| Vietnam News Today (Feb. 3) notable headlines Vietnam–Laos ties set for reshape to new phase of cooperation and development Vietnamese in Russia confident in Party’s leadership Jordanian House Speaker arrives in Hanoi for official visit to Vietnam Swiss businesses urged to seize opportunities in Vietnam HCMC to stage fireworks at 17 locations to welcome Lunar New Year 2026 Spring Fair 2026: E-commerce at crossroads of governance, sustainable development Vietnam willing to share renewal experience with Cuba: PM Congratulations to Vietnam on Communist Party of Vietnam’s 96th founding anniversary Spring gathering promotes Vietnamese culture, community solidarity in RoK |
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| Party General Secretary To Lam holds talks with Lao Party General Secretary and President Thongloun Sisoulith during the latter’s state visit to Vietnam on January 26, 2026. (Photo: VNA) |
Vietnam–Laos ties set for reshape to new phase of cooperation and development
The upcoming state visit to Laos by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee To Lam is expected to help redefine the landscape of cooperation and development between Vietnam and Laos in a new period, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Manh Cuong.
According to the Deputy Foreign Minister, the visit will take place on February 5 at the invitation of Thongloun Sisoulith, General Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee and President of Laos. It is of great significance to the special relationship between Vietnam and Laos, especially in shaping the landscape of cooperation and development between the two countries in the new period.
In this context, the fact that General Secretary To Lam and the high-level delegation of the Party and State of Vietnam chose Laos as the first country to visit in the new term – the first state visit that Laos received immediately after its 12th National Party Congress, and just over a week after Vietnam welcomed the Party General Secretary and President of Laos as well as the first foreign head of state to visit Vietnam immediately after the 14th National Party Congress – carries profound political significance, reflecting the high priority and special importance Vietnam attaches to bilateral relationship.
During the visit, General Secretary To Lam will hold talks and meetings with senior Lao leaders to review bilateral cooperation, exchange views on the situation in each country, and agree on major orientations for the ties in the new development phase. A number of cooperation documents between ministries, sectors and localities of the two sides are also expected to be signed, creating a fresh momentum and a stronger legal framework for deeper and more effective cooperation.
The diplomat said that a major focus of the visit will be the further concretization of the two countries’ strategic linkage, a concept agreed upon by the two Party leaders in late 2025 to elevate the bilateral framework to a new level, encompassing development, security and international integration.
Looking at recent achievements, he highlighted the steady expansion of political trust and coordination, which continues to serve as the backbone of bilateral relations. Defense and security cooperation has been strengthened, helping maintain political stability and border security, while joint mechanisms for border management, information sharing, training and crime prevention have been operating effectively, cited VOV.
A key highlight of the visit, both sides will focus on further concretizing the concept of "strategic cohession"—which General Secretary To Lam and General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith agreed to add to the framework of bilateral relations in December 2025 to elevate it to a new level. This is not only an affirmation at the political and diplomatic level, but also a direction for action aimed at enhancing the level of strategic interconnectedness and mutual support between the two countries in development, security, and integration.
Economic, trade and investment cooperation has also recorded notable progress. Bilateral trade surpassed 3 billion USD in 2025 for the first time, while Vietnam’s investment in Laos rose sharply to more than 5.6 billion USD, bringing total registered capital to over 6.2 billion USD across 276 projects, keeping Vietnam among Laos’s leading foreign investors.
Meanwhile, cooperation in education, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges has continued to deepen, with Vietnam providing thousands of scholarships annually for Lao students and welcoming tens of thousands of Lao trainees and students, helping develop long-term human resources and enduring links between the two nations.
Cuong expressed confidence that the upcoming visit will become a significant political milestone, creating new momentum and opening a new phase of development for Vietnam-Laos relations, focusing on the realisation of "strategic cohesion". The visit not only reaffirms the top strategic priority that the two countries give to each other in their foreign policy, but also demonstrates their shared determination to transform the special solidarity from a historical depth to a depth of development cooperation, a long-term strategic partnership for the self-reliance, self-resilience, and common prosperity of both nations.
Vietnamese in Russia confident in Party’s leadership
In recent days, the outcomes and positive momentum of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) have continued to resonate deeply within the Vietnamese abroad, including those in Saint Petersburg, a Russian city home to a strong Vietnamese community.
