Vietnam's First Half of July: Economy, Diplomacy, and Social Activities Gain Momentum

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung chaired a meeting of the Central Steering Committee on judgment enforcement and the recovery of misappropriated and lost assets in criminal cases in Hanoi on July 8. According to the NA Chairman, the legislature will consider and decide on 27 items, including 20 laws and normative resolutions, three major national issues, and first-time discussions on four draft laws. The World Bank's decision to classify Vietnam as an upper-middle-income country marks not only an important economic milestone but also international recognition of nearly four decades of Doi Moi (Renewal) process. At the same time, it signals the need for a stronger shift, from growth driven by scale to development powered by productivity, science, technology and innovation. The exhibition “Temple of Literature in Art” has opened in Hanoi to mark the 950th anniversary of the Temple of Literature, the first university of Vietnam built in the 11th century. On July 7, Hanoi welcomed its five-millionth international visitor of 2026 at the Terminal 2 of Noi Bai International Airport. The milestone highlights the capital's robust tourism growth in the first half of the year and its rising profile as an international destination. National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man received visiting Attorney General of Malaysia Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar in Hanoi on July 7, during which he affirmed Vietnam’s consistent policy of attaching great importance to and effectively implementing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Malaysia. A Vietnamese delegation is in Russia to participate in the 16th INNOPROM International Industrial Trade Fair in Yekaterinburg – Russia’s largest annual industrial exhibition from July 6 to 8. This is the first time a Vietnamese delegation to participate in the event. Vietnam's rescue and relief team has been awarded the first-class "Hero of Venezuela" medal, a noble reward from the Venezuelan Government, in recognition of their courageous humanitarian efforts following the devastating earthquakes in the Latin American country. Vietnam's e-commerce sector is entering a new phase of development as the Law on E-commerce officially takes effect on July 1. Beyond providing a clearer legal framework for online business, the new law is expected to address long-standing shortcomings, strengthen consumer confidence and support the sustainable growth of the digital marketplace. With support from the military, health workers and local authorities, the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai is intensifying its 500-day campaign to recover and identify the remains of fallen soldiers. Every DNA sample collected offers another chance to restore a name to those still listed as unidentified - bringing long-awaited answers to their families. Party General Secretary and State President To Lam received in Hanoi on July 6 the newly accredited ambassadors of Portugal, Iran, Mongolia, the US and Myanmar, as they presented their credentials, officially beginning their diplomatic missions in Vietnam. Party General Secretary and State President To Lam on July 6 requested the Ministry of Public Security's technical services force to become a highly disciplined, loyal and people-oriented corps of top science and technology experts capable of meeting increasingly complex security challenges. On July 5 (local time), the Vietnamese earthquake relief delegation visited makeshift tent camps in the Playa Grande area of La Guaira state to distribute essential care packages to local residents affected by the disaster. As Hanoi moves to realise its long-term development vision for a new era, the capital is stepping up efforts to attract investment. By signing 50 memoranda of understanding with leading domestic and international corporations and organisations, the city aims not only to expand infrastructure but also to lay the foundation for becoming a modern AI city, with technology serving as a key driver of growth. Vietnam and Singapore officially launched cross-border QR payments from July 2. The service allows Singaporean visitors to pay via VietQRGlobal in Vietnam and is expected to enable Vietnamese travellers to use their domestic banking apps for payments in Singapore from the third quarter. While recovering a victim’s body, a member of the Venezuelan rescue team became dizzy after prolonged exposure to toxic decomposition gases. Bau Truc, one of the Cham ethnic people’s ancient pottery villages in the south-central coastal province of Khanh Hoa, still preserves its traditional method of using only hands and no pottery wheel. It is also the oldest pottery village in Southeast Asia to maintain the hands-only method, using tools made from bamboo, shells, and snails and colours derived from tree bark. Business sentiment in Vietnam is rebounding strongly despite a challenging operating environment marked by rising costs and growing global uncertainties, including prolonged geopolitical tensions and trade-related pressures, according to the recently released Business Outlook Study 2026 by the United Overseas Bank (UOB). Low-emission rice farming is rapidly expanding across Vietnam and has become an important part of the country’s Net Zero strategy. Through a programme aimed at developing one million hectares of high-quality, low-emission rice by 2030, Vietnam seeks not only to reduce emissions but also to enhance the value of its rice sector and improve farmers’ incomes. The Government held its regular meeting for June and a teleconference with authorities of 34 provinces and cities nationwide on July 4 to look into the socio-economic situation in the first six months of 2026 and work out measures for the latter half to achieve this year’s targets, particularly the goal of double-digit economic growth. On the fourth day of operations in Venezuela, Vietnam's rescue team continued searching for victims despite dangerous conditions and repeated aftershock warnings. In recent years, many women in Khun Ha commune, the northwestern mountainous province of Lai Chau have secured a stable source of income through hand embroidery. Besides making use of their free time outside the farming season, the work has also helped change women's mindset towards contributing to household economic development. Copyright, VietnamPlus, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) Editor-in-chief, Mr. Tran Tien Duan.