Prime Minister Le Minh Hung (R) and his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk in Hanoi on October 26 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese, Polish PMs seek ways to boost all-round cooperation

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung and his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk had talks in Hanoi on October 26, during which they agreed on measures to bolster bilateral cooperation in various fields.

PM Hung affirmed that Viet Nam and Poland are traditional friends with strong ties of friendship and multifaceted cooperation, forged over more than 76 years. He said Viet Nam always remembers and is grateful for the valuable support and assistance extended by the Polish Government and people during Vietnam’s struggle for independence and national reunification, as well as in its current process of renewal and socio-economic development.

He stressed that Viet Nam consistently pursues a foreign policy of strengthening relations with traditional friends, including Poland, one of Vietnam’s top-priority partners in Central and Eastern Europe. He noted that PM Tusk’s visit is of great significance, opening a new phase in bilateral cooperation.

PM Tusk said he has witnessed Vietnam’s remarkable socio-economic and diplomatic achievements and admired its rapid economic growth, describing the country as a global example of development driven by diligence, creativity and intellect.

The Polish PM affirmed that Viet Nam is Poland’s leading partner in Southeast Asia and one of its most important partners in Asia.

He congratulated Viet Nam on its major achievements in the “Doi Moi” (Renewal) process, its maintenance of socio-political stability and its growing international role.

He expressed confidence that Viet Nam will achieve the development goals set by the 14th National Party Congress, including its target of double-digit growth in the coming years. Poland attaches importance to its traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation with Viet Nam and wishes to advance ties in a practical and effective manner, improve the quality of cooperation and tap into the complementary strengths of the two economies, he said.

The two PMs had a comprehensive discussion on the situation in their respective countries, bilateral cooperation and regional and international issues of mutual concern. They welcomed the strong progress in bilateral cooperation across all fields, particularly the strengthened political and diplomatic ties and high level of political trust, cited VNA.

The two sides agreed to continue deepening political trust and maintaining regular exchanges of delegations and contacts at all levels, especially high-level ones. They also agreed to promote cooperation through all channels and effectively implement the outcomes of visits, while enhancing the effectiveness of existing bilateral cooperation mechanisms.

In particular, they pledged to resume meetings of the Viet Nam-Poland Intergovernmental Committee for Economic Cooperation and maintain regular deputy foreign minister-level political consultations.

On economic, trade and investment cooperation, the two leaders noted that bilateral trade reached nearly 4 billion USD in 2025, up 14.8% from 2024. While welcoming the growth, they said the figure remained modest and fell short of the two sides’ potential and expectations. They agreed to work together to raise bilateral trade to 6 billion USD by 2030.

Great solidarity festival to strengthen cohesion among Vietnamese communities in Europe: ambassador

The first Viet Nam Great National Solidarity Festival in Europe, scheduled to take place in Prague on October 31 and November 1, will strengthen solidarity among Vietnamese communities abroad, honour their contributions and promote friendship between Viet Nam and European countries, including the Czech Republic, a Vietnamese diplomat has said.

In an interview granted to the Viet Nam News Agency correspondents in Prague ahead of the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to the Czech Republic Duong Hoai Nam said the festival will convey a message of unity, attachment to the Fatherland and shared responsibility for the future.

He stressed that overseas Vietnamese (OVs) remain an inseparable part of the nation, with love for the homeland and efforts to preserve the Vietnamese language, cultural identity and family traditions serving as enduring bonds.

The event will also enable Vietnamese communities across Europe to share experiences, strengthen links among associations and mobilise collective efforts for national development.

Amid global uncertainties, solidarity is increasingly important to helping OVs support one another, integrate into host societies and promote cooperation between Viet Nam and other countries, Nam stressed.

The diplomat said the Czech Republic is a fitting venue for the inaugural festival, given its large, dynamic and well-integrated Vietnamese community and its longstanding ties with Viet Nam as a strategic partner. Over generations, Vietnamese people in the country have helped foster people-to-people exchanges, economic cooperation and a positive image of Viet Nam.

He expressed his hope that the festival will become a catalyst for closer ties among Vietnamese generations in Europe, particularly young people, encouraging them to take pride in their origins, proactively preserve cultural values and practically contribute to both Viet Nam and their host societies.

Assessing the Confederation of Vietnamese Associations in Europe (CVAE) over the past decade, Nam said it has become an important platform for connecting Vietnamese communities, coordinating activities and promoting the preservation of the Vietnamese language, cultural identity and traditions. Its homeland-oriented initiatives, support for people in Viet Nam and engagement with communities in host societies also reflect OVs’attachment to their homeland and sense of responsibility.

