and from multiple perspectives, accompany the NA in conveying its activities promptly and comprehensively, and identify shortcomings in law-making and legal enforcement to help people-elected agencies operate more effectively and efficiently.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) receives Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane in Hanoi on December 18, 2025. (Photo: VNA)

Prime Minister calls for stronger Vietnam–Laos economic connectivity

Receiving Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane in Hanoi on December 18, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh proposed that the two sides further strengthen economic connectivity, coordinate closely and share development experience for the tangible benefit of the two peoples.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man (R) and Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane in Hanoi on December 18 (Photo: VNA)

Top legislator receives Lao foreign minister in Hanoi

The top legislator requested that the two sides continue to work closely together to effectively implement the Vietnam-Laos Joint Statement, the intergovernmental cooperation agreement, and bilateral cooperation programmes, thereby contributing to preserving and developing the bilateral special traditional friendship.

Vietnamese Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung (R) and his Lao counterpart Thongsavanh Phomvihane at the 12th Vietnam–Laos political consultation at the foreign ministerial level in Hanoi on December 18, 2025 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese, Lao FMs co-chair 12th political consultation

During the consultation, in a spirit of special trust, the two officials reviewed recent cooperation between the two Parties, countries and foreign ministries. They also discussed future cooperation orientations and held in-depth exchanges on regional and international issues of common concern.