Vietnam News Today (Sep. 26): State President’s Working Trip to US Achieves All Set Goals
	Vietnam News Today (Sep. 27): EU Remains One of Vietnam's Key Partners

Maros Sefcovic (left), European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, at the press conference in Hanoi. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, EU eye balance, deeper strategic cooperation

Five years after the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) entered into force, both sides have hailed the deal as a success, while also acknowledging the need to tackle remaining barriers and move toward a more balanced trade relationship.

Vietnam has become the European Union (EU)’s largest trading partner in ASEAN, with bilateral trade reaching nearly 64 billion EUR (74.9 billion USD). Trade in goods alone has risen by 47% over the past five years, underscoring what European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic described as "a real success and a reflection of the strong dynamic between the EU and Vietnam".

Exports from Vietnam to the EU have grown sharply, up 60% since the agreement took effect, adding 20 billion USD in export value. By contrast, EU exports to Vietnam increased by 10%, equivalent to about 1 billion USD.

The imbalance has prompted both sides to intensify talks on how to create more reciprocal benefits.

"The truth is that Vietnam is doing better than Europe right now", Sefcovic said at a press conference on September 26 after co-chairing the EVFTA committee with Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien.

"Therefore, we have been discussing with Minister Dien how to achieve more balance in our mutual trade".

"We went through a list of very concrete measures, what all still need to be implemented or where we need more cooperation".

Among the priority issues are sanitary and phytosanitary permits in agriculture and technical standards in the automobile sector.

He proposed simplifying Vietnam’s approval process by recognising EU-wide certifications.

"If the permit is given for facilities in one of the EU member states, it should be automatically issued for the rest because we have the same regulations, same controls and same standards", he said, adding that the European Commission would reciprocate in favor of Vietnamese exporters.

The two sides also agreed to form a special joint task force, comprising officials from key ministries including agriculture, trade and foreign affairs, to address outstanding issues and ensure smoother implementation of the trade deal, cited VNA.

"The task force will analyse and evaluate all concerns in a thorough way to make the agreement more efficient, more balanced and to help both sides maximize their full potential", said Sefcovic.

Beyond trade in goods, discussions touched on deepening strategic cooperation in critical raw materials, renewable energy, semiconductors and logistics. Telecommunications and transport were also highlighted as promising sectors.

The EU welcomed Vietnam's recent decision to join the WTO's Multi-Party Interim Appeal Arbitration Arrangement (MPIA), signalling its commitment to multilateralism and rules-based trade.

Sefcovic stressed that EVFTA is not only about trade volumes but also about shared prosperity and closer ties.

"All our free trade agreements have several features in common: they lead to the increase of trade, they increase investment, they create new jobs. And through proper implementation, they bring partners closer politically and economically and at the level of people-to-people contacts."

The commissioner also shared the other successes of his trip in ASEAN. Fresh from concluding a free trade agreement with Indonesia, the EU is negotiating with the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia, with the aim of building toward a long-term region-to-region pact.

"By 2027, we will celebrate 50 years of dialogue between ASEAN and the EU, and I felt strong commitment from all partners to conclude these negotiations before that anniversary", Sefcovic said.

For Vietnam, the EVFTA has opened unprecedented export opportunities, but policymakers acknowledge that sustainable success will require tackling technical barriers and ensuring European companies feel equally welcomed.

Both sides agree that the next phase of cooperation must focus on balance, implementation and diversification, ensuring that the EVFTA continues to serve as a cornerstone of their strategic partnership.

Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 6 completes UN Mission in South Sudan

The Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations under the Ministry of National Defence held a ceremony in Hanoi on September 26 to welcome home officers and staff of Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 6 after their successful completion of the United Nations mission (UNMISS) in South Sudan.

During its 12-month deployment, the 63-member hospital unit admitted and treated 2,650 patients, the highest figure among all previous Vietnamese field hospital rotations.

In addition to outpatient care, the hospital provided inpatient treatment for more than 90 patients and carried out 33 surgeries and medical procedures, including complex cases such as appendicitis with peritonitis, bone fractures, and hernia operations. Remarkably, the hospital’s referral rate was under 0.1%, significantly lower than the UNMISS average of 2%.

The hospital also took proactive measures to prevent and control infectious diseases, including regular disinfection of living and working areas, thereby ensuring a safe environment for staff and patients, reported VOV.

Major General Pham Manh Thang, Director General of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, welcomes members of Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 6 upon their return to Hanoi. (Photo: VNA)

“Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 6 has been the most successful deployment to date among Vietnam’s field hospital rotations to the UN Mission in South Sudan,” said Major General Pham Manh Thang, Director General of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, praising the contingent

He also directed relevant agencies to ensure timely recognition, commendation, and policy support for the personnel, while drawing lessons to further support future deployments.

