Hanoi (VNA) – The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last night by the Vietnam News Agency.
- Party General Secretary To Lam on May 20 hosted a reception for First Deputy Secretary General of South Africa's African National Congress (ANC) Nomvula Mokonyane, who is on a working visit to Vietnam from May 17 to 22.
The Vietnamese Party chief said the Southern African official’s visit, which coincides with a series of important events in Vietnam, reflects the solidarity and fraternal ties that the ANC extends to the Party, State, and people of Vietnam. Read full story
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- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has ordered all relevant ministries and agencies to speed up preparation to break ground on the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway line on December 19.
Presiding over a meeting on May 20 with ministries, sectors and agencies to review the implementation of the North – South high-speed railway, the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong line, and several lines connecting with China, PM Chinh called for concerted efforts, drastic actions, and coordinated execution, with clear assignment of responsibilities, timelines, outcomes, and accountability, while developing the railways. Read full story
- A Vietnamese delegation, led by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang, attended the 34th session of the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ34) in Vienna, Austria, on May 19, outlining Vietnam’s push to strengthen its criminal justice system and spearhead international cooperation against cybercrime.
The session served as the final preparatory meeting for the 15th UN Crime Congress set for 2026 in the United Arab Emirates. Read full story
|- The Vietnamese Government will work to ensure that policies and mechanisms for the planned international financial centre are distinctive, superior, and attractive to investors, while balancing benefits among the state, investors, and the public, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Hoa Binh said on May 20.
Chairing a hybrid conference on the development of the National Assembly’s Resolution on the establishment of the centre in Vietnam, Binh informed that the country intends to develop one international financial centre, which will operate in two cities: Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City. Read full story

- Ho Chi Minh City continues to shine as Vietnam’s most promising startup hub as it has climbed one place to rank 110th in the global startup ecosystem - marking its highest position ever, and entered the Top 5 leading innovative startup ecosystems in Southeast Asia for the first time.
According to a report released by StartupBlink, which is globally recognised evaluation tool in measuring startup ecosystems, the southern city has advanced in the global rankings for four consecutive years, particularly in the Fintech sector, which has experienced rapid growth. TIt is now ranked in the global Top 30 for Blockchain and holds the second position in Southeast Asia. Read full story
- Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Nguyen Minh Vu held working sessions with officials from the Cambodian ministries of Education, Youth and Sport, and Civil Service on May 19 and 20 to promote education and youth cooperation between the two nations.
Meeting with the Vietnamese diplomat on May 20, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Youth and Sport Hang Chuon Naron expressed gratitude to the Government, volunteer soldiers, and people of Vietnam for joining the Kampuchean United Front for National Salvation in helping Cambodia overthrow the Pol Pot genocidal regime. Read full story
- The central city of Da Nang has made remarkable progress in the global startup landscape, climbing 130 steps to the 766th position in the Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2025 recently announced by StartupBlink, a global startup ecosystem map and research centre.
The city is also among the world’s 12 standout startup ecosystems featured at StartupBlink’s 2025 online workshop, earning its recognition as one of the planet’s “hottest” startup destinations. Read full story
- The Vietnamese Embassy in Sri Lanka, in collaboration with the Sri Lanka–Vietnam Solidarity Association (SVSA) and the Colombo Public Library, held a ceremony to celebrate President Ho Chi Minh’s 135th bnirthday (May 19, 1890 – 2025), drawing crowds of attendees, including many senior Sri Lankan officials.
The celebration began with a flower offering at the statue of President Ho Chi Minh, one of the few monuments dedicated to a foreign leader in central Colombo. Participants paid tribute and expressed deep respect for the great Vietnamese leader./. Read full story