| Vietnam News Today (Jan. 23) notable headlines 14th National Party Congress – milestone shaping brighter future for Vietnam Vietnam supports UN Security Council’s substantive reform Phu Quoc named among TravelAwaits’ top 10 trending destinations for 2026 Roasted pork belly bread leads TasteAtlas’ 100 Vietnamese dishes list Frost looms as northern Vietnam endures harsh cold spell Vietnam–Germany advance digital classrooms in vocational education 14th National Party Congress: Making culture vital endogenous resource Indonesia ready to cooperate with Vietnam in halal sector Khanh Hoa eyes development of Chinese tourist market |
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| Milan Krajca, Chairman of the Czech Peace Movement and a member of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSČM) speaks to a Vietnam News Agency (VNA) correspondent in Prague. (Photo: VNA) |
14th National Party Congress – milestone shaping brighter future for Vietnam
The 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) represents a historic milestone that plays a pivotal role in shaping both the current reality and long-term development aspirations of Vietnam, said Milan Krajca, Chairman of the Czech Peace Movement and a member of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia (KSČM).
Speaking to a Vietnam News Agency (VNA) correspondent in Prague, Krajca affirmed that Vietnam is not only an integral part of but also a frontrunner in the dynamic development process of East and Southeast Asia, having recorded highly impressive progress over recent decades.
According to Krajca, Vietnam stands before an open future with great potential. He stressed that the documents and resolutions adopted at the Congress will mark a significant step forward in building Vietnam into an advanced socialist country, laying solid foundations for a better future for its people.
Against the backdrop of increasing global uncertainties, he voiced particular appreciation for Vietnam’s foreign policy. He said that Vietnam’s external relations, grounded in peace, mutually beneficial cooperation, mutual respect and international solidarity, could serve as a model for many other countries.
With its proud history of struggle for national independence, Vietnam deeply understands the value of peace and has consistently remained steadfast in pursuing peaceful solutions to all conflicts, he noted.
Regarding bilateral relations, Krajca highlighted the long-standing and close ties between the Communist Party of Vietnam and the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia. He recalled that the relationship was nurtured as early as the last century, notably marked by President Ho Chi Minh’s visit to Czechoslovakia in 1957. In his view, the establishment of the Vietnam–Czech Strategic Partnership in January 2025 represents an important turning point, opening up broad opportunities for cooperation in such fields as trade, investment, education, security and tourism, cited VNA.
He also underlined the important role of the 100,000-strong Vietnamese community in the Czech Republic, describing it as a key factor in strengthening the close bonds and mutual understanding between the two nations.
On behalf of the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia, Milan Krajca extended his warm congratulations to the 14th National Party Congress of the CPV. He said that the Czech side is closely following each discussion session of the Congress, expecting that its conclusions will usher in new and positive chapters in relations between the two Parties and the people of the two countries.
Vietnam supports UN Security Council’s substantive reform
Vietnam has voiced the country’s support for substantive reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to enhance the body’s representativeness, effectiveness and efficiency.
At the first plenary meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN) process on UNSC reform within the framework of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Vietnam made the statement at a discussion that launched this year’s series of negotiations on one of the UN’s most critical, complex and long-standing reform agendas.
The meeting was co-chaired by the Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives of Kuwait and the Netherlands to the UN, with broad participation from UN member states. It marked the start of in-depth discussions in 2026 on UNSC reform, a key pillar of overall UN reform.
At the meeting, many countries and groups underscored the necessity of reforming the UNSC to better reflect current geopolitical realities. Delegates exchanged diverse views on the scope of reform, the expansion of membership categories, working methods, the use of the veto, as well as negotiation pathways and timelines, according to VNA.
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| Minister-Counsellor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the UN, addresses the session. (Photo: VNA) |
Addressing the meeting, Minister-Counsellor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the UN, reaffirmed Vietnam’s strong commitment to multilateralism and to the UN’s central role in maintaining international peace and security. He stressed that UNSC reform is an urgent requirement to improve the Council’s democracy, representativeness, transparency and effectiveness.
Vietnam continues to support the expansion of both permanent and non-permanent membership of the UNSC, based on ensuring equitable geographical representation and enhancing the voice and participation of developing countries, he said.
