| Vietnam News Today (Jan. 31) notable headlines Vietnam, Singapore look to stronger comprehensive strategic partnership Prime Minister receives Chairman of China’s Texhong Group Vietnam becomes founding member of Gaza Board of Peace Vietnam remains a bright spot for growth, integration: Argentine scholar Cold front moves south, bringing colder weather to northern Vietnam International media highlight Vietnam’s growing appeal for FDI New Zealand media praise Vietnam’s wellness resorts |
Vietnam, Singapore look to stronger comprehensive strategic partnership
Party General Secretary To Lam proposed a range of measures to augment Vietnam-Singapore cooperation under their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during a telephone conversation with Secretary-General of the People’s Action Party (PAP) and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on January 30 in Hanoi.
The talks marked a new step forward in the Vietnam-Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
General Secretary To Lam said he was pleased to speak with PAP Secretary-General Lawrence Wong shortly after the successful conclusion of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV). On behalf of the CPV Central Committee, he thanked the PAP and Lawrence Wong personally for sending congratulations to the congress as well as to Vietnam’s leaders. He also conveyed regards and best wishes to Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and other Singaporean leaders, and recalled his strong impressions from his official visit to Singapore in 2025.
For his part, PAP Secretary-General and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong congratulated Vietnam on the success of the CPV’s 14th National Congress and congratulated To Lam on being elected by the 14th-term Central Committee to continue serving as General Secretary.
He expressed admiration for Vietnam’s achievements under the leadership of the CPV and affirmed that Singapore consistently attaches importance to, and desires to further strengthen, the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.
Party leader To Lam noted that the 14th National Party Congress had successfully reviewed the implementation of the 13th-term congress resolution with strong results, drawn valuable lessons from previous congresses, and summed up 40 years of pursuing the Doi Moi (Renewal) process.
The congress devises objectives and tasks for the next five years and dealt with strategic issues related to the future and destiny of the Vietnamese nation, with the determination to build a strong, prosperous country with wealthy people, democracy, equity and civilization.
A consistent guiding principle is placing the people at the center, as both the subject and objective, as well as the driving force and resource of development. The CPV places particular emphasis on Party building and rectification, creating a clean, strong and comprehensive political system, streamlining the apparatus for greater efficiency and effectiveness, and resolutely and persistently combating corruption and negative practices.
The congress also defined a new growth model for Vietnam based on the knowledge based economy, digital economy, green economy and circular economy, while promoting dynamism and the role of all economic sectors.
The Party leader spoke highly of Vietnam-Singapore relations over more than 50 years, especially since the two countries elevated ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2025.
High-level exchanges have been maintained regularly, while economic cooperation remains a bright spot, with Singapore continuing to lead ASEAN investors and ranking second globally in Vietnam, with 4,400 projects worth US$90 billion.
He proposed that Singapore continue to support Vietnam in cadre training and share experience in socio-economic policymaking. High-level agreements have been actively implemented, including the timely adoption of the Action Program to implement the Vietnam–Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in October 2025, which set directions for cooperation in key pillars in the coming period, according to VOV.
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| Party General Secretary To Lam holds phone talks with PAP Secretary-General and Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. |
Amid a complex international landscape, General Secretary To Lam suggested that the two sides strengthen ASEAN cooperation and focus on consolidating political trust through high-level contacts; implement the 2025–2030 Action Program; soon launch a Party-to-Party dialogue mechanism; expand economic cooperation and investment in areas such as high technology, renewable energy, VSIP 2.0 development and carbon credit exchange; enhance defense and security cooperation and efforts to combat transnational crime; support the establishment of Vietnam’s National Data Center; intensify cultural and tourism exchanges; uphold ASEAN centrality; coordinate closely in 2027, when Singapore will serve as ASEAN Chair and Vietnam will host APEC; and accelerate negotiations toward an effective and substantive Code of Conduct (COC).
Agreeing strongly with the assessments and proposals put forward by General Secretary To Lam, PAP Secretary-General and PM Lawrence Wong reaffirmed that his nation values its relationship with Vietnam and stands ready to implement agreed cooperation.
He underscored Singapore’s desire to strengthen high-level exchanges, economic cooperation, defense and security cooperation and other areas, contributing to peace, stability and development in the region.