He stressed that the confederation’s role is growing as Vietnamese communities in Europe become more diverse in age, professions, living conditions and levels of integration.

To strengthen community ties, the ambassador called for enhancing solidarity while respecting differences and ensuring harmonious interests, boosting more dialogue, coordination and experience sharing among associations, and promoting broader participation by respected community members and other individuals, according to VNA.

Vietnamese Ambassador to the Czech Republic Duong Hoai Nam (Photo: VNA)

Engaging young people should also be a priority, he said, noting that Vietnamese people born and raised in the Czech Republic and elsewhere in Europe possess advantages in language skills, knowledge, technology and international connectivity. Associations should create more opportunities for them to participate in community activities, assume leadership roles and organise cultural, educational, charitable and youth exchange programs.

Practical initiatives, including Vietnamese language classes, summer camps, visits to the roots and exchanges with young people in the homeland, could help young OVs deepen their understanding of the country's history, culture and people, Nam said, adding that cooperation in education, science, technology, entrepreneurship and innovation should also be expanded to enable OV youth to contribute their expertise.

Closer coordination among Vietnamese associations, representative agencies and organisations across Europe is also needed, he said.

The diplomat noted that while previous generations have built communities through hard work, perseverance and mutual support, younger generations could carry these values forward through knowledge, creativity and international integration. Connecting the experience of previous generations with the aspirations of younger ones is therefore essential to sustaining national solidarity.

Describing the homeland as a repository of memories, roots and values that shape identity, Nam said geographical distance could not diminish Vietnamese people's affection for or sense of responsibility towards the Fatherland.

He expressed his hope that the festival will further strengthen solidarity among Vietnamese communities in the Czech Republic and across Europe, inspiring them to build on previous generations' achievements and contribute to the development of both Viet Nam and their host societies.

Viet Nam, ASEAN partners push for stronger cooperation on green transition

International experts have called for stronger ASEAN cooperation on the circular economy, including pilot cross-border supply chains for recycled materials and greater mobilisation of green finance, building on Vietnam’s experience with circular economy initiatives.

The call was made at the 18th Asia-Pacific Roundtable on Sustainable Consumption and Production (APRSCP 2026), held in Ho Chi Minh City on October 26 on the sidelines of the city’s Autumn Economic Forum 2026. The event centred on closer regional cooperation, cross-border circular supply chains and access to green finance.

Participants discussed how to translate policy commitments into practical cooperation models, technology applications and investment projects that could be implemented and scaled up across the region.

From Vietnam’s experience to regional cooperation

Akiko Yamamoto, Regional Team Leader for Asia and the Pacific, Environment and Energy at the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), said the circular economy goes beyond waste management and recycling. It requires a fundamental shift in how the economy is designed and operated to use resources more efficiently, reduce emissions and create new value.

Citing experience in Viet Nam, Yamamoto stressed that UNDP has supported Hue City in analyzing 174 material flows, with data collection and consultations involving more than 10 government agencies.

The study identified 14 priority solutions that directly informed the city’s circular economy action plan. Hue is now preparing for implementation, including plans for a circular economy centre and initiatives to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Building on this experience, Yamamoto proposed that ASEAN consider piloting cross-border circular economy models, initially focusing on selected value chains such as plastics, textiles and electronics.

She noted that manufacturing networks across Asia are highly interconnected, with raw materials, components, assembly operations and material recovery often spread across multiple countries. This made coordination on product standards, digital data, trade regulations and financing mechanisms essential.

Yamamoto said Vietnam’s circular economy program is among the most advanced in the region. She also highlighted the Vietnamese Government’s commitment and the participation of businesses, including SMEs, in the shift from a linear to a circular economic model, reported VOV.

Akiko Yamamoto, Regional Team Leader for Asia and the Pacific, Environment and Energy at the UNDP addresses the 18th Asia-Pacific Roundtable on Sustainable Consumption and Production in Ho Chi Minh City on October 26, 2026. (Photo: Nghi Vu)

Piloting technologies and mobilizing green finance

Offering recommendations for Viet Nam, APRSCP President Yasuhiko Hotta emphasised that the country should complement improvements to environmental policies with real-world pilot projects to advance the circular economy, using what is known as a “living laboratory” approach.

Such models can demonstrate how the transition works in practice and helps assess whether new solutions can create investment opportunities for financial institutions, the Government and businesses.

Hotta added that Viet Nam's transition from a developing country toward an emerging economy presented opportunities to implement more of these initiatives.

Representing Viet Nam, Hoang Van Tam, head of the General Affairs Division at the Ministry of Industry and Trade's Department of Science, Technology and Digital Transformation, said digital and green transitions have become essential to strengthening national competitiveness.

