Vietnam News Today (Aug. 12): Vietnam grants 45-day visa waivers to citizens from 12 countries

	Vietnam News Today (Aug. 10): Party Leader's RoK Visit Opens New Chapter in Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
	Vietnam News Today (Aug. 11): Party General Secretary To Lam Arrives in Seoul on State Visit to Republic of Korea

Party General Secretary To Lam and RoK President Lee Jae Myung co-chair the press conference (Photo:VNA)

Party leader To Lam, RoK President hold joint press briefing on successful talks

Party General Secretary To Lam said that the two sides held very successful talks during a press briefing to share the outcomes of the discussion with President Lee Jae Myung of the Republic of Korea (RoK) on August 11, as part of his state visit to the East Asian nation.

After more than 30 years of development, the relationship between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) has become a model of a unique and robust partnership, marked by numerous outstanding and comprehensive achievements, especially following its elevation to a comprehensive strategic partnership in December 2022.

Political trust between the two nations continues to deepen, cooperation across all sectors remains substantive and effective, and people-to-people exchanges have grown increasingly vibrant and dynamic.

At the press briefing, President Lee Jae Myung said the visit by Party General Secretary To Lam, his spouse, and Vietnamese high-level delegation had contributed to deepening bilateral cooperation.

During the talks, the two sides thoroughly exchanged views on each country’s situation, bilateral relations, as well as regional and international issues of mutual concern, agreeing on many important contents. President Lee expressed his hope that the two sides will continue to enhance cooperation in various fields, bringing practical benefits to the peoples of both countries.

Party General Secretary To Lam and President Lee Jae Myung clearly stated that, in the spirit of the comprehensive strategic partnership, they exchanged and agreed on major orientations to promote bilateral relations in the near future.

The two sides consented to continue expanding cooperation channels among the Parties, States, Governments, and Parliaments to promptly guide strategies and create favorable political foundations, while broadening comprehensive cooperation across multiple areas; to strengthen practical cooperation in key fields such as diplomacy, defence, and security; and to coordinate in tackling non-traditional security issues, transnational crime, high-tech and drug-related crime.

They also concurred to continue expanding investment scale linked with substantive technological cooperation, prioritizing areas such as infrastructure development, production of high-tech electronic devices, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, smart urban development, and building industrial complexes specializing in value chains; to further facilitate trade and open markets for each other’s goods, thereby contributing to achieving the bilateral trade target of US$150 billion by 2030; focusing cooperation on strategic infrastructure development in transportation, energy, digital infrastructure, and climate change adaptation.

Party General Secretary To Lam and President Lee Jae Myung emphasized their agreement to make science and technology cooperation a pillar and a new bright spot in bilateral relations; actively promoting agencies to expand cooperation in science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, and high-quality human resource training, especially in developing strategic technologies and products; and expanding cooperation in breakthrough new fields such as production of high-tech electronic devices, artificial intelligence, and renewable energy to serve the development needs of both sides.

The two sides also consented to bolster cooperation in culture, education, and people-to-people exchanges to create a solid foundation for long-term companionship between the two countries and intensify exchanges between the peoples and localities of both nations.

The two leaders expressed their confidence that the Vietnam–the RoK comprehensive strategic partnership will increasingly develop in a substantive, effective, sustainable, and long-lasting manner for the benefit of the peoples of both countries, contributing to maintaining peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region and globally.

President Luong Cuong receives Chairman of the General Department of Politics of the Lao People’s Army, Vongsone Inpanphim. (Photo: VOV)

President Luong Cuong welcomes Lao Army political chief

President Luong Cuong hosted a reception on August 11 in Hanoi for Lieutenant General Vongsone Inpanphim, Deputy Minister of National Defence and Chairman of the General Political Department of the Lao People’s Army, who is on an official visit to Vietnam.

Welcoming Lieutenant General Vongsone Inpanphim, President Luong Cuong affirmed that the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos hold vital significance for the cause of building and defending the homeland of each country; they are fundamental principles for the existence and development of both nations.

The President emphasized that Vietnam always remembers the sincere and profound support of Laos during the struggle to protect the homeland in the past and in the current cause of building and defending the country; Vietnam will join Laos in firmly safeguarding the revolutionary achievements for peace, stability, and development of both peoples.

