☀️ 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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Participants pose for a group photo at the ceremony (Photo: VNA)

People-to-people diplomacy nurtures Vietnam-Philippines friendship

Alongside relations between the two States, people-to-people exchanges have always served as an important foundation for bringing Vietnam-Philippines ties closer to the community. Cultural, educational, academic and youth exchanges, friendship activities and community connectivity programmes have helped deepen mutual understanding, trust and affection between the Vietnamese and Philippine people.

Congratulations to Mexico on Independence Day

Congratulations to Mexico on Independence Day

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam on September 16 sent a message of congratulations to Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo on the occasion of the 216th anniversary of the country’s Independence Day (September 16, 1810 – 2026).

Politburo Member and Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc (left) and Ding Xuexiang, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, China seek stronger, more substantive cooperation

Standing Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc called on China to facilitate Vietnamese agricultural exports, deepen cooperation on quarantine and soon sign a memorandum of understanding designating Vietnam as the featured country for the "Shared Big Market: Export to China Series Activities" in 2027.

Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang (right) meets with Senior Lieutenant General Zhang Shengmin, Vice Chairman of China's Central Military Commission, in Beijing on September 16, 2026. (Photo published by VNA)

Vietnam seeks stronger defence ties with partners at 13th Beijing Xiangshan Forum

In the coming time, the Vietnamese Central Military Commission and Ministry of National Defence hope to work with their Chinese counterparts to maintain, develop, and strengthen the agreed-upon areas of cooperation, effectively sustain existing cooperation mechanisms, and foster increasingly substantive ties, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang.

King of Thailand Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua and Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana lay a wreath and pay tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at the late leader's mausoleum in Hanoi. (Photo: VNA)

Thai King, Queen conclude State visit to Vietnam

Vietnam and Thailand agreed to continue strengthening political trust through regular visits and contacts at all levels, especially the high level, while making effective use of existing cooperation mechanisms and coordinating in implementing their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership effectively.

King of Thailand Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua and Queen Suthida Bajrasudhabimalalakshana visit an exhibition of traditional Thai products presented by students from Hanoi University on September 16. (Photo: VNA)

Thai King and Queen visit Hanoi University

Hanoi University currently maintains cooperation with nearly 20 Thai higher education institutions, including Chulalongkorn University, Assumption University and Mahasarakham University. The cooperation programmes cover lecturer and student exchanges, short-term training, cultural experiences and internships

ITS Giovanni delle Bande Nere of the Italian Navy docks at Nha Rong Port in Ho Chi Minh City. (Photo: VNA)

Italian Navy ship pays goodwill visit to Vietnam

During the visit, officers and sailors of the ITS Giovanni delle Bande Nere will pay courtesy calls on the leaders of the city People’s Committee and the Naval Region 2 Command, participate in sports and cultural exchanges with Vietnamese naval personnel, and visit cultural sites and historical relics in the city.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Anh Tuan (third, right) co-chairs the first meeting of the Vietnam-Burundi political consultation with Burundi's Minister of Foreign Affairs Édouard Bizimana (Photo: Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Vietnam, Burundi seek to deepen multifaceted cooperation

At the first Vietnam-Burundi political consultation, the two sides shared information on their countries' recent socio-economic development and foreign policies, reviewed the implementation of signed memoranda of understanding, and discussed measures to promote bilateral cooperation.

Delegates pose for a group photo at the Mayors' Conference, which is part of the third Ho Chi Minh City Friendship Dialogue (Photo: VNA)

Ho Chi Minh City advances local diplomacy as development driver

Speaking at the Mayors' Conference, which was part of FD 2026, Standing Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Loc Ha said that in an era of integration, external relations and international integration had become an important development tool for localities, rather than simply a means of maintaining friendship and expanding international exchanges.