Lawmakers are scheduled to discuss on August 10 two draft laws - the revised Law on Grassroots Mediation and a law amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Contract-Based Vietnamese Guest Workers as part of their agenda of the first extraordinary sitting of the 16 National Assembly.
The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last weekend by the Vietnam News Agency.
Building on more than half a century of trust and the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework, the visit is hoped to create fresh momentum for deeper bilateral ties, bring practical benefits to people and businesses in both countries, and contribute to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and State President To Lam has sent a congratulatory message to Secretary-General of the People's Action Party (PAP) Lawrence Wong and President of Singapore Tharman Shanmugaratnam on the occasion of the country's 61st National Day (August 9, 1965–2026).
The visit demonstrates the importance Vietnam attaches to Australia as a key partner in the Indo-Pacific and the Southeast Asian nation's determination to deepen the new partnership framework in a substantive and effective manner.
In the message, the Vietnamese side described Comrade Saysomphone Phomvihane as an outstanding leader of the Lao Party, State and people, and a steadfast communist who devoted his life to the revolutionary cause of the LPRP and to building and developing a peaceful, independent, united and prosperous Laos.
Writing in the book of condolences, the Vietnamese leader expressed his profound sorrow over the passing of Comrade Xaysomphone Phomvihane, describing it as a great loss to the Lao Party, State, NA and people, as well as to Vietnam, which had lost a great friend and loyal comrade who made important contributions to strengthening and developing the great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and strategic cohesion between the two countries.
Vietnam will observe two days of national mourning for Politburo member and President of the National Assembly of Laos Xaysomphone Phomvihane from August 10 to 11.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and President To Lam's visits, from August 9-14, are made at the invitations of Governor-General of Australia Sam Mostyn and Governor-General of New Zealand Cindy Kiro.
Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man will lead a high-ranking Vietnamese Party and State delegation to Laos on August 9 to pay respects to Lao National Assembly President Xaysomphone Phomvihane, who passed away on August 8.
The state visit to Australia by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam represents an opportunity for both countries to translate strategic ambitions into concrete outcomes, said Layton Pike, a member of the Australia–Vietnam Policy Institute (AVPI)'s advisory board.
Party General Secretary and State President To Lam's state visit comes as the Vietnam–Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is booming. Leaders expect it will inject new momentum, making ties deeper, more substantive and more effective.
Most deputies agreed on the need for the law, saying it will help complete the legal framework for implementing Vietnam’s international commitments and proactively prevent, detect and stop the proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and related delivery systems.
Entering a new era of national development with the aspiration of building a strong and prosperous country, the mindset of "growing alongside ASEAN" will guide Vietnam’s more proactive, positive, and substantive contributions to the ASEAN Community and the co-creation of the region’s shared future, noted Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung.
NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man asked the Economic Police to take the lead in applying sci-tech advances, leveraging data analytics, enhancing the capabilities of digital investigation and financial flow tracing, while proactively identifying emerging risks to economic, financial, data, and supply chain security.
Professor Carl Thayer, a Vietnam and Southeast Asia expert at the University of New South Wales, saw substantial untapped potential for long‑term cooperation between Vietnam and Australia in specialised areas like energy transition, climate change adaptation and risk governance.
Thailand attaches great importance to its Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Vietnam, and the two countries share a solid foundation of friendship, many common strategic interests and significant potential for cooperation, said President of the National Assembly and Speaker of the House of Representatives of Thailand Sophon Zaram.
Foreign relations are no longer viewed simply as relations with the outside world but as an integral component of national comprehensive strength and a responsibility shared by the entire Party, people, armed forces and political system.
Party General Secretary and State President To Lam urged the effective implementation of the action plan for the Vietnam–Thailand Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for 2026–2031 and expressed his hope to welcome the King and Queen of Thailand on a visit to Vietnam soon.
The upcoming state visit to Australia by Party General Secretary and State President To Lam is expected to generate fresh momentum for deepening bilateral relations, deliver practical benefits to people and businesses in both countries, and make a positive contribution to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region.