☀️ Morning digest on April 21

The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last weekend by the Vietnam News Agency.

☀️ Morning digest on April 21

Hanoi (VNA) – The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last weekend by the Vietnam News Agency.

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh presided over a ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City on April 19 to launch the construction of and inaugurate 80 key national projects and major works across the country, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 1975 – 2025).

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Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the ceremony. (Photo: VNA)

The hybrid ceremony was held at Terminal T3 at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, and connected with 79 sites in 34 provinces and cities nationwide, and broadcast live on VTV1 channel of the Vietnam Television. Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended a ceremony for the pilot rollout of the electronic identification, authentication, and biometric boarding solution at Terminal 3, a new facility of Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, on April 19.

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PM Pham Minh Chinh (fifth from left) and officials at the ceremony for the pilot rollout of the electronic identification, authentication, and biometric boarding solution at Terminal 3 of Tan Son Nhat International Airport on April 19. (Photo: VNA)

The event marked the completion of a major infrastructure project commemorating the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification (April 30, 1975–2025). Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh paid a visit to the southern province of Dong Nai on April 19 to inspect and encourage military, militia, and police forces preparing for the grand parade commemorating the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification (April 30).

The parade will feature 25 military and militia formations and 17 police formations, with more than 13,000 personnel from all services and branches of the Vietnam People’s Army, People’s Public Security, and militia forces. Read full story

- Leaders of Vietnam and China agreed to elevate the comprehensive strategic cooperation - between the two countries to a new, higher-quality, and deeper level, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has stated.

Talking to the press following Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping’s visit to three Southeast Asian countries, including Vietnam, Wang said that this year marks the 75th founding anniversary of the two countries' diplomatic relations. Xi chose Vietnam as the first stop in his foreign visits in 2025, while To Lam also selected China as his first overseas destination to come after assuming the role of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam last year. Read full story

- Sixty-eight servicemen from Army Officer Training School No. 1 are in intensive training to represent the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) at a parade in Moscow’s iconic Red Square to mark the 80th anniversary of Russia’s victory in the Great Patriotic War (May 9).

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General Nguyen Tan Cuong, Chief of the General Staff of the Vietnam People's Army and Deputy Minister of National Defence, inspects the training. (Photo: VNA)

The school is conducting comprehensive training to enhance the troops' formation discipline and coordination skills, said Major General Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Thanh, vice rector of the school. Read full story

- Visitors traveling from the Phu Long cable car station to Xanh Island, a resort and tourism area on Cat Ba Island in the northern city of Hai Phong, will enjoy free electric vehicle service operated by Sun Group on a trial basis starting from April 18.

Accordingly, the service will be available from early morning until late evening, in accordance with the Sun World Cat Ba cable car schedule and events taking place at Xanh Island, making it more convenient for visitors to plan their travel and leisure activities. Read full story

- A wide range of activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification will be held in Ho Chi Minh City from April 19-30.

Speaking at a press conference on April 18, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Le Hai Binh highlighted the exceptional political significance of the event, saying that it is “a milestone event of half a century, significant for the entire country, and an event that also holds global importance.” Read full story

- The 10th-anniversary of IRONMAN in the country will be celebrated with the return of 2025 IRONMAN 70.3 Vietnam, the region’s largest multi-sports festival, on May 9 -11 in the central city of Da Nang.

This year’s theme, 'A Decade of Triumph – Where Every Finish Line is a New Beginning' marks ten years of the sport's growth, inspiring future athletes and highlighting Vietnam as a premier endurance sports destination./. Read full story

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Nguyen Thi Thuy Linh, a third-year student majoring in Chinese language at Beijing Language and Culture University, speaks in an interview with a Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Beijing. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese students in China anticipate election with great hope

Many Vietnamese students in China said that although they are studying abroad, they remain deeply connected to their homeland and aspire to contribute their knowledge and international experience to the country’s development. For them, the upcoming election represents not only a significant political event at home but also an opportunity for overseas Vietnamese to place their confidence in Vietnam’s next phase of growth

The appointment decision handover ceremony is held in Hanoi on March 12. (Photo: VNA)

PM appoints new leader for Vietnam’s top science academy

PM Pham Minh Chinh asked the VAST to continue to serve as the Party and State’s strategic advisory body on science – technology in key areas such as artificial intelligence, energy, marine economy, water security, and aerospace, alongside building a national sci-tech database.

Do Thanh Hai (right), Deputy Director-General of the East Sea Institute under the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, speaks at the dialogue. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, India promote maritime security cooperation through blue economy development

Through four rounds of bilateral “Track 1” Maritime Security Dialogue, the two sides have outlined priority areas of cooperation, including marine scientific research, blue economy development, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, naval and coast guard cooperation, maritime law enforcement, capacity building, and maritime connectivity.

Ha Thi Nga (right), Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, meets with V.G. Kalganov, Deputy Chairman of the External Relations Committee of Saint Petersburg, in Hanoi on March 12. (Photo: mattran.org.vn)

Vietnam, Saint Petersburg step up people-to-people exchanges

The VFF will continue strengthening bilateral ties and promoting cooperation activities, while seeking closer coordination and support from Saint Petersburg to expand people-to-people exchanges in the coming period, VFF Vice President and General Secretary Ha Thi Nga has said.

National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man speaks at the meeting. (Photo: VNA)

Top legislator asked for thorough preparations for NA, People’s Council election

With only three days left before voters head to the polls on March 15, the top legislator described the election as a particularly important political event and a major national occasion that demonstrates the people’s right to exercise their democratic power by directly choosing qualified representatives to the NA and People’s Councils at all levels.

Ship 17 of Brigade 171 under Naval Region 2 of the Vietnam People’s Navy. (Photo: VNA)

Navy ship completes Milan 2026 multinational exercise in India

Over a journey covering more than 5,000 nautical miles, the ship’s officers and crew combined operational participation with extended sea training aimed at enhancing command coordination capabilities, combat readiness, mastery of weapons and technical equipment, and overall physical endurance.

An overview of the 10th session of the 15th National Assembly which opens on October 20, 2025. (Illustrative photo: VNA)

France-based expert suggests elevating parliamentary diplomacy to support national development

Inter-parliamentary cooperation should be closely aligned with the country’s development priorities, including institutional reform, trade and investment, digital transformation, green transition, energy security, high-quality human resources development and the implementation of international commitments, said Le Van Tranh, a Vietnamese doctoral researcher in law at Paris Panthéon-Assas University in France.

Residents visit polling stations in their wards to review the list of candidates for deputies to the 16th National Assembly and members of People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026–2031 term. (Photo: VNA)

📝OP-ED: Resolutely removing discordant voices ahead of national election day

When March 15 arrives, one will see elderly voters approaching a hundred years old making their way to the polls, young voters casting their ballots with enthusiasm, and multi-generational families going together to fulfil their civic duty. Together, these moments will create a vibrant atmosphere, resembling a national celebration.

Le Thuong, Chairwoman of the Vietnamese Association in the Kansai region, Japan. (Photo: VNA)

OV in Japan place high expectations on NA, People’s Council election

Le Thuong, Chairwoman of the Vietnamese Association in the Kansai region, said overseas Vietnamese are closely following the upcoming election, viewing it as an important opportunity to strengthen the effectiveness of governance and ensure that development policies meet the country’s evolving needs.