☀️ Morning digest on December 10

Vietnamese leaders' receptions for Secretary of the Russian Security Council Sergey Shoigu, the 21st meeting of the Vietnam – Cambodia Joint Committee for Economic, Cultural, Scientific and Technical Cooperation, and the opening ceremony of the 33rd SEA Games are among news highlights on December 9 evening.

☀️ Morning digest on December 10

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

– Party General Secretary To Lam requested all sub-committees in charge of preparations for the 14th National Party Congress to complete all assigned tasks on schedule, ensuring the successful organisation of the important political event.

The Party leader made the request while chairing a working session with standing members of the sub-committees in Hanoi on December 9. Read full story

– Party General Secretary To Lam hosted a reception on December 9 for visiting Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Sergey Shoigu, stressing that the visit holds significant importance as it will further strengthen cooperation between the two countries’ specialised agencies in security, defence, and other strategic areas.

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Party General Secretary To Lam (right) and Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation Sergey Shoigu at their meeting in Hanoi on December 9 (Photo: VNA)

The Party leader underlined that Vietnam always treasures the two countries' traditional friendship and close-knit relationship, built and nurtured by generations of leaders and citizens of both nations. Read full story

– Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has directed ministries, sectors and localities to pursue the dual goal of combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing while fostering sustainable fisheries, thus safeguarding national reputation and interests and protecting the livelihoods of coastal communities.

The request was delivered at the 25th meeting of the National Steering Committee for Combating IUU Fishing on December 9, which was connected online with 21 coastal provinces and cities. Read full story

– National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man attended a conference reviewing activities of the group of female deputies to the 15th NA in Hanoi on December 9 afternoon.

NA Chairman Man highly commended the dedication and contributions of female deputies during the NA's 15th term. With only two days remaining before the end of the NA's 10th session, he urged all deputies to continue making their utmost efforts to fulfil the responsibilities entrusted by voters. Read full story

– Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn co-chaired the 21st meeting of the Vietnam–Cambodia Joint Committee for Economic, Cultural, Scientific and Technical Cooperation in Siem Reap, Cambodia, on December 9.

In a spirit of friendship, mutual trust and understanding, the two sides reviewed bilateral cooperation in political–diplomatic affairs, defence–security, economy–trade–investment, culture, tourism, education and training, transport, among others, and discussed orientations for future cooperation. Read full story

– Vietnam has delivered a message of peace and cultural preservation at the International Indigenous Peoples’ Conference for Peace and Development held in Caracas, Venezuela, from December 8-9.

The conference gathered thousands of delegates and representatives from 15 countries, with Vietnam as the only Asian nation taking part. Read full story

– The Dong Ho folk painting craft was included in UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) in Need of Urgent Safeguarding at the 20th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of ICH on December 9 in New Delhi, India, according to the Department of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

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Artisan Nguyen Dang Che, one of the few individuals still practising this ancient craft in Thuan Thanh ward, Bac Ninh province (Photo: VNA)

This is Vietnam’s 17th intangible cultural heritage element recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). Read full story

– The 33rd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games), the region’s largest sporting event, officially opened at Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on the evening of December 9.

The opening ceremony was presided over by the King and Queen of Thailand, with the participation of senior leaders of the host country, sports officials from the 11 ASEAN member states, representatives of the participating delegations, and sports fans from across Southeast Asia. Vietnam was represented at the event by Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung. Read full story./.

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Ministries and sectors are requested to pay special attention to promoting election publicity and legal education. - Illustrative image (baochinhphu.vn)

Government sets out coordinated plan for 2026 elections

The plan also aims to ensure that the elections are conducted in a democratic, equal and law-abiding manner, while being safe and cost-effective, truly becoming a nationwide civic event, thus contributing to strengthening and enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of the state apparatus and building a socialist rule-of-law state of Vietnam of the people, by the people and for the people.

President Ho Chi Minh’s image featured on ballots at Communist Party of Uruguay congress (Photo: VNA)

Image of President Ho Chi Minh appears on ballots at Uruguay Communist Party congress

Among the ballots used at the congress were three featuring posters of President Ho Chi Minh and one bearing an image depicting the Vietnamese people engaged in production during the period of resistance against foreign aggression. The latter also carried the inscriptions “80th Anniversary of Vietnam’s National Day” and “33rd National Congress of the PCU".

Flowers are laid in memory of victims of the shooting on Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, on December 15, 2025. (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)

Vietnam sends sympathy to Australia following Sydney shooting

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on December 15 sent a message of sympathy to his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese over a shooting that occurred on December 14 at Bondi beach in Sydney, New South Wales, resulting in multiple civilian casualties.

Party General Secretary To Lam and NA deputies are welcomed by locals in Hung Yen on December 15, 2025 (Photo: VNA)

Party leader meets with voters in Hung Yen province

Responding to Hung Yen voters’ recommendations, Party General Secretary To Lam affirmed the consistent principle of placing people at the centre, safeguarding their legitimate rights and interests, and ensuring that all policies and decisions serve the people.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung holds phone talks with Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Maria Theresa Lazaro on December 15. (Photo : VNA)

Vietnamese, Philippine foreign ministers hold phone talks

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung and his Philippine counterpart Maria Theresa Lazaro agreed to continue promoting efforts to elevate bilateral ties to a new height, including stepping up high-level and all-level delegation exchanges across Party, State, National Assembly and people-to-people channels.

The NA Standing Committee's meeting on electoral affairs on December 15. (Photo: quochoi.vn)

NA Standing Committee discusses electoral affairs

The NA Standing Committee adopted a resolution on the first adjustment to the structure, composition, and number of candidates nominated for the 16th NA, and approved a plan to supervise and inspect the election.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man chairs the fourth meeting of the National Election Council on December 15, 2025. (Photo: VNA)

Election preparations on track ahead of upcoming polls: NA Chairman

Highlighting key positive aspects of the preparation process so far, the top legislator pointed to the strong, coordinated engagement of agencies from the central to local levels, swift yet methodical progress, particularly in finalising documents, developing organisational plans and drafting resolutions on electoral units.

Frigate 015 – Tran Hung Dao and the delegation of the Vietnam People’s Navy (VPN) on December 14 leave Jinhae Naval Base. (Photo: qdnd.vn)

Frigate 015 – Tran Hung Dao concludes visit to RoK

During the visit, officers and sailors of the two navies toured Frigate 015 and the RoK Navy’s Munmu the Great destroyer, shared experience in training and long-duration deployments at sea, and took part in sports exchanges. The VPN delegation also hosted a banquet aboard Frigate 015 for senior officers and sailors of the host navy.