| Vietnam News Today (May 20) notable headlines President Ho Chi Minh’s legacy remains ever-present in Argentina: official Vietnam targets stronger presence in US$2 trillion Halal market Top leaders pay tribute to President Ho Chi Minh Hanoi named top cultural, artistic destination in Asia Vietnamese action movie introduced at Cannes Marché du Film Int’l certification – the game-changer for electronics firms in global market Vietnam, South Africa’s ruling parties outline directions for stronger relations Special art program honors President Ho Chi Minh’s 135th birthday Ho Chi Minh is a familiar name to generations of Japanese: Mimasaka Mayor |
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| The screenshot of Argentina’s Reporte Asia featuring an article praising President Ho Chi Minh on the occasion of his birth anniversary. |
President Ho Chi Minh’s legacy remains ever-present in Argentina: official
The legacy of President Ho Chi Minh remains ever-present, particularly in Argentina, affirmed Marcelo Rodríguez, head of the Commission for Foreign Affairs of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Argentina (CPA), during an interview with a Vietnam News Agency (VNA) correspondent in Buenos Aires on the occasion of the 135th anniversary of the late Vietnamese leader’s birth (May 19, 1890-2025).
The official stressed that Ho Chi Minh, an outstanding leader of the Vietnamese people and the Communist Party of Vietnam in the struggle against colonialism and for national independence, has become a shining example for all nations, cited VNA.
According to Rodríguez, the great man is held in deep admiration in Argentina. For years, his works and writings on Party-building, the international communist movement, and Marxism–Leninism have been actively studied by the CPA. His ideology on national liberation holds significant relevance for developing countries and the Global South.
He noted that the CPA has been making efforts to preserve and uphold the teachings and legacy of President Ho Chi Minh – a source of inspiration for revolutionary movements that persist across continents today.
Rodríguez, who also serves as Director of the CPA’s Héctor P. Agosti Marxist Studies and Training Centre (CEFMA), revealed that the institution is currently conducting studies on Vietnam’s recent socio-economic achievements as well as activities promoting bilateral cooperation.
Recently, CEFMA published a special journal compiling papers from its seminar on President Ho Chi Minh and Vietnam–Latin America relations, which was held in Buenos Aires in August last year.
Vietnam targets stronger presence in US$2 trillion Halal market
Vietnam boasts abundant raw materials and strong capacity to produce final Halal goods for exports. In addition, the country’s growing reputation as a top international tourist destination indicates promising prospects for the hospitality sector, including Halal restaurants and catering services.
Less than 10% of demand satisfied
Ramlan Bin Osman, Director of the National Halal Certification Centre (HALCERT) under the Ministry of Science and Technology, emphasized both opportunities and potential to expand Halal products. Vietnam’s GDP has maintained a steady annual growth of 6–7%, highlighting the strength of its domestic economy. Yet the Halal food sector remains underexploited, with less than 10% of global demand being fulfilled.
The Halal market is capturing growing interest from trade associations and industries. Tran Van Hiep, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Cashew Association, noted that in 2024, Vietnam exported 700,000 tonnes of cashew kernels worth US$3.8 billion.
Halal certification as well as other quality control certifications are essential to ensure quality and compliance.
“In recent years, we have focused on the Halal segment. All exported cashew products now carry Halal certificates along with other quality certifications. The US remains our largest market, accounting for 30% of exports and also posing the highest Halal requirements, followed by Europe, Australia, and Middle Eastern countries,” Hiep said.
Despite the rising demand, Vietnamese exporters still face barriers in entering the Halal market. Le Phu Cuong, Head of the Vietnam Trade Office in Malaysia, said that while Halal certification is not mandatory for imports into Malaysia, many importers and distributors prioritize certified products to meet the needs of the local Muslim-majority population, which makes up around 60%.
Pham The Cuong, Vietnam’s Commercial Counselor in Indonesia, pointed to similar challenges in that country. Indonesia’s Halal certification is considered a non-tariff barrier due to its lengthy, costly, and complex approval process, which creates difficulties for small and medium-sized enterprises, according to VOV.
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| The US$2 trillion global Halal market offers major opportunities for Vietnam’s exports. |
Only one certification body is currently authorized, and only for food products. In addition, strict food safety and hygiene standards must be maintained throughout the entire supply chain, not just at input stages. Vietnamese firms are also hampered by limited familiarity with the certification process and growing competition from other nations.
Halal food industry seen as key to export expansion
According to Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan, the global Halal market presents a major opportunity for Vietnamese exports. With current growth momentum, the country could substantially raise its share in this market within five years.
In a recent move, the Government Office issued Official Dispatch No. 4169 conveying Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s directive on expanding exports to the Halal market. The Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to study Report No. 388/2025 dated May 8, 2025, from the Government Portal and devise an action plan to promote Halal food exports.
Given its enormous potential, the Halal market is becoming a strategic avenue for Vietnamese businesses in their export expansion plans. However, to fully capitalize on this opportunity, closer coordination is needed among government agencies, enterprises, and certification bodies to develop a well-structured Halal ecosystem in line with international standards.
