Viet Nam’s economic miracle and diplomatic pragmatism is certainly the envy of Southeast Asia, Carl Thayer, Emeritus Professor of Politics at the University of New South Wales’s School of Humanities and Social Sciences told Viet Nam News Agency reporters in Sydney.

The ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2026, with the message: joining hands to shape the future of tourism, has provided an important platform for Southeast Asian nations to strengthen cooperation, advance sustainable and inclusive growth, and position ASEAN as a diverse, well-connected and globally competitive destination.

After six months serving as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Santiago, Chile (ACS), through the implementation of numerous diverse and wide-ranging activities, Viet Nam has contributed to enhancing ASEAN’s understanding of Chile and promoting the partnership between the two sides.

Quy Nhon in Gia Lai province has been honoured with the ASEAN Clean Tourist City Award 2026, marking the third time it has received this prestigious regional recognition, according to Nguyen Thi Thanh Lich, Vice Chairwoman of the provincial People’s Committee.

Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung joined his counterparts from other ASEAN member countries and the ASEAN Secretary-General at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Retreat (AMM Retreat) that opened in Cebu, the Philippines, on January 29 under the chair of Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Maria Theresa Lazaro.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung has attended the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat (AMMR) and related meetings from January 28–29 in Cebu, Philippines, at the invitation of his Filipino counterpart Maria Theresa P. Lazaro.

The 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV) is not merely a domestic political event, but one that carries profound significance in comprehensively repositioning Viet Nam on the global geopolitical and economic map, said a Malaysian scholar.

The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the International Trade Association of the Republic of Korea (RoK) announced on January 26 that the RoK’s export revenue to Viet Nam in 2025 reached 62.8 billion USD, up 7.6% compared with 2024.

The Republic of Korea’s exports to Viet Nam in 2025 reached 62.8 billion USD, up 7.6% year on year, according to figures released by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy (MOTIE) and the Korea International Trade Association (KITA) on January 26.

Viet Nam has proposed a number of ASEAN cooperation priorities at the discussions on “New Pathways for ASEAN Growth and Productivity” and the “ASEAN Power Grid” held on the framework of the 2026 Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland.

Viet Nam is not only a production hub but also a solid pillar of diplomacy for the entire ASEAN region, said Dr. Julia Roknifard, a senior lecturer in international relations at Taylor's University (Malaysia).

President of the Presidential Council of Libya Muhammad Al-Menfi said that Libya wishes to strengthen cooperation with Viet Nam in economics, trade, investment, and energy, particularly a desire seeking Viet Nam's support and sharing of experience in national reconstruction.

Viet Nam remains firmly committed to being a proactive, active and responsible member of ASEAN’s digital cooperation, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed while addressing the opening ceremony of the 6th ASEAN Digital Ministers' Meeting (ADGMIN 6) and related meetings in Ha Noi on January 15.

Professor Vijay Sakhuja, a renowned scholar of geopolitics and international relations and former Director of the National Maritime Foundation of India, has characterised Viet Nam–Indonesia ties as among the most exemplary and strategically profound bilateral relationships in Southeast Asia.

Held annually on a rotating basis among ASEAN member states, the meeting plays a key role in shaping strategic orientations, formulating policies and promoting digital cooperation within ASEAN, while strengthening collaboration with partners and international organisations amid rapid digital and digital-economy transformation globally.

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Hoang Giang has affirmed Viet Nam's readiness to work closely with other ASEAN members to help Cambodia and Thailand soon restore peace and stabilise their relations.

Two Vietnamese writers, Nguyen Tham Thien Ke and Pham Thi Xuan Ban (Y Ban), have been honoured with the prestigious Southeast Asian Writers Award (S.E.A. Write Award) for 2024–2025 in recognition of their outstanding literary works.

Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son has signed a decision on the coordination mechanism among agencies involved in ASEAN cooperation.

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

The Vietnamese sports delegation took part in the official flag-raising ceremony of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 33) at Hua Mark Indoor Stadium in Bangkok on the afternoon of December 8, marking a ceremonial start to their SEA Games journey.