Viet Nam’s national football team surged nine places to 99th in the latest FIFA world rankings released after the March 2026 FIFA international window, marking the biggest jump of any team worldwide in this update.

Viet Nam is seeking to promote the export of its key commodities, particularly coffee beans, to the Algerian market as bilateral economic and trade ties have continued to expand.

Viet Nam beat Malaysia 3-1 at Thien Truong Stadium on March 31 evening to finish their 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifying campaign with a perfect record of six wins from six matches.

The two sides discussed specific cooperation programmes to help strengthen collaboration in technical infrastructure and promote sustainable transport within the framework of the Viet Nam–Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on March 23 (local time) held a working session with Russia’s Novatek Group in Moscow as part of his official visit to Russia, seeking to accelerate cooperation on liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects and energy development.

The Viet Nam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee and the National Council of the Solidarity Front for the Development of Cambodia Motherland (SFDCM) on March 23 signed a cooperation agreement for the 2026–2031 period.

State President Luong Cuong affirmed Viet Nam’s commitment to bolstering relations with Cambodia, Saudi Arabia and the Commonwealth of Dominica.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung on March 17 received Helene Budliger Artieda, Director of Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, who is on a working visit to Viet Nam from March 15 to 17.

Chinese Minister of National Defence Senior Lieutenant General Dong Jun visited Commando Brigade 113 under the Commando Corps on March 15 during his working trip to Viet Nam.

International media outlets have widely reported on Viet Nam’s election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026–2031 tenure, describing it as a major political event held shortly after the 14th National Party Congress.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong, Minister of National Defence Dong Jun, will visit Viet Nam from March 15–17 to attend the first ministerial-level strategic dialogue on foreign affairs, national defence and public security between the two countries known as the “3+3” dialogue.

The 17th meeting of the Viet Nam – China Steering Committee for Bilateral Cooperation and the first meeting of the ministerial-level strategic dialogue among the ministries of foreign affairs, national defence and public security of the two countries are scheduled to take place in Ha Noi from March 15 to 17, 2026.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has asked for faster development of space science and technology, stressing the need to explore space, master technologies, strengthen cooperation, pursue sustainable development and ensure a peaceful cosmos.

The relationship between Viet Nam and China in the coming period will continue to be strengthened on the basis of growing political trust, expanding cooperation and vibrant people-to-people exchanges, Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Thanh Binh said at a press conference in Beijing on March 12.

Asia is emerging as one of the regions attracting the greatest interest from French travellers in 2026, with Viet Nam ranking among the most searched destinations, according to a recent survey.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha met with UNDP Resident Representative Ramla Khalidi and WHO Representative in Viet Nam Angela Pratt in Ha Noi on March 11 to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation in improving air pollution and addressing air quality in Viet Nam.

Nine Vietnamese companies have been included in TIME magazine’s list of the 500 Best Companies in Asia–Pacific for 2026, highlighting the country’s growing corporate presence across multiple industries.

The Viet Nam Cultural Centre in France, in collaboration with Vietnamese community organisations, opened the Lunar New Year Spring Fair in Paris on February 21, attracting a large number of overseas Vietnamese and international visitors.

Nguyen Duy Ngoc, Politburo member and deputy head of the Central Steering Committee for the Development of Science, Technology, Innovation and Digital Transformation, chaired working sessions with Rosen Partners, Arizona State University (ASU), Meta Platforms, and the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) on February 19-20 within the framework of Party General Secretary To Lam’s trip to Washington D.C. for the inaugural meeting of the Gaza Board of Peace.

After General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee To Lam and a high-level Vietnamese delegation visited Cambodia on February 6, Phnom Penh Post featured a commentary by Assoc. Prof. Dr Neak Chandarith, Director of the Institute for International Studies and Public Policy at the Royal University of Phnom Penh, highlighting the importance of the visit for shaping bilateral relations in the new context.