Vietnam should carry out targeted support policies, such as allocating budget for Halal-compliant production and certification, boosting trade promotion efforts, and providing specialized training for personnel involved in Halal certification and quality assurance.
Furthermore, credible intermediary organizations are needed to guide enterprises through the certification process and ensure regulatory compliance in target export markets.
Top leaders pay tribute to President Ho Chi Minh
On May 19, 1890, Kim Lien village in Nam Dan district, the central province of Nghe An, a boy named Nguyen Sinh Cung was born. At that time, no one could have foreseen that he would one day change the destiny of a nation, becoming a brilliant leader, an outstanding revolutionary, a national liberation hero, and a world cultural celebrity.
President Ho Chi Minh’s life was a tireless journey dedicated to the cause of national independence and freedom, and the happiness of the people. He remains a vivid symbol of the Vietnamese people’s aspiration for freedom, a shining example of moral integrity, and the source of all national victories, VGP reported.
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| The delegation includes General Secretary To Lam, former General Secretary Nong Duc Manh, President Luong Cuong, and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. |
A series of meaningful commemorative activities marking the 135th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh’s birthday is held at the Presidential Palace in the President Ho Chi Minh Relic Site in Ha Noi from the middle of May through the end of June 2025.
Hanoi named top cultural, artistic destination in Asia
Hanoi has been ranked ninth among the world’s 20 greatest cities for art and culture for 2025 by the UK-based Time Out magazine, making it the highest-ranked destination in Asia.
The Vietnamese capital ranked ninth among the world’s top cultural destinations, with Paris, Florence, and Edinburgh taking the top three spots. At the same time, Hanoi emerged as Asia’s leading representative, placed ahead of other major regional cities such as Beijing (11th), Jakarta (13th), and Delhi (14th).
According to Time Out, Hanoi is the cheapest city for art and culture on the list, with 82% of locals ranking it highly for affordability.
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| Foreign tourists enjoy a folk cultural activity in Hanoi (Photo: Nhan dan Newspaper) |
“Take its weekend walking streets – by far the most recommended of all the city’s cultural offerings in our survey – where the roads of the Old Quarter and around Hoan Kiem Lake are cleared of traffic to make room for street performances, traditional dance and live music. Several mentions also went to the grand, neoclassical Hanoi Opera House, as well as the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.”
Local writer Joey Gann was quoted in the magazine’s article on the list as saying: “In the Old Quarter, the group Dong Kinh Co Nhac breathes new life into ancient silk-stringed instruments, while across town at Hanoi Rock City, up-and-coming local bands command packed dancefloors. 100km south in the mountains of Mai Chau, the ‘rave in a cave’ Equation Festival, now in its seventh year, is increasingly garnering international attention. Hanoi’s fashion scene is just as dynamic – designers like Kilomet109 and Subtle Le Nguyen are transforming ethnic minority textiles into globally revered couture, drawing on centuries-old silk traditions.”
The list was compiled based on a global survey conducted by Time Out, gathering the views of 18,500 residents across various cities on their local cultural scenes. Each city was scored according to the quality and affordability of its cultural offerings. The top-scoring cities in each country made the longlist, after which Time Out’s culture editors selected their favourites.
In a separate recent Time Out survey, Nha Trang in the south-central coastal province of Khanh Hoa was named one of the world’s rising travel stars for summer 2025. Ranked 11th, it was praised as a stunning bay city with rich cultural traditions and a vibrant culinary scene.
Vietnamese action movie introduced at Cannes Marché du Film
Vietnamese-American actor Johnny Tri Nguyen has introduced his upcoming historical martial arts action film Ho linh trang si - Bi an mo vua Dinh (The Last Secret of the First Emperor) at the Marché du Film, one of the world’s largest film markets held alongside the ongoing Cannes Film Festival.
The promotional video was presented at a conference named “Vietnam – The Dynamic Market in Asia and the New Destination of Global Film Producers” as part of Marché du Film, showcasing key details of the project that generated strong interest among international attendees.
In the clip to the conference, Johnny Tri Nguyen revealed that he would not only star in the movie but also serve as the film’s martial arts action director. He emphasised the importance of Vietnamese martial arts, saying Vietnam, a small country, has faced many powerful enemies throughout history.
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| Johnny Tri Nguyen will serve as martial arts action director of the movie. |
“The martial arts are part of what helped us survive and I want to share that secret with global audiences,” he said.
He added that the production team is committed to historical authenticity, from the costumes and sets to the storyline.
According to Deadline, an US online news site, the film tells the story of seven warriors on a covert mission to transport 99 coffins as a strategic diversion designed to mislead hostile forces. Their true objective is to ensure that the tomb of Vietnam’s first Emperor remains an eternal mystery.
The film, directed by Nguyen Phan Quang Binh, will shoot for 60 days in November and December and will be released in the second quarter of 2026.
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