| Vietnam News Today (Aug. 18) notable headlines Bhutan King’s Vietnam visit to step up bilateral ties Vietnam at 80 – From war-torn nation to global symbol of peace, development: Former Israeli official Vietnam’s public security force honored with noble decorations from Laos, Cuba Tropical depression hits northwest waters of Hoang Sa special zone Vietnam shines on global stage as cinema promotes travel Party leader attends ceremony marking 80th anniversary of People's Public Security Forces Bhutan King’s Vietnam visit to step up bilateral ties Da Nang moves to attract major semiconductor investments Party, State leaders pay tribute to President Ho Chi Minh |
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| Party General Secretary and then State President To Lam (right) receives Ambassador of Bhutan to Vietnam Kinzang Dorji, who comes to present his credentials on September 17, 2024. (Photo: VNA) |
Bhutan King’s Vietnam visit to step up bilateral ties
The upcoming state visit to Vietnam by King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and the Queen of Bhutan at the invitation of State President Luong Cuong and his spouse is expected to further deepen bilateral ties and promote cooperation in potential areas.
This will be the first state visit to Vietnam by the King and Queen of Bhutan since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 2012, marking an important milestone in bilateral relations.
Vietnam and Bhutan enjoy a strong friendship. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties, Vietnam has consistently valued its relations with Bhutan, regarding it as a pioneer in pursuing green growth and maintaining high “happiness” indicators. Meanwhile, Bhutan considers Vietnam a priority partner for strengthening bilateral relations and is keen to learn from Vietnam’s development experience.
Leaders of the two countries regularly exchange messages of congratulations on each other’s important celebrations. In recent years, the two countries have made efforts to strengthen economic and trade cooperation, with two-way trade reaching around 20,000 USD annually. Vietnam’s main exports to Bhutan include wood products, machinery, equipment, tools, spare parts, and other goods. Vietnam currently has two investment projects in Bhutan with a total registered capital of 937,000 USD.
The two countries see great potential for cooperation in agriculture, tourism, culture, education, science - technology, digital transformation, and green development. They are currently considering the establishment of a consultation mechanism between the two foreign ministries and the signing of several agreements to lay the foundation for cooperation, including an air services agreement and a memorandum of understanding between their civil aviation authorities, cited VNA.
Bhutan has expressed interest in importing Vietnamese goods such as agricultural products, consumer goods, garments, food, and electronics. The country also encourages Vietnamese businesses to invest in the Gelephu Mindfulness City Special Economic Zone, and expand cooperation in tourism, spirituality, culture, and Buddhism.
Vietjet of Vietnam has operated several charter flights carrying tourists to Bhutan on designated routes, while Bhutan Airlines is planning to launch direct flights during peak travel seasons.
At multilateral forums, the two countries have maintained close coordination and mutual support, while continuing to strengthen their cooperation, particularly within the United Nations, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA), as well as on regional and international issues of common concern.
Building on their strong friendship, the state visit to Vietnam by the King and the Queen from August 18 to 22 reflects Bhutan’s high regard for its friendship and cooperation with Vietnam, as well as Vietnam’s growing role and position in the region. It also demonstrates Vietnam’s respect for Bhutan and its consistent desire to strengthen ties with South Asian countries, including Bhutan.
The visit aims to deepen the bilateral relations, particularly in areas such as trade, investment, agriculture and green development, sustainable tourism, culture, religion, as well as cooperation and mutual support at multilateral forums.
According to the spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang, during the trip, King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck is scheduled to hold talks with State President Cuong; meet with Party General Secretary To Lam, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man; as well as attend other important activities.
Vietnam at 80 – From war-torn nation to global symbol of peace, development: Former Israeli official
Former Israeli Minister of Justice Yossi Beilin has praised Vietnam as a dynamic nation emerging from the shadows of war to become a symbol of peace, development, renewal, and international connectivity.
In a recent interview with the Vietnam News Agency on the threshold of the country’s 80th anniversary of the August Revolution (August 19) and National Day (September 2), Beilin, who played a key role in establishing diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Israel in 1993 as Israel’s then Deputy Foreign Minister, expressed his admiration for Vietnam's transformation over the past decades.
For people of his age, Vietnam is a small but unyielding nation that triumphed in the wars. However, for younger generations, the country represents an attractive destination and a nation of peace and renewal, according to the former official.
Lauding Vietnam's achievements in technology and modernisation, he noted that the country has capitalised on its latecomer advantage, especially in such emerging fields as AI. Besides, the industrious and dynamic nature of the Vietnamese people serves as a crucial factor of the nation’s success, according to VNS.
