Hanoi (VNA) – The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last night by the Vietnam News Agency.
- Party General Secretary To Lam on January 9 received US Ambassador Marc Knapper, who paid a farewell visit upon completing his tenure in Vietnam.
During the reception, the Party leader congratulated Ambassador Knapper on successfully completing his term and highly appreciated his significant contributions to the development of the Vietnam – US comprehensive strategic partnership. Read full story
- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hosted a reception in Hanoi on January 9 for Yan Jiehe, founder of the China Pacific Construction Group, one of China’s largest private enterprises in infrastructure investment, construction, operation and management.
Praising the group’s recent role as a contractor in major infrastructure projects in Hanoi, PM Chinh welcomed its proposals to join large-scale infrastructure developments in Vietnam in the coming years and encouraged more investment in the country. Read full story
- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has directed an end to scattered public investment and ordered that the total number of State-funded public investment projects during the 2026–2030 period be strictly limited to no more than 3,000.
Addressing a national conference on public investment promotion for 2025 and 2026 on January 9, PM Chinh reviewed disbursement performance for 2025 and the full 2021–2025 term, saying that the Government has taken sustained and decisive action to create a solid legal framework, untangle bottlenecks and unlock resources for development. Read full story
- The Vietnam International Financial Center (IFC) in the central city of Da Nang was inaugurated on January 9, marking the official launch of Vietnam’s international financial centre model in accordance with Government Decree No. 323/ND-CP dated December 18, 2025.
The ceremony formally announced the commencement of operations of the IFC in Da Nang and provided domestic and foreign organisations, businesses, and investors with information on its key features, development plans, and implementation roadmap. The event also marked the launch of the official website of the IFC in Da Nang. Read full story
- The Netherlands remained Vietnam’s largest trading partner among the 27 European Union (EU) members for the second consecutive year in 2025, while also being the European market Vietnam posted the biggest trade surplus with, according to the Vietnam Trade Office in the Netherlands.
Bilateral trade reached 14.3 billion USD in 2025, up 3.8% year on year, with Vietnam recording a trade surplus of 12.7 billion USD, the highest among its European markets. Read full story
- Singapore-based United Overseas Bank (UOB) has raised its forecast for Vietnam’s GDP growth in 2026 to 7.5% from a previous estimate of 7%, citing the country’s stronger-than-expected economic performance in 2025.
According to UOB’s latest Vietnam economic outlook report, the country’s real GDP expanded by 8.46% year-on-year in the fourth quarter of 2025, accelerating from 8.25% in the third quarter. The robust performance was largely driven by resilient export activity and steady manufacturing despite the adverse impact of US tariffs. Read full story
- Entering 2026, the footwear and handbag market is forecast to remain stable, with major orders continuing to favour Vietnam. The key challenge now is how to add greater value along the production chain, rather than pursuing volume alone, thereby enhancing competitiveness and profitability for businesses.
Vietnam currently ranks third globally in footwear production, with around 1.4 billion pairs manufactured annually, behind China and India, and second in exports with approximately 1.3 billion pairs a year. This performance has been underpinned by an abundant workforce, helping the sector maintain strong production capacity and international competitiveness. Read full story
- The Ministry of Public Security on January 9 held a ceremony in Thuong Duc commune, Da Nang city, to review the “Quang Trung Campaign,” under which the force swiftly built and repaired houses for families whose homes were destroyed or severely damaged by natural disasters in the central and Central Highlands regions.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Public Security Lieutenant General Dang Hong Duc said that after 40 days and nights of intensive deployment, the campaign had been completed successfully and beyond the set targets. The initiative focused on constructing new houses and repairing damaged homes for households affected by the historic storms and floods that struck the regional provinces in 2025. Read full story
- Political Commissar of Vietnam Coast Guard Region 4 Command Maj. Gen Nguyen Van Dung on January 9 visited patrol vessel KN-373 in the southern province of An Giang, where he asked officers and sailors to prepare for joint operations to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing during the 2026 Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday.
The vessel, assigned to Fisheries Surveillance Flotilla No. 3 under Coast Guard Region 2 Command, will work closely with units from Region 4 during the operations./. Read full story