He also said the island city state would raise the total number of Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIPs) in Vietnam to 30 in 2026, marking the 30th anniversary of the project’s successful presence in the country, and expressed confidence that, with the determination and efforts of leaders and peoples of both countries, the Vietnam-Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will continue to grow in a stronger and more substantive manner, for the benefit of both nations and for peace, cooperation and development in the region and beyond.
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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) receives Hong Tianzhu, Chairman of Texhong Group, in Hanoi on January 30. (Photo: VNA) |
Prime Minister receives Chairman of China’s Texhong Group
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on January 30 received Hong Tianzhu, Chairman of Texhong Group, calling on the Chinese textile firm to deepen its investment in Vietnam and expand into new sectors, including the organization of international-standard fashion shows in the country.
Congratulating Texhong on its effective investment performance in Vietnam in recent years, the PM noted that Vietnam–China relations are developing positively, creating favorable conditions for Texhong to expand cooperation and investment in Vietnam.
He encouraged the group to scale up the production of textile materials and accessories, continue expanding the Hai Ha Industrial Park, and organize fashion events of international stature in Vietnam.
The Vietnamese Government leader particularly emphasized the need for Texhong to pursue in-depth investment, focusing on the application of science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, green production and smart governance. He stressed a shift towards greater reliance on knowledge and technology rather than labour, raw materials and land, in order to optimise the group’s operations and enhance efficiency.
For his part, Hong expressed appreciation for the Government’s continued attention and guidance for Texhong’s investment activities in Vietnam. He noted that thanks to this support, Texhong has invested nearly 2 billion USD in Vietnam, contributing to socio-economic development in Quang Ninh and Dong Nai provinces, attracting 34 Chinese enterprises with total investment of 3 billion USD, and creating jobs for around 16,000 Vietnamese workers.
According to the firm’s Chairman, Texhong has built a comprehensive textile manufacturing ecosystem at the Hai Ha Industrial Park in Quang Ninh, which has become an important link in the global textile supply chain.
Expressing strong agreement with the PM’s views, Hong said Texhong is interested in expanding investment in cross-border industrial parks in Quang Ninh, developing energy projects, investing in data centers, digital technology and artificial intelligence, as well as aluminium industry development. In the immediate future, the group will invite experts and directors to work with Quang Ninh province to study the organization of events in Ha Long, contributing to the development of local tourism, cited VNA.
PM Chinh underlined that Texhong’s development strategy should align with Vietnam’s development strategy to create synergy and maximize effectiveness. He welcomed the group’s plans to expand investment into new areas, particularly data infrastructure and clean energy.
In the near term, the Prime Minister urged Texhong to further build on its achievements in the textile and garment sector by strengthening participation in global value chains and supporting Vietnamese enterprises, especially those in Quang Ninh and Dong Nai, to join these chains. He stressed the importance of investing in the production of textile materials and accessories to serve export manufacturing and enhance localization of Vietnam’s textile industry.
The PM also highlighted Vietnam’s strong potential, including in Quang Ninh, which aligns well with Texhong’s investment needs. He noted that relevant parties are promoting cross-border economic zones, studying the opening of additional border gates, and investing in transport infrastructure, including roads, bridges and railway upgrades connecting Vietnam with China.
He expressed confidence that Texhong will continue to achieve greater success in Vietnam year after year, contributing to the effective implementation of high-level commitments between the two countries’ leaders, for the development of both nations, the well-being of their peoples, and the further consolidation of the Vietnam–China relationship.
Vietnam becomes founding member of Gaza Board of Peace
Vietnam has become a founding member of the U.S.-led Gaza Board of Peace, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang told reporters on Thursday.
She reiterated that Vietnam's consistent stance is to support and stand ready to contribute to the common efforts of the international community toward settling disputes and divergences through peaceful means in line with international law and the United Nations Charter, on the basis of respect for the fundamental rights of relevant sides.
On January 16, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump sent a letter to General Secretary To Lam, inviting Vietnam to join the Gaza Peace Council as a founding member state, together with the international community, to promote a sustainable peaceful solution to the Israel–Palestine conflict in the Gaza Strip.
The General Secretary accepted the invitation and affirmed that Vietnam is willing to participate as a founding member state of the Peace Council, together with the U.S. and the international community, to make active contributions toward a long-term, comprehensive solution to the Middle East peace process, including the establishment of a Palestinian state living peacefully alongside the State of Israel, VGP reported.
