Prime Minister Le Minh Hung (R) and Cambodian Minister of Inspection Sok Soken, Ha Noi, September 29, 2026 - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung receives Cambodian Minister of Inspection

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung calls on Viet Nam and Cambodia to enhance cooperation between the inspection agencies of the two countries to support bilateral economic and trade ties and improve law enforcement.

The Prime Minister made the call during his reception Cambodian Minister of Inspection Sok Soken in Ha Noi on September 29.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung welcomed the continued positive and substantive growth of Viet Nam-Cambodia relations, noting that political trust has been further strengthened, while defense and security cooperation remains an important pillar.

Economic and trade ties continue to be a bright spot, with two-way trade reaching US$8.7 billion in the first eight months of 2026, up 8.3 percent year on year. Cooperation in education, culture, social affairs and people-to-people exchanges has also continued to expand.

Le Minh Hung affirmed that Viet Nam consistently attaches importance and gives high priority to the relationship with Cambodia, which is defined by the framework of “good-neighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term sustainability.”

He highlighted the practical significance of Minister Sok Soken's visit, which provides an opportunity for the two inspection agencies to share experience and discuss measures to further enhance cooperation.

The Vietnamese Government supports and facilitates stronger cooperation between ministries and agencies of the two countries, including the two inspection bodies, Le said. Such cooperation would contribute to improving State management, refining institutions and laws, preventing and warning against violations, and better serving people and businesses in both countries, cited VGP.

Briefing the Cambodian minister on Viet Nam's recent reform of its organizational apparatus, including the restructuring of the inspection system, Prime Minister Le said the two Governments will continue implementing agreements reached by their senior leaders, particularly those concerning economic connectivity and mutual support for development.

He asked the two inspection agencies to build on their cooperation by regularly exchanging information and experience, maintaining delegation exchanges, and coordinating inspections in areas related to bilateral economic, trade and investment cooperation.

The Prime Minister also called for stronger support for businesses in complying with the law, enhanced training and capacity building for officials, and greater application of digital technology in inspection activities.

In reply, Minister Sok Soken congratulated Viet Nam on its 81st National Day and on the achievements recorded since the 14th National Party Congress, as well as its accomplishments in national construction, development and modernization.

The Cambodian minister also noted Viet Nam's efforts to achieve double-digit economic growth and its strategic goal of becoming a developed country by 2045.

He affirmed that Cambodian leaders and people have always attached importance to strengthening cooperation with Viet Nam and promoting the bilateral relationship under the framework of “good neighborliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and long-term sustainability.”

Briefing Prime Minister Le on the delegation's working visit, Minister Sok Soken spoke highly of the achievements of the Government Inspectorate of Viet Nam and expressed appreciation for its effective cooperation and support for the Cambodian Ministry of Inspection.

The Cambodian Ministry of Inspection will continue to strengthen cooperation with the Government Inspectorate of Viet Nam, particularly in the areas highlighted by Prime Minister Le, he said.

Minister Sok Soken expressed his hope that Prime Minister Le would continue supporting the two agencies in further enhancing their cooperation, contributing to stronger collaboration between the two Governments and the sound relations between Viet Nam and Cambodia.

Viet Nam, India move to deepen business, e-commerce connectivity

A Vietnamese business delegation visited Mumbai on September 29-30, working with the Indo-Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IVCCI), the Indian Merchants' Chamber (IMC), and the Mumbai World Trade Centre (WTC Mumbai) to promote trade, investment, e-commerce, and digital transformation.

During the visit, which also aimed to establish regular communication channels between the two business communities, the Vietnamese Embassy in India, the Consulate General in Mumbai and the Viet Nam Trade Office in India co-hosted a trade promotion event in the capital of Maharashtra State.

The Vietnamese delegation had 13 members from the Viet Nam E-Commerce Association (VECOM) and companies in e-commerce, technology, retail solutions and cross-border trade. They looked for partners and deals, and want lasting channels into India's business community.

On September 29, the group attended IVCCI's 36th Annual General Meeting and held a networking session with IMC.

Speaking via video link, Vietnamese Ambassador to India Trinh Minh Manh credited IVCCI with more than three decades of bridging the two business communities and turning strong political relations into concrete economic results.

Economic and investment cooperation now spans a wide range of areas, with both sides targeting 25 billion USD in bilateral trade by 2030. Electric vehicles, renewable energy, smart cities, digital transformation, logistics, supply chains, tourism and people-to-people exchanges are drawing greater focus. Cooperation in agriculture, digital payments, strategic minerals and green development should also expand, he said.

Manh said that with IVCCI and IMC actively involved, Viet Nam-India economic ties will grow in a practical, diversified and sustainable way.

Bui Trung Thuong, Minister Counsellor and Head of the Viet Nam Trade Office in India, said the relationship is at a point where it can move into a new phase, extending to the digital economy, e-commerce, technology, innovation and logistics.​

He proposed upgrading IVCCI's operations and extending its network across India to reach other major economic hubs. He also floated a Viet Nam-India Business Council to remove market access barriers, link major trade and investment projects, spur innovation and hold regular business dialogues., VNA reported.

