☀️ Morning digest on May 20

The Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee's congratulations to the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee on the 135th birth anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh, the talks between senior officials of South Africa’s African National Congress and the CPV, and Hanoi ranked ninth among the world’s 20 greatest cities for art and culture for 2025 are among news highlights on May 19 evening.

☀️ Morning digest on May 20

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

– The Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) has sent a congratulatory message to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) on the occasion of the 135th birth anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh (May 19, 1890–2025).

The message highlighted major milestones in the life and career of the President and his contributions to the revolutionary struggle of the Vietnamese people as well as the three Indochinese countries. Read ful story

– Party General Secretary To Lam has lauded the People’s Public Security force for their remarkable achievements in studying and following President Ho Chi Minh’s thought, morality, and style, crediting their efforts with fostering profound shifts in awareness and action across the force.

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Party General Secretary To Lam attends the event (Photo: qdnd.vn)

Speaking at a ceremony in Hanoi, connected virtually to over 400 locations and attended by 11,000 delegates on May 19, Lam reviewed a decade of implementing the Politburo’s decree on promoting the study and following of President Ho Chi Minh’s thought, morality and style, and the Central Public Security Party Committee’s regulation on following the President's six teachings. Read full story

– Politburo member and Permanent member of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee’s Secretariat Tran Cam Tu and First Deputy Secretary General of South Africa’s African National Congress (ANC) Nomvula Mokonyane held talks in Hanoi on May 19 during the later’s visit to Vietnam from May 17 to 22.

At the event, the officials signed an MoU on cooperation between the two Parties. Read full story

– A landmark 6 billion USD investment agreement was signed in Ho Chi Minh City on May 19, uniting Vietnam’s KOGI Group, Japan’s Mazda Oil Corporation, and several Middle Eastern conglomerates in an effort to bolster green industrial production and energy infrastructure in southern Vietnam.

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The signing ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City on May 19 (Photo: VNA)

The deal encompasses two major projects in Ho Chi Minh City. The first, a 5 billion USD oil refinery and storage complex, the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia, will have an annual processing capacity of 50 million tonnes. The second, a 1 billion USD green manufacturing plant, will focus on producing engine components using hydrogen technology in its initial phase. Read full story

– The Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations under the Ministry of National Defence and the New Zealand Embassy in Vietnam on May 19 opened a training course and experience exchange on psychological support for officers and soldiers participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations.

During the course taking place until May 30, trainers and trainees will discuss lessons related to psychological support for personnel performing tasks at peacekeeping missions. Read full story

– The Department of International Cooperation under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on May 19 signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on communication cooperation with TikTok to promote Vietnamese culture, sports, and tourism through the platform.

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Representatives from the Department of International Cooperation under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Tiktok at the MoU signing ceremony. (Photo: The Department of International Cooperation)

This marks an important milestone ushering in a new chapter of cooperation between the two sides. The partnership aims to fully leverage the potential of digital platforms in popularising Vietnam's cultural values, natural beauty, and people, thus boosting domestic tourism and contributing to efforts toward the goal of double-digit GDP growth and the nation’s fast and sustainable development. Read full story

– Hanoi has been ranked ninth among the world’s 20 greatest cities for art and culture for 2025 by the UK-based Time Out magazine, making it the highest-ranked destination in Asia.

The Vietnamese capital ranked ninth among the world’s top cultural destinations, with Paris, Florence, and Edinburgh taking the top three spots. At the same time, Hanoi emerged as Asia’s leading representative, placed ahead of other major regional cities such as Beijing (11th), Jakarta (13th), and Delhi (14th). Read full story./.

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

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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)

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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

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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.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) meets with Russian Railways CEO Oleg Belozyorov (Photo: VNA)

PM works with leading Russian infrastructure enterprises

At the meeting with AFK Sistema Chairman Vladimir Petrovich Evtushenkov and the group’s executives, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh hailed the corporation’s proactive engagement with major Vietnamese enterprises to promote cooperation programmes in recent times.