President of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man (right) and Alberto Anaya Gutierrez, General Secretary of the Mexican Labour Party (PT), at their meeting in Hanoi on August 17 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Mexico to enhance exchange of legislative experience

Vietnam and Mexico will strengthen coordination and enhance delegation exchanges between the Vietnamese National Assembly and the Mexican Senate and Chamber of Deputies, while sharing experience in lawmaking and parliamentary activities among committees and promoting the role of the two parliamentary friendship groups.

The consensus was reached during a meeting between National Assembly President Tran Thanh Man and Alberto Anaya Gutierrez, General Secretary of the Mexican Labor Party (PT), in Hanoi on August 17.

NA President Man welcomed the visit by the PT delegation, saying it takes place as the traditional friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Mexico, as well as between the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and the PT, are growing strongly and substantively.

​He expressed appreciation for and thanks to the PT and Anaya Gutierrez personally for their support for and effective cooperation with the Party, State and people of Vietnam over the years.

The top legislator briefed his guest on Vietnam’s socio-economic development and national development goals set by the CPV’s 14th National Congress, as well as the results of the recent elections of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels.

He highlighted the important role of the National Assembly in promoting institutional reform, improving the legal system and creating a comprehensive legal framework to support national development in the new era.

He said Vietnam-Mexico relations have maintained positive momentum across various areas, particularly in economy, trade and investment.

Mexico has become one of Vietnam’s leading trading partners in Latin America, he noted, affirming that Vietnam attaches importance to Mexico’s role and position in the region, cited VNA.

He expressed his hope that the two countries will further develop their traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation in a substantive manner for the benefit of their people and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the regions and the world.

The top Vietnamese legislator also commended the PT’s role in Mexico’s political landscape and welcomed the launch of the Mexico-Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Group, with PT lawmakers playing a key role. He said the group would provide a favourable foundation for strengthening ties between the two legislative bodies and helping elevate Vietnam-Mexico relations to a new level.

For his part, Anaya Gutierrez expressed admiration for Vietnam’s achievements during the Doi Moi (Renewal) process and affirmed that the PT and he personally attach great importance to consolidating and expanding the traditional friendship and cooperation between the Parties, legislatures and people of the two countries.

He expressed confidence that Vietnam would achieve its strategic development goals in the new era.

On the occasion, NA President Man asked Anaya Gutierrez to convey his invitation to the Presidents of Mexico’s Senate and Chamber of Deputies to visit Vietnam at an early date.

Vietnam, Cambodia intensify efforts to repatriate martyrs’ remains

Vietnam and Cambodia have reaffirmed their commitment to intensifying the search, collection and repatriation of the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Cambodia during wartime, despite increasingly scarce information about burial sites.

The commitment has been made at the 25th meeting of the specialized committees of the Vietnamese and Cambodian governments, held in Ho Chi Minh City from August 16-20 to review cooperation in the search and repatriation of Vietnamese martyrs’ remains, according to VNA.

Delegates at the meeting (Photo: VNA)

The Vietnamese delegation was led by Senior Lieutenant General Le Quang Minh, Deputy Director of the General Department of Politics under the Vietnam People's Army and Standing Vice Chairman of the Vietnamese committee. The Cambodian delegation was headed by General Pol Sareoun, Senior Adviser to the King of Cambodia and Chairman of the Cambodian committee.

Despite growing difficulties in locating burial sites, search and collection operations had continued effectively. During the 2025-2026 dry season, Vietnamese search teams recovered 850 sets of martyrs’ remains in Cambodia, heard the meeting.

In the coming 2026-2027 dry season, the two sides will maintain the search and repatriation mission until no further information on the burial sites of Vietnamese martyrs remains available.

Vietnam will continue to deploy 11 search and collection teams across Cambodian provinces and cities.

The two sides will also intensify public awareness campaigns and encourage people in both countries to provide information about fallen Vietnamese soldiers and their graves. They agreed to strengthen exchanges of delegations, jointly review and collect information, and conduct field surveys and assessments of cooperation between local specialized boards and search teams.

The two committees also consented to direct their standing agencies to develop new measures to improve the efficiency of the search and collection effort and strengthen coordination in gathering information about Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who died in Cambodia.

The sides will further coordinate the repair and preservation of Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Monuments in Cambodia, ensuring that the sites are properly managed and used in accordance with national regulations and local customs.

They also pledged to facilitate visits by domestic and international delegations to the monuments, contributing to stronger ties between the governments, armed forces and peoples of Vietnam and Cambodia.

At the meeting, authorized by the Vietnamese Prime Minister, the head of the Vietnamese delegation handed over the Vietnamese Government's 2026 financial assistance to the Cambodian committee.

Three Vietnamese destinations named among Southeast Asia’s most beautiful

Vietnam has three representatives on the Australian news website Nine.com.au’s newly released list of the 15 most beautiful destinations in Southeast Asia, with Ninh Binh, Ha Giang, and Hoi An earning spots for their striking natural landscapes and rich cultural appeal.

Ninh Binh, often dubbed “Ha Long Bay on land,” features vibrant, neon-green rice paddies flanked by towering limestone karst mountains.