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| Former Israeli Minister of Justice Yossi Beilin. Photo: VNA/VNS |
Evaluating Vietnam's Doi moi (renewal) policy launched in 1986, Beilin held that the country has not only achieved economic success but also emerged as an influential international mediator. It has the capacity and cultural foundations to act as a bridge between countries, and even between opposing sides – a valuable role in a divided world.
Vietnam is a place where people with various cultures and interests could meet and hold talks, he said, adding this is the reason why it has been seen as a venue for negotiations and agreement-signing.
Drawing from his considerable experience in the Middle East peace processes, Beilin said he believes that Vietnam could share valuable diplomatic lessons, particularly the principle of mutual understanding which he described as the key to seeking durable solutions.
Regarding the Vietnam–Israel ties, he said the economic relations have been growing robustly, especially since the signing of the free trade agreement in 2023. While cooperation was traditionally centred on agriculture, he observed that in recent years it has expanded into technology and health care, a shift accelerated following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Beilin said Israeli agriculture has evolved dramatically, with only 1–2 per cent of the population working in the sector, yet productivity remains extremely high thanks to modern equipment and irrigation technology. Israel has experience in water distribution and wastewater recycling that Vietnam could learn from.
He assessed the cooperation potential between the two countries as enormous, potentially increasing tenfold to reach tens of billions of USD with current growth momentum, particularly in technology, health care, and high-tech agriculture.
Extending congratulations to Vietnam on its 80th National Day anniversary, Beilin emphasised the country's remarkable journey. He expressed his hope that Vietnam will continue opening more boldly to fully realise its potential.
Vietnam’s public security force honored with noble decorations from Laos, Cuba
Collectives and individuals of the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security were honored with prestigious orders from Laos and Cuba at a ceremony held in Hanoi on August 16.
The event took place on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the National Day (September 2), the 80th Traditional Day of the Vietnam People's Public Security force (August 19), and the 20th anniversary of the All-People Security Safeguard Festival (August 19).
Over the past eight decades, under the clear-sighted leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam and support from the people from all walks of life, the People's Public Security force has not only excelled in its domestic political missions but also expanded diplomatic relations and cooperation with security, police, and interior forces worldwide, including those of Laos and Cuba.
At the ceremony, General Vilay Lakhamphong, Politburo member, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Security of Laos, presented the Vietnamese ministry with the first-class Issara (Freedom) Order.
He also conferred the first-class Freedom Order on Politburo member and Minister of Public Security General Luong Tam Quang. The second-class Freedom Order was presented to Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, and Chairman of the committee's Inspection Commission Nguyen Duy Ngoc, who is former Deputy Minister of Public Security; along with Deputy Ministers Senior Lieutenant Generals Tran Quoc To and Le Quoc Hung.
The third-class decorations were bestowed upon five other Deputy Ministers. Senior Lieutenant General To An Xo, who is Assistant to the Party General Secretary and in charge of the General Secretary’s Office, was honored with the first-class Labour Order of Laos.
Major General Lazaro Alberto Alvarez Casas, Politburo member and Minister of the Interior of Cuba, conferred Cuba’s first-class Order of June 6 on Minister Luong Tam Quang, and the first-class “Eliseo Reyes” Order on several Vietnamese deputy ministers.
The Lao and Cuban officials praised the Vietnamese People’s Public Security force for its significant contributions to the friendship and cooperation with Laos’ Ministry of Public Security and Cuba’s Ministry of the Interior. They expressed hope for closer collaboration in the future to safeguard national security and further cement Vietnam's time-honored bonds with Laos and Cuba, reported VNA.
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| The ceremony held on August 16 to honour collectives and individuals of the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security with prestigious orders from Laos and Cuba. (Photo: VNA) |
Minister Quang, for his part, thanked Laos and Cuba for bestowing such distinguished honors at a historic moment – the 80th anniversary of Vietnam’s public security force. He affirmed that the decorations reflect their Parties and States' recognition of the Vietnamese force’s contributions to the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation with Laos, as well as the long-standing special ties with Cuba.
Pledging the force's utmost dedications to deserve the noble rewards, he expressed his hope for further support from the Lao and Cuban ministries in protecting the national security and maintaining social order and safety in each country, thereby contributing to stability and peace in the regions and the whole world.
Tropical depression hits northwest waters of Hoang Sa special zone
A tropical depression over the northwest waters of Hoang Sa Special Zone brings strong winds and rough seas, posing risks to vessels operating in the area.