Representatives from Viet Nam's VECOM businesses and IVCCI sign an MoU on strengthening business connections, supporting market access, and developing bilateral cooperation activities. (Photo: VNA)

VECOM and IVCCI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on business connectivity, market access support and joint activities.​

On September 30, the delegation moved on to the Viet Nam-India Business Connectivity Forum at WTC Mumbai. Vietnamese Consul General in Mumbai Le Quang Bien gave an overview of bilateral ties and opportunities, while Thuong outlined the prospects for trade. Vietnamese companies presented their e-commerce ecosystems, capabilities and partnership needs.​

The Viet Nam Trade Office also proposed linking the WTC networks in major economic hubs in both countries, building on existing infrastructure. Under the plan, WTC Mumbai and other Indian WTCs will deepen ties with their Vietnamese counterparts and trade promotion agencies, forming a “Viet Nam-India WTC Business Connectivity” network.​

Thuong said the plan goes beyond linking WTCs to foster direct company-to-company ties and matching each hub's strengths with suitable sectors. In place of one-off events, the two countries will set up a mechanism for regular two-way delegations focused on specific sectors and tied to concrete results. Activities could include market surveys, company visits, targeted B2B meetings, investment matchmaking and post-mission follow-up.​

The measure of success is not the number of conferences or MoUs, but how many companies find partners, how many contracts and projects get underway, and how many products win access to the other's market, he said.​

Alongside in-person missions, the initiative will create a regular channel for sharing business opportunities, including importer and distributor demand, supply sources, technology partners and investment projects. The goal is to keep contacts active year-round rather than only around events.​

Participants also spent time on networking and B2B meetings. Viet Nam's HGI Investment and WTC Mumbai signed an MoU, adding a further basis for follow-up on business connectivity.

People-to-people diplomacy deepens Viet Nam-Germany friendship

People-to-people diplomacy is helping deepen mutual understanding and strengthen the friendship between Viet Nam and Germany, heard at a gathering in Ho Chi Minh City on September 30 marking the 36th anniversary of Germany's Unity Day (October 3, 1990–2026).

The event, organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Viet Nam-Germany Friendship Association, brought together representatives of German businesses and the German community living, studying and working in the city.

Nguyen Anh Tuan, Chairman of the association, highlighted the important role of people-to-people diplomacy in strengthening friendship and mutual understanding between the two countries' people, particularly through Vietnamese alumni and former workers who studied and worked in Germany.

He said the association will step up people-to-people diplomacy, contributing to bilateral cooperation in the economy, culture, education and vocational training. It will also continue serving as a bridge to convey the aspirations and recommendations of its members and German friends to relevant agencies, while attracting younger generations who have studied or worked in Germany, cited VNA.

Illustrative Image (Photo: VNA)

German Deputy Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Philip Marsden said the ties between the two countries' people have contributed to giving greater vitality and substance to the Germany-Vietnam Strategic Partnership.

Marsden appreciated the association's efforts to strengthen solidarity between the two countries' people, noting that recent activities, including an education workshop at the Vietnamese-German University and a German beer festival in Ho Chi Minh City, have created opportunities for students, scientists, businesses and people from both countries to interact and deepen mutual understanding.

Such exchanges, he said, were helping make the Strategic Partnership between Germany and Viet Nam more vibrant and resilient.

Timor-Leste leader hails Viet Nam as trusted partner, cites development experience

Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta has described Viet Nam as a trusted partner and highlighted its development experience as a useful reference for Timor-Leste, as the two countries move to deepen bilateral cooperation.

Ramos-Horta made the remarks at a celebration marking Vietnam’s 81st National Day in Dili on September 29, hosted by the Vietnamese Embassy, its first such event since the mission began operations in April.

The president congratulated the State and people of Viet Nam on their National Day and praised the country’s development, international integration and improvements in living standards over recent decades.

He said Vietnam’s experience in development and ASEAN integration could provide a useful reference for Timor-Leste as it continues its integration into the ASEAN Community.

Ramos-Horta also highlighted Vietnam’s role as a trusted partner in Timor-Leste’s food security and welcomed the contribution of Vietnamese businesses, particularly Viettel through Telemor and Mosan digital financial services, to telecommunications, digital connectivity and access to financial services.

He also welcomed Vietnam’s scholarship, training and technical exchange programmes and expressed interest in expanding cooperation in agriculture, trade, investment, education, human-resource development, digital transformation and energy.

Resident embassy opens new channel for cooperation

The celebration took place on the same day that Ambassador Pham Binh Dam presented his credentials to President Ramos-Horta, formally beginning his tenure as Vietnam’s first resident ambassador to Timor-Leste. The Vietnamese Embassy in Dili began operations in April 2026.

In his remarks, Dam affirmed Viet Nam is ready to share its development experience and support Timor-Leste’s national construction and ASEAN integration, reported VOV.

Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta hails Viet Nam as a trusted partner at a ceremony marking Viet Nam's 81st National Day in capital Dili on September 29, 2026.

He said the establishment of a resident Vietnamese diplomatic mission in Dili would create better conditions for translating bilateral agreements into concrete programmes and projects, while opening more opportunities for people and businesses in both countries.

Dam also highlighted similarities between the two countries, including their appreciation of independence and self-reliance and their aspirations for peace and prosperity.

Cooperation extends from food security to digital transformation

Ramos-Horta’s remarks come as bilateral ties have expanded across a range of areas, including agriculture, food security, telecommunications, education and digital development. Timor-Leste’s state news agency Tatoli has described the establishment of Vietnam’s first resident embassy as a further step in expanding bilateral cooperation.

The president said Timor-Leste values Vietnam’s support in food security and human-resource development and wants to broaden cooperation in areas with direct socio-economic benefits.

Viet Nam has also pledged to share agricultural expertise and support Timor-Leste’s efforts to strengthen food security. Earlier this year, Vietnamese officials offered to support both agricultural supply and longer-term development of Timor-Leste’s farming sector.

Shared emphasis on international law

On regional and international issues, Ramos-Horta said the two countries attach importance to international law, peace, stability and security.

He underscored the importance of freedom of navigation and overflight and the peaceful settlement of disputes in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

He also supported the full implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea, known internationally as South China Sea (DOC) and substantive negotiations on a Code of Conduct in the regional waters (COC).

The celebration brought together representatives of the Timor-Leste Government, diplomatic missions, international organisations, businesses and the Vietnamese community.

The event came ahead of the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and Timor-Leste in 2027. The two countries established diplomatic ties on July 28, 2002.

Northern Viet Nam sees unusual late-September heat as cold air approaches

Northern Viet Nam is experiencing unusually hot weather for late September, with temperatures reaching 35–37°C in parts of the region as a weak cold-air mass is forecast to arrive from the night of September 30, bringing rain and cooler conditions.

The northern region has experienced several days of strong heat at the end of September, with temperatures in many midland and delta areas reaching 35–36°C and exceeding 36°C in some locations.

On September 29, temperatures reached 36.8°C at Lang station in Hanoi, 36.6°C in Kim Boi and 36.3°C in Nho Quan (Ninh Binh province). Relative humidity fell to around 45–55%, adding to the hot and dry conditions.

The heat is forecast to continue on September 30. According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, Hanoi could see highs of 35–37°C, while temperatures in the northeastern and northwestern regions are expected to reach 33–36°C, with some areas exceeding 36°C. The southern part of Phu Tho province could also reach 35–37°C.

Why is northern Viet Nam still so hot in late September?

The current heat is linked primarily to the prevailing atmospheric pattern. Nguyen Hong Sinh, deputy director of the Hai Phong Hydro-Meteorological Station, said the southern edge of a low-pressure trough is influencing the lower atmosphere.

A warm and humid air mass at higher levels is also contributing to higher temperatures. The combination of prolonged sunshine, limited cloud cover and little rainfall has created favourable conditions for daytime heating.

The occurrence of temperatures above 35°C in late September may feel unusual after northern Viet Nam has begun transitioning towards cooler autumn weather. However, such late-season hot spells can still occur during the seasonal transition and do not necessarily represent an unprecedented weather event.

Late-season heat remains possible in 2026

The current spell also comes against a broader backdrop of relatively high temperatures in 2026.

Nguyen Van Huong, head of the Weather Forecasting Department at the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting, previously said that changes in ENSO, together with the influence of climate change, could contribute to more intense or prolonged heat episodes during the year.

The national weather service had forecast that heat would gradually ease from around September, but late-season hot spells could still occur. The current episode therefore fits within the range of weather conditions previously identified for the transition period, even though its timing makes it feel unusual to residents, cited VOV.

Northern Viet Nam swelters in late September as temperatures climb above 36°C in many areas

At the same time, the current heat should not be attributed solely to climate change. The immediate cause is the specific atmospheric circulation pattern affecting northern Viet Nam, while climate change is a broader factor that can influence the frequency and intensity of extreme heat over longer periods.

Cold air to bring an end to the heat

The hot spell is expected to be short-lived. A weak cold-air mass will begin affecting northern Viet Nam from the night of September 30, bringing scattered showers and thunderstorms and a drop in temperatures on October 1–2.

The weather is expected to change more noticeably from around October 4–5, when the cold air could strengthen. Rain is forecast to increase across northern Viet Nam and from Thanh Hoa to Ha Tinh, with locally heavy rain possible.

The transition from intense heat to rain and cooler weather within a few days is characteristic of the seasonal change, when shifts in atmospheric circulation can produce marked fluctuations in temperature.

For northern Viet Nam, the first days of October are therefore expected to bring a more typical autumn pattern, with lower temperatures, increased rainfall and occasional thunderstorms.

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