The website suggested that visitors can explore the scenic landscape by floating down winding, quiet rivers on hand-rowed bamboo boats, small enough to drift directly through the low-hanging caves in the side of the mountains.

Meanwhile, located in the country's far north, Ha Giang is known as the final frontier of Vietnam, reported VOV.

Breathtaking view of the Trang An Landscape Complex in Ninh Binh province.

According to Nine.com.au, it is famous for the Ha Giang Loop, a thrilling multi-day motorbike journey following winding roads through the mountains and secluded villages on the Chinese border.

In addition, Hoi An was a thriving trading port from the 15th century and is now home to a UNESCO-listed ancient town. Its distinctive yellow buildings, colourful silk lanterns, and maze of narrow lanes have made it one of Vietnam’s most recognizable destinations.

“Just south of the beach resort town of Da Nang, it attracts a lot of day-trippers, but is well worth a few days of your time to really explore the city,” it noted.

The list also features a diverse range of destinations across Southeast Asia, including the Perhentian Islands and Cameron Highlands in Malaysia, Raja Ampat and Komodo National Park in Indonesia, Kuang Si Waterfalls in Laos, El Nido in the Philippines, Bagan and Inle Lake in Myanmar, Chiang Rai and the Phi Phi Islands in Thailand, and Angkor Wat and Koh Rong in Cambodia.

National Day airfares ease, travelers adjust holiday plans

Airfares on several major domestic routes have fallen by VND100,000-200,000 per one-way ticket for the coming National Day holiday period after airlines added flights and seats, giving passengers more flexibility to adjust travel plans and manage costs.

Families reconsider travel options

Airfares for the National Day holiday have begun to ease compared with early August after airlines added hundreds of thousands of seats. Although fares are above normal levels, the decline has made it easier for travelers to manage costs and find suitable departure times, with some families switching from road to air travel.

Booking platforms showed one-way fares from Ho Chi Minh City to Hue and Da Nang at around VND1.9 million. Tickets to Nha Trang and Da Lat start at about VND1.4 million on the first day of the holiday, while Ho Chi Minh City-Hanoi fares range from VND1.5 million to VND2 million, depending on the airline and departure time.

Flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Vinh and Thanh Hoa cost around VND1.6 million, while fares from Hanoi to Da Nang and Phu Quoc range from VND697,000 to VND1.9 million per leg.

The additional capacity has brought more fare and schedule options, with cheaper tickets generally available on early-morning or late-night flights and on return dates outside peak periods. Travelers, particularly families, are advised to compare final prices as checked baggage, seat selection and meals can add significantly to the advertised fare.

Nguyen Huy Hoang, a resident of Ho Chi Minh City's Binh Thanh Ward, said his family had initially hesitated to book a trip to Phu Quoc because of high travel costs. After checking again, he found one-way fares from Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc from VND697,000 and return tickets from VND698,000, around VND200,000-300,000 cheaper than when he searched in July.

The lower prices prompted his family to book the trip. Hoang shared that the savings become significant for a family travelling together and advised passengers to compare both outbound and return flights, remain flexible with departure times and book through official channels.

Lower fares have also prompted some travelers to change transport plans. Vu Hong Thanh, another Ho Chi Minh City resident, had planned to drive with her family of four to Dak Lak to visit relatives at an estimated return cost of VND6 million.

She later found return air tickets for the family costing about VND7 million. With only a VND1 million difference and a much shorter journey, the family opted to fly, giving them more time to rest and spend with relatives.

Airlines add capacity, expanding cheaper fare options

Airlines have increased capacity on high-demand routes ahead of the holiday. Vietnam Airlines Group, comprising Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines and VASCO, has added 60,000 seats, bringing its total capacity to nearly 725,000 seats.

The group plans to operate more than 3,600 flights, up 25% year on year, focusing on routes linking Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with Da Nang, Cam Ranh, Hue, Da Lat and Phu Quoc.

Passengers queue for check-in at Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

Vietjet, meanwhile, plans to add 82,000 seats, equivalent to around 400 flights, across its domestic and international networks. From August 26 to September 5, it will operate more than 4,400 flights, with additional capacity on routes from Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to major tourist destinations.

Together, Vietnam Airlines Group and Vietjet are adding 142,000 seats for the holiday, providing passengers with a wider choice of fares and departure times while helping spread demand across different days.

Tan Son Nhat International Airport has increased its handling capacity to 46 take-offs and landings per hour between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. through September 6. Vietnamese airlines are expected to offer around 7.27 million seats in August, up 10% year on year.

Airlines are also offering promotional fares. Vietnam Airlines' Hello Autumn campaign provides discounts of up to 25% on domestic routes, while international return fares start from VND4.95 million, including taxes and fees, subject to applicable conditions. Vietjet is also offering promotions across selected routes and fare classes.

The domestic and international networks are also expanding. Vietnam Airlines launched its Ho Chi Minh City-Colombo service on August 16, while VASCO will resume daily Can Tho-Da Lat return flights from August 19. Vietjet plans to restore five routes to Da Lat from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Vinh and Da Nang.