Viet Nam needs to strengthen links between science and industry and promote innovation through cooperation among businesses, research institutes, universities and government agencies, he said.

Tam pointed out that digital transformation should directly support the green transition. Priorities include smart manufacturing, digital traceability, shared data on product life cycles and the expansion of circular economy practices across key industries, particularly plastics and textiles.

At the regional level, the Ministry of Industry and Trade representative called for ASEAN and international partners to identify priority areas for cooperation. He also underscored the need for mechanisms, standards and attractive green financing sources to enable businesses, especially SMEs, to invest in innovation.

Viet Nam opens Autumn Economic Forum 2026 with global growth agenda

The Autumn Economic Forum 2026 opened in HCM City on October 26, bringing together more than 2,700 registered delegates and 214 speakers from 27 countries and territories to explore new growth opportunities, investment and international cooperation.

Under the message “Convergence of New Global Growth Poles” and the theme “Partnership Spirit in the New Era,” the Autumn Economic Forum 2026 (AEF 2026) aims to promote policy dialogue, connect resources and expand international cooperation as the global economy undergoes restructuring.

The four-day forum, running from October 26 to 29, is held under the direction of the Prime Minister and hosted by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee. It is organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (HCMC C4IR), in coordination with municipal departments, agencies and domestic and international partners.

According to the organizers, more than 2,700 delegates have registered to attend, alongside 214 speakers representing 27 countries and territories.

The forum features a series of events, with several major highlights spread across its four-day program.

On October 26, the CEO500 program takes center stage, focusing on the convergence of foreign direct investment (FDI), technology and global finance. The program aims to connect business leaders and identify new opportunities for cooperation and growth.

A major milestone comes on October 27 and 28, when the forum's two main days will be officially co-branded with the World Economic Forum (WEF) for the first time in AEF's history.

On October 27, thematic discussions will cover global value chains, international financial centers, green logistics, the circular economy, the digital economy, artificial intelligence, quantum technology and other emerging sectors, VNN reported.

The Autumn Economic Forum 2026 officially opens in Ho Chi Minh City on the morning of October 26. Photo: Phuoc Sang

The day's program will also feature the Rising Star Arena, a dedicated space for technology demonstrations.

October 28 will see a high-level plenary session attended by Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, along with leaders and representatives from eight countries, the United Nations and the European Union.

Following the plenary session, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung will take part in a 60-minute live onstage dialogue with the WEF's chief executive.

The discussion, titled “Positioning Viet Nam in the Global Future,” will highlight Viet Nam's ambition to move beyond being an active participant in international cooperation to becoming a co-creator of new growth opportunities and partnerships.

The forum's final day, October 29, will focus on bilateral business networking activities involving Viet Nam and the United Kingdom, China, Nordic countries and Israel.

The program will also include industrial park visits and cultural experiences.

Throughout the four days, business networking and technology demonstrations will run alongside the main sessions.

These activities include the Rising Star Arena, the annual meeting of the Global C4IR Network, and investment and technology promotion workshops with international partners, including China, India, Israel and Nordic countries.

According to the organizers, AEF 2026 is structured around four strategic pillars: the role of megacities; breakthrough technologies and innovation ecosystems; new models of cooperation; and the pioneering role of the private sector.

The forum's activities have been designed around these pillars and arranged in a connected sequence over the four days, creating a coherent agenda linking policy discussions, technological innovation, investment and international partnerships.

Global list ranks Viet Nam among top 5 cheapest holiday destinations for 2026

Indian business and financial news outlet NDTV Profit has unveiled a list of the top 5 cheapest countries to holiday in 2026, including Viet Nam.

Viet Nam, which ranks fifth on the global list, remains a strong choice for travellers looking for good value without sacrificing experiences. Travelers can find budget-friendly accommodation and enjoy street food at a low cost, Indian media wrote.

Top 5 cheapest holiday destinations for 2026 include Viet Nam.

The country also offers beaches, historic towns, bustling cities, and scenic countryside at prices that remain relatively accessible to backpackers and budget travellers, NDTV Profit shared.

Taking the top spot on the list is Sri Lanka, which stands out as an attractive destination for travellers seeking a combination of low cost and a well-developed tourism network, the website noted. Others in the top 5 are Serbia, Nepal, and Georgia.

Viet Nam News Today (Oct. 21): Viet Nam Outlines Four Priority Themes for APEC Finance Ministers’ Process 2027

Viet Nam News Today (Oct. 23): Viet Nam Values EU as Priority Partner, Seeks Deeper Strategic Ties