Expressing his honor to be received by the President, Lieutenant General Vongsone Inpanphim said this is his first foreign visit since assuming the position of Chief of the General Political Department of the Lao People’s Army, aimed at implementing the cooperation plan between the two General Political Departments and Ministries of National Defence. He sent warm regards from the Lao Party General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith and other senior Lao leaders to Party General Secretary To Lam and senior Vietnamese leaders.

Highlighting the significance of the visit amid the celebrations marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Lieutenant General Vongsone Inpanphim briefed the President on the results of the talks between the chiefs of the General Political Departments of the Vietnamese and Lao people’s armies.

The two general political departments reviewed and evaluated their cooperation activities so far, especially in Party work and political affairs, with both sides fully implementing the contents of the signed Memorandum of Understanding. They also agreed on directions and tasks for the upcoming period. The Lao delegation also worked at the Political Academy of the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence.

Regarding the 2025-2026 cooperation plan, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries and general political departments. This includes mutual assistance in Party work, political affairs, cadre training, and the search, recovery, and repatriation of remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers who sacrificed in Laos.

Underlining defence cooperation as one of the important pillars in Vietnam-Laos bilateral relations, described as “special of the special” in cooperation between the two countries, the Vietnamese State leader applauded the comprehensive results of cooperation between the two defence ministries in general, and the two general political departments in particular.

These include coordination and advisory roles in military and defense work, effectively implementing the shared understanding of senior leaders on military and defense missions; consulting and sharing experience on building a strong army in all aspects; cadre training; maintaining effective mechanisms for exchanges, dialogues, and friendship links, especially border defense exchanges; cooperation in searching and repatriating the remains of martyrs, volunteer soldiers, and Vietnamese experts who sacrificed in Laos.

The President requested that in the coming time, the armed forces of the two countries bolster cooperation and exchange experiences in building a politically and ideologically strong army; focus on consolidating and safeguarding the ideological foundation of the Party; firmly maintain the Party’s absolute and direct leadership over the People’s Army in all aspects; improve the role, efficiency, and effectiveness of Party work and political affairs in all cooperation programs and projects between the two militaries; strengthen effective propaganda and education on the history, significance, and importance of the special Vietnam-Laos relationship, especially on the occasion of major events of both countries and armies; and pay greater attention to cooperation in training human resources.

On this occasion, the President sincerely thanked the Party, Government, Army, and people of Laos for their support and assistance in facilitating the search, recovery, and repatriation of the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who sacrificed in Laos, thereby fulfilling the heartfelt wishes of the families and relatives of the martyrs, and respecting Vietnamese customs and traditions towards the deceased.

Expressing deep gratitude to the Party, State, Army, and people of Vietnam for their continued support and assistance to the Lao State and People’s Army, Lieutenant General Vongsone Inpanphim hoped to continue receiving the President’s attention and guidance in the future regarding the armies and general political departments of both countries.

Lieutenant General Vongsone Inpanphim affirmed that under any circumstances, the Lao People’s Army will always stand shoulder to shoulder with the Vietnamese People’s Army to protect and build their countries; nurture the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations.

Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and RoK Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jung-kwan hold a ministerial meeting in Seoul on August 11. (Photo: MoIT)

Vietnam and RoK boost cooperate on nuclear power development

Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) discussed measures to strengthen bilateral economic and trade cooperation, including the development of nuclear power, during a working session in Seoul on August 11 between the trade ministers of the two countries.

At the event, Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, who was accompanying Party General Secretary To Lam on a state visit to the RoK, called on the RoK enterprises, with their extensive capacity and experience, to continue investing in and developing renewable energy and new energy such as hydrogen, and nuclear power in Vietnam.

In response, RoK Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy Kim Jung-kwan affirmed that the RoK possesses the necessary experience and conditions to cooperate with Vietnam, highlighting three key factors namely technology, capital, and human resources training.

Building on the close, comprehensive, and long-term relationship between the two countries, he stressed that the RoK is ready to accompany Vietnam in successfully developing its nuclear power programme.

The two sides signed and exchanged a cooperation document on training and developing human resources for nuclear power development.

Dien emphasised that bilateral economic and trade relations are developing strongly, reflecting the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. The RoK is currently Vietnam’s largest investor and its third largest trading partner. Given the results and potential of such cooperation, the Minister expressed confidence that the two countries would achieve the target of US$150 billion in bilateral trade by 2030.

