Hanoi (VNA) - The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last weekend by the Vietnam News Agency.

- Party General Secretary To Lam has called on the Vietnamese revolutionary press to continue its vigorous growth, reaffirming its pioneering role on the ideological and cultural front in service of the national development cause.

Addressing a ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day in Hanoi on June 21, the Party chief lauded the press for fulfilling its noble mission of fostering public trust, building social consensus, and fueling national aspiration for a strong, prosperous, and happy Vietnam in the new era. Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has ordered that the national target programmes on new-style rural area development and sustainable poverty alleviation must result in substantive outcomes that enable people to benefit from.

Concluding a national online conference on June 22, the Government leader praised the remarkable achievements of the programmes over the recent past, stating the implementation of the two programmes and the two movements, “The whole nation joins hands to build new-style rural areas” and “For the poor – leaving no one behind”, have brought about positive changes to rural infrastructure, comprehensively improved the material and spiritual lives of farmers, and contributed to Vietnam's economic restructuring. Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has ordered that the restructuring of local governments must not hinder the implementation of the critical national programmes addressing substandard houses, transport infrastructure, and public investment disbursement.

Addressing at an online conference on June 22, the Government leader urged all levels of government to stay focused and not allow the organisation of two-tier local administration model to delay or disrupt other national priorities. Read full story

- Permanent Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu has highlighted the critical role of sustainable development in maintaining international peace and security, stressing that sustainable development is not only a goal but also a foundation for lasting peace.

Addressing a high-level open debate of the UN Security Council (UNSC) on “Poverty, Underdevelopment, and Conflict: Implications for the Maintenance of International Peace and Security” in New York on June 20, Vu stressed that challenges such as poverty, inequality, food insecurity, and loss of livelihoods are root causes of instability, and if left unaddressed, they can act as triggers that escalate tensions and fuel conflicts. Read full story

- The National Press Festival 2025 concluded on June 21 afternoon at the National Convention Centre in Hanoi, drawing representatives from various ministries and sectors, journalists, and press enthusiasts from both domestic and international communities.

Delivering the closing remarks, journalist Nguyen Duc Loi, Standing Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists’ Association and head of the organising committee, emphasised the three-day festival's resounding success, with nearly 130 booths from 80 central and local press agencies showcasing a panorama of the Vietnamese journalism's professional and modern development trajectory. Read full story

- The new Law on Teachers is a major step forward that will have a lasting impact on the care and education of children in Vietnam, said Silvia Danailov, UNICEF Representative in Vietnam.

This landmark legislation, adopted at the 15th National Assembly’s 9th session and set to take effect on January 1, 2026, also marks a transformative milestone in elevating the status of teachers nationwide, Danailov told the Vietnam News Agency. Read full story

- Vietnam’s North-South railway, known as the Reunification Express, has been named among the world's 24 most incredible train journeys to book in 2025, according to Australian travel magazine Lonely Planet.

“This is one of Southeast Asia’s best-loved railways – and one of the most epic overnight train journeys in the world,” Lonely Planet wrote. Read full story./.