Politics - Society

Northern Vietnam is bracing for a tropical depression that strengthened into this year’s fourth storm over the Gulf of Tonkin on August 21 evening, prompting Ninh Binh and Hung Yen provinces to impose a sea ban before 5:00 on August 22.

Chairman of the Ninh Binh Provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Binh on August 21 chaired a working session with Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki.

The NA Standing Committee recommends adding three items to the agenda: separating the Ninh Thuan nuclear power project into independent projects; mechanisms and policies for sea-reclamation urban development projects to be incorporated into the draft Law on Urban Development; and a draft NA resolution on reducing personal income tax and corporate income tax for individuals and businesses.

General Secretary and President To Lam said the review of the Resolution No. 28-NQ/TW implementation is an important political task in the building of the Party and the political system. It should examine how the Party exercises its leadership and ruling role and how the entire political system translates the Party’s guidelines and policies into action and concrete results.

The amendments to the Penal Code focus on four major areas - revising and supplementing provisions on offences and penalties; revising provisions on grounds for exclusion, postponement and exemption from criminal liability and the statute of limitations for criminal prosecution; and ensuring consistency, feasibility and sound legislative drafting.

Ninh Binh province is gradually developing an entrepreneurial university model to promote innovation, strengthen links with businesses and commercialise scientific research, laying the groundwork for a vibrant local startup ecosystem.

On August 19 (the 7th day of the 7th lunar month in the Year of the Horse), an incense offering ceremony was held at Luu Pho Temple, a national historical and cultural relic in Nam Dinh ward of Ninh Binh province, to commemorate the 762nd death anniversary of Grand Preceptor Tran Thu Do (1264 2026), a key figure in the establishment of the Tran Dynasty in the 13th and 14th centuries.

The 16th National Assembly began the second phase of its first extraordinary session on August 19, hearing presentations on policy orientations for drafting the Law on State Budget (consolidated); amending the 2024 Land Law, the 2023 Housing Law, and the Law on Real Estate Business; and the integration of four national target programmes into a single one.

Eighty-one years since the August Revolution of 1945, Vietnam is at the threshold of another transformation, from a developing country to a developed, high-income nation. What links those two autumns is a refusal to bow to adversity, along with the embrace of self-reliance, national solidarity and confidence in the path chosen by the Party and President Ho Chi Minh.

Affirming Vietnam’s consistent policy of attaching importance and giving top priority to relations with China, PM Le Minh Hung stressed that the attention and practical contributions of generations of leaders from both sides have laid an important foundation for Vietnam and China to continue preserving and advacing their ties towards stable, sustainable development.

The Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence held a gathering in Ha Noi on August 17 for leaders of agencies and units under the Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to mark the 81st anniversary of the Traditional Days of the People’s Public Security Force (August 19, 1945 2026) and the diplomatic sector (August 28, 1945 2026).

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung urged authorities in provinces and cities from Quang Tri northward, along with relevant ministries and agencies, to take urgent measures to ensure public safety and minimise damage caused by natural disasters.

Ninh Binh provincial people’s committee has sent a dispatch to urge sectors, branches, localities to take urgent measures to respond to the risks of heavy rains, flash floods and landslides forecast from August 17-21 so as to ensure public safety and people lives.

Ninh Binh and Ca Mau provinces held a conference at the Ninh Binh Provincial Party Committee’s headquarters on August 15 to promote the implementation of their cooperation programme for the 2026 2030 period.

The first phase ended with a five-day break from August 14-18, during which relevant agencies will urgently review, explain, and revise draft laws and resolutions. The NA is scheduled to resume the second phase from August 19-24 to vote on the legislation, with the aim of removing bottlenecks, unlocking resources and creating fresh momentum for national development.

Under the “500-day campaign to accelerate the search, collection and identification of martyrs’ remains,” Ninh Binh has completed the excavation and collection of remains samples at all designated martyrs’ cemeteries, fulfilling 100% of the assigned target, according to the Provincial Steering Committee 515.

Viet Nam and New Zealand have issued a joint statement on the occasion of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee and President To Lam’s state visit to New Zealand from August 12-13.

Lawmakers, at the ongoing first extraordinary session of the 16th National Assembly, on August 13 discussed a draft law amending and supplementing several provisions of the laws on radio frequencies, telecommunications, electronic transactions and technology transfer, with a focus on cutting unnecessary business conditions and simplifying administrative procedures in the science and technology sector.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam attended the 2026 Vietnam New Zealand higher and vocational education forum in Auckland on August 13 afternoon (local time), part of his ongoing state visit to New Zealand.