VIETNAM: NEW ERA

Vietnam has introduced its first limited-term visa waiver for high-profile foreigners whose presence benefits the country’s socio-economic development.

The Telegraph Travel Awards 2025, organised by the UK’s Telegraph newspaper, has announced its list of the world’s best cities. Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City are the two Vietnamese destinations honoured in this prestigious ranking.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs held a flag-hoisting ceremony in Hanoi on August 8 to mark the 58th founding anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (August 8, 1967 – 2025).

At a recent meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh pointed out that the Politburo’s Notice No. 81 on building schools for border communes is a major policy decision with profound political and social significance. The Prime Minister requested that it be urgently implemented to complete the construction of 100 schools in 100 land border communes before August 30, 2026.

While the first two decades of the 21st century witnessed a race among traditional brands, where physical products were recognised through logos, packaging, or promotional campaigns, today marks the era of digital brands, where core values are built and spread through technologies, data, and digital experiences.

State President Luong Cuong and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El‑Sisi on August 5 issued a joint statement on upgrading Vietnam - Egypt ties to a Comprehensive Partnership.

All four students of Vietnam’s national team competing at the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) 2025 in Sucre, Bolivia, have won medals, the Ministry of Education and Training announced on August 2. The team brought home one gold, two silvers, and one bronze, reinforcing Vietnam’s strong record in the increasingly competitive academic competition.

Vietnam has issued many key policies to support semiconductor development, notably the Politburo’s Resolution 57 on science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation. Other initiatives include the Semiconductor Industry Development Strategy to 2030, with a vision to 2050, and the Human Resources Development Programme for the Semiconductor Industry.

2025 marks a significant milestone for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). It commemorates both the 10th anniversary of the ASEAN Community (December 31, 2015 – December 31, 2025) and the 30th anniversary of Vietnam’s official accession to ASEAN (July 28, 1995 – July 28, 2025). Over the past three decades, Vietnam has consistently played a proactive, active, and responsible role in building a resilient, united ASEAN with a growing voice and position in the region and the world.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has congratulated the state-owned Vietnam National Industry – Energy Group (Petrovietnam) on securing the nation’s energy, food and economic security, while also ensuring social welfare and maritime sovereignty.

At the invitation of President of the Arab Republic of Egypt Abdel Fattah Al Sisi and his spouse, President Luong Cuong, his spouse, and a high-level Vietnamese delegation are paying a State visit to Egypt from August 3 to 6, 2025.

The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Tri province welcomed the Indian film crew of SILAA at Dong Hoi Airport on July 30.

Over the past eight decades, Vietnam has undergone a remarkable transformation in agriculture. From a former colony challenged by famine and outdated farming practices, the country has emerged as one of the world’s leading agricultural exporters, playing a crucial role in the global food supply chain

With such a rapid economic growth, Vietnam must diversify energy sources and nuclear power is a rational choice to ensure the national energy security, said Associate Professor Kei Koga from the Nanyang Technological University (Singapore).

Hanoi is set to transform the landscape of Quang An Peninsula in Tay Ho district, with a new urban design featuring a 13,000m² Pearl Theater to be built on the surface of Dam Tri Lake.

Vietnam is taking drastic yet cautious steps in building a culture of nuclear safety and security, with the aim of having its first nuclear power plant operational by the end of 2030 and using this specific energy source effectively and sustainably.

According to UNESCO’s records, Hoang Van is one of Vietnam’s leading musicians, with over 700 works written between 1951 and 2010. Rich in materials, forms, and genres, his compositions reflect a deep engagement with Vietnam’s history and society, especially the lives of women and vulnerable groups. The document collection of musician Hoang Van serves as a valuable source of information for scholars studying cultural and musical development in Vietnam.

According to Cushman & Wakefield’s latest Asia-Pacific Data Centre Investment Landscape report, Vietnam now ranks second in the region for data centre investment returns, with a yield on cost (YoC) of 17.5–18.8%, just behind Singapore’s 21–23%.

National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man and his spouse met with staff from Vietnamese representative offices and members of the Vietnamese community in Switzerland on July 27 (local time) in Geneva.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, his spouse, and a high-level Vietnamese delegation are in Geneva, Switzerland to attend the 6th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament and carry out bilateral activities from July 27 to 30, 2025. This marks Chairman Man’s first official visit to Switzerland, aiming to reinforce political trust and deepen the Vietnam–Switzerland Comprehensive Partnership while promoting cooperation across various sectors.