Politics

☀️ Morning digest on June 23

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

☀️ Morning digest on June 23

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

- General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam welcomed Acting US Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao, who is in Vietnam for the Pacific Partnership - Pacific Friendship 2026 (PP-PF26) mission, during a reception in Hanoi on June 22.

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General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam (R) meets with Acting US Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao in Hanoi on June 22. (Photo: VNA)

General Secretary and President Lam praised the selection of Quang Tri province, still scarred by war and recently battered by natural disasters, as the host for the humanitarian assistance and disaster response event. Through the Acting Secretary, he extended his regards to US President Donald Trump and the First Lady and reiterated his invitation for them to visit Vietnam at an early date. Read full story

- Measurable progress must be achieved by the end of 2026 in reducing administrative procedures, removing institutional bottlenecks and improving legal frameworks across key sectors, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam stressed while chairing the first meeting of the central steering committee for institutional perfection and law enforcement in Hanoi on June 22.

The event saw the presence of Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, deputy head of the central steering committee; National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, deputy head; and Permanent member of the Party Central Committee's Secretariat Tran Cam Tu, standing deputy head; among others. Read full story

- President of the Vietnam Journalists Association (VJA) Le Quoc Minh held a working session with President of the Journalists Association of Korea (JAK) Park Jong-hyun in Hanoi on June 22, wishing to draw lessons from Korean fellows.

Minh, who also serves as Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan newspaper and Vice Chairman of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Information, Education and Mass Mobilisation, praised the friendly cooperative ties between the two press associations in recent years. Read full story

- The Quang Tri provincial People’s Committee and the US Embassy in Vietnam kicked off the Pacific Partnership – Pacific Friendship 2026 (PP-PF 26) mission in Dong Hoi ward on June 22.

It brought together about 300 US military personnel and experts, along with representatives of Vietnamese agencies and units, targeting stronger disaster-response capacity, community health care, humanitarian assistance and people-to-people exchanges. Read full story

- Ho Chi Minh City’s centre for public transport management announced on June 22 the implementation of a programme to provide 100% bus fare support from July 1 through December 31.

Under the scheme, residents will be able to travel free of charge on 134 bus routes. Read full story

- Vietnam Report released its 2026 rankings of the country’s 10 most reputable commercial banks on June 22, with an awards ceremony slated for August in Hanoi.

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Vietcombank is among the 10 most reputable commercial banks for 2026 as selected by Vietnam Report. (Photo: VNA)

The rankings use financial strength as reflected in financial reports in the most recent year, media reputation assessed by using media coding of bank-related coverage across influential media channels, and surveys of relevant stakeholders, with data updated through May 2026. Read full story

- The Vietnam Cultural Industry Development Association, in collaboration with the Institute of Journalism and Social Communication, officially launched the 2026 Golden Torch Awards for Cultural Industries (GTACI) in Hanoi on June 22.

The initiative marks the first dedicated awards in Vietnam established to honour outstanding organisations and individuals in the sector. Read full story

- Several major bridges spanning the Red River are being built simultaneously in Hanoi, with several key projects targeted for completion before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting in 2027, according to the city's Transport Construction Investment Project Management Board.

As of mid-June 2026, the Tu Lien Bridge project and its approach roads had secured 96.7% of the required land area. Construction has progressed on multiple fronts, including completion of all bored piles and foundations for the main bridge towers. Work is also advancing at key interchanges, with the project scheduled for completion before APEC 2027. Read full story

- Vietnam and Canada on June 22 opened a United Nations Staff Officer Course (UNSOC) at the headquarters of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations (VDPO) under the Ministry of National Defence.

The course is the first UNSOC programme held since the training package was officially certified by the United Nations in March 2026, marking a significant milestone in the professionalisation and standardisation of peacekeeping training in Vietnam./. Read full story

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