☀️ Morning digest on May 16

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

☀️ Morning digest on May 16

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

- Party General Secretary To Lam and a working delegation on May 15 offered flowers and incense at Chung Son Temple dedicated to President Ho Chi Minh's ancestors, and at Kim Lien Special National Relic Site in Nam Dan district of central Nghe An province in commemoration of the 135th birth anniversary of the late leader (May 19, 1890 – 2025).

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Party General Secretary To Lam and his delegation offer flowers and incense at Chung Son Temple dedicated to President Ho Chi Minh's ancestors. (Photo: VNA)

General Secretary Lam expressed his gratitude and respect to President Ho Chi Minh – a revered national hero and the founder of the Communist Party of Vietnam, who devoted his whole life to the cause of national liberation and the struggle for peace, and happiness of the people of Vietnam and the world. Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his visiting Thai counterpart Paetongtarn Shinawatra on May 15 afternoon contemplated and experienced unique handicraft products of Vietnam and visited a photo exhibition featuring the two countries and their relations.

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Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his visiting Thai counterpart Paetongtarn Shinawatra contemplate and experience unique handicraft products of Vietnam on May 15. (Photo: VNA)

Organised at the Government Headquarters, the photo exhibition introduces Vietnam, Thailand, their people and relationship through nearly 20 black and white, and colour photos. In particular, the photos record the development process of the bilateral relationship from the official establishment of diplomatic relations on August 6, 1976, to the "Enhanced Strategic Partnership" in 2015 to present, with many important achievements in the fields of politics, diplomacy, economy - trade - investment, culture, education - training, tourism, and people-to-people exchange. Read full story

- National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man on May 15 afternoon had a meeting with Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra who is on an official visit to Vietnam, where she will also co-chair the 4th Vietnam - Thailand Joint Cabinet Meeting.

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National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man (R) welcomes Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra in Hanoi on May 15. (Photo: VNA)

Chairman Man highly appreciated the important significance of the visit, which takes place at a time when the Vietnam - Thailand Enhanced Strategic Partnership is developing strongly and extensively in all fields, believing that the trip will be an important milestone, opening a new phase for Vietnam - Thailand relations. Read full story

- Spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang has updated the media on the current state of trade negotiations between Vietnam and the US at the ministry's regular press conference on May 15.

She affirmed that Vietnam has been actively and proactively promoting balanced and sustainable trade and investment cooperation with the US on the basis of effectiveness, frankness, equality, mutual respect, and mutual benefit. Read full story

- As of May 15, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in close coordination with Vietnam’s representative missions in Myanmar and Thailand, the Ministry of Public Security, relevant domestic agencies, and competent local authorities, has safely repatriated over 450 Vietnamese nationals who were detained in Myanmar for immigration violations.

In response to media queries during the ministry’s regular press briefing on May 15, Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang noted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is actively working with relevant countries and has instructed the Vietnamese missions in Myanmar and Thailand to continue liaising with the host countries' authorities and domestic agencies to arrange the earliest possible return for the remaining citizens. Read full story

- Vietnam demands China to respect its sovereignty over Hoang Sa (Paracel), as well as its sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over territorial waters established in line with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), Spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang has stated.

Hang made the statement at the ministry's regular meeting in Hanoi on May 15 while answering a reporter's question about China’s recent unilateral imposition of a fishing ban in the East Sea. Read full story

- The second International Exhibition for Smart Office Solutions, Equipment, Machines and Stationery (VietOffice 2025) will take place in Hanoi from May 21 to 23, expected to attract about 100 domestic and international exhibitors.

VietOffice 2025, held by the Vietnam National Trade Fair and Advertising Company (Vinexad) and the Vietnam Office Machinery Association (VOMA), will be held in an area of up to 4,500 sq.m at the International Centre of Exhibition at 91 Tran Hung Dao street. Read full story

- A special art programme titled “Nguoi la Ho Chi Minh” is set to take place on May 18 at Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi to mark the 135th birth anniversary of late President Ho Chi Minh (May 19, 1890 – 2025).

The event will be broadcast live on VTV1 and relayed on various central and local TV channels as well as digital platforms./. Read full story

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Assaf Talgam, a historian and a journalist of Zo HaDerekh, the official newspaper of the Communist Party of Israel. (Photo: VNA)

CPV's leadership - central factor shaping Vietnam’s enduring stability, impressive achievements: Israeli historian

Talgam said that from a comparative and historical perspective, the CPV’s leadership has been the central factor underpinning the country’s enduring political stability and impressive development trajectory. In a world marked by rapid and unpredictable changes, few political organisations have been able to maintain continuity of leadership while simultaneously adapting their governance approach as effectively as the CPV.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh presents Certificates of merit from the Government’s Party Committee to individuals with outstanding achievements. (Photo: VNA)

Prime Minister outlines five specific strategies for Government’s Party Committee

PM Chinh noted that the Government’s Party Committee exercised comprehensive leadership over the Government's operations, proactively and effectively responded to emerging issues, with a particular focus on socio-economic development. As a result, 2025 witnessed high economic growth, sustained macroeconomic stability and ensured major balances.

Politburo member, Standing member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Tran Cam Tu attends the rehearsal. (Photo: VNA)

Security forces stage rehearsal for 14th National Party Congress

The People’s Public Security forces have been praised for their core role in closely working with the army and relevant ministries and agencies, with success in thwarting hostile plots at an early stage, drastically combating fake news and disinformation surrounding the 14th National Party Congress.

Senior Lieutenant General Le Quoc Hung (L), member of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and Deputy Minister of Public Security, and General Vilay Lakhamfong, Politburo member and permanent member of the Secretariat of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee. (Photo: VNA)

Deputy Minister of Public Security congratulates Lao officials following succesful 12th National Party Congress

Deputy Minister of Public Security Senior Lieutenant General Le Quoc Hungconveyed the warmest congratulations of the Central Public Security Party Committee, the Ministry of Public Security leadership, and the Vietnamese People’s Public Security Forces to Lakhamfong and other Lao public security leaders on the congress’s success and their election to key leadership positions for the new term.

A session of the National Assembly Standing Committee. (Photo: VNA)

NA Standing Committee's key work agenda for 2026 approved

A major focus will be preparations for the election of deputies to the 16th NA and to People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026–2031 term. The NASC will coordinate with the National Election Council, the Government, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, and relevant agencies and organisations to continue implementing the election plan, organise oversight of the electoral process, and carry out its duties and powers as prescribed.

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.