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 in Hanoi on March 5 for Lao Deputy Minister of National Defence and Chief of the General Staff of the Lao People’s Army (LPA) Lieut. Gen Saichay Kommasith, believing that he will play a crucial role in developing the Lao army while bolstering bilateral defence ties.
Stressing the enduring significance of the great Vietnam-Laos friendship in national building and safeguarding of both countries, PM Chinh reaffirmed Vietnam’s appreciation for Laos' support in national defence and development. Read full story
- The proposed merger of provincial- and commune-level administrative units must go beyond meeting established principles, criteria, and standards related to area and population, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Chairing a meeting of the Government’s Party Committee in Hanoi on March 5, PM Chinh, who is also its Secretary, stressed the importance of preserving each region's unique geographical, socio-economic, cultural, and historical characteristics, while ensuring that merged units can complement and support one another. Read full story
- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh called on AstraZeneca to accelerate the transfer of proprietary drug manufacturing and vaccine technologies to Vietnam while hosting a reception in Hanoi on March 5 for Nitin Kapoor, Chairman and General Director of AstraZeneca Vietnam.
PM Chinh expressed his appreciation for AstraZeneca and Kapoor’s practical and effective support during Vietnam’s battle against COVID-19 pandemic. He spotlighted the company’s delivery of 30 million vaccine doses ahead of schedule and at a reduced cost, despite global supply chain disruptions. Read full story
- Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic Adylbek Aleshovich Kasymaliev arrived in Hanoi on March 5 evening, beginning his official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh.
This is the first visit to Vietnam by a Kyrgyz prime minister since the two countries established diplomatic relations. The trip is expected to promote friendship ties and deepen bilateral cooperation in all fields between the two nations. Read full story
- Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang visited Uzbekistan from March 3-4 for a political consultation, at the invitation of the host country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs
On March 4, Hang and her Uzbek counterpart I. Khaydarov co-chaired the political consultation. Both sides provided updates on their respective countries' recent socio-economic development and expressed satisfaction with the positive progress in bilateral traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation. Read full story
- The Vietnam International Furniture and Home Accessories Fair 2025 (VIFA EXPO 2025) opened at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City on March 5, reaffirming its status as the country’s largest and most influential furniture trade event.
The three-day exhibition showcases an extensive array of products, including indoor and outdoor furniture, handicrafts, home décor, machinery, and supporting services. Covering over 40,000 sq.m, VIFA EXPO 2025 offers a dynamic business environment for enterprises to showcase their latest innovations and forge connections with foreign buyers. Read full story
- Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien has issued a directive regarding several solutions to develop markets, manage import activities, and achieve an export growth rate of 12% this year.
According to the directive, in 2025, Vietnam has favourable opportunities for continued export growth thanks to global economic recovery, controlled inflation, and the expansion of export markets in line with tariff reductions under Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). However, there are still many challenges, such as the increasing trend of protectionism in importing countries, fierce competition with goods from other exporting nations, and the potential for trade wars that could disrupt supply chains and narrow export markets. Read full story
- A delegation from China Railway No. 2 Group has expressed interest in resuming the long-dormant Da Lat - Thap Cham railway line project and expanding international flights from Lien Khuong airport to several Asian countries.
At a working session on March 5 with the group’s Deputy General Director and Chief Accountant Guan Huapinh, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Tran Hong Thai confirmed that the Da Lat – Thap Cham railway line has been included in detailed planning under decisions issued by the Prime Minister and the Politburo. Read full story
- The Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX) reported that in February 2025, a total of 16 government bond auctions were conducted, successfully raising nearly 29.13 trillion VND (1.2 billion USD) for the State Treasury.
In the first two months of the year, government bond issuances through HNX auctions reached 45.11 trillion VND, fulfilling 41% of the first-quarter target and 9% of the annual plan for 2025. Read full story
- The recent decision of the Politburo of the Communist Party of Vietnam to waive all school fees for students from kindergarten to high school levels in the public school system nationwide is a significant step toward integration and equal opportunities for all children, according to UNICEF Representative to Vietnam Silvia Danailov.
Danailov congratulated Vietnam on this decision, stating that it is conformable to the country’s international commitments, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Sustainable Development Goal 4./. Read full story
