☀️ Morning digest on June 16

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

☀️ Morning digest on June 16

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

- Prime Minister has ordered that the grassroots political system, including Party organisations, administrations, the Fatherland Front Committees and socio-political organisations at the communal level, must be fully and synchronously operational nationwide by June 30.

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Prime Minister addresses the conference on June 15 (Photo: VNA)

The PM made the request while delivering the closing remarks at the national training conference on the organisation and operations of Party organisation, local administrations, Vietnam Fatherland Front committee, and political-mass organisations at the commune level, which concluded on June 15. Read full story

- State President Luong Cuong, Chairman of the National Defence and Security Council and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, on June 14 presented the decisions on promoting three Deputy Ministers of Public Security from the rank of Lieutenant General to Senior Lieutenant General.

Authorised by the State President, Vice Chairman of the Presidential Office Pham Thanh Ha announced the State leader’s decisions on the rank promotion for Deputy Ministers of Public Security Le Tan Toi, who is also a member of the Party Central Committee, a member of the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee, Chairman of the NA Committee for National Defence, Security and External Relations; Le Van Tuyen; and Nguyen Van Long. Read full story

- National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man has praised the vital role of journalism in national development, commending generations of journalists for their steadfast contributions to the cause of national construction and defence over the past century.

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General Director of the Vietnam News Agency Vu Viet Trang presents National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man with a bilingual photo book titled “100 Years of Vietnam’s Revolutionary Press (1925–2025),” compiled and published by the News Agency Publishing House. (Photo: VNA)

Speaking at a meeting with leaders of major media agencies on June 15 to mark the 100th anniversary of the Vietnamese Revolutionary Press (June 21, 1925–2025), Chairman Man extended his gratitude and congratulations to the country’s journalists for their remarkable achievements and efforts. Read full story

- Vietnam has become a BRICS partner country, with a desire to contribute actively to enhancing the voice and role of developing countries, while promoting international solidarity and inclusive multilateralism based on respect for international law, said spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang.

In response to a reporter's question regarding Brazil's announcement of Vietnam's status as a partner country of the group on June 14, Hang said that in the spirit of proactive, comprehensive and effective international integration, Vietnam has been making practical contributions to multilateral mechanisms, organisations and forums, thereby contributing to peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and around the world. Read full story

- The Ministry of National Defence on June 15 announced no-fly and restricted zones for unmanned aircraft and other flying craft in Vietnam’s airspace.

This move follows the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 18/2020/QD-TTg dated June 10, 2020, on the establishment of no-fly and restricted zones for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and ultralight flying craft. On May 30, 2025, the Central Steering Committee for the implementation of Decision No. 18/2020/QD-TTg issued a plan to publicise these zones on the Ministry of National Defence’s official portal. Read full story

- The Portugal–Vietnam Friendship Association has made its debut in the Portuguese city of Porto, marking a significant step in strengthening ties between the two countries.

Addressing the launching ceremony on June 13, President of the association José Pedro Vieira expressed his delight at the association’s official establishment, noting that it brings together Portuguese individuals from various professional backgrounds who share a strong affection for Vietnam. Read full story

- UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix has lauded Vietnam’s extraordinary efforts in addressing post-war consequences and contributing to UN peacekeeping, highlighting the country’s strong political will and long-term vision.

Speaking at a press briefing in Hanoi on June 13, Lacroix acknowledged the immense challenges Vietnam continues to face, notably from unexploded ordnance (UXO) left over from war. Read full story

- The “Ting Ting Day” Festival opened on June 14 on Nguyen Hue pedestrian street in District 1 as part of the 2025 HCM City Cashless Day programme, aimed at promoting cashless payments and the development of the digital economy.

The event is co-organised by the State Bank of Vietnam, Tuoi tre (Youth) newspaper, the HCM City Department of Industry and Trade, and the National Payment Corporation of Vietnam. Read full story

- An international conference on Hallyu (the Korean Wave) and the teaching of the Korean language and culture in the digital era was held on 14 June in Da Nang.

