

Bicycles became known as the “King of Transport” and played a crucial role in the victory of the Dien Bien Phu Campaign in 1954. The nearly 21,000 bicycles pressed into service enabled Vietnam to achieve its miraculous Dien Bien Phu Victory.
At its 11th plenum, the 13th Party Central Committee reached a consensus on the policy to restructure provincial-level administrative units nationwide, reducing the total from 63 to 34, including 28 provinces and six centrally governed cities. Of the current 63 units, 11 will remain unchanged, while the remaining 52 will be merged into 23 new provincial-level administrative units.
A collection belonging to composer Hoang Van (1930–2018) has recently been inscribed on UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register. The collection meets several of UNESCO’s key criteria, especially in terms of historical significance and global value. This marks Vietnam’s 11th documentary heritage to be recognised by UNESCO.
According to the UK-based travel magazine Wanderlust, Vietnam is among the world’s top destinations for cave explorers and adventure seekers; and leading the way is the breathtaking natural wonder: Phong Nha–Ke Bang National Park.
On behalf of the Party Central Committee, on 12 April 2025, Party General Secretary To Lam signed and issued Resolution No. 60-NQ/TW of the 11th plenum of the 13th Party Central Committee. The Central Committee agreed on a policy to restructure provincial-level administrative units across the country, reducing the total to 34 units, comprising 28 provinces and 6 centrally governed cities.
The fourth Partnership for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Summit, held in Hanoi on April 14-17, is the first multilateral high-level conference in the field of green growth, green transition, and sustainable development hosted by Vietnam.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and President of China Xi Jinping is paying a State visit to Vietnam from April 14-15. This marks his fourth State visit to Vietnam as General Secretary and President of China, and his second visit within the same term. The visit coincides with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. It aims to strengthen the Vietnam-China Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and elevate bilateral ties to a new height.
Vietnam’s morning glory stir-fry was recently recognized by the renowned culinary website TasteAtlas as one of the 100 most delicious vegetable dishes in the world. This rustic Vietnamese favorite earned a rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars, securing the 24th spot on the list.
As of March 31, 2025, total registered foreign investment into Vietnam, including new registrations, capital adjustments, and capital contributions/share purchases, reached 10.98 billion USD, marking a 34.7% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
In the first quarter of 2025, Vietnam’s economy showed signs of recovery, with several key indicators recording strong growth despite ongoing global uncertainties.
The 2024 Satisfaction Index of Public Administration Services (SIPAS) reached an average of 83.94%, up 1.28 percentage points from 2023.
On the evening of April 8, two Vietnamese working groups - from the Ministry of National Defence and the Ministry of Public Security, returned to Hanoi, successfully completing their humanitarian missions in Myanmar. The groups were deployed on March 30 to assist with search and rescue efforts in Myanmar following the devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake hitting the country on 28 March.
Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Spain Pedro Sánchez is paying an official visit to Vietnam from April 8-10 at the invitation of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. Vietnam and Spain established diplomatic relations on May 23, 1977. Over the past nearly 50 years, the bilateral relationship has grown intensively and comprehensively.
According to the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs, as of March 28, 2025, Vietnam had supported the removal of 168,027 temporary and dilapidated houses nationwide. They include 81,607 completed houses, and 86,420 under construction. To date, localities nationwide have received some 110 million USD, allocated from the program "Join hands to eliminate temporary and dilapidated houses", reaching nearly 82% of the target set by the Central Steering Committee for eradication of temporary and dilapidated houses.
April 7th is recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as World Health Day. Each year, the day focuses on a specific theme to raise awareness and encourage global action on health challenges. This year's theme is "Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures," aiming to strengthen maternal and child health protection to minimise disease and mortality risks. Vietnam has made significant efforts to protect the rights of women and children, particularly in maternal and child healthcare, aligning with sustainable development goals.
The Commemoration of the Hung Kings and the Hung Kings Temple Festival are among the most important festivals of the year for Vietnamese people. The worship of the Hung Kings is not only part of the cultural identity of the Vietnamese community but has also transcended national boundaries to become an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Vietnam’s gross domestic product (GDP) in the first quarter of 2025 is estimated to have grown by 6.93% year-on-year – the highest first-quarter growth rate recorded between 2020 and 2025.
Vietnam’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) hit 50.5 points in March, up slightly compared to February (49.2 points) and exceeded the 50-point threshold for the first time after 4 months. This signals improvements in business conditions by the end of the first quarter of 2025.
On behalf of the Party and State leaders of Vietnam, Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man and his spouse will attend the 150th Assembly of the Inter - Parliamentary Union (IPU-150) and pay official visits to Uzbekistan and Armenia from April 2-8. Over the past 45 years since joining the IPU, the Vietnamese parliament has consistently expressed itself as a responsible member, which has actively contributed to the union’s activities. This participation and contributions to the IPU have significantly enhanced the position of the National Assembly in particular and Vietnam as a whole on the international arena.
At the invitation of State President Luong Cuong and his spouse, President of Burundi Évariste Ndayishimiye and his spouse make an official visit to Vietnam on April 3-6, 2025. Taking place at a time when the two countries are celebrating the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties, the visit is considered a historic milestone in bilateral relations, and expected to further strengthen the friendship and cooperation between the two sides in all fields.
Former President of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and former President of Laos Khamtay Siphandone, who passed away on April 2 at the age of 102, is one of the core leaders of the first generation of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party. He is a patriot, a model revolutionary, and an outstanding leader of the Party and the Lao people. Throughout his life, General Khamtay Siphandone dedicated his intellect and strength to the revolutionary cause of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, the development of the country, and the prosperity and happiness of the Lao people of all ethnicities.