Vietnam News Today (May 1): Vietnam to Become Second-Largest Economy in Southeast Asia by 2036
	Vietnam News Today (May 2): Overseas Vietnamese Help Vietnamese Products Go Global

Minister of National Defense Gen. Phan Van Giang (L) and Chief of the Political Directorate of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces Lieut. Gen Victor Leonardo Rojo Ramos (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam always treasures defense ties with Cuba

The Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense always considers defense ties with Cuba as one of the pillars of the bilateral relationship, said Politburo member, Vice Secretary of the Central Military Commission and Minister of National Defense Gen. Phan Van Giang on May 2.

During a reception in Hanoi for Lieut. Gen Victor Leonardo Rojo Ramos, member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and Chief of the Political Directorate of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces, who is in Hanoi for the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification, Giang thanked the Cuban Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces for sending a delegation to the celebration.

Vietnam always remembers and appreciates the invaluable, heartfelt, and meaningful support, both material and spiritual, of peace-loving people and countries around the world, especially the Cuban people and the fraternal Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces, he said.

Congratulating the 64th anniversary of the Victory of Playa Girón (April 19), Giang expressed confidence in the two countries’ success in construction and development.

He lauded the recent achievements under the 2023–2025 defense cooperation plan, including Party and political work, training, technology transfer, communications, cybersecurity, logistics, and twinning partnerships, contributing to enhancing the two armies’ capacity to safeguard the homeland in the new context.

His praise was given to the successful joint production of Volumes 4 and 5 of the documentary series “Two Hearts, One Beat”, which widely promotes the special relationship between the two countries and their armies.

Ramos, for his part, expressed delight at seeing Vietnam poised to enter a new era of the nation’s rise. He stressed that Cuba will always stand side by side with the Vietnamese people and the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA) to uphold the special friendship, solidarity, and cherished traditions between the two nations.

Looking ahead, he expressed hope for the effective realization of the existing cooperation agreements, making bilateral defense ties increasingly substantive, while also working toward the early building and signing of cooperation documents, particularly in areas of their needs and strengths, cited VNA.

Meeting with the Cuban official in the morning the same day, standing member of the Central Military Commission and Director of the VPA’s General Department of Politics Sen. Lieut. Gen Trinh Van Quyet affirmed that the victory of the Vietnamese people is also a triumph of justice and all peace-loving nations around the world, including Vietnam and Cuba.

With 2025 designated as the Vietnam–Cuba Friendship Year and the 65th anniversary of diplomatic ties approaching, Quyet urged enhanced communication to educate younger generations about the historic relationship.

Ramos praised the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, particularly General Secretary To Lam, and wished Vietnam’s 14th National Party Congress in 2026 a success.

In a separate meeting in the morning, Gen. Nguyen Tan Cuong, standing member of the Central Military Commission and Chief of the VPA’s General Staff, underscored the significance of the April 30, 1975 victory, attributing it to international support, including from Cuba, and Vietnam’s unique military strategies and the people’s war. These have been discussed by the VPA and the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces for many years.

He proposed continued collaboration in delegation exchanges, research, technology transfer, cybersecurity, military engineering, and logistics, tailored to each side’s conditions and capabilities.

Ramos expressed his hope for expanded cooperation in areas of mutual strength, further fostering the cherished friendship between the two nations and their armies. He said he was impressed with the effective partnerships in training, technology, communications, and logistics.

Vietnam and Kazakhstan to elevate relations to comprehensive partnership in May

Vietnam and Kazakhstan are expected to elevate bilateral relations to a comprehensive partnership during the coming Kazakhstan visit by Vietnamese General Secretary To Lam in May 2025, says Kazakh Ambassador to Vietnam Kanat Tumysh.

Recent positive developments

Both countries aim to use this occasion to upgrade their relationship to a comprehensive partnership, timed to coincide with the 33rd anniversary of diplomatic ties and the 66th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh’s 1959 visit to Kazakhstan, Tumysh said, during an interview ahead of To Lam’s state visit.

Over the past years, he said, Vietnam and Kazakhstan have achieved several key milestones. On May 25, 2024, the visa exemption agreement for ordinary passport holders officially took effect, facilitating the growth of tourism, transportation, and logistics between the two countries. In April 2025, the bilateral agreement on the transfer of convicted prisoners, signed in 2023, also came into force.

