Vietnam News Today (Aug. 15): Vietnamese and Cambodian Leaders Hold Phone Talks to Boost Cooperation

	Vietnam News Today (Aug. 13): Party Leader Calls for Effective Implementation of Vietnam–RoK Cooperation Mechanisms
	Vietnam News Today (Aug. 14): Vietnam On Track to Become Asia's Next "Tiger Economy"

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam during his phone talks with President of the Cambodian People’s Party Hun Sen on August 14.

Vietnamese and Cambodian leaders hold phone talks to boost cooperation

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam held a phone conversation with President of the Cambodian People’s Party Hun Sen at Cambodia’s request on August 14, to discuss measures to strengthen relations between the two Parties and countries.

During the phone call, the two leaders updated each other on the situation of their respective Parties and countries, exchanged views on regional and international developments, reviewed bilateral relations, and evaluated recent cooperation. They agreed on key directions to further deepen cooperation between the two Parties and countries in the coming period.

The leaders expressed satisfaction with the significant outcomes achieved at the high-level meetings of the two Parties and the tripartite summit of the leaders of Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos in February 2025.

They agreed to continue enhancing Party-to-Party and State-to-State relations, consolidating political trust, increasing high-level visits and exchanges across ministries, agencies, and localities, and fully leveraging existing cooperation mechanisms and other high-level agreements.

They also pledged to continue timely information sharing and mutual consultation on international, regional, and bilateral issues, contributing to the substantive development of relations between the two Parties and countries for the benefit of their peoples, cited VOV.

General Secretary To Lam congratulated Cambodia on its socio-economic achievements under the leadership of the Cambodian People’s Party and the Royal Government, which have improved the lives of the Cambodian people. He also welcomed the positive progress Cambodia and Thailand have made regarding their border issues.

CPP President Hun Sen expressed his gratitude for the invitation from General Secretary To Lam and confirmed his participation in Vietnam’s 80th National Day celebrations on September 2. He highlighted the deep significance of the event, emphasizing that the 80th anniversary demonstrates the strength of national unity, the heroic spirit, and the resilient determination of the Vietnamese people during the long wars for independence.

He also lauded Vietnam’s socio-economic and foreign policy achievements under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, led by General Secretary To Lam, and said he believes that Vietnam will continue to develop steadily and achieve its centenary goals.

On international and regional issues, the two leaders exchanged views on matters of mutual concern. General Secretary To Lam emphasized that disputes should be resolved peacefully in accordance with international law and practices. He also highlighted the central role of ASEAN in promoting peace, stability, cooperation, and prosperity in the region and the world at large.

Foreign Ministry vows to boost promotion of Vietnamese language abroad

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has pledged to work closely with ministries, sectors, localities, and domestic organisations to develop more programmes aimed at implementing the “Day for Honoring Vietnamese Language in Vietnamese Communities Abroad” initiative, Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang stated.

At the closing ceremony of the 2025 project, Hang emphasised the initiative’s goal of fostering pride and love for the Vietnamese language, promoting its learning among overseas communities, and spreading Vietnamese cultural values globally. She noted that the project has evolved into a broad movement, with 2024 and 2025 seeing a range of activities that helped younger generations abroad become more aligned with their mother tongue.

Looking ahead, the Deputy Minister called for stronger communications, greater public awareness of the Vietnamese language, and more diverse activities, from online interactive classes to creative contests and cultural programmes, while integrating Vietnamese language promotion into youth-friendly content such as music, cinema, and sports.

Hang also stressed the importance of mobilising associations, schools, and cultural centres abroad, replicating successful models, and building teacher and volunteer networks for Vietnamese language teaching. She urged enhanced international cooperation and encouraged young overseas Vietnamese to actively create and share Vietnamese content on digital platforms, according to VNA.

Chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese (L) presents flowers to representatives of Vietnamese language teachers abroad. (Photo: VNA)

The State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese reported that so far this year, ministries and localities have hosted numerous events honoring the Vietnamese language, while overseas communities have actively contributed to initiatives to promote its teaching and learning. Highlights included the March 2025 launch of the honoring day and a contest to select Vietnamese language ambassadors, drawing more than 50 participants from 15 countries and territories.

Since 2023, 11 “Vietnamese Bookshelves” have been established abroad, with three more planned by the end of this year. Major media outlets produced hundreds of multilingual news items, programmes, and features to boost awareness and engagement.

Across many countries, Vietnamese language appreciation events have been held, reflecting the deep affection of overseas Vietnamese for their mother tongue. Representative missions and overseas communities continue to maintain and open new classes for learners of all ages.

