☀️ Morning digest on March 20

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

☀️ Morning digest on February 26
☀️ Morning digest on February 26

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

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hosted a reception for Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Szijjártó Péter in Hanoi on March 19, in which he emphasised Vietnam's commitment to strengthening ties with Hungary – the country's first comprehensive partner in Central and Eastern Europe.

pham-minh-chinh.jpg
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) hosts a reception for Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Szijjártó Péter in Hanoi on March 19. (Photo: VNA)

The Vietnamese leader acknowledged Hungary as a steadfast friend that has provided valuable support for Vietnam over the past 75 years. Read full story

- Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Chairman of its Commission for Information, Education and Mass Mobilisation Nguyen Trong Nghia hosted a reception for Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam He Wei in Hanoi on March 19.

While highlighted the history of Vietnam-China relations, Nghia stated that the Vietnamese Party and State always consider strengthening relations with China a strategic choice and a top priority in its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation, and diversification of international relations. Read full story

- Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son held talks with Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Szijjarto Peter in Hanoi on March 19, during which they agreed to strengthen the two countries' cooperation in various potential areas in the coming time.

Son spoke highly of the Hungarian minister's official visit, saying that it is an important activity to promote the Vietnam – Hungary comprehensive partnership, especially as the two countries are celebrating the 75th anniversary of their diplomatic ties (1950–2025). Read full story

- Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung paid a working trip to Guangdong province’s Shenzhen city on March 18 and 19 as part of his visit to China.

Meeting with Executive Vice Mayor of Shenzhen Tao Yongxin, Dung expressed his admiration for the city's transformation into a modern and prosperous metropolis, praising its remarkable economic and social achievements under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, headed by Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping. Read full story

- Toyota Motor Vietnam (TMV) rolled out its 700,000th car on March 19, becoming the first automaker in Vietnam to reach this milestone.

This event marks Toyota's 30 years of operations in Vietnam in September 2025, demonstrating the company's commitment to advancing the domestic automotive industry. Read full story

- As many as 200 Iranian tourists arrived in Ho Chi Minh City on March 19 on the first charter flight from the Middle Eastern country to Vietnam, marking a milestone in the bilateral tourism cooperation.

They will embark on a tour of Vietnam’s southern, central, and northern regions before concluding their visit on March 28./.Read full story

VNA

See more

NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man speaks at the meeting (Photo: VNA)

NA Chairman chairs meeting on preparations for 16th NA’s first session

The 16th National Assembly’s first session will elect finalise key state leadership positions, including the State President, Prime Minister, NA Chairman, NA vice chairpersons, Deputy PMs, Cabinet members, members of the NA Standing Committee, head of the NA Council for Ethnic Affairs and heads of NA committees.

Vietnamese PM Pham Minh Chinh (standing, left) and his Russian counterpart Mikhail Mishustin (standing, right) witness the signing of the agreement between the two governments on cooperation in building a nuclear power plant on the territory of Vietnam. (Photo: VNA)

PM’s Russia visit yields substantive outcomes: Deputy FM

During Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s official visit to Russia on March 22-25, Vietnam and Russia reached strong consensus on deepening political trust and mutual understanding, building on their long-standing traditional friendship.

Vietnamese mission staff and overseas Vietnamese in Australia visit Ship 016–Quang Trung (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese naval ship completes mission at Kakadu Exercise 2026

Ship 016–Quang Trung of Brigade 162 under Naval Region 4 departed Sydney Harbour on the morning of March 25 for home after successfully completing activities within the framework of the Exercise Kakadu Fleet Review 2026 marking the 125th anniversary of the Royal Australian Navy and the multilateral naval exercise Kakadu 2026.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has wrapped up the official visit to Russia from March 22 to 25. (Photo: VNA)

PM arrives in Hanoi, concluding official visit to Russia

With the outcomes achieved and strong implementation efforts by both sides, the Vietnam – Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is expected to grow further, contributing to socio-economic development in each country as well as to peace, friendship and cooperation in the region and the world.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (left) meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on March 25. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese Prime Minister meets Russian President in Moscow

President Putin said Vietnam remains a sincere friend and an important partner of Russia in the Asia-Pacific, stressing that Russia attaches importance to further deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung (Source: MoFA)

Vietnamese, Philippine foreign ministers hold phone talks

They agreed to further elevate cooperation across all areas, including politics, diplomacy, defence, security, economy, and people-to-people exchanges, contributing to the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries (July 12, 1976 – 2026).

Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh (R) receives Chay Borin, Minister of Cult and Religion of Cambodia, in Hanoi on March 25 (Photo: VNA)

Deputy PM receives Cambodian Minister of Cult and Religion in Hanoi

Deputy PM Mai Van Chinh welcomed Cambodian Minister of Cult and Religion Chay Borin and his entourage on their working visit to Vietnam to implement the cooperation agreement between Vietnam’s Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs and Cambodia’s Ministry of Cult and Religion for the 2026–2030 period.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Minh Tam (R) and Thongly Sisoulith, member of the Lao Party Central Committee and Secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Youth Union at a photo exhibition held as part of the ceremony marking he 95th anniversary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union in Vientiane on March 25. (Photo: VNA)

95th anniversary of Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union marked in Laos

Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Minh Tam described Vietnamese and Lao youth as the “architects” of the future of bilateral ties and called on young Vietnamese in Laos to strengthen their political awareness, pioneer digital transformation and entrepreneurship, and act as ambassadors of friendship between the two countries' people.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Minh Vu pays a New Year visit to the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Cambodia foster friendship, solidarity

At a meeting on March 25 at the headquarters of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces High Command, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Minh Vu conveyed his best New Year wishes to General Vong Pisen and all officers and soldiers of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces.