| Vietnam News Today (Sep. 30) notable headlines Vietnam to create more favorable conditions for US investors: Party chief Russian parliament ready to support Governments to bolster all-round ties: Volodin Engineering Unit Rotation 3 accomplishes task in UN peacekeeping mission in Abyei More than 450 flights affected by typhoon Bualoi 15 of the best things to do in Vietnam suggested by Lonely Planet Vietnam-China cross border train service boosts trade and cultural exchange Cai Mep port remains 7th among the world’s most efficient container ports Vietnamese chefs shine at Asian Pastry Young Chefs Challenge 2025 NA Vice Chairman holds talks with Japanese lawmakers |
Vietnam to create more favorable conditions for US investors: Party chief
Vietnam will continue to create a favourable investment environment for US enterprises in Vietnam, while encouraging Vietnamese businesses to invest in the US, bringing mutual benefits and generating jobs for both countries' people, Party General Secretary To Lam affirmed while receiving US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc E. Knapper in Hanoi on September 29.
During the meeting, the Party leader spoke highly of the progress made across all areas of bilateral relations, with many positive outcomes, particularly as they are marking the 30th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the 2nd anniversary of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
He stressed that Vietnam regards the US as a partner of strategic importance and wishes to work with it to implement the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in a more substantive and deeper manner, with increasing strategic content across cooperation fields, on the basis of mutual respect for each other’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political institution, and in line with Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation.
Acknowledging the substantial and effective growth of relations, both bilaterally and multilaterally, the Party leader underlined that the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has become a model in international relations, demonstrating that countries can overcome the past to build a future of cooperation and friendship with mutual trust, respect, and shared benefits, cited VNA.
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| Party General Secretary To Lam (L) and US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc E. Knapper in Hanoi on September 29. (Photo: VNA) |
He suggested both sides continue to implement their agenda effectively, promote mutual visits at all levels, and work together to foster peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.
The Party chief also urged both sides to step up cooperation in priority areas such as science-technology, semiconductors, energy industries and digital transformation, while facilitating Vietnam’s access to high-tech goods and advanced technology transfer from the US.
For his part, Knapper affirmed that the administration of President Donald Trump attaches great importance to the partnership with Vietnam and is keen to deepen collaboration, ensuring it is practical and effective and brings tangible benefits to the people of both nations.
The ambassador noted that the US values Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence and self-reliance and supports its growing role and influence in promoting peace and cooperation in the region and beyond. He stressed that the US fully supports a strong, independent, prosperous and resilient Vietnam, making positive contributions to regional and global peace and stability.
Knapper expressed his gratitude for the close attention of Vietnam’s Party and State leaders and praised the country’s practical measures to foster balanced and sustainable trade relations between the two countries. He affirmed that US businesses and partners value economic, trade and investment cooperation with Vietnam, recognizing it as an important partner in global supply chains and as a market offering significant opportunities for US goods and services.
The diplomat pledged to work actively to encourage relevant US agencies to coordinate with Vietnam in implementing high-level agreements, ensuring the effective roll-out of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership across all its pillars.
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| PM Pham Minh Chinh (right) meets with Chairman of the Russian State Duma Vyacheslav Volodin in Hanoi on September 29, 2025. (Photo: VNA) |
Russian parliament ready to support Governments to bolster all-round ties: Volodin
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on September 29 met with Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Vyacheslav Volodin, who affirmed the Russian parliament’s readiness to support the two Governments to bolster ties in all aspects.
Welcoming his Russian guest and delegation, PM Chinh highlighted the significance of their official visit to the reinforcement of ties between the two legislatures as well as the Vietnam – Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. He considered this as an occasion for both sides to push ahead with substantively implementing the agreements reached between the countries’ high-ranking leaders, especially after the vibrant meetings and mutual visits in 2025.
He congratulated Russian on its recent achievements despite challenges, affirming that the Vietnamese Party, State, and people attach utmost importance to the traditional friendship and Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Russia, and wish to intensify bilateral relations in all spheres.
The host proposed the Russian State Duma support and provide favourable legal conditions for tackling hindrances and promoting all-round cooperation; facilitating economic, trade and investment links to soon raise bilateral trade to 15 billion USD; capitalizing on the free trade agreement between Vietnam and the Eurasian Economic Union, of which Russia is a member; and encouraging businesses to invest in each other’s markets.
For his part, Chairman Volodin emphasised that despite the fast-changing world context, Vietnam is forever a faithful friend of Russia, which in turn always views the former as a leading partner in Asia-Pacific and Southeast Asia.
He also thanked Vietnam for building a monument to Soviet Union military experts assisting the country at the Vietnam Military History Museum.
Regarding parliamentary cooperation, he noted that regardless of political orientation, all political parties in the Russian Federal Assembly, both in the State Duma and the Federation Council, advocate the further consolidation of relations with Vietnam, cited VNA.
The Russian parliament is always ready to coordinate with the Vietnamese side to carry out the high-level agreements, and support the two Governments to bolster ties in all aspects, especially economy, trade and investment to soon raise bilateral trade to 15 billion USD as targeted by their leaders, he stated.
The Russian Federal Assembly will maintain close coordination with the Vietnamese National Assembly to build and perfect the legal framework for bilateral cooperation, thereby helping to deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the Chairman went on.
The two leaders also agreed to further strengthen collaboration in humanistic affairs, education – training, defense – security, and transport infrastructure development in Vietnam. They also concurred in accelerating the negotiation of a bilateral agreement on visa exemption to facilitate locality-to-locality, tourism, and labour connections.
On this occasion, PM Chinh extended his regards to his Russian counterpart Mikhail Mishustin.
Engineering Unit Rotation 3 accomplishes task in UN peacekeeping mission in Abyei
The Vietnam Peacekeeping Center under the Ministry of National Defense held a welcome ceremony on September 29 at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi) for the personnel of Engineering Unit Rotation 3 returning from their mission with the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).
Due to heavy rain, the ceremony was conducted in a concise manner while maintaining solemnity. Immediately after landing at Noi Bai International Airport, the unit’s 164 members attended a formal flag-raising ceremony.
Colonel Mac Duc Trong, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Peacekeeping Center, praised Engineering Unit Rotation 3 for completing its mission in Abyei with outstanding results, leaving a strong impression on the mission, local residents, and international partners.
Deployed to UNISFA on September 25, 2024, Engineering Unit Rotation 3 carried out 110 orders, accomplishing key tasks to ensure the stability of peacekeeping operations and local life in Abyei. Despite harsh climatic conditions and a complex security environment, the company successfully repaired, maintained, and upgraded 62km of main supply routes and more than180km of strategic patrol roads, ensuring smooth transport of goods, food, and fuel, and establishing new connections to remote bases, ending rainy-season isolation, according to VOV.
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| Photo: VOV |
The unit also undertook site clearance for a smart barracks project for a Nigerian unit, meeting technical requirements. It pioneered the use of K-31 technology for airfield surface treatment in Abyei, effectively controlling dust and water, and eliminating the need for daily watering. Upgrades to helicopter landing sites at the mission headquarters and remote bases including Agok, Rumamier, Diffra, and Noong, vital hubs for transport, medical evacuation, and mobility, were completed to a high standard, thereby ensuring safety for air operations.
Apart from engineering work, Engineering Unit Rotation 3 carried out civic support and community engagement programs that brought practical benefits to local residents. These included providing daily drinking water at Highway base and schools, organizing free medical check-ups, distributing medicines, rice, furniture, school supplies and essential goods, renovating public facilities such as schools, hospitals, radio stations and rural roads, and hosting cultural activities such as children’s film screenings, traditional games, and Vietnamese martial arts performances.
Through dedication, innovation, and professionalism, the Unit affirmed the prestige of the Vietnamese combat engineering force in UN peacekeeping, earning a letter of commendation from UNISFA leadership. According to the mission’s senior command, the company’s performance has set a new benchmark for UN engineering units in peacekeeping missions.
The dedicated and humane contributions of Engineer Unit No. 3 have shaped the image of disciplined, professional Vietnamese sappers who are approachable and sharing. They have become the trusted mainstay of the people of Abyei as well as the entire UNISFA mission.
More than 450 flights affected by typhoon Bualoi
Typhoon Bualoi has weakened into a tropical depression after battering central Vietnam for 13 hours, killing at least 11 people, injuring 33 residents in while 13 others are still missing, according to a preliminary report by the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment.
Local authorities in Ninh Binh, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Tri, Hue, Da Nang and Quang Ngai reported that 44,230 houses damaged, 824 houses submerged and 5,979 hectares of crops flooded.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Monday extended his deepest condolences to families of the victims, requesting local authorities to provide maximum assistance to these families, reported VGP.
He urged local authorities to mobilize personnel to promptly find missing residents and those who have been out of contact while ensuring safety for search and rescue workers.
Local authorities must mobilize forces to immediately restore essential services like transport, water supply, telecommunication, healthcare and education.
The Government chief assigned Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha to oversee the process of overcoming the consequences of the typhoon.
15 of the best things to do in Vietnam suggested by Lonely Planet
World-renowned travel guide Lonely Planet has published a list of top experiences for visitors to Vietnam, from savoring imperial cuisine in Hue and venturing into the caves of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park to trekking the scenic hills beyond Sapa.
Topping the list is tasting imperial Vietnamese cuisine in Hue. The guide notes that more than half of the country’s estimated 3,000 local dishes are believed to have originated here, from the vermicelli-based bun bo Hue and crispy banh khoai pancakes with shrimp and pork, to canapé-like banh it ram dumplings. “For many travelers, Hue is all about the food,” it wrote.
Cooking classes rank second, offering travelers a chance to shop at local markets for fresh herbs and ingredients before preparing dishes such as summer rolls and pho. Hoi An is highlighted as the most popular destination for aspiring chefs, though Hue, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City also have reputable schools.
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| A boat tour along the Mekong Delta. |
Other activities in the top 10 include exploring the imperial Nguyen tombs in Hue, visiting the Cao Dai Holy See in Tay Ninh, cruising through Ha Long Bay’s striking karst seascape, discovering Vietnam’s religious history in My Son, riding a motorbike through the highlands, trekking in Sapa, savoring coffee in the Central Highlands, and caving in Phong Nha-Ke Bang.
Ranked 11th is unwinding on Vietnam’s beaches, with Phu Quoc, Da Nang and Con Dao among the standouts.
Rounding out the list are a boat tour along the Mekong Delta, sightseeing in Ho Chi Minh City, and exploring the vibrant mix of tradition and modernity in Hanoi.
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