This year’s event received over 50 research papers covering a broad range of topics, including Korean language education, translation and interpretation, and Korean culture. The authors included professors, researchers, and lecturers from the Republic of Korea (RoK), Vietnam, Japan, and China./. Read full story

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Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Gen. Phan Van Giang (R) and Lieut. Gen. Adul Boonthumjaroen, Thai Minister of Defence (Photo: qdnd.vn)

Vietnam, Thailand to create new momentum for defence ties

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Gen. Phan Van Giang proposed the two sides push forward with key cooperation areas, including delegation exchanges at all levels, particularly those at high level; continued dialogue and consultation mechanisms; training, military and maritime law enforcement exchanges, cybersecurity, and defence industry.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man (R) and Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Thailand strengthen sharing of legislative and oversight experience

Based on the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between Vietnam’s National Assembly and Thailand’s House of Representatives, signed in 2023, Vietnam and Thailand agreed to continue exchanges of delegations at all levels, expand interactions between parliamentary friendship groups, especially the Vietnam–Thailand Parliamentary Friendship Group, as well as among women and young parliamentarians, while maintaining close coordination at multilateral forums.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung (R) and his Thai counterpart Anutin Charnvirakul (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Thailand vow to deepen Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

The two sides committed to expanding cooperation in agriculture and food security, as well as in emerging fields such as science and technology, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, digital economy, green economy, just energy transition and innovation. ​

NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man (R) and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese NA Chairman lauds legislative ties with Cambodia

The Vietnamese legislature always supports the further deepening of the good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability between the two countries, said National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man.

Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Bui Thi Minh Hoai (R) and Vice Chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Xian Hui. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, China deepen people-to-people friendship, cooperation

The National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference stands ready to work closely with the Vietnam Fatherland Front in implementing the important common perceptions reached by the two countries’ high-ranking leaders, enhancing exchanges and cooperation, and promoting the building of the China–Vietnam community with a shared future in a deeper and more substantive manner.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung (R) and his Cambodian counterpart Hun Manet before the talks (Photo: VNVA)

Vietnamese, Cambodian PMs advance practical, results-oriented partnership during talks

The Vietnamese and Cambodian PMs agreed to keep shoring up the foundation of political trust and maintain close defence-security ties, pledging not to let hostile forces use either country’s territory to undermine or threaten the security and interests of the other. They vowed to enhance economic connectivity and joint work in culture, education and tourism.

A video footage released by the Houthi forces in Yemen shows a hypersonic missile being launched from a secret location in Yemen toward targets in Israel. Photo: Xinhua/VNA.

Vietnamese Embassy in Israel urges citizens to enhance safety measures

The Vietnamese Embassy in Israel recommended that Vietnamese nationals regularly follow alerts and instructions issued by the Israeli Home Front Command; install and use the official Home Front Command warning application; and immediately move to a safe room or shelter when air raid sirens sound. They should avoid unnecessary travel and stay away from areas considered unsafe or at risk of unsafety.

ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn in an interview with the Vietnam News Agency's resident correspondents in Jakarta. (Photo: VNA)

ASEAN Secretary-General highlights Vietnam’s agenda-shaping role through ASEAN Future Forum

ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn described the forum as an important Vietnamese initiative aimed at advancing ASEAN diplomacy at both regional and global levels. Vietnam’s decision to host the event for a third consecutive year in 2026, following the success of the 2024 and 2025 editions, demonstrates its strong commitment to ASEAN Community building as well as efforts to enhance the bloc’s international standing.

Leaders across ASEAN member states gather in Hanoi on June 8 for the ASEAN Cities Leader Conference 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi promotes ASEAN urban cooperation toward smart, sustainable development

Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Vu Dai Thang emphasised that the presence of delegates at the event reflects ASEAN’s spirit of solidarity, cooperation, and shared aspiration to build sustainable, prosperous, and people-centred cities. He noted that ASEAN is among the world’s most dynamic regions, where rapid urbanisation has turned cities into key hubs of economic growth, innovation, and regional connectivity.

Party General Secretary and State President To Lam addresses the meeting. (Photo: VNA)

New mindset, vision necessary in marine development: Top leader

The sea should not be viewed solely as an area for resource exploitation or sectoral economic development. It must be recognised as a strategic national development space where economic growth, national defence, security, science and technology, and international integration converge, said Party General Secretary and State President To Lam.