Regarding working methods, Vietnam highlighted the need to improve the UNSC’s transparency, inclusiveness and effectiveness. This includes strengthening substantive exchanges between the council and UN member states, and enhancing the quality of interaction between the UNSC and the General Assembly. Permanent members, he noted, should exercise restraint and use the veto cautiously, in line with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter.
On the IGN process, Vietnam expressed hope that discussions in 2026 will help narrow differences on an overall reform model, creating a foundation for substantive negotiations in the time ahead. Vietnam reaffirmed that it will continue to engage in the IGN process with a constructive, responsible and cooperative spirit, and stands ready to make active contributions to joint efforts to advance UNSC reform towards concrete outcomes that meet the demands of the new situation and the legitimate interests of all UN member states.
Phu Quoc named among TravelAwaits’ top 10 trending destinations for 2026
Phu Quoc Island, off Vietnam’s southern coast in An Giang province, has been named among the world’s top 10 trending destinations for 2026, according to a list compiled by leading US travel magazine TravelAwaits.
The magazine notes that Quoc is ringed by crystal-clear, blue-green waters, offering visitors the choice of relaxing in town or venturing out to explore its many beaches.
The island also features temples that provide insight into Vietnamese culture, vibrant night markets for shopping and street-food tasting, pepper farms offering guided tours, and sandy shores ideal for watching some of the world’s most spectacular, vividly coloured sunsets, reported VOV.
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| Phu Quoc draws visitors with golden sunshine and turquoise seas. |
Visitors are encouraged to take the opportunity to see globally recognised landmarks such as the Kiss Bridge, Sunset Town and a large-scale night-time entertainment complex.
Rounding out the list of the top 10 trending destinations are St. Julian’s in Malta, Algeria, the Hebrides in Scotland, Hobart in Australia, Brussels in Belgium, Guadalajara in Mexico, Dominica, Santa Fe in the United States, and the Czech Republic.
Roasted pork belly bread leads TasteAtlas’ 100 Vietnamese dishes list
Banh mi heo quay (roasted pork belly bread) has ranked first on TasteAtlas’ list of the Top 100 Vietnamese dishes.
The pork is roasted with a thick layer of salt and spices, then sliced and served in a freshly baked bread roll. The sandwich is dressed with mayonnaise, pickled carrots and daikon, cucumbers, cilantro and chives. Widely sold at street food stalls, it is among the most popular banh mi varieties in Vietnam, the website wrote.
Bun bo Nam Bo (southern Vietnamese beef noodle salad) comes second. Its main ingredients include beef, rice vermicelli, garlic, fresh herbs such as cilantro and mint, and vegetables including carrots, cucumbers, lettuce and bean sprouts. Roasted peanuts and fried shallots are optional, VOV reported.
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| Roasted pork belly bread tops TasteAtlas’ list of Vietnamese dishes. (Photo: TasteAtlas) |
It is followed by pho bo (beef noodle soup), typically flavored with dried spices such as cinnamon, star anise, cloves, cardamom and coriander. The dish is served piping hot with rice noodles and is usually topped with cilantro, sliced onions and chopped green onions.
Other dishes in the Top 10 include mi Quang (Quang-style noodles), nuoc cham (fish sauce), bun cha (grilled pork meatballs with vermicelli), bo kho (beef stew), bun bo Hue (Hue breakfast noodle soup), rau muong xao toi (morning glory stir-fry) and bo luc lac (shaking beef).
The ranking also features many other Vietnamese dishes, such as chao tom (sugar cane shrimp), thit kho tau (caramelised pork belly), nem lui (grilled ground pork on lemongrass skewers), banh khoai (Hue-style pancake) and bo la lot (grilled beef wrapped in betel leaf).
Frost looms as northern Vietnam endures harsh cold spell
A strong cold front continues to grip northern Vietnam, with temperatures plunging and drizzle spreading across the region.
A renewed wave of intensified cold air is sweeping through northern and north-central Vietnam, bringing widespread drizzle and a sharp plunge in temperatures. Forecasts suggest the cold snap, with potential frost in mountain areas, will persist through at least January 23.
