Domestic

Ho Chi Minh City will launch early voting on February 26 in four designated electoral areas for the election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and the 2026–2031 municipal People’s Council. The City Election Commission outlined voting arrangements for land-based and maritime polling stations across Phuoc Thang, Tam Thang wards, and Long Son commune.

The vigorous development of the Internet, technology, artificial intelligence, and social media has placed the press before major challenges, whilst simultaneously opening an exciting phase that demands mainstream media to innovate in order to retain readers and audiences.

President Ho Chi Minh was the great “pathfinder” of the Vietnamese nation on its journey to realise the goal of “national independence associated with socialism”. As he stated, once the objective is set, “one must know how to do it in order to achieve it quickly”[1].

The approaching Lunar New Year 2026 brings renewed vitality as the 14th National Party Congress convenes – a political event of immense stature, a historic milestone for the nation in the Ho Chi Minh era. With strategic thinking and vision, the 14th Congress establishes a “golden opportunity” for the Party to write new and resplendent chapters, advancing towards the two centenary goals already set.

On the evening of February 16, General Secretary To Lam visited and extended his Lunar New Year (Tet) greetings to the Party organisation, government and people of Ha Noi.

Amid the vast open sea, Vietnamese Coast Guard vessels continue to quietly cut through the waves to carry out their duties offshore. For Coast Guard officers and soldiers, the Lunar New Year Festival (Tet) is not a holiday but a sacred responsibility — safeguarding peace at sea so that spring on the mainland can be fully enjoyed.

At a meeting of the Ministry of Public Security on November 4, 2025, General Luong Tam Quang, Politburo Member, Secretary of the Central Public Security Party Committee, and Minister of Public Security, launched the “Three Foremosts” emulation campaign across the entire People’s Public Security force. The initiative, comprising 21 key areas, focuses on being “Foremost in Discipline – Foremost in Loyalty – Foremost in Close Attachment to the People.”

Ahead of the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on February 15 visited and extended Tet greetings to environmental sanitation workers in Ha Noi, offering encouragement and outlining key tasks for the year ahead.

The National Election Council has published the official list of 864 candidates standing in 182 electoral units nationwide to elect 500 deputies to the 16th National Assembly.

The Viet Nam Fatherland Front Committee of Ninh Binh Province on February 14 held a conference to hand over the list of people who meet the eligibility requirements to stand as candidates for deputies to the 16th National Assembly and for deputies to the Ninh Binh Provincial People’s Council for the 2026–2031 term.

Throughout its construction and development, Ho Chi Minh City has never lost its aspiration to join the nation in achieving great accomplishments, gradually realising the people’s dream of prosperity.

From January 19 to 23, 2026, the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Viet Nam was held with great success.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on February 14 chaired a meeting between standing Government members and representatives of ministries, agencies and Phu Tho province to address structural damage of the Lo river bridge, directing both urgent remedy measures and the construction of a new bridge to meet rising development demands.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on February 14 visited and extended Lunar New Year (Tet) greetings to former Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh, and offered incense in tribute to late leaders of the Party and State on the occasion of the Year of the Horse 2026.

Party General Secretary To Lam paid visits to officials, journalists and staff on duty at Viet Nam Television (VTV) and Voice of Viet Nam (VOV) on February 14, the first day of the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh offered incense at Kinh Thien Palace, part of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel in Ha Noi, to commemorate kings and those who made contributions to the nation on the morning of February 14, the 27th day of the last lunar month.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh offered incense in tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at House 67 within the Presidential Palace complex in Ha Noi on the morning of February 14, the 27th day of the last lunar month.

Swiss and New Zealand ambassadors to Viet Nam urge practical delivery after 2025 upgrades, highlighting trade, innovation, and sustainability, and calling for concrete follow-through to sustain a future-oriented partnership.

The emergence of new, spacious houses on old foundations, where grass has not yet had time to regrow after the floods, demonstrates the determination of the Party, army, and people to turn grief into action. Above all, it is the most practical way for the Viet Nam People’s Army to fulfil their “filial duty” to the people, as taught by Uncle Ho.

National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man and his delegation visited and extended Lunar New Year (Tet) greetings to 200 policy beneficiary families, poor households and those facing particularly difficult circumstances in Thanh Xuan commune, the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho, on February 13.