President concludes Austria visit, heading to Italy, Vatican

President Vo Van Thuong and his wife and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation left Vienna on July 25 afternoon (local time), ending their official visit to Austria that took place from July 23-25.
President concludes Austria visit, heading to Italy, Vatican ảnh 1President Vo Van Thuong and his wife concludes Austria visit. (Photo: VNA)

Vienna (VNA) – President Vo Van Thuong and his wife and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation left Vienna on July 25 afternoon (local time), ending their official visit to Austria that took place from July 23-25.      

The Vietnamese State leader then embarked on a State visit to Italy and a visit to the Vatican at the invitations of President of Italy Sergio Mattarella and Pope Francis, respectively.

The official visit to Austria by President Thuong is a great success. He held talks with Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen, during which the two sides exchanged and agreed on orientations and measures to further deepen the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Austria. 
           
Building on the achievements in the relations between the two countries over the past 50 years, the two sides will focus on promoting cooperation in economy, trade and investment, culture and art; effectively implementing the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), and working towards the signing of the Vietnam-EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and the early removal the IUU yellow card for Vietnamese seafood.

The two leaders also witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two foreign ministries.

President concludes Austria visit, heading to Italy, Vatican ảnh 2

The farewell ceremony is held for President Vo Van Thuong and his wife at Vienna International Airport. (Photo: VNA)

President Thuong also had meetings with high-ranking Austrian leaders and localities. He met with the President of the Federal Council of Austria Claudia Arpa, the Mayor of Vienna Michael Ludwig and met with Governor of Burgenland Hans Peter Doskozil.

Regarding multilateral activities, the President visited the headquarters of the United Nations (UN) agency in Austria and met with the Acting Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Najat Mokhtar./.

     
VNA

See more

People gather at Den Thuong (Upper Temple) during the Hung Kings' Commemoration Day in Phu Tho province. (Photo: VNA)

📝 OP-ED: Respect for history, gratitude a lasting cultural value of Vietnamese people

In Vietnamese cultural life, gratitude toward preceding generations has long been preserved as an integral part of the nation's identity. This tradition is reflected in ancestor worship practiced in families, the Worship of the Hung Kings, village deities, national heroes and eminent cultural figures, as well as tributes to generations who sacrificed their lives for the nation's independence and freedom.

General Phan Van Giang (R) and General Khamlieng Outhakaysone plant a tree at Thanh Thuy border gate. (Illustrative photo: VNA)

Border community twinning strengthens Vietnam–Laos friendship

Over the past decade, the twinning relationship between Thuy Phong village in Nghe An’s Kim Bang commune, and Xop Tuong village in Nam On commune, Xaychamphone district, Bolikhamxay province of Laos, has become a model for fostering a shared border of peace, friendship and cooperation.

Delegates from the two nations, along with military attachés from several countries accredited to Vietnam, lay flowers in tribute to the Cuban military experts at the memorial monument within the Vietnam Military History Museum in Hanoi on July 10. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Cuba pay tribute to fallen Cuban military experts

Cuba and Vietnam on July 10 commemorated six Cuban military experts who lost their lives 60 years ago while supporting the Vietnamese people's resistance war, reaffirming the enduring solidarity and defence ties forged through the two countries' shared history.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung (third from left) poses for a commemorative photo with Honorary Consul Thaneth Tantipiriyakij and officials from several southern Thai provinces in front of the Honorary Consulate of Vietnam in Phuket. (Photo:VNA)

Vietnam opens first honorary consulate in Phuket

The ambassador said the establishment of Vietnam's first honorary consulate in Phuket reflects both countries' commitment to enhancing cooperation with the Andaman sea economic gateway while meeting growing demand for consular services and better support for Vietnamese citizens and the Vietnamese community in southern Thailand.

Spokeswoman of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang speaks at the press conference on July 9. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam seeks early signing of trade deal with EFTA

Vietnam will continue working closely with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) member states to sign their free trade agreement (FTA) at an early date and effectively implement its commitments.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang (3rd from left) and his Lao counterpart General Khamliang Outhakaysone (4th from left) in an activity held on July 9, 2026 as part of the third Vietnam – Laos Border Defence Friendship Exchange. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Laos strengthen border defence friendship

At Border Marker No. 460, the two defence ministers jointly took part in the traditional ceremony of repainting the marker. Beyond its symbolic significance, the ceremony reflected the determination of the two Parties, States and armed forces to safeguard every marker of national sovereignty, preserve the achievements of border demarcation and marker planting, and develop the Vietnam–Laos border into a symbol of peace, stability, cooperation and development.