Vietnam faces stronger El Nino, unpredictable rain and cold spells

El Nino is forecast to continue strengthening rapidly and could reach very strong intensity in the coming months, while heavy rain, extreme heat and other severe weather phenomena remain complex and difficult to predict across Vietnam.

El Nino could reach very strong intensity

According to Nguyen Duc Hoa, deputy head of the Climate Forecasting Division at the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, weather across Vietnam was highly variable from June through mid-August 2026, marked by widespread heat, thunderstorms, whirlwinds, lightning and hail, along with tropical storms and depressions.

During this period, the East Sea recorded two tropical depressions and three storms.

Notably, Storm Maysak, the first storm to affect Vietnam in 2026, formed in early July and strengthened to Level 9, with gusts reaching Level 11 on Vietnam’s wind scale.

It later moved into the Mong Cai area of Quang Ninh Province on the evening of July 4 at Level 8-9, with gusts reaching Level 12, before weakening over land.

Northern and central Vietnam also experienced several periods of intense heat. Numerous weather stations recorded temperatures exceeding historical levels for the same period.

In June alone, 22 stations surpassed historical records, followed by two stations in July and nine during the first half of August.

Hoa said ENSO is currently in an El Nino phase. During the second week of August 2026, the sea surface temperature anomaly in the NINO3.4 region reached 1.8 degrees Celsius.

From September through November 2026, El Nino is forecast to remain strong to very strong with a probability of 100%, including an estimated 93% chance of reaching very strong intensity, VNN reported.

Vietnam could see fewer storms than the long-term average in 2026, but their development may remain complex and unpredictable. Photo: Trong Tung

For October-December 2026, the probability of a very strong El Nino rises to 95%.

From December 2026 through February 2027, there is still a 93% probability that El Nino will remain at strong to very strong intensity.

Higher temperatures, fewer severe cold days

Vietnam’s weather agency forecasts that average temperatures nationwide in September 2026 will be 0.5-1.5 degrees Celsius above the long-term average.

During October and November, temperatures are expected to be generally 1-2 degrees above average, with some locations experiencing even greater anomalies.

From December 2026 through February 2027, temperatures are forecast to remain 0.5-1.5 degrees above the long-term average. In the Central Highlands and southern Vietnam, the anomaly could reach 1.5-2 degrees.

Cold-air activity is also forecast to be weaker than the long-term average.

During December 2026 and January 2027, severe and damaging cold spells could arrive later than usual, while the overall number of cold days is expected to be lower than the climatological norm.

That does not mean, however, that Vietnam will experience an entirely warm winter.

When powerful cold-air outbreaks do occur, severe cold, frost or ice may still develop, potentially affecting public health and agricultural production.

Complex rainfall patterns, severe shortages in some areas

In September, total rainfall across northern and central Vietnam is forecast to be 10-30% below the long-term average. Other regions are expected to receive rainfall close to normal levels.

In October, rainfall in northern Vietnam is forecast to rise to 5-20% above average, while many other areas could experience deficits of 5-20%.

The shortfall could be particularly pronounced from southern Nghe An to Da Nang and along the south-central coast, where rainfall may be 20-40% below average.

In November, northern Vietnam and the area from Thanh Hoa to Ha Tinh are expected to receive 10-30% more rainfall than normal.

In contrast, rainfall from Quang Tri to Lam Dong could be 20-40% below average, while southern Vietnam may record a deficit of 5-15%.

By December, northern Vietnam and the area from Thanh Hoa to Ha Tinh are expected to continue receiving above-average rainfall.

The south-central coast, meanwhile, could see rainfall deficits of 40-100mm.

During January and February 2027, rainfall in most regions is forecast to be 5-20mm below average, while northern Vietnam is expected to remain close to normal.

The weather agency warned that areas from Ha Tinh to Hue and along the south-central coast face a risk of rainfall shortages during the core months of their rainy season, particularly October and November.

In the Central Highlands and southern Vietnam, the rainy season could end earlier than usual.

Both regions may also experience periods of very little rain during January and February 2027, putting pressure on water resources and agricultural production.

Fewer storms, but extreme weather remains a threat

From September 2026 through February 2027, tropical storm and tropical depression activity in the East Sea, as well as the number of systems making landfall in Vietnam, is forecast to be below the long-term average.

Historically, around 7.3 tropical storms and depressions occur in the East Sea during this period, with about 3.1 making landfall.

Between September and November 2026 specifically, around three to five storms or tropical depressions are forecast to develop in the East Sea, with one or two expected to make landfall.

That compares with long-term averages of 5.9 systems in the East Sea and 2.9 making landfall during the same period.

Fewer storms, however, do not necessarily mean an absence of dangerous weather.

Moderate to heavy rain could still occur across large areas during September and October, while thunderstorms, whirlwinds, lightning and hail remain possible in many parts of the country during the seasonal transition.

The weather agency has advised residents and local authorities to closely monitor forecasts, particularly in areas vulnerable to rainfall shortages, localized heavy downpours or strong cold-air outbreaks.

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