To realize this goal, the two ministers agreed to mobilise all resources to promote the implementation of the Action Plan to meet the target of raising bilateral trade turnover to US$150 billion in a more balanced manner by 2030 signed in April 2025.

Under this action plan, the two sides will strengthen cooperation and support connections between Vietnamese and Korean business communities; promote market access for agricultural products from both countries; and increase information exchange on trade remedies, food safety, and quarantine regulations.

They will enhance cooperation in logistics and build logistics centres to improve supply chain connectivity, shorten delivery times, reduce transportation costs, and facilitate faster goods circulation between the two countries.

In industry, they will support each other in providing and training high-quality human resources in shipbuilding; continue to support enterprise technology cooperation for the supply chain of essential minerals to ensure stable and sustainable supply for emerging industries such as battery manufacturing, renewable energy, electric vehicles, and high technology.

During the meeting, the two ministers also witnessed the signing of a document on a technology cooperation centre for the supply chain of essential minerals in Vietnam between the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology and the Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Science and Technology under Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The RoK’s nuclear power programme began in the 1960s and entered large-scale commercial electricity production in 1978. Today, it operates 25 nuclear power plants and has 3 more under construction, making it one of the countries with the highest number of nuclear power plants globally.

According to its development plan, by 2030 the share of nuclear power, new energy, and renewable energy in the country’s power mix will reach 31.8% and 21.6% respectively. By 2038, nuclear power will account for 35.6%, new and renewable energy for 32.9%, and hydrogen and ammonia for an additional 5.5%.

Foreign tourists at Noi Bai International Airport. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam grants 45-day visa waivers to citizens from 12 countries

Citizens from 12 countries will be granted visa-free entry for stays of up to 45 days in Vietnam for tourism purposes, regardless of their passport types.

According to the Government's Resolution No. 229/NQ-CP dated August 8, visa exemptions will granted to citizens of Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland. The policy will take effect from August 15, 2025 to August 14, 2028 under the tourism promotion and development programme.

As of 15 August 2025, the Government's Resolution No. 11/NQ-CP dated January 15, 2025 on visa exemptions for citizens of Poland, the Czech Republic, and Switzerland under the 2025 tourism promotion and development programme will be invalid on August 15, 2025.

Also on August 8, the Government issued Decree No. 221/2025/ND-CP on a limited-term visa waiver scheme for foreign nationals in specially designated categories whose presence is deemed beneficial to the country’s socio-economic development.

Under the decree, eligible individuals include guests invited by top national leaders such as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the State President, the Chair of the National Assembly, the Prime Minister, the Standing Member of the Party Secretariat, vice heads of the State, Parliament and Government, heads of mass organisations, the Chief Justice of the Supreme People’s Court, the Prosecutor General of the Supreme People’s Procuracy, the State Auditor General, ministers and equivalent officials, as well as provincial and municipal leaders.

They are also scholars, experts, scientists, university professors, chief engineers, and high-quality human resources in the digital technology industry; investors and executives from the world’s largest corporations; cultural, artistic, sports and tourism figures with a positive public influence; Vietnam’s honorary consuls abroad; and guests of designated research institutes, universities, and large enterprises, as approved by ministries, ministerial-level agencies, Government agencies, and the Government.

Other individuals deemed eligible for special visa-free entry for diplomatic or socio-economic purposes, as decided by the Minister of Public Security, are also in the list.

State budget revenue from import-export activities up 9.1% in seven months

Vietnam’s state budget revenue from import-export activities reached over 261.37 trillion (9.97 billion USD) in the first seven months of 2025, equivalent to 63.6% of the annual estimate and 55.6% of the targeted goal, marking a 9.1% increase year-on-year, the Department of Customs reported.

Total import-export turnover during the period stood at 514.72 billion USD, up 16.3% compared with the same period last year. Exports accounted for 262.46 billion USD (up 14.8%) and imports made up 252.26 billion USD (up 17.9%), resulting in a trade surplus of 10.20 billion USD, down 30.3% from the 14.64 billion USD surplus recorded in the same period of 2024.

Smuggling and illegal cross-border transport of goods remain complex. Domestically, the production and sale of counterfeit and substandard products and goods of unclear origin, as well as intellectual property infringements, have continued openly in many areas and are increasingly prevalent on e-commerce platforms, particularly for goods affecting public health, such as food, pharmaceuticals, and dietary supplements.