Currently, two staff members of the Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 6 remain on duty with Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 7, while another 12 will return after completing handover procedures.

Vietnam among top 5 ideal destinations for expats 2025: InterNations

InterNations’ Expat Insider 2025 study has ranked Vietnam in fifth position among the best countries for expats, climbing three places from last year.

Vietnam also took the lead among countries with expats’ satisfaction with personal finance index and came in 8th place in expats’ overall happiness index with their life in the foreign country.

InterNations reviews say that Vietnam is generally a safe country for expats. The cost of living in Vietnam is lower than that in many western countries. Housing, food and transport which are the main expenses are all relatively affordable.

Vietnam is among top 5 ideal destinations for expats 2025.

As one of the fastest growing economies in the world, expats describe Vietnam to be full of energy and dynamism.

In the 2025 ranking, Panama retained the top spot, followed by Colombia (2), Mexico (3), Thailand (4) and Vietnam (5). China ranked 6th, with UAE, Indonesia, Spain, and Malaysia completing the top 10. In Southeast Asia, Vietnam trails only Thailand but ranks ahead of Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Singapore.

Other notable positions include Saudi Arabia (12), Australia (19), Denmark (25), France (27), Switzerland (29), Canada (40), and the UK (41). The bottom five were Germany, Finland, the Republic ò Korea, Turkey, and Kuwait.

Currently, InterNations connects a community of more than 41,600 expats living and working in Vietnam.

Vietnam braces for rare storm as Bualoi speeds toward coast

Unusually fast and powerful, Storm Bualoi is set to strike central Vietnam with high winds, torrential rain, and dangerous seas.

Tropical Storm Bualoi, officially the 10th storm of the year, is heading for landfall with dangerous characteristics that make it particularly difficult to predict and prepare for. Forecasts show the storm will strike between northern Quang Tri and Ha Tinh from late September 28 to early September 29. Due to its fast movement and expansive circulation, the storm may trigger extreme weather conditions across multiple regions.

Unusual features increase storm risk

On the evening of September 27, the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF) released an update on Bualoi’s latest developments.

Dr. Hoang Phuc Lam, Deputy Director of the Center, reported that the storm had strengthened to Category 12, with gusts reaching Category 15, and is moving at an extraordinary speed not seen in years.

“It’s rare to see a storm move this fast,” said Lam. Bualoi is currently moving at speeds between 30–35 km/h, at times reaching 40 km/h - twice the average speed of typical storms, which move at only 10–20 km/h, or even as low as 5–10 km/h.

Lam explained that slower-moving storms have more time to accumulate energy and are more likely to change course. But Bualoi’s speed makes any directional shift unlikely. Initial forecasts suggested it might veer north toward Quang Ninh or Hai Phong, but current projections confirm a high probability of landfall in northern Quang Tri or Ha Tinh, VNN reported.

At 7 p.m. on September 27, Bualoi’s eye was located over the southern part of the Paracel Islands, about 460 kilometers east of Da Nang. The storm’s intensity was at Category 12 (118–133 km/h), gusting to Category 15, moving west-northwest at 30–35 km/h.

The storm's second dangerous feature is its wide circulation. As early as September 27, areas from Quang Tri to Hue and Da Nang were already experiencing heavy rainfall due to the outer cloud bands. These bands cause intermittent showers, but once the storm’s main body reaches an area, the rain becomes continuous, varying in intensity but without breaks, according to Lam.

He warned that these regions could see continued heavy rainfall overnight on September 27, raising the risk of urban flooding.

Storm could maintain strength upon landfall

Due to the storm’s rapid movement and its trajectory along the coast from south to north, the area of impact will continue to widen.

By the evening of September 27, strong winds had begun affecting the sea from Thanh Hoa to Quang Ngai, including islands like Hon Ngu, Con Co, and Ly Son. Wind speeds increased to Category 6–7 with gusts at Category 8–9. Waves reached 3–5 meters, and the sea became increasingly rough.

From early morning on September 28, wind speeds are forecast to reach Category 8–9, and in areas near the storm's center, up to Category 10–13 with gusts at Category 16. Waves will reach 5–7 meters, posing serious risks to large vessels.

The Gulf of Tonkin, including Bach Long Vi, Van Don, Co To, Cat Hai, and Hon Dau islands, will also see increasing winds from Category 6–7 to Category 8–9, with gusts reaching Category 11.

Lam emphasized that the first areas to feel the storm’s direct impact on land will be in northern Quang Tri. From the afternoon of September 28, wind speeds in this region are expected to rise to Category 6–7, intensifying to Category 8–9 by nightfall. The peak intensity will occur overnight into the early hours of September 29.

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