Prime Minister Le Minh Hung is leading a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation to attend the 48th ASEAN Summit in Cebu, the Philippines on May 7–8 at the invitation of Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr, Chair of ASEAN 2026. Since joining ASEAN on July 28, 1995, Vietnam has remained a proactive and responsible member, making important contributions to ASEAN Community building and regional peace, stability and cooperation.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam’s May 5-7 state visit to India not only advances bilateral ties but also contributes more broadly to promoting a multipolar and multilateral world order, and a more balanced and inclusive Asia as well.

former Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Ba Hoan was prosecuted for charges of “receiving bribes.” Eight other defendants, all former subordinates from the ministry, were also prosecuted on the same charge.

The 48th ASEAN Summit is therefore seen not only as a high-level dialogue platform, but also as a test of ASEAN’s adaptability and the Philippine chairmanship’s coordination capacity in an increasingly volatile strategic environment.

At the 2026 AFC U-17 Asian Cup, Vietnam are drawn in Group C alongside the Republic of Korea (RoK), the UAE and Yemen. Under the fixture schedule, Vietnam will face Yemen on May 7, the RoK on May 10 and the UAE on May 14.

Implementing Resolution 57 of the Politburo on breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation, the Austria-Vietnam Cybersecurity Forum was recently held in Vienna, bringing together policymakers, businesses, and experts to explore opportunities for bilateral cooperation, while advancing policy dialogue on cybersecurity.

Currently ranked 110th among the world’s most dynamic startup ecosystems and among Southeast Asia’s top five, the southern economic hub of Ho Chi Minh City is seeking to build on its existing strengths to move into the world’s Top 100 startup cities in the coming years.

Surveys conducted in the first months of this year showed a growing trend toward integrated tourism packages combining accommodation, cuisine and entertainment services, enabling visitors to enjoy short itineraries that blend urban tourism with coastal resort experiences.

ADB remains committed to supporting Vietnam’s development aspirations and reform agenda in the years ahead, said Zhang Nianshan, Director General of ADB’s Southeast Asia Department.

This marks the first time a Vietnamese enterprise has participated in and conducted trade promotion activities at SAHA, underscoring Viettel’s growth prospects and business opportunities in the regional defence industry market.

Co-hosted by the municipal People’s Committee, the Department of Culture and Sports, and domestic and foreign agencies, the whole spectacle is meant to honour the city’s millennia-old heritage while reafffirming its strategy of establishing culture as a development engine.

As Southeast Asia becomes increasingly hit by strategic competition among major powers, maintaining unity and cohesion within ASEAN has become a prerequisite to preserve the bloc’s central role. In this process, Vietnam has emerged as an important balancing force.