According to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, on January 21, the cold air had already impacted the northeastern region, parts of the northwest, and the north-central provinces. Scattered showers were recorded in the northeast and Thanh Hoa, with temperatures plunging by 6–9°C. The Gulf of Tonkin also saw strong northeasterly winds of level 6, with gusts reaching level 7.
Meteorological data showed that at 1:00 PM on January 21, Hanoi’s temperature dropped to 14.8°C - nearly 10°C lower than the previous day. In Mau Son, temperatures plummeted to 2.8°C, an 11.8°C drop. Earlier that morning, Hanoi had been at 20.3°C and Mau Son at 4.4°C.
Experts note that while this cold spell may not bring the lowest temperatures recorded in previous events, the damp conditions will make it feel colder. Mountainous and high-altitude areas are expected to experience the most severe cold.
The cold air mass is forecast to intensify further on the evening of January 21, expanding its reach to other areas in the north-central region and the northwest before moving further south into the central provinces. Inland, northeastern winds will strengthen to level 2–3, and along coastal areas to level 3–4. Between the evening of January 21 and the morning of January 22, light rain and drizzle are expected across the northeast, Lao Cai, southern Phu Tho, Thanh Hoa, and Nghe An.
Due to the intensified cold air, northern provinces and Thanh Hoa are experiencing widespread cold, with mountain areas seeing severe cold conditions. This spell is expected to persist through January 23. From Nghe An to Hue, temperatures are also falling significantly.
During this period, the lowest temperatures in northern provinces and Thanh Hoa will range from 10–13°C, with mountain areas dropping to 7–10°C and high-altitude regions potentially falling below 4°C. In Nghe An to Hue, the lows are expected to range from 14–17°C.
In Hanoi, light rain and drizzle are forecast from the evening of January 21 through the morning of January 22, with cold conditions persisting through January 23. Minimum temperatures will hover between 10–13°C.
From January 24–25, the cold air mass is expected to stabilize and gradually weaken. Hanoi will be mostly cloudy with no rain, and partial sunshine is likely during midday. Temperatures will slowly rise, with daytime highs reaching 20–22°C by January 25, cited VNN.
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| The North braces for a prolonged cold spell, forecast to last through January 23. Photo: Hoang Minh |
The impact of the cold front will also extend to the central provinces. From the night of January 21 through January 23, rain and thunderstorms are forecast in areas from Ha Tinh to Da Nang and in eastern parts of provinces from Quang Ngai to Gia Lai. Some areas may experience moderate to heavy rain. Thunderstorms may bring lightning, whirlwinds, and strong gusts.
In high-altitude areas of northern provinces, frost formation is a concern due to extremely low temperatures.
In the East Sea, the northern sector (including the Hoang Sa archipelago) is expected to face strong northeasterly winds of level 6–7, gusting up to level 8–9. Wave heights could reach 4–6 meters, creating rough sea conditions. In the Gulf of Tonkin, winds will reach level 6 with gusts at level 7–8 and waves rising to 2–3 meters.
The sea area from southern Quang Tri to Khanh Hoa and the central part of the East Sea will also see increasing northeasterly winds, reaching level 6 with gusts at level 7–8. Wave heights may range from 2–5 meters, resulting in rough seas.
Waters from Lam Dong to Ca Mau and the western sector of the southern East Sea (including western parts of the Truong Sa archipelago) are forecast to face winds strengthening to level 6, occasionally level 7, with gusts reaching level 8–9. Waves may rise to 3–5 meters, posing significant maritime risks.
Potential impacts of the cold spell
The meteorological agency has warned that the extended cold and severe frost conditions could affect public health. Exposure to prolonged cold and frost can reduce immunity and increase the risk of disease outbreaks, particularly among vulnerable populations. Livestock and poultry may also be at risk.
In agriculture, the cold snap and frost could cause leaf burn and slow crop growth and development.
Heavy, localized rain may lead to flash flooding in low-lying areas, cause river and stream overflow, and trigger landslides on slopes. Short bursts of heavy rainfall may also result in urban and industrial zone flooding.
Strong winds and high waves at sea could severely impact fishing vessels and other maritime economic activities.
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