The funeral of former Politburo member and former State President Tran Duc Luong is held in the national mourning etiquette on May 24-25. His remains is laid in state at the National Funeral Hall, No. 5 Tran Thanh Tong street, Hanoi city. The burial ceremony will take place from 3pm on May 25 at the hometown cemetery in Pho Khanh commune, Duc Pho township, Quang Ngai province.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism requests that national flags be flown at half-mast at all government offices, public buildings, and Vietnamese representative missions abroad during the two-day mourning period for former State President Tran Duc Luong.
Former President of Vietnam Tran Duc Luong passed away at his home at 22:51 on 20 May, aged 88, following a period of illness despite the dedicated efforts of the Party, State, medical professionals, and his family. His passing marks a great loss to the Party, the State, and the people of Vietnam.
Former President Tran Duc Luong, who devoted his life to the Vietnamese revolution, is remembered as a steadfast and principled leader. A former Politburo member and head of state, he consistently upheld the ideals of the Party, serving with loyalty, resolve and humility. His legacy spans decades of diplomatic milestones, nation-building, and tireless service to the Party and the people.
At the invitation of State President Luong Cuong, President of Hungary Sulyok Tamas and his spouse pay visit Vietnam officially from May 27 to 29, 2025. This is the first visit by a Hungarian Head of State in 11 years, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The 46th ASEAN Summit and related high-level meetings was held on May 26–27 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Held under the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability,” the Summit carries significant importance as it offers ASEAN leaders a vital opportunity to exchange views, assess progress, and chart strategic directions to strengthen cooperation, sustain momentum in building the ASEAN Community, and enhance the bloc’s capacity to address emerging challenges.
French President Emmanuel Macron and his spouse are paying a State visit to Vietnam from May 25 to 27 at the invitation of Vietnamese State President Luong Cuong. This is President Macron's first visit to Vietnam since he took office in 2017 and was re-elected in 2022. The visit holds significance in the two countries’ relations, especially after they upgraded their relations to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in October 2024 during the official visit to France by Party General Secretary To Lam.
For the first time, the Research Institute for Aquaculture No.1 has successfully bred yellowtail amberjack — a species highly prized in Japan for sashimi and sushi, with a market price of around 1 million VND per kilogram. The institute had previously achieved similar success with four-bearded rockling. This breakthrough marks a major step forward, opening up vast potential for large-scale marine aquaculture in Vietnam.
On May 16, 2025, Vietnam and Thailand elevated their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra's official visit to Vietnam, bringing the total countries having such partnership with Vietnam to 13.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Vietnam’s agro-forestry-fishery exports totalled 21.15 billion USD in the first four months of 2025, up 10.7% year-on-year.
The Politburo and the Secretariat convened a nationThe Politburo and the Secretariat convened a national conference in Hanoi on May 18, 2025 to disseminate and implement two key resolutions: Resolution No. 66-NQ/TW on reforming lawmaking and law enforcement to meet the country’s development needs in the new era, and Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW on advancing the development of the private sector. Speaking at the conference, General Secretary To Lam emphasized that four major resolutions can now be seen as the “four foundational pillars” driving Vietnam’s rise.
Reports and opinions presented at the second meeting of the Government’s Steering Committee on Science-Technology Development, Innovation, Digital Transformation, and Project 06 on 17 May 2025 highlighted that the implementation of Project 06 continues to be strongly promoted and widely embraced.
On May 17, 2025, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, head of the Government’s Steering Committee on Science and Technology Development, Innovation, Digital Transformation, and Project 06, chaired the second meeting where it was confirmed that Project 06’s implementation has been strongly promoted and widely disseminated, delivering practical benefits to people and businesses, enhancing social management, and supporting socio-economic development.
President Ho Chi Minh was an exemplary communist, living a life of benevolence. An extraordinary national hero, he dedicated his entire life to the struggle for the Vietnamese nation and its people.
Vietnam secured nearly 13.82 billion USD in foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first four months of 2025, marking a year-on-year surge of 39.9%, according to the Ministry of Finance’s Foreign Investment Agency.
According to the 2024 Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI) rankings, Hai Phong has claimed the top spot for the first time with a score of 74.84 points, followed by Quang Ninh with 73.20 points, Long An with 72.64 points, and Bac Giang with 71.24 points.
As of May 7, 2025, 15 localities across the country have successfully eliminated temporary and dilapidated houses. By May 11, 2025, nearly 209,000 such houses have been removed nationwide, with over 111,000 completed and handed over to families, and more than 98,000 new houses under construction.
At the invitation of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra leads the high-level delegation of the Royal Thai Government to pay an official visit to Vietnam and co-chair the 4th Vietnam–Thailand Joint Cabinet Retreat on May 15 - 16, 2025. The visit provides an opportunity for both sides to review cooperation across all areas and to propose measures to further strengthen bilateral relations in the coming period.
At the third and final session of the Preparatory Committee (PrepCom 3) for the 11th Review Conference (RevCon11) of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), scheduled for 2026, Vietnam was nominated to serve as President of the Conference.
In 2023, Vietnam’s Human Development Index (HDI) reached 0.766, placing the country in the High Human Development category. With this score, Vietnam ranked 93rd out of 193 countries and territories, marking a significant improvement of 14 places compared to 2022.
In the first four months of 2025, Vietnam’s total outbound investment reached 309.3 million USD, 3.1 times higher than the same period in 2024.
At the invitation of President Aleksandr Lukashenko of the Republic of Belarus, Party General Secretary To Lam, his spouse, and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation are paying a State visit to Belarus on May 11 and 12, 2025. This marks the Vietnamese party chief’s first visit to Belarus in his current role, and the first visit by a Party General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam to Belarus in 11 years. The visit is expected to serve as a catalyst for strengthening the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and Belarus.
In the first four months of this year, Vietnam welcomed 7.67 million international visitors, marking a 23.8% increase compared to the same period last year. This growth can be attributed to favorable visa policies and strong tourism promotion efforts.
Party General Secretary To Lam has recently signed Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW of the Politburo on private sector development. The resolution sets the goal that by 2030, the private sector will become the most important driver of the national economy, taking the lead in science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation.