During the ceremony, representatives from overseas missions, associations, and Vietnamese educators shared best practices and proposed solutions to preserve and promote the language among overseas communities.

Vietnam and Thailand strengthen cooperation in combating drug-related crimes

Vietnam and Thailand discussed measures to enhance cooperation in combating drug-related crimes during the 17th Bilateral Conference on Drug Prevention and Control in Hanoi on August 14.

The conference was co-chaired by Major General Ngo Thanh Binh, Director of the Vietnam Police Department for Drug-related Crimes, and Lieutenant General Phanurat Lukboon, Secretary-General of the Thai Narcotics Control Board of Thailand.

Over the years, Vietnam–Thailand cooperation has steadily been strengthened across many areas, particularly in security and drug prevention. The two countries signed a bilateral agreement on the control of narcotics, psychotropic substances, and precursors in 1998, laying the foundation for joint efforts in combating drug-related crimes.

Both sides have organized regular annual bilateral meetings, workshops, and training courses, as well as exchanges of expert delegations to enhance the capacity of drug enforcement forces and strengthen information sharing to apprehend individuals involved in illegal drug trafficking affecting both countries.

Through a dedicated hotline connecting the the Vietnam Police Department for Drug-related Crimes and the Thai Embassy’s Counsellor in Hanoi, both countries have rapidly exchanged and processed information on drug-related crimes. In 2024, Thailand apprehended and extradited a high-risk drug fugitive to Vietnam, and in 2025, the two sides coordinated to verify and arrest another wanted drug suspect, reported VNA.

Major General Ngo Thanh Binh, Director of the Vietnam Police Department for Drug-related Crimes, co-chairs the 17th Vietnam - Thailand Conference on Drug Prevention and Control in Hanoi on August 14. (Photo: anninhthudo.vn)

At the conference, delegates discussed the current situation and results of joint drug prevention efforts, shared experiences in addiction treatment and reducing drug demand, and made recommendations to enhance investigative capacity, forensics, traceability of narcotics, and rehabilitation efforts in the future.

To further increase cooperation, Major General Binh proposed maximizing the effectiveness of the hotline for rapid information exchange and joint investigation of drug-related cases. He stressed the importance of coordinating major joint investigations on transnational drug crimes, including forming mixed task forces of Vietnamese and Thai officers at crime scenes to conduct inquiries, share intelligence, and dismantle entire trafficking networks, particularly those operating from the Golden Triangle through Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, into Vietnam and other consuming countries.

He also proposed enhancing exchanges on investigative techniques, such as tracking new types of drugs, identifying trafficking routes, understanding smuggling methods, capturing fugitives, and applying effective enforcement measures, including asset seizure.

He reminded that both sides continue to implement the signed Letter of Agreement on law enforcement and drug control, through which Thailand’s support has enabled Vietnam to carry out effective operational campaigns along border areas and strengthen regional drug control.

Lieutenant General Phanurat Lukboon praised the conference’s outcomes and expressed confidence that Vietnam–Thailand cooperation would be further strengthened to meeting the practical demands of addressing the complex drug situation in the region.

Domestic tourism sees strong demand during National Day holiday

Statistics from the online travel platform Booking.com show that the capital city now tops the list of most searched destinations by Vietnamese travelers for this year’s National Day, climbing from seventh place in 2024 to first place.

With a four-day break (August 30 – September 2), this year’s National Day holiday is regarded as a “golden opportunity” to accelerate tourism growth, particularly in the domestic market. A range of promotional campaigns and new tourism products have been launched to capture growing traveler demand.

According to travel agencies, as early as July, the September 2 travel market has already become active. Domestic tour sales heated up day by day, especially for Hanoi, which is hosting a series of events rich in historical and cultural significance during the break, notably a large-scale parade and march marking the 80th anniversary of National Day at Ba Dinh Square.

Statistics from the online travel platform Booking.com show that the capital city now tops the list of most searched destinations by Vietnamese travelers for this year’s National Day, climbing from seventh place in 2024 to first place. Data from Agoda also indicate that searches for accommodation in Hanoi during the holiday period have risen more than 44-fold compared to last year. Many hotels near event venues, such as around Hoan Kiem Lake, the Old Quarter, and Ba Dinh Square, have been fully booked well in advance.

Nguyen Van Tai, General Director of Vietsense Travel, noted that domestic tourism is seeing a clear shift in destination trends. In previous years, Hanoi and northern provinces were typically “source markets” sending travelers elsewhere, but this year they have become “magnets” attracting visitors from the south and central regions, cited VNA.

