☀️ Morning digest on June 23

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

☀️ Morning digest on June 23

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

- Party General Secretary To Lam has called on the Vietnamese revolutionary press to continue its vigorous growth, reaffirming its pioneering role on the ideological and cultural front in service of the national development cause.

Addressing a ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day in Hanoi on June 21, the Party chief lauded the press for fulfilling its noble mission of fostering public trust, building social consensus, and fueling national aspiration for a strong, prosperous, and happy Vietnam in the new era. Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has ordered that the national target programmes on new-style rural area development and sustainable poverty alleviation must result in substantive outcomes that enable people to benefit from.

Concluding a national online conference on June 22, the Government leader praised the remarkable achievements of the programmes over the recent past, stating the implementation of the two programmes and the two movements, “The whole nation joins hands to build new-style rural areas” and “For the poor – leaving no one behind”, have brought about positive changes to rural infrastructure, comprehensively improved the material and spiritual lives of farmers, and contributed to Vietnam's economic restructuring. Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has ordered that the restructuring of local governments must not hinder the implementation of the critical national programmes addressing substandard houses, transport infrastructure, and public investment disbursement.

Addressing at an online conference on June 22, the Government leader urged all levels of government to stay focused and not allow the organisation of two-tier local administration model to delay or disrupt other national priorities. Read full story

- Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu has highlighted the critical role of sustainable development in maintaining international peace and security, stressing that sustainable development is not only a goal but also a foundation for lasting peace.

Addressing a high-level open debate of the UN Security Council (UNSC) on “Poverty, Underdevelopment, and Conflict: Implications for the Maintenance of International Peace and Security” in New York on June 20, Vu stressed that challenges such as poverty, inequality, food insecurity, and loss of livelihoods are root causes of instability, and if left unaddressed, they can act as triggers that escalate tensions and fuel conflicts. Read full story

- The National Press Festival 2025 concluded on June 21 afternoon at the National Convention Centre in Hanoi, drawing representatives from various ministries and sectors, journalists, and press enthusiasts from both domestic and international communities.

Delivering the closing remarks, journalist Nguyen Duc Loi, Standing Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists’ Association and head of the organising committee, emphasised the three-day festival's resounding success, with nearly 130 booths from 80 central and local press agencies showcasing a panorama of the Vietnamese journalism's professional and modern development trajectory. Read full story

- The new Law on Teachers is a major step forward that will have a lasting impact on the care and education of children in Vietnam, said Silvia Danailov, UNICEF Representative in Vietnam.

This landmark legislation, adopted at the 15th National Assembly’s 9th session and set to take effect on January 1, 2026, also marks a transformative milestone in elevating the status of teachers nationwide, Danailov told the Vietnam News Agency. Read full story

- Vietnam’s North-South railway, known as the Reunification Express, has been named among the world's 24 most incredible train journeys to book in 2025, according to Australian travel magazine Lonely Planet.

“This is one of Southeast Asia’s best-loved railways – and one of the most epic overnight train journeys in the world,” Lonely Planet wrote. Read full story./.

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Party General Secretary To Lam receives US Ambassador Marc Evans Knapper in Hanoi on January 9, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Party leader receives outgoing US Ambassador

Vietnam always values its relationship with the US and looks forward to continuing close cooperation with the US government to deepen bilateral relations based on mutual respect for each other’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political institutions, contributing positively to peace, stability, cooperation, and development regionally and globally.

Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Nguyen Quoc Dung (Photo: VNA)

Foreign affairs contribute to enhancing Vietnam’s international standing: Diplomat

Foreign affairs played an important role in maintaining a peaceful and stable international and regional environment; expanding friendships and partnerships without creating adversaries; deepening international integration to attract and effectively utilise external resources for development, including markets, investment, science and technology, and human resources training; and promoting the image of a confident, resilient Vietnam actively contributing to global affairs, Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Nguyen Quoc Dung highlighted.

Deputy Minister of Finance Nguyen Duc Chi (standing) addresses the press conference (Photo: VNA)

Solid grounds for double-digit growth in 2026: Press conference

Speaking at the Government’s regular press conference on January 8, Deputy Minister of Finance Nguyen Duc Chi said that the solutions include further improving institutions and legal frameworks to remove bottlenecks and shift governance from control to facilitation; mobilising and efficiently allocating development resources, with public investment playing a leading role.

General Secretary of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee Thongloun Sisoulith delivers a closing speech at the 12th National Congress of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese Party chief congratulates Lao counterpart on re-election

General Secretary Lam firmly believed that, under the leadership of the LPRP Central Committee and the important role played by comrade Thongloun, the Lao Party and people would successfully fulfil the goals set out by the 12th Party Congress, building a peaceful, independent, democratic, unified and prosperous Laos.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang (right) and Norwegian Ambassador to Vietnam Hilde Solbakken (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Norway step up cooperation in green transition, circular economy

The Deputy Minister highly appreciated the efforts of Solbakken and the Norwegian Embassy in promoting the bilateral ties, and agreed that the two sides should further leverage each other’s strengths and needs to open up new cooperation opportunities, particularly in green transition, circular economy and climate change response.

☕ Afternoon briefing on January 8

☕ Afternoon briefing on January 8

The Government's conference reviewing its 2025 performance and set tasks for 2026, Vietnam – Japan trade exceeding 50 billion USD for the first time, and five cultural practices listed as national intangible cultural heritage are among news highlights on January 8.