☀️ Morning digest on July 3

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

☀️ Morning digest on July 3

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

- Prime Minister Le Minh Hung received in Hanoi on July 2 Maeda Tadashi, Governor of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), who pledged that the bank will continue to support Vietnam's strategic development goals.

PM Hung expressed appreciation for Maeda's personal contributions and JBIC's continued financial support for Japanese-invested projects in Vietnam. Read full story

- The National Payment Corporation of Vietnam (NAPAS), Singapore-based Liquid Group and Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade (VietinBank) officially launched a cross-border QR payment service between Vietnam and Singapore on July 2.

The new connection is expected to facilitate tourism and trade while strengthening digital payment infrastructure in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region. Read full story

- Brazilian Ambassador to Vietnam Marco Farani was awarded Vietnam’s Friendship Order on July 2 in recognition of his significant contributions to advancing bilateral relations.

Presenting the state honour, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang said the award reflects the high regard of the Vietnamese Party, State and people for Farani’s role in strengthening the friendship and cooperation between the two nations. He praised the ambassador’s dedication, professionalism and unwavering commitment throughout his tenure in Vietnam. Read full story

- Vietnam has shared its experience and reaffirmed its commitment to United Nations (UN) peacekeeping at the 22nd ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) Experts' Working Group (EWG) on Peacekeeping Operations, with a strong focus on advancing the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) agenda.

The meeting, co-chaired by Brunei and China, took place from June 29 to July 3 in Bandar Seri Begawan and Penanjong, Brunei, as part of the fifth ADMM+ cycle (2024–2027). Vietnam's delegation was headed by Colonel Nguyen Nhu Canh, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations. Read full story

- Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) have concluded negotiations on a free trade agreement (FTA), which is expected to open a new chapter in bilateral cooperation, creating a solid framework for promoting trade and investment, and expanding collaboration across sectors, the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) said.

On July 2, Vietnam and EFTA, comprising Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, issued a joint communiqué announcing the conclusion of the talks. Read full story

- A special live television programme, "Rang ro ten Nguoi" (Radiant in His Name), was held in Ho Chi Minh City on July 2 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Saigon–Gia Dinh officially being renamed after President Ho Chi Minh (July 2, 1976–2026).

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An art performance at the programme (Photo: VNA)


The programme retraced the city's half-century journey of construction and development while conveying the affection and pride of people across the country for Vietnam's economic powerhouse. Read full story

- Kärcher Vietnam Technology Co., Ltd. on July 2 inaugurated a cleaning equipment factory (second phase) in Da Nang city, with an investment of about 484 billion VND (18.41 million USD).

Construction of the new facility, located at the Tam Hiep Port Logistics and Industrial Park in the Chu Lai Open Economic Zone, began in July 2025. Equipped with advanced manufacturing technologies, it is designed to produce cleaning equipment that meets international standards for quality, safety and sustainability. Read full story

- Can Tho and partners from the Republic of Korea (RoK) are seeking to expand cooperation in smart urban development, artificial intelligence (AI) and green industry, following talks between the municipal People's Committee and a RoK delegation led by Prof. Kim Hak-min, head of the Ethics Investigation Advisory Committee of the RoK National Assembly.

During the meeting on July 2, Kim said the delegation aims to deepen cooperation with the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho in cultural exchanges, high-quality human resources development, and the implementation of existing joint projects./. Read full story

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Nearly 1,000 students and lecturers from universities and colleges across Can Tho city attend the event at Can Tho University on July 15, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Philippines strengthen people-to-people friendship

Shirley Nuevo, Acting Consul General of the Philippines in Ho Chi Minh City, said the past 50 years have demonstrated how the two countries and their peoples have grown together as friends, trusted partners and close neighbours within the ASEAN family.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung addresses the working session with the Standing Board of the Tuyen Quang Party Committee in Vi Xuyen commune on July 15, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

