Hanoi (VNA) – The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last night by the Vietnam News Agency.
- Party General Secretary To Lam hosted a reception for President of the European Council (EC) António Costa in Hanoi on January 29.
At the meeting, General Secretary Lam said he was pleased to hold another cordial exchange with the EC President following their phone talks on April 30, 2025, when Vietnam marked the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification. Read full story
- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had a meeting in Hanoi on January 29 with visiting President of the European Council (EC) António Costa, during which he expressed his hope for stronger cooperation between Vietnam and the European Union (EU).
Welcoming EC President Costa, PM Chinh said the visit is of particular significance as Vietnam and the EU have just elevated their relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. He described the upgrade as a historic milestone reflecting a new stage of development in the bilateral ties and conveying a strong message in support of cooperation at the regional and global levels. Read full story
- Vietnamese State President Luong Cuong and President of the European Council (EC) António Costa chaired a joint press conference to brief on the outcomes of their earlier talks in Hanoi on January 29.
President Cuong said the EC President’s visit is of great importance as it comes shortly after the successful 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV). He noted the trip also marks a milestone in Vietnam–EU relations, as the two sides upgrade their ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, reflecting their long-term vision for the new phase. Read full story
- Vietnamese State President Luong Cuong and President of the European Council (EC) António Costa on January 29 officially announced the upgrading of Vietnam–EU relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership after 35 years of establishing diplomatic ties.
The agreement was reached during their talks in Hanoi within the framework of the EC President’s official visit to Vietnam on January 28 and 29. Read full story
- Vietnam always regards the European Union (EU) and its member states as important partners in its process of integration and national development, National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man told visiting European Council President António Costa in Hanoi on January 29.
He said Vietnam highly values the EU’s support, particularly in green economy development, digital transformation, climate change response, and major infrastructure projects. Read full story
- Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung joined his counterparts from other ASEAN member countries and the ASEAN Secretary-General at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat (AMM Retreat) that opened in Cebu, the Philippines, on January 29 under the chair of Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Maria Theresa Lazaro.
Addressing the event, Trung briefed participants on the outcomes of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, underscoring Vietnam’s consistent policy of strategic autonomy, self-reliance and self-strengthening, inclusive and sustainable development, innovation, digital transformation and green transition, in alignment with the ASEAN Vision 2045. Read full story
- Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan has expressed hope that the upcoming sixth round of reciprocal tariff negotiations with the US, slated for next week, will deliver positive outcomes.
Speaking at the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)’s regular press briefing in Hanoi on January 29, Tan said the ministry and Vietnam’s negotiating team have worked closely with relevant ministries and agencies to submit a set of proposed options. The team has already shared detailed parameters and product lists with the US side in a bid to facilitate greater market access for US goods. Read full story
- Although inflationary pressures in 2026 are not expected to be particularly high, several risks remain due to the volatility in global energy, fuel and commodity prices, according to Nguyen Thi Huong, Director General of the National Statistics Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Finance.
Given Vietnam’s inflation control in 2025, economists expect inflation in 2026 to remain moderate, averaging about 3.5%. Still, higher international logistics and transport costs could keep driving up production expenses and commodity prices, she noted. Read full story
- Many textile and garment firms in Vietnam have secured production orders through the end of the first quarter of 2026, but face mounting pressure from shrinking margins, rising costs and increasingly short-term contracts, industry insiders said.
Market analysts said that although global demand remains relatively stable, the sector continues to struggle with higher input costs, including wages and logistics, while selling prices remain under pressure due to weak bargaining power. International brands are also shifting away from long-term contracts toward smaller, more flexible orders that can be adjusted quickly in response to market volatility. Read full story
- The Hanoi People’s Committee held a ceremony on January 29 at Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam (the Temple of Literature) in Hanoi to receive UNESCO’s recognition of the capital as a member of the Global Network of Learning Cities.
Addressing the event, Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Vu Dai Thang affirmed that in recent years, the city has focused on improving mechanisms and policies, prioritising investment in education and training, and building an open, flexible and inclusive learning environment, creating favourable conditions for all citizens to pursue lifelong learning./. Read full story
