Vietnam, Mexico bolster substantive and sustainable agricultural cooperation

As part of the 2026 external affairs program, a delegation from Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, led by Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam, paid a working visit to Mexico from April 1 to 4 during a broader trip to North America.

The visit reaffirmed the traditional friendship and political trust between the two countries, while adding momentum to promote practical cooperation in agriculture. The two sides focused on exchanging experience in research and the application of high technology in agricultural production, expanding import-export markets for agricultural products, and strengthening cooperation in training high-quality human resources.

During the visit, the delegation held working sessions with leaders of Mexico’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Mexican Business Council for Foreign Trade, Investment and Technology (COMCE), and the National Institute for Forestry, Agriculture and Livestock Research (INIFAP), and conducted field surveys to study modern agricultural production models in localities.

At talks with Mexico’s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development Julio Berdegue Sacristan, both sides reviewed cooperation results and discussed issues of mutual interest, including strengthening food security, expanding markets for key agricultural products, improving food safety standards, and augmenting cooperation in climate-resilient smart agriculture.

Speaking at the talks, Deputy Minister Tran Thanh Nam thanked the Mexican side for its warm reception, describing it as clear evidence of increasingly close cooperation between the two countries. He said Vietnam wishes to further step up agricultural cooperation with Mexico and is ready to create favourable conditions for Mexican enterprises to export agricultural products to the Vietnamese market.

Vietnam and Mexico step up cooperation in high-tech and sustainable agriculture (Illustrative photo)

For his part, Minister Julio Berdegue Sacristan said Vietnam and Mexico share many similarities in agricultural development. Both countries have long-standing agricultural sectors with large farming populations, while playing an important role in ensuring food security, driving economic growth, preserving cultural identity and supporting sustainable rural development. At the same time, both face common challenges in the 21st century, including climate change, limited resource and the need to shift towards sustainable, higher value-added agriculture.

At the meeting, the two sides proposed measures to strengthen cooperation, including intensifying exchanges of delegations at all levels, establishing specialised working groups to remove difficulties in agricultural trade, and expanding markets for each country’s key products.

At a meeting with INIFAP, they reviewed the implementation of a memorandum of understanding signed in 2018 and discussed directions for future cooperation, focusing on sharing advanced agricultural technologies, scientific research and training high-quality human resources.

The delegation also met with COMCE, which represents Mexico’s private sector in international economic activities, to open up practical and effective ways to promote agricultural cooperation, according to VOV.

Discussions focused on connecting business communities, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, and strengthening bilateral agricultural trade.

At the meeting, both sides agreed to make use of the complementary strengths between Vietnam’s production and export-oriented agriculture and Mexico’s advantages in technology, mechanisation and international trade promotion systems, thereby improving the value and competitiveness of agricultural value chains.

In the coming period, they plan to build a formal cooperation framework through the signing of a memorandum of understanding, accelerate trade promotion and technology transfer, and implement specific cooperation projects in areas such as livestock vaccines, innovation and market development. These steps will help lay the foundation for a comprehensive, sustainable and mutually beneficial agricultural partnership.

Earlier, the delegation met with the Vietnamese Embassy in Mexico and laid flowers at the monument of Ho Chi Minh at the Park of Freedom of Peoples in central Mexico City.

Built in 2009 based on a photograph by artist Dinh Dang Dinh depicting Ho Chi Minh working in the garden of the Presidential Palace, the monument stands as a symbol of friendship and solidarity between the people of Vietnam and Mexico.

Ho Chi Minh City promotes logistics supply chain cooperation with US state

Ho Chi Minh City and the US's Oregon state hold strong potential to develop logistics supply chains, helping boost bilateral trade, experts said at the 2026 Ho Chi Minh City–Oregon Economic Cooperation Forum on April 2.

The event was co-organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Investment and Trade Promotion Center (ITPC) and an Oregon business delegation.

According to Cao Thi Phi Van, Vice Director of ITPC, the forum took place amid steadily deepening Vietnam–US relations. The US remains Vietnam’s largest export market and a key economic partner, with 1,539 valid investment projects worth more than 12.5 billion USD nationwide. In Ho Chi Minh City alone, US investors operate 915 projects with total registered capital of 7.6 billion USD, ranking seventh among 136 foreign investors in the city.

She noted that Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s economic hub and a major ASEAN trade gateway, could complement Oregon’s strengths in technology, logistics infrastructure and international trade. Both sides were encouraged to strengthen business connectivity, expand cooperation in logistics, seaports and supply chains, and promote sustainable investment.

Gregory Harris, head of Commercial Section at the US Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, described Vietnam as a dynamic and high-growth economy, with Ho Chi Minh City among the fastest-growing in ASEAN. As bilateral trade expands, he said he expects more opportunities for Oregon enterprises to bring internationally standardised products and services to Vietnamese consumers.

He welcomed the approval of Vietnam’s revised National Power Development Plan VIII and expressed hope that energy projects involving US enterprises would soon be implemented in practice, thereby laying a solid foundation for further expanding trade and investment in the coming period, according to VNA.