The notion of establishing a Board of Peace for Gaza was first set out in Mr. Trump's 20-point plan, announced last September, for ending the 2-year war between Israel and Hamas that devastated the Palestinian enclave.
In November, the U.N. Security Council granted the Board of Peace a mandate as part of U.S.-led efforts to sustain the cease-fire in Gaza.
Vietnam remains a bright spot for growth, integration: Argentine scholar
Professor Ezequiel Ramoneda, Coordinator of the Southeast Asian Studies Centre (CESEA) of Argentina, has highlighted Vietnam’s notable achievements in 2025 and expressed optimism about the country’s development prospects in 2026 and the next five years under the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV)’s leadership.
Speaking to a Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Buenos Aires following the success of the 14th National Congress of the CPV, Ramoneda noted that 2025 continued to mark a year of positive economic performance for Vietnam amid a volatile international environment, intensifying strategic competition and growing fragmentation of the global economic order.
Vietnam’s ability to maintain stable growth while expanding exports to markets with high standards and stringent entry barriers reflects the economy’s flexibility and effective adaptability, he underlined.
The Argentine scholar stressed that Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralization and diversification of international relations has been a key factor underpinning these achievements. Since the launch of the Doi Moi (Renewal) policy in 1986, Vietnam has accumulated experience and strategic confidence in asserting its international standing, maintaining strategic balance among major power centres, and safeguarding national interests.
Amid intensifying US–China competition and the emergence of new economic blocs and supply-chain linkages, Ramoneda noted that Vietnam has successfully built its image as an open and integration-oriented partner, actively engaging in multilateral cooperation mechanisms rather than pursuing isolationism or factionalism. This approach, he said, has not only strengthened Vietnam’s external position but also directly contributed to economic growth and investment attraction.
Assessing the significance of the 14th National Party Congress, the professor described it as an important milestone that demonstrates continuity and further development of Vietnam’s renewal path, with people placed at the centre of all policymaking and citizens regarded as the foundation of development. He emphasised that defining people as both the driving force and the ultimate goal of development will continue to provide a solid social foundation for institutional reform and sustainable development in the coming period.
Ramoneda also spoke highly of Vietnam’s efforts to reform the administrative apparatus, enhance the effectiveness of state governance, accelerate digital transformation and streamline procedures. These measures, he said, are essential to improving productivity, reducing costs and better serving the people amid rapidly changing domestic and international conditions, cited VNA.
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| A view of Cat Lai Port in Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: VNA) |
Regarding anti-corruption efforts, the Argentine expert underscored their critical role in improving economic efficiency, minimising waste, and ensuring transparent and sustainable implementation of development projects. He noted that the fight against corruption has direct implications for the investment climate, national competitiveness and public trust.
Looking ahead to 2026 and the next five years, Ramoneda expressed confidence that Vietnam has a solid foundation to sustain positive growth momentum and even move towards the high growth targets set by the Party and the State.
With political stability, a clear development orientation and a balanced foreign policy, Vietnam is well positioned to continue affirming its role as a bright spot for growth and international integration in the region and beyond, he concluded.
Cold front moves south, bringing colder weather to northern Vietnam
A cold air mass is moving southward and is expected to bring colder conditions to northern Vietnam from January 31, according to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.
The cold front is forecast to first affect northeastern Vietnam before spreading to other northern areas and parts of central Vietnam. Northeasterly winds will strengthen over land and coastal areas, bringing scattered rain to northern and north-central regions.
From January 31, northeastern provinces will turn colder, with colder conditions in mountainous areas. The cold spell is set to spread to parts of the north-central and northwestern regions later, as temperatures continue to decline.
In Hanoi, light rain is expected from January 30 to January 31, with colder weather developing from the afternoon of January 31.
At sea, strengthening northeasterly winds are likely to affect the Gulf of Tonkin and parts of the East Sea, resulting in rough seas and higher waves. From February 1, strong winds and unsettled sea conditions are set to expand to wider areas, including waters off central and southern Vietnam, VOV reported.
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| Photo: VOV |
From February 1 to early February 4, parts of central Vietnam may experience scattered rain and thunderstorms, with a risk of severe weather such as strong gusts and lightning.
People are advised to take measures to protect against cold weather and protect crops and livestock, while fishermen are urged to closely monitor weather developments and refrain from operating during rough sea conditions.
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