Speaking to VNA correspondents in Russia, Pham Thi Binh, an overseas Vietnamese living in Saint Petersburg and the owner of a small business, said that despite living abroad, she closely follows major developments at home, especially the Party’s National Congress, the most important political event of the Party and State held every five years.
Like many others in the community, she is especially interested in the policies related to overseas Vietnamese as well as the development of the private sector and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). She noted that the congress’s reaffirmation of the important role of overseas Vietnamese and SMEs in national development not only carries policy significance, but also serves as a major source of spiritual encouragement for Vietnamese communities abroad, according to VOV.
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| Members of the Vietnamese Embassy in Russia and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in a group photo (Photo: VNA) |
Closely following the congress from its preparatory stage, Nguyen Trung Chau, Secretary of the Vietnamese People Association in Saint Petersburg, expressed his satisfaction with the selection of qualified individuals for key positions, saying this has further strengthened his confidence in the country’s future. He emphasised that the farther overseas Vietnamese are from their homeland, the more closely they follow major national events such as the 14th National Party Congress.
Tran Ella, born to a Vietnamese father from Quang Ninh province and a mother from Siberia, voiced her pride when talking about the congress, describing it as a milestone marking a new stage of development for the country where she was born and raised. Inspired by her father’s reminders about maintaining cultural roots, she established the Vietnam – Russia Friendship Club to pass on Vietnamese cultural values, from language to traditional customs, which Vietnamese people preserve wherever they live.
For her, helping Russians gain a deeper understanding of Vietnamese culture is also a way of expressing her love for her father’s homeland while living in her mother’s country.
As head of the first Vietnamese community organisation officially registered with local authorities in Russia, Duong Chi Kien highlighted the responsibility of each Vietnamese individual to contribute to the national aspiration for development emphasised at the 14th Party Congress. From the overseas Vietnamese perspective, the Vietnamese People Association in Saint Petersburg has worked closely with local authorities to further deepen the Vietnam – Russia comprehensive strategic partnership.
He noted that the congress entrusted responsibilities to a new generation of capable, determined and action-oriented leaders, reflecting high and practical expectations for the country’s future leadership. These cadres, he said, possess not only strong ethics and a sense of responsibility, but also the capacity to absorb and apply science and technology while turning determination into action and action into tangible results, contributing to the realisation of Vietnam’s centennial development goals.
Kien affirmed that this resolve has spread throughout the overseas Vietnamese community, inspiring and encouraging them to continue contributing to their homeland in meaningful ways.
Jordanian House Speaker arrives in Hanoi for official visit to Vietnam
Speaker of the Jordanian House of Representatives Mazen Turki El Qadi arrived in Hanoi on February 2 afternoon, beginning an official visit to Vietnam until February 5 at the invitation of National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man.
Welcoming the Jordanian House Speaker and his delegation at Noi Bai International Airport were Don Tuan Phong, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee for National Defense, Security and External Relations, along with representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Middle East – Africa Department and the State Protocol Department.
Accompanying Speaker Mazen Turki El Qadi on the visit are Jordan’s Ambassador to Singapore and Vietnam Sa’ed Radaideh; several members of the Jordanian Parliament representing finance, youth and sports, health and food, environment and climate, agriculture and water, legal, and administrative committees; along with the chief of staff of the House Speaker’s Office and the secretary-general of the House of Representatives, reported VNA.
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| Speaker of the Jordanian House of Representatives Mazen Turki El Qadi (center) arrives at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on February 2 afternoon. (Photo: VNA) |
Vietnam and Jordan established diplomatic relations in 1980. The official visit by Speaker Mazen Turki El Qadi marks the first exchange of high-level delegations between the two countries’ legislative bodies. It takes place just three months after the visit to Vietnam by King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein and is also Speaker Mazen Turki El Qadi’s first overseas trip since assuming office in October 2025.
The visit reflects the strong commitment of the Jordanian Royal Family, Government and House of Representatives to promoting comprehensive relations with Vietnam, including parliamentary cooperation.
Swiss businesses urged to seize opportunities in Vietnam
Economiesuisse, a Swiss media outlet, has recently published an article highlighting Vietnam’s stable economic growth and strong potential for investment expansion, identifying the country as an important partner, particularly in trade, manufacturing, and infrastructure.