Leaders of the ITPC and the Oregon business delegation chair the forum (Photo: VNA)

Experts also highlighted strong logistics synergies between Port of Portland and the Cai Mep–Thi Vai Port complex, which handles about 70% of Vietnam’s container throughput. The combination can help diversify transport routes, reduce reliance on traditional transshipment hubs and improve supply chain efficiency.

Luong Quang Thi, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Logistics and Port Association, highlighted the city’s advantage with logistics costs 25–30% lower than those of Singapore. To strengthen cooperation in freight supply chains, he suggested that Ho Chi Minh City and Oregon swiftly establish a direct shipping route linking Portland with Cai Mep–Thi Vai Port Complex, while developing an “Oregon–Ho Chi Minh City cold corridor” - a farm-to-shelf model, for high-value agricultural products.

The two sides should also enhance cooperation in AI technologies and green logistics in line with the goal of reducing carbon emissions by 30% by 2030, he suggested.

The Saigon Newport Corporation proposed that Ho Chi Minh City and Oregon increase transport frequency and strengthen cooperation in sharing experience in operating smart ports, with a view to building a stable, efficient and sustainable trans-Pacific supply chain.

Summer tourism festival expected to spark travel demand in Ho Chi Minh City

The 22nd Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Festival officially kicked off at September 23 Park on April 2 under the theme “Vibrant Summer Fest”, marking the launch of an extensive series of summer tourism promotion programs across the southern city.

The event holds added significance as it forms part of activities celebrating the 50th anniversary since Saigon – Gia Dinh official renamed Ho Chi Minh City (July 2, 1976–2026).

A key highlight is the tourism stimulus fair, gathering more than 120 enterprises from the travel, hospitality, transport and tourism service sectors. The fair presents a wide range of tourism offerings alongside exclusive promotions tailored for the 2026 summer peak season, VNA reported.

Officials mark the opening of the 22nd Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Festival on April 2. (Photo: VNA)

Participating businesses unveiled new tour itineraries and bundled service packages, with discounts of up to 50% available for both domestic and outbound tours. A variety of promotional formats are being introduced, including group discounts, service upgrades, experience vouchers and limited-time “golden hour” deals offering competitively priced tours. Partnerships between airlines and travel agencies have also produced attractive all-inclusive packages, giving travelers greater flexibility and choices.

Nguyen Cong Vinh, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, said the festival is designed not only to boost short-term travel demand ahead of the April 30–May 1 holiday and the summer season, but also to reinforce and elevate tourism cooperation between Ho Chi Minh City and other localities nationwide.

The event also enables businesses to showcase products, expand market connections and strengthen tourism ecosystems, contributing to a more integrated, efficient and sustainable industry, he added.

Running from April 2 to 5, the festival features themed talk shows on urban tourism development trends, the 2026 Tourism Job Exchange aimed at workforce connectivity, outdoor art and experiential spaces, and culinary showcases.

Visitors can also enjoy live performances at the Phu Tho circus and multi-purpose venue, a photo exhibition titled “50 years of the City Named After President Ho Chi Minh”, and an inter-provincial cultural exchange.

Vietnam among best countries for women traveling solo in 2026: BBC

Vietnam has been named among the best countries for women traveling solo in 2026 by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

To support and guide women seeking solo travel in 2026, the BBC has published a report analyzing data and insights into the destinations where solo female travelers feel most secure.

The report looks at the latest Peace and Security Index from Georgetown University Women, an annual index that ranks countries on women's inclusion, justice and security, as well as taking into account results from the most recent Global Peace Index.

According to the BBC, ranking 38th on the Global Peace Index, Vietnam has risen three places year-on-year and remains one of the highest-ranked countries in Southeast Asia.

The country also performed relatively well in the Women Peace and Security Index (WPS Index) compared to neighboring counties, particularly for women's perception of community safety, it noted.

Photo: VGP

Earlier, British magazine Time Out listed Vietnam one of world's nine safest destinations for solo female travelers and it was the only Southeast Asian representative in this list.

The nation ranked eighth in the list of the 10 safest countries in Asia in 2024 as voted by the New York based Diplomatic Conference Organizer Best Diplomats.

Meanwhile, world-leading indie travel news source Travel Off Path has listed Vietnam as the safest country to visit in Asia for 2024.

In the first two months of 2026, the Southeast Asian nation welcomed nearly 4.7 million international visitors, up 18.1 percent compared to the same period last year, according to the National Statistics Office under the Ministry of Finance.

Vietnam targets to lure 25 million foreign visitors in 2026.

Vietnam News Today (Mar. 30): PM Pham Minh Chinh Receives Japanese Ambassador Ito Naoki Vietnam News Today (Mar. 30): PM Pham Minh Chinh receives Japanese Ambassador Ito Naoki; Vietnam–Russia trade corridors poised for expansion: Russian expert; Vietnam, Denmark promote ...

Vietnam News Today (Mar. 31): Vietnam Makes Strong Cultural Mark at Macau International Parade 2026 Vietnam News Today (Mar. 31): Can Tho seeks to expand investment cooperation with Indian partners; Vietnam makes strong cultural mark at Macau International Parade 2026; ...