PM urges Tuyen Quang to accelerate measures to achieve double-digit growth

The PM chaired a working session on July 15 with the Standing Board of the Tuyen Quang Party Committee on socio-economic development, the double-digit growth target, public investment disbursement, the operation of the two-tier local government model, implementation of Politburo Resolution No. 57, and measures to address local challenges.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang (right), who is also head of the ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) delegation of Vietnam, and EU Ambassador to ASEAN Sujiro Seam at their meeting in Hanoi (Photo published by VNA)

Vietnam pledges continued contributions to ASEAN-EU ties: Deputy FM

Deputy FM Dang Hoang Giang, who is also head of the ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) delegation of Vietnam, spoke highly of the positive progress in the ASEAN-EU Strategic Partnership, noting that the EU has become one of ASEAN's most reliable partners and has provided substantial support for the ASEAN Community-building process.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung (R) receives Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Tshering Sherpa in Hanoi on July 15. (Photo: VNA)

Foreign Minister receives Indian Ambassador

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung said Vietnamese authorities are expediting investigations into the cause of the recent speedboat accident and will strictly address any violations while strengthening safety regulations to prevent similar incidents.

Nguyen Van Tho (R), Permanent Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council and Chairman of the municipal Vietnam–US Friendship Association, presents flowers to Melissa A. Brown, US Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, at the get-together marking the 250th anniversary of the US’s Independence Day in the city on July 15, 2026. (Photo: Xuan Khu/VNA)

People-to-people friendship forms key foundation of Vietnam–US ties: diplomat

Vietnam and the US have established a comprehensive strategic partnership based on mutual respect for each other's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and political systems. By putting the past behind, looking towards the future, building on common interests, and managing differences properly, they have advanced relations for the benefit of both peoples.

Politburo member and Permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Tran Cam Tu lays flowers at the graves of the 10 female youth volunteer martyrs at the national special historical relic site of Dong Loc T-junction. (Photo: VNA)

Senior Party official offers incense at Kim Lien, Dong Loc memorial sites

At the Kim Lien site, Tu and accompanying delegates offered flowers and incense in memory of President Ho Chi Minh, the beloved leader of the Vietnamese nation, a national liberation hero and a great man of culture who devoted his life to the revolutionary cause of the Party, the nation and the people, as well as to peace and social progress worldwide.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung speaks at the working session with the Standing Board of the Lang Son provincial Party Committee. (Photo: VNA)

PM urges Lang Son to turn border advantages into new growth drivers

The Government leader instructed Lang Son province to vigorously implement its growth plan for the second half of 2026, with the goal of achieving annual GRDP growth of at least 10%. He called for clear accountability across agencies, regular updates to monthly and quarterly growth scenarios, close monitoring of key growth drivers, and periodic reporting to ensure timely policy responses.

The flight carrying the mortal remains of Indian victims departs Ho Chi Minh City on July 13. (Photo published by VNA)

Indian Embassy thanks Vietnam for support after Phu Quoc boat tragedy

The embassy said on its official X account that the flight carrying the victims' mortal remains departed Ho Chi Minh City on July 13 and arrived in Mumbai later the same day. Authorities in the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Tamil Nadu coordinated the transportation of the remains to their final destinations.

Vice President of the Da Nang Union of Friendship Organisations Nguyen Ngoc Binh speaks at the ceremony marking the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Chile (1971–2026) in Da Nang on the evening of July 14, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Da Nang marks 55 years of Vietnam–Chile diplomatic relations

The two countries established diplomatic relations on March 25, 1971, with Chile becoming the first South American nation to establish official ties with Vietnam. Over the past 55 years, bilateral friendship and cooperation have continued to deepen across a wide range of fields, providing a solid foundation for stronger political, economic, trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Minh Tam (L) meets with Secretary of the Vientiane provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial People's Council Phouthanouphet Xaysombath on July 14. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Laos seek deeper cooperation between localities

Tam reaffirmed that the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos would continue acting as a bridge to promote cooperation between Vientiane province and Vietnamese localities and businesses, helping improve the effectiveness of joint projects in the coming years.