Through connections facilitated by Economiesuisse and other agencies, a high-level Swiss business delegation met with a Vietnamese government delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh in Zurich on January 29.
The meeting underscored the close economic relationship between Switzerland and Vietnam, while highlighting the potential for even deeper cooperation between the two countries.
The article pointed out that with a trade volume of around CHF2.5 billion (US$3.2 billion), Vietnam is already Switzerland's third most important trading partner in the ASEAN region.
More than 100 Swiss companies are active in the country, creating more than 17,000 skilled jobs. Many of them are among the most attractive employers in the country and make a substantial contribution to Vietnam's socio-economic development.
The article outlined that Vietnam is becoming increasingly important for Swiss companies, both as a dynamic sales market and as a strategic business location in Asia. For years, the country has recorded high growth rates averaging over 6% and is playing an increasingly important role in global value creation as a production location.
Accordingly, numerous Swiss companies are planning to expand their existing commitments or make new investments. Switzerland currently ranks 22nd among foreign direct investors in Vietnam. The potential for expansion is considerable, particularly in the infrastructure sector, cited VOV.
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| Swiss companies are planning to make new investments in Vietnam, highlighting considerable potential for further growth, especially in the infrastructure sector (Photo: Illustrative image) |
The development of the recently announced International Financial Centre (IFC) in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang also opens up attractive prospects for Swiss companies.
In Zurich, the company representatives present took the opportunity to contribute their expectations and ideas for future cooperation.
A key topic of discussion was the untapped potential of bilateral economic relations. Even closer cooperation could promote sustainable economic, environmental and social progress in both countries. However, this requires one crucial step such as the rapid conclusion of the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) states, including Switzerland.
This agreement is of central importance for Swiss companies. They are currently at a disadvantage compared to competitors from the EU or the United Kingdom, as both already have free trade agreements with Vietnam.
A successful conclusion would strengthen bilateral trade and encourage additional investment, especially against the backdrop of increasing protectionist tendencies worldwide.
According to Economiesuisse’s assessment, the progress made last November in Da Nang during the 18th round of negotiations is encouraging. After more than 14 years of intensive talks, there is now justified hope that the remaining outstanding issues will soon be resolved and a breakthrough achieved.
HCMC to stage fireworks at 17 locations to welcome Lunar New Year 2026
Ho Chi Minh City is set to stage fireworks to celebrate the Lunar New Year, starting at 12:00 am on February 17, with each show lasting 15 minutes.
Fireworks will be set off for 15 minutes, from 12-12.15 am on February 17, marking the first day of the Lunar New Year 2026, cited VGP.
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| Photo: VOV |
Specifically, the Southern metropolis will feature four high-altitude shows combined with low-altitude fireworks at the Saigon River Tunnel area in An Khanh Ward, New City Center in Binh Duong Ward, Tam Thang Square in Vung Tau Ward, and Ba Ria Park Square in Ba Ria Ward.
Meanwhile, 13 low-altitude shows will take place at:
+ Dam Sen Cultural Park in Binh Thoi Ward
+ Football field of the Cultural-Sports and Broadcasting Center in Dau Tieng Commune
+ Football field of the Cultural-Sports and Community Learning Center in Minh Thanh Commune
+ Binh Dien Market in Binh Dong Ward
+ Cu Chi Tunnels in An Nhon Tay Commune
+ Administrative Center Square in Tan My Ward
+ Saigon Marina IFC Tower in Saigon Ward
+ Historical site commemorating the 1968 Mau Than General Offensive and Uprising in Tan Nhut Commune
+ Vuon Cau residential project in Lai Thieu Ward
+ Green square urban-commercial-service complex in Dong Hoa Ward
+ Pier 914 historical site in Con Dao Special Zone
+ Kim Long villa area in Nha Be Commune
+ Rung Sac Martyrs Memorial in Can Gio Commune
The Ho Chi Minh City High Command will oversee the fireworks, coordinating with the Department of Culture and Sports and local authorities to ensure funding and logistics.
Police will secure transportation routes for fireworks, manage crowd safety at viewing areas, and deploy fire prevention equipment, boats, and standby forces at all sites.
The Department of Construction will organize traffic flow around key viewing areas and suspend all boat activities near fireworks sites from 11:30 pm on February 16 to 1:00 am on February 17.
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