Government-to-government cooperation has seen remarkable progress, following the organization of an Intergovernmental Committee meeting in 2024 and a political consultation in 2025. Local-level cooperation is also gaining momentum on the back of partnership agreements between Vietnamese and Kazakh localities in 2024.

In aviation, direct flights between the two countries increased from just two per week in 2022 to four weekly flights by June 2024. Carriers such as Air Astana and Vietjet have launched direct routes to Phu Quoc, Da Nang, and Almaty. All Vietnamese-operated flights now run on a regular basis.

Bilateral investment is also thriving. Kazakh companies have launched several successful projects in Vietnam, while Vietnamese businesses are investing in tourism and hospitality in Almaty. The Kazakh Ministry of Trade and Integration is currently working with Vietnamese firms to foster defense engineering exports, according to VOV.

Kazakh Ambassador to Vietnam Kanat Tumysh. (Photo: VTC)

Bilateral trade has also grown significantly in recent years, reaching nearly US$1 billion in 2024, the highest level to date. This achievement reflects the strength of traditional friendship, effective leadership dialogue, and both countries’ flexible, responsible, and multilateral foreign policies.

After more than three decades of development, Vietnam–Kazakhstan relations have entered what many call a “golden era,” with ample room for expanding comprehensive cooperation in various fields, said the ambassador.

While bilateral trade nearly hit US$1 billion during 2023–2024, a strong figure for Central Asia, this still falls short of the true potential between the two countries, acknowledged the ambassador, expressing his belief with shared efforts and effective dialogue, the figure could reach US$2 - 5 billion by 2029.

New avenues of cooperation

The diplomat expressed high expectations for To Lam’s visit, calling it a key milestone in elevating bilateral ties and unlocking new areas of cooperation particularly in railway development.

In today’s turbulent global landscape, documents to be signed during General Secretary To Lam’s visit are expected to inject fresh momentum into bilateral cooperation, said the diplomat.

In the field of logistics and transportation, he said, Kazakhstan is particularly interested in the Hai Phong – Hanoi – Lao Cai railway project. This route is expected to connect further to Kunming (China), Almaty (Kazakhstan), the major Kazakh seaport of Aktau, and Baku (Azerbaijan), creating a promising "Middle Corridor" to Europe.

Kazakhstan is prepared to allocate 100–200 hectares of land to build logistics hubs for cargo transshipment, he stated.

With regard to defense, he said, Kazakhstan owns several military equipment manufacturers from the Soviet era, whose products are compatible with systems previously used by Vietnam. The country hopes to expand defense cooperation during the upcoming visit.

Kazakhstan currently ranks as the third-largest source of tourists to Vietnam, with over 450,000 arrivals each travel season. A sister-city agreement between Da Nang and the city of Aktau, along with newly expected direct flight routes, is set to further promote two-way tourism.

In agriculture, Kazakhstan values Vietnamese products such as ST25 rice, tea, and coffee. It also seeks to export high-quality, competitively priced goods like organic apples, meat, and wheat to Vietnam.

In energy, Kazakhstan, a country with experience in nuclear power, has expressed interest in cooperating with Vietnam should the national nuclear energy programme be restarted.

Ambassador Tumysh said he believes that the visit by General Secretary To Lam will mark a turning point, a catalyst to usher in a golden era in Vietnam–Kazakhstan relations.

Berlin exhibition reflects on Vietnam War’s lasting echoes

Fifty years after Vietnam’s reunification on April 30, 1975, an exhibition titled “Vietnam 75 – A Historical Reflection on the Vietnam War” opened at Berlin’s Babylon cinema, offering a vivid window into one of the most defining periods in Vietnam’s history against invaders.

The display, blending paintings and photos, draws international audiences and the Vietnamese community in Germany into an emotional reckoning with Vietnam’s struggle for independence, cited VNA.

Claudia Opitz (R) introduces the display to Vietnamese Minister Counsellor Chu Cong Duc (Photo: VNA)

Curated by Claudia Opitz, Peter Steiniger, and Sebastian Köpcke, “Vietnam 75” presents a chronological narrative of the war through the eyes of artists and photographers who lived through or deeply studied the war. The works capture the anguish, iron will, and resilience of a nation under siege, from the early days of revolutionary movement to the great victory on April 30, 1975.

