☀️ Morning digest on May 5

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

☀️ Morning digest on May 5

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

- Hanoi is facing major challenges but also unprecedented opportunities to make a stronger breakthrough and develop in a manner befitting its role as a capital city, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam said at a meeting with voters from ten wards in central Hanoi on May 4.

General Secretary and State President Lam and members of the Hanoi delegation to the 16th National Assembly (NA) listened to public opinions and reported on the outcomes of the first session of the newly elected legislature. Read full story

- Prime Minister Le Minh Hung on May 4 underscored the need to fully and promptly grasp and effectively implement Party and Government resolutions in a concerted, determined manner in order to promote growth, while maintaining macroeconomic stability.

He made the remarks while chairing the Government’s regular meeting for April, the first of the 16th-tenure Government. Read full story

- The Vietnamese Government creates favourable conditions for foreign investors, including FS Finance Suisse AG, to operate effectively and sustainably in the country, Deputy Prime Minister Ho Quoc Dung affirmed on May 4.

Receiving Roland Staub, CEO at Switzerland-based FS Finance Suisse AG, in Hanoi, the Deputy PM congratulated the company on its achievements in asset management, strategic investment consulting, the establishment and operation of global investment funds, and advisory services for the development of international financial centres. Read full story

- Vietnam and Sri Lanka have stepped up exchanges in hydrometeorology, focusing on experience sharing and cooperation to enhance forecasting capacity and climate resilience.

The Vietnam Meteorological and Hydrological Administration under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment hosted a delegation from Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, and Department of Meteorology, and representatives of the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (ADPC) in Hanoi on May 4. Read full story

- Vietnam can draw on lessons from the London Financial Centre to build a globally competitive financial market for its next growth phase, Executive Director of the London Southside Chamber of Commerce Radiana Vlahova told Vietnam News Agency.

As global integration deepens, financial governance needs a mindset upgrade. London’s experience, Vlahova said, shows that regulation isn’t designed to stamp out risk but to enable informed risk-taking, and such a spirit must shape how rules are interpreted, monitored, and enforced daily. Read full story

- Moody’s on May 4 upgraded Vietnam’s outlook from “stable” to “positive,” while affirming the country’s sovereign credit rating at Ba2, according to the Ministry of Finance.

The decision reflects Moody's rising confidence in Vietnam’s medium-term credit outlook, the ministry said, citing clear improvements in institutional quality and governance, fueled by a reform wave that has hit administrative procedures, legal frameworks and the public sector since late 2024. Read full story

- Deputy Minister of Finance Le Tan Can has outlined three key and breakthrough solutions to maintain macroeconomic stability, control inflation, and balance growth speed with quality amid global economic headwinds and pressure to achieve high growth targets in 2026.

During the Government’s regular press briefing for April held in Hanoi on May 4, Can said the first and most critical move is the consistent and effective translation of major Party and State directives into action, including the 14th National Party Congress’s resolution and documents, conclusions from the Party Central Committee’s second plenum, the Politburo’s strategic resolutions, and key socio-economic development resolutions adopted by the 16th National Assembly at its first session, along with the Government’s April 16 resolution. Read full story./.

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Vietnamese Ambassador to the RoK Vu Ho speaks at the event. (Photo: VNA)

President Ho Chi Minh honoured in RoK on 136th birth anniversary

With Vietnam–Korea ties expanding across multiple fields, he noted that honouring President Ho Chi Minh in the RoK carries significance beyond the overseas Vietnamese. It offers a chance to raise mutual understanding, empathy, and bonds between the Vietnamese and Korean people built on shared values of peace, cooperation, and development.

President Ho Chi Minh works at the Presidential Palace in Hanoi. (File photo: VNA)

Ho Chi Minh Thought guides development path: Top leader

In an article written on the occasion of President Ho Chi Minh’s 136th birth anniversary (May 19, 1890 – 2026), the top Vietnamese leader affirmed that “Ho Chi Minh Thought serves as a guiding light along our development path.”

Vietnamese Ambassador to Venezuela Vu Trung My speaks at the event (Photo: VNA)

President Ho Chi Minh’s enduring legacy highlighted at Venezuela commemoration

Vice President of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) Jesús Faria expressed deep admiration for President Ho Chi Minh and Vietnam’s indomitable struggle for national independence. He described President Ho Chi Minh as an immortal symbol of 20th-century national liberation movements, whose legacy continues to inspire leftist parties, progressive movements, and peoples across Latin America, including Venezuela.

Standing Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Loc Ha (R) and EU Ambassador to Vietnam Julien Guerrier. (Photo: VNA)

Ho Chi Minh City, EU boast ample room for sustainable development cooperation

Since the establishment of their diplomatic ties in 1990, Vietnam and the EU have deepened the bilateral ties into one of the bloc’s most dynamic and in-depth partnerships with an ASEAN member, Ha noted, adding that the relationship entered a new chapter in January when the President of European Council’s visit upgraded it to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang speaks at a discussion session on reforming multilateral systems and global governance, held on May 15, 2026, as part of the expanded BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in India. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam ready to strengthen BRICS connection with Asia-Pacific

Hang called on countries to act responsibly in accordance with international law and the UN Charter; respect the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of states; refrain from using or threatening to use force; and settle disputes peacefully through dialogue. She also underscored the importance of ensuring security, safety and freedom of navigation through straits in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung (centre), DPRK Vice Minister Pak of Foreign Affairs Sang Gil (left), and Vietnamese Ambassador to the DPRK Le Ba Vinh cut the ribbon to open the exhibition. (Photo: VNA)

Photo exhibition highlights Vietnam–DPRK relations

Visitors at the exhibition were moved by historical photographs dating back nearly 70 years, including images of the founding leader of the DPRK Kim Il Sung personally welcoming President Ho Chi Minh and a CPV delegation at Pyongyang’s Sunan International Airport during their visit to the DPRK from July 8–12, 1957. In return, the DPRK leader paid an official visit to Vietnam from November 27 to December 3, 1958.

Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

Deputy PM calls for substantive assessment of two-tier local administration operations

Chairing a meeting on the development of a scheme to review the first-year operations of the political system’s organisational apparatus and the two-tier local administration model, Tra emphasised that the review must comprehensively and objectively evaluate the nationwide implementation of administrative unit restructuring and the operation of the new local administration model.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Dang Minh Khoi (right) and First Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council of Russia Andrey Yatskin at their meeting in Moscow on May 14. (Photo: VNA)

Key directions for Vietnam–Russia cooperation in 2026

Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Dang Minh Khoi had a working session with a delegation from the Russian Federation Council led by First Deputy Chairman Andrey Yatskin, in Moscow on May 14, discussing the expansion of multifaceted cooperation in 2026.

Officials from Cao Bang province of Vietnam and Baise city in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China hold talks on May 15. (Photo: VNA)

Cao Bang, China’s Baise city eye to boost all-around cooperation

Cao Bang province of Vietnam and Baise city in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China are exploring a “red tourism” route linking Pac Bo and Meng Mo (China) to promote revolutionary tradition education and strengthen bilateral friendship. They are also stepping up cooperation in human resource development through training exchanges and efforts to improve workforce quality.

Atsaphangthong Siphandone (centre), Secretary of the Vientiane Party Committee and Chairman of the municipal People’s Council, speaks at the working session. (Photo: VNA)

Ho Chi Minh City, Vientiane strengthen cooperation for 2026–2030

Under the MoU, the two sides will strengthen cooperation in politics – diplomacy, security – defence, legal and judicial affairs, economic affairs, education, culture and society, cooperation among mass organisations and socio-political organisations, and development support.