☀️ Morning digest on December 9

The following is a list of selected news summaries reported last night by the Vietnam News Agency.

☀️ Morning digest on December 9

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

- Party General Secretary To Lam called on the political academies of Vietnam and Russia to build on existing achievements and expand joint training programmes in public administration, political theory, administrative reform, strategic governance, digital transformation in the civil service, and senior leadership development.

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During a meeting with Rector of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA) Alexey Komissarov who is visiting Vietnam on December 8, General Secretary Lam praised the Academy as Russia’s premier institution in public administration, policy planning, and preparing senior officials and civil servants.Read full story

- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has directed the southern province of Tay Ninh to leverage its role as a nexus of global connectivity through its four border gates, a regional transit and a linkage for industrial development.

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PM Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the working session (Photo: VNA)

During a local working session with the standing board of the provincial Party Committee on December 8, held alongside the inauguration of Tan Nam - Meun Chey international border gate, PM Chinh called for sustained unity and breakthrough development, aiming for annual double-digit growth in the coming years. He stressed the importance of social welfare, support for vulnerable groups and families with meritorious service, and tackling long-standing obstacles while building a borderline of peace, cooperation and friendship. Read full story

- President of the Lao Journalists’ Association (LJA) Savanhkhone Razmountry on December 8 expressed wish for more professional experience exchanges with the Vietnam Journalists’ Association (VJA), including dispatching seasoned Vietnamese experts to bolster reporting skills in Laos.

During a working session in Hanoi with Editor-in-Chief of Nhan Dan (People) newspaper and VJA Chairman Le Quoc Minh, Savanhkhone briefed his host on Laos’ current media landscape and recent major national events of significant importance. Read full story

- Vietnam expresses its deep concern over the current escalating tensions between Cambodia and Thailand, said Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pham Thu Hang.

Responding to reporters’ questions on December 8 regarding Vietnam’s reaction to the rising tensions between Cambodia and Thailand in the border area, Hang stressed that as a neighbouring country and a fellow ASEAN member, Vietnam calls on both sides to exercise the utmost restraint, refrain from the use of force, fully implement the ceasefire agreement, continue dialogue, and resolve their disagreements in a peaceful and satisfactory manner. Read full story

- The US Navy’s amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli and guided-missile cruiser USS Robert Smalls, carrying more than 2,000 officers and sailors under the command of Rear Admiral Thomas Shultz, Commander of US Expeditionary Strike Group 7, arrived at Da Nang’s Tien Sa Port on December 8 for a four-day friendly visit.

The welcome ceremony in the central city was attended by representatives from the municipal Department of Foreign Affairs, Military Command, and Border Guard Command, and the Naval Region 3 Command, and relevant agencies. Read full story

- For the first time, Vietnam will host the 2025 National Breaking – HipHop Showcase and Multi-Discipline Street Dance Mass Performance at Ho Xuan Huong Indoor Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City from December 26-28.

The landmark event is organised by the Vietnam Recreational E-sports Association (VIRESA) in coordination with leading experts in the field, promising to deliver a high-energy sports-art festival where street culture meets elite performance standards. Read full story

- The Supreme People’s Procuracy on December 8 issued an indictment charging Le Trung Khoa with “making, storing, distributing, and spreading information, documents, or items aimed at sabotaging the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam” under Clause 2, Article 117 of the Penal Code.

Citing Articles 141 and 142 of the 2015 Criminal Procedure Code, the top prosecutorial body called on 54-year-old Khoa, a native of Thanh Hoa province who was residing in Hanoi before leaving for Germany, to voluntarily surrender at the nearest Vietnamese police station, procuracy office, or diplomatic mission abroad in order to benefit from the State’s leniency policy./. Read full story

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

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

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

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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)

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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)

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