No artwork can fully convey the horrors of war, but this exhibition is an attempt to honour the Vietnamese people’s decades-long fight, Opitz said.

The curators also pay tribute to international voices of solidarity, including East German documentary filmmakers Heynowski & Scheumann and photographer Thomas Billhardt, whose searing images brought the war’s realities to the world.

The exhibition is accompanied by screenings of classic Vietnamese revolutionary films, including Chi Tu Hau (Sister Tu Hau), Em be Ha Noi (The Little Girl of Hanoi), and Lan Song Moi ( New Wave), subtitled in Vietnamese, English, and German. These showings have resonated deeply with the Vietnamese community in Germany, particularly younger generations seeking to reconnect with their roots.

Lord Buddha’s Sarira brought to Vietnam for UN Day of Vesak 2025

Lord Buddha’s Sarira, a sacred treasure of India, was brought to Vietnam on May 2 for exhibition during the United Nations Day of Vesak 2025, due to be held in Ho Chi Minh City from May 6 to 8.

A special plane departed from Hindon Air Base on the outskirts of New Delhi early on May 2 morning and landed at Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City.

During its 20-day stay in Vietnam from May 2 to 21, the Buddha’s Sarira will travel across four provinces and cities, namely Ho Chi Minh City, Tay Ninh, Hanoi, and Ha Nam, enabling Vietnamese people and international delegates attending the UN Day of Vesak 2025 to pay their respects, reported VOV.

The Sarira of Lord Buddha - the sacred treasure of India - is due to be brought to Vietnam on April 2 morning for display during the United Nations Day of Vesak 2025.

Earlier, a solemn ceremony to receive Lord Buddha’s Sarira was held at the National Museum of India in New Delhi on May 1 afternoon, with the cooperation of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and relevant Indian authorities. During the ceremony, the sacred Sarira was officially transferred from India to Vietnam, marking the beginning of a series of international activities as part of the United Nations Day of Vesak 2025.

The transfer of Lord Buddha’s relics from India - the land where Lord Buddha was born, attained enlightenment, preached the Dharma, and entered Nirvana - to Vietnam carries deep spiritual significance and symbolizes the long-standing friendship and cultural-religious ties between the two countries. This is also a precious occasion for Vietnamese Buddhists and the general public to pay homage, strengthen their faith, and deepen their practice in accordance with the Buddha’s teachings.

Relics (Sanskrit: Sarira) are the remaining bodily fragments or sacred objects believed to be left behind after Buddha Shakyamuni entered Nirvana was cremated. These relics are among the most sacred treasures in Buddhism and are regarded as a symbol of the Buddha’s spiritual presence on Earth. In India, they are considered national treasures not only for their religious significance but also for their profound cultural and historical value.

According to the International Buddhist Confederation, more than three million people are expected to venerate the Sarira during its 20-day exhibition in Vietnam. This sends a powerful message of peace and compassion to the world, in line with the core purpose and principle of Vesak The Dharma brings peace—not only to the mind, but also to politics and society as a whole.

Nearly 58,000 tourists visit Sa Pa in first two days of holiday

According to the People’s Committee of Sa Pa Town (Lao Cai Province), Sa Pa welcomed a total of 57,575 visitors during the first two days of the April 30 and May 1 holiday.

Of this figure, 7,357 were international tourists, while the remainder were domestic travelers.

Total tourism revenue from the two days reached 121.079 billion VND. The average room occupancy rate stood at 95%, and is set to climb to 99% between May 1 and May 3, cited NDO.

Sa Pa's festivals continue to draw a large number of visitors.

With a wide array of exciting summer festivals currently taking place, Sa Pa is expected to attract between 125,000 and 150,000 visitors during the holiday, with estimated tourism revenue approaching 500 billion VND.

Vietnam News Today (Apr. 29): People-to-people Exchange Deepens Vietnam-Cuba Special Friendship Vietnam News Today (Apr. 29): People-to-people exchange deepens Vietnam-Cuba special friendship; Indonesia’s Halal market offers major opportunities for Vietnamese businesses; Vietnam – a symbol of ...

Vietnam News Today (Apr. 30): Grand Parade Marks 50 Years of Liberation of South and National Reunification Vietnam News Today (Apr. 30): Grand parade marks 50 years of liberation of South and national reunification; Vietnam vows to further cement great friendship with ...