☀️ 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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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.