Vietnam established its first Honorary Consulate in Phuket, Thailand on July 9. The move expands Vietnam's presence in Thailand, strengthens support for Vietnamese citizens, and promotes cooperation with the dynamic economic region along the Andaman coast.

Half a century after the establishment of diplomatic relations, Vietnam and the Philippines have continuously expanded their cooperation while strengthening the bonds between their peoples. Throughout this journey, the Vietnam-Philippines Friendship Association and the Philippines-Vietnam Friendship Association have served as vital bridges, fostering mutual understanding, trust, and friendship, thereby providing a solid social foundation for the Enhanced Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

Representatives of Friends of Project RENEW (FPR) affirmed their commitment to mobilizing additional resources to sustain and expand the organization's activities in Viet Nam, while strengthening cooperation in areas such as mine action and the application of science and technology to humanitarian work.

Expanding connections from major cities to local communities and remote areas; leveraging people-to-people diplomacy channels to connect business associations, startups, and localities while supporting cooperation in high-tech agriculture and the digital economy; and establishing networks for young leaders, young scholars, and entrepreneurs from both countries to promote initiatives in education, digital capacity, and sustainable development. These are the three priorities for advancing Viet Nam-Philippines people-to-people relations proposed by Phan Anh Son, President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO), at the Friendship Gathering marking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and the Philippines, held in Hanoi on July 10.