Foreign tourists in Hanoi (Photo: VNA)

Notably, many satellite destinations such as Bac Ninh, Ha Long, Ninh Binh, and the East–West Northern route have benefited from the capital’s tourism boom, as travelers often combine them into their itineraries. According to Tai, bookings for tours to Hanoi and northern provinces during this period have doubled or even tripled compared to the same period in previous years, with some tours scheduled for mid-September and early October already booked.

Saigontourist Travel has also reported a significant number of southern visitors registering for northern tours, including many overseas Vietnamese from Germany and Australia. Among these, the Hanoi–Sa Pa combination tour is the most popular choice thanks to its cool climate, beautiful landscapes, and unique cultural experiences.

Recognising this year’s National Day holiday as a “springboard” for Hanoi tourism in particular and northern tourism in general, the capital’s tourism sector has proactively developed new offerings, including one-day city tours, suburban tours, cultural and culinary discovery tours, and linked tours with other northern destinations – all aimed at diversifying visitor experiences.

Significantly, many attractions in the capital such as the Ho Chi Minh Museum, the Vietnam National Museum of History, the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, the Vietnam Contemporary Art Theatre, and the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism will open free of charge during the holiday.

According to several travel companies, while a surge in bookings is tied to visitors attending commemorative events in Hanoi, some travelers are opting for coastal destinations such as Thanh Hoa, Da Nang, and Phu Quoc for relaxation, while others prefer regional tours exploring local attractions following administrative mergers.

Vietnam’s FDI flows shift toward high-value industries and smart factories

According to the General Statistics Office under the Ministry of Finance, Vietnam’s industrial diversification is becoming more apparent, especially in high-tech and high-value segments.

In the first half of 2025, products in the computing, electronics, and optics group accounted for over 19% of newly registered FDI in manufacturing, with 99 new projects.

In the first six months of 2025, foreign investors registered a total of $21.5 billion in Vietnam, a 32.6% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Manufacturing remained the top recipient with nearly $11.97 billion, representing 56.5% of total registered capital and marking a 32% year-on-year increase.

Of this, newly registered FDI in manufacturing reached $5.01 billion. The number of new projects rose sharply due to the ongoing shift and restructuring of global supply chains. Vietnam recorded 759 new manufacturing projects in H1 2025, up 40% from the same period last year.

The northern region remained the leading FDI destination, attracting 54% of total capital and over 380 projects. The central region doubled its market share from 3% to 6% thanks to improved logistics and lower operational costs in several provinces, reported VNN.

Photo: VNN

China retained its top position among foreign investors, accounting for 23.4% of total registered capital, followed by Singapore (15.6%), Hong Kong (12.3%), Taiwan, and Japan. The United States remained modest in comparison, contributing less than 5%. In terms of project volume, China also led with 277 new manufacturing projects.

Key provinces and sectors

Among the standout provinces were Bac Ninh, Ha Nam, and Dong Nai. Bac Ninh led with over 13% of total new manufacturing FDI and the highest number of projects (115). Ha Nam followed with 10% of capital across 33 projects. In the south, Dong Nai secured 8% with 58 projects, while Ba Ria-Vung Tau also claimed 8% with 19 projects.

Vietnam’s shift toward industrial diversification is evident across various sectors, particularly high-value and high-tech fields.

The computing, electronics, and optics category alone made up more than 19% of all new manufacturing FDI in H1 2025.

Notably, ready-built factory transactions surpassed land lease deals in number for the first time. Of the 759 new FDI manufacturing projects, 410 (54%) opted for leasing ready-built factories rather than land.

This trend reflects a market preference for speed, flexibility, and scalability - especially in electronics, assembly, and packaging industries, where companies seek rapid entry and lower upfront investment.

The rise of ESG-compliant, automated factories

Analysis by Savills Vietnam indicates that this shift creates opportunities for investors to develop standard-compliant, ESG-ready factory supply chains prepared for automation.

However, in terms of investment value, land deals still dominated at 76% (approximately $3.84 billion), while ready-built factories claimed 24% - a significant rise from 14% in the same period last year.

This narrowing gap signals growing interest in ready-built factory models due to their lower capital expenditure (CAPEX) and higher operational flexibility.

The regional breakdown of factory project ratios shows the north at 54%, the south at 57%, and the central region at 41%.

Vietnam News Today (Aug. 11): Party General Secretary To Lam Arrives in Seoul on State Visit to Republic of Korea Vietnam News Today (Aug. 11): Party General Secretary To Lam arrives in Seoul on state visit to Republic of Korea; FM outlines Vietnam’s vision for ...

Vietnam News Today (Aug. 12): Vietnam grants 45-day visa waivers to citizens from 12 countries Vietnam News Today (Aug. 12): Party leader To Lam, RoK President hold joint press briefing on successful talks; President Luong Cuong welcomes Lao Army political ...