Smuggling rings have also exploited favourable trade conditions to commit fraud, with violations concentrated along maritime and land routes. The maritime route accounted for the largest share, with 899 out of 1,790 cases detected (50.2% of total seizures). On land routes, 669 cases were handled in July alone, representing 37% of total incidents, primarily along the Vietnam – China and Vietnam – Cambodia borders.

From January to July, customs forces detected and dealt with 10,351 cases involving goods valued at an estimated 15.1 trillion VND. Ten cases were prosecuted directly by customs authorities, while 68 others were transferred to other agencies for prosecution.

Permanent Representative of Vietnam to ASEAN Ambassador Ton Thi Ngoc Huong (second from right) chairs the meeting (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam chairs 15th consultation meeting of IAI Task Force - ASEAN partners

Permanent Representative of Vietnam to ASEAN Ambassador Ton Thi Ngoc Huong chaired the 15th Consultation Meeting of the ASEAN Integration Initiative (IAI) Task Force - ASEAN Partners in Jakarta, Indonesia on August 11.

The meeting brought together all ASEAN dialogue partners, sectoral and development partners.

In her opening remarks, Ambassador Huong stressed that over the past 25 years, the IAI has remained one of ASEAN’s flagship initiatives, focusing on promoting inclusive regional integration and enhancing the capacities of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam (CLMV), and more recently, Timor-Leste.

The meeting provides an opportunity to reaffirm both ASEAN member states' and partners’ commitment to strengthening cooperation and narrowing development gaps, which remain a challenge in building the ASEAN Community 2045 and advancing regional integration, she said.

ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General for Economic Community Satvinder Singh provided an update on the progress of the IAI Work Plan IV (2021–2025), which encompasses 114 projects worth a total of 24.8 million USD, with a 70.8% completion rate. ASEAN partners have supported 28 projects valued at 18.3 million USD, covering all five strategic areas: food and agriculture; trade facilitation; micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs); education; and health and well-being. The IAI Task Force thanked the partners’ contributions to narrowing development gaps through the initiative.

Partners commended the progress of the Work Plan IV (2021-2025) and Vietnam’s active role as Chair of the IAI Task Force in 2025. They vowed to assist ASEAN in realising the Work Plan IV, scheduled to conclude later this year.

The inclusion of Timor-Leste as an IAI beneficiary was warmly welcomed, with partners expressing optimism that its participation would bolster its journey toward full ASEAN membership while helping close development gaps with other member states.

Vietnamese squid and octopus exports to Thailand surge by 37% in H1

Vietnam’s squid and octopus exports to Thailand grew sharply in the first six months of 2025, reaching US$33 million, up 37% year on year, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

This strong performance has made Thailand Vietnam’s fourth largest single import market for these products, accounting for 10% of the country’s total squid and octopus export value.

Squid dominated the overall export structure, generating US$32.5 million, up 35.6% year on year. Among the various squid products, dried and grilled varieties, including instant dried squid, led the way, bringing in US$30.24 million, up 30%.

A standout performer was live, fresh, and frozen squid, which jumped up 254% to reach US$2.276 million.

While octopus exports represented a smaller portion of the total turnover, they saw remarkable growth with total turnover rising up to 149.9% to US$0.513 million. Notably, processed octopus exports skyrocketed by 250.9%, while other forms such as dried, salted, live, fresh, or frozen octopus exports climbed by 43.4%.

VASEP noted that Thailand presents favourable conditions for Vietnamese seafood, thanks to low technical barriers and similar consumer preferences. This creates the potential for Thailand to become a key market for Vietnam’s squid and octopus sector in the coming years. The association suggested that Vietnamese seafood enterprises consider expanding value-added octopus product lines to tap into this opportunity.

“Thailand is well-positioned to become a strategic market for Vietnamese squid and octopus, especially as the demand for highly processed products grows. This opens opportunities for local businesses to invest in more advanced processing lines,” stated a VASEP representative.

However, Vietnamese exporters have faced tougher competition as the neighbouring country tries to diversify its supply sources, including from China, Argentina, and India, where prices tend to be lower.

In an effort to stay competitive, Vietnamese companies are required to continue improving product quality while optimising production and logistics costs, according to the VASEP.

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