According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, as of 7 a.m. on August 17, the center of the tropical depression was located at about 17.1 degrees North latitude and 111.5 degrees East longitude, in the northwest waters of Hoang Sa Special Zone. The strongest winds near the center reached level 6 (39-49 km/h), with gusts up to level 8, moving northwest at 10-15 km/h.
Forecasts for the next 24-48 hours indicate that the western waters of the northern East Sea, including the Hoang Sa special zone, will experience thunderstorms, strong winds at levels 6-7, gusts up to levels 8-9, waves 2.0-3.5 m high, and rough seas, cited VOV.
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| Forecast map of the tropical depression’s path and intensity at 8:00 a.m. on August 17, 2025. |
From early morning on August 18, winds in the Gulf of Tonkin are expected to strengthen to level 6, gusting to level 8, with waves 2.0-3.0 m high and rough seas. Vessels operating in these hazardous areas may be affected by storms, squalls, strong winds, and high waves.
Vietnam shines on global stage as cinema promotes travel
As part of the Da Nang Asian Film Festival 2025 held in early July, the film Love in Vietnam officially premiered, marking a new beginning for leveraging Vietnam’s tourism through Bollywood cinema - one of the world’s largest film industries.
The film showcases captivating scenes from Da Nang, Da Lat, Ninh Binh, Cao Bang, Ha Long Bay, and more, with 75% of the filming done in Vietnam.
According to statistics, Vietnam welcomed 501,000 Indian visitors in 2024, nearly three times more than in 2019 before the COVID-19 pandemic. In just the first six months of this year, 337,500 Indian tourists visited Vietnam, a 40% increase compared to the same period last year.
Speaking at a recent meeting with leaders of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, director Rahul Bali, the lead producer of Love in Vietnam, shared his impressions: “Vietnam is a beautiful country with stunning nature, friendly people, and rich cuisine. Filming here was an emotionally moving experience.” In August 2025, a new Bollywood project titled Silaa is set to begin filming in Vietnam. It will be the first Indian movie to feature scenes in Son Doong - the world's largest cave - along with other renowned destinations like Ha Long, Ninh Binh, Hoi An, and Da Nang.
The allure of the “seventh art” has proven to be an effective draw for travelers. Many global destinations have risen to prominence thanks to the popularity of famous films.
In Vietnam, the synergy between tourism and cinema has become increasingly apparent. For example, after the release of the film Indochine, several locations such as Ha Long Bay (Quang Ninh), Thai Hoa Palace, Tu Duc Tomb (Hue), and Tam Coc-Bich Dong (Ninh Binh) began attracting more European tourists. More notably, the blockbuster Kong: Skull Island elevated destinations like Ha Long Bay, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Tam Coc, and Van Long into shining stars on Vietnam’s tourism map.
A survey by Booking.com revealed that up to 55% of Vietnamese Gen Z travelers are willing to visit a specific scenic site they saw in a movie or TV show.
Nguyen Trung Khanh, Director General of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, emphasized that cinema is an effective communication tool to promote the country’s image, culture, and people. It helps attract high-quality tourists and elevates Vietnam’s national tourism brand. In recent times, the tourism sector has taken concrete actions to implement a strategy of promoting tourism through cinema. These include the Vietnam tourism-cinema promotion program in the United States in September 2024; the seminar “Vietnam - A dynamic Asian market and a new destination for international film crews”; and the Vietnam Film Night at the Cannes Film Festival 2025 in France.
To establish Vietnam as a leading destination on the global tourism-cinema map, the Authority is focusing on connecting tourism with film production. Efforts include creating a favorable legal framework, enhancing the film production support ecosystem, promoting public-private and international partnerships, and utilizing movie-featured locations for tourism marketing, VNN reported.
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| Tam Coc - Bich Dong, a destination in Ninh Binh, rose to fame after being featured as a film location. (Photo: Tran Tuan Viet) |
Cinema is being recognized as a strategic communication channel to spread the image of Vietnam’s people, culture, and landscapes, thereby attracting high-spending tourists and enhancing the nation’s tourism brand.
According to many experts, to attract more major international film crews, Vietnam must not only offer location scouting support, service provider connections, and ensure safety and security, but also adopt more flexible, transparent, and streamlined licensing processes. Additionally, preferential tax and fee policies for film crews are recommended.
The tourism industry is also planning to organize tourism-cinema promotion forums in India, starting with a roadshow in major cities where many Bollywood filmmakers are based, scheduled for September 2025.
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