Nicholas Chapman

2025/75 “To Lam’s Foreign Policy Leadership in the “Era of National Rise”” by Hoang Thi Ha and Pham Thi Phuong Thao Since assuming power in August 2024, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam To Lam has pursued bold reforms with great urgency, rapidly translating Party resolutions into concrete policy ...

A mixture of pragmatism sprinkled with strategic and economic diplomacy is driving Vietnam's foreign policy in the era of national rise: www.iseas.edu.sg/articles-com...

Couple arrested after customs finds 45 tons of Vietnamese rice | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis HIGASHI-OSAKA, Osaka Prefecture—Prefectural police arrested a couple here on suspicion of disguising approximately 45 tons of rice from Vietnam as

A Japanese/Vietnamese couple were arrested in Osaka for trying to take advantage of Japan's spiraling rice prices. The pair imported rice from Vietnam, disguised it as mung beans, with the intent to sell it as domestically grown rice. www.asahi.com/ajw/articles...

Government meeting reviews Việt Nam–Laos cooperation progress Aid-funded projects provided by Việt Nam for Laos have maintained the planned schedule. Project owners from both sides have actively coordinated in implementation, with many projects already completed...

Vietnam's investment in Lao is up six-fold, with the main areas including energy and transport. vietnamnews.vn/politics-law...

Vietnam now has diplomatic ties with all UN member states Vietnam has officially become one of the few countries in the world to establish diplomatic ties with all 193 United Nations member states.

Vietnam now has diplomatic relations with all 193 members of the United Nations. In a highly symbolic move, Tuvalu become the 193rd nation to set up diplomatic ties with Vietnam.

Why is Vietnam cracking down on alcohol? – DW – 07/10/2025 Vietnam's alcohol tax hikes mark a bold public health push, but critics warn they could cripple the drinks industry. With authorities bracing for an aging population, public health is becoming a natio...

Vietnam is hiking its tax on alcohol. But as previous attempts to curb rising drinking rates have shown, a health-driven approach inevitably encounters numerous complexities.
www.dw.com/en/why-is-vi...

Vietnam’s Nuclear Power Revival: Ambition or Overreach? | FULCRUM Vietnam’s renewed ambition of developing nuclear power plants to fuel its industrialisation drive and meet its climate obligations faces several obstacles, including an unrealistic timeline and fin…

Is Vietnam being overly ambitious in its nuclear power plant targets? This piece makes a compelling case that it is: fulcrum.sg/vietnams-nuc...

Vietnam’s Ministry of Industry and Trade aims to complete negotiations with Russia in July for Ninh Thuan 1, while the outcomes of negotiations with Japan for Ninh Thuan 2 are set to be reported to the Prime Minister in July.

Vietnam aims to conclude Ninh Thuan 1 nuclear power plant talks with Russia in July The Ministry of Industry and Trade must conclude negotiations with the Russian side in July to get an intergovernmental agreement signed on construction of the Ninh Thuan 1 nuclear power plant in cent...

Vietnam aims to speed up negotiations with international partners for the Ninh Thuan 1 & 2 nuclear power plant projects.
theinvestor.vn/vietnam-aims...

Petrovietnam inks PSC for block offshore Vietnam Petrovietnam and its joint venture partners have signed a product sharing contract (PSC) for a block in Vietnam’s Cuu Long basin.

South Korean oil firms KNOC & SK, along with other operators, renewed a product sharing contract until 2050 for Block 15-1, Vietnam’s second largest oil field. www.offshore-energy.biz/petrovietnam...

Vietnam wants to enhance voice, role of developing nations as BRICS partner country: FM spokesperson (VOVWORLD) - Vietnam has become a BRICS partner country, with a desire to contribute to enhancing the voice and role of developing countries, while promoting international solidarity and inclusive…

It’s official. Vietnam is a BRICS partner country. It’s revealing that the announcement also stressed Vietnam’s involvement in other multilateral institutions. In other words, this step is just business as usual.

Rumors are swirling that To Lam will meet Donald Trump at the end of this month as the deadline for a trade deal fast approaches. www.reuters.com/world/china/...

Vietnam, Thailand Aim to Grow Rice Exports to Japan <p>BANGKOK — Vietnam and Thailand, which are among the world’s top three rice exporters, are expecting an increase in their exports of rice to Japan.</p>

With rice prices in Japan refusing to budge, and the government facing ever more criticism, can Vietnam - the world’s 2nd (sometimes 3rd depending on source) largest rice exporter - gain a greater foothold in the typically protectionist Japanese rice market. japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/world/asia-p...

Ishiba holds first meeting with South Korea's Lee The South Korean leader emphasized the need for 'future-oriented cooperation' amid global trade challenges, a veiled reference to unilateral U.S. tariffs.

Ishiba holds first meeting with South Korea\'s Lee www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/06...

Vietnam Approves Radical Consolidation of Provinces and Major Cities The change, part of an administrative “revolution” spearheaded by CPV chief To Lam, will see the number of provinces and centrally-run cities cut from 63 to just 34.

The change, part of an administrative “revolution” spearheaded by CPV chief To Lam, will see the number of provinces and centrally-run cities cut from 63 to just 34.

ベトナム人の男2人覚醒剤を密輸した疑いで逮捕　菓子などの乾燥剤をすり替えて密輸か…留学生の集合住宅に配送　東京・福生市｜FNNプライムオンライン 菓子などの袋に入った乾燥剤に見せかけ覚醒剤を密輸した疑いで、ベトナム人の男2人が逮捕されました。グエン・ヴァン・ギアー容疑者ら2人は去年11月、覚醒剤およそ1キロ末端価格6300万円相当を密輸した疑いが持たれています。覚醒剤は菓子などの袋に入った乾燥剤に見せかけて、東京・福生市のベトナム人留学生の集合住宅に配送されていました。2人はグループの日本国内での指示役としてさまざまな薬物を、留学生の住宅…

Japanese police have arrested two Vietnamese nationals accused of smuggling stimulants into the country, allegedly intending to distribute them to international students.

Not as good as Norbit though

Lee, Vietnamese President agree to deepen economic ties President Lee Jae-myung and Vietnamese President Luong Cuong agreed to strengthen economic ties and cooperation in their first phone call.

South Korea’s new president, Lee Jae-myung, held his first phone call with a Southeast Asian leader yesterday—Vietnam’s president. Lee hopes to visit Vietnam in the coming months.

Vietnam's Minister of Trade suggests Walmart build 'strategic purchasing center' Vietnam's Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien has suggested the world's biggest retailer Walmart research and build a strategic purchasing center in the Southeast Asian country.

Vietnam’s Minister of Trade has floated a “strategic purchasing center” to Walmart as he seeks to charm US businesses and gain their support as trade negotiations with the US continue. theinvestor.vn/vietnams-min...

Overseas investment increases by 2.3 times in first five months - VnExpress International Vietnam's overseas investment surged in the first five months of 2025, reaching US$317.3 million, a 130% increase compared to the same period in 2024, according to the National Statistics Office…

Overseas investment by Vietnam has surged so far in 2025. Laos remains the top recipient, followed by Indonesia, the Philippines, and Japan.

Will Vietnam’s Private Sector Gamble Pay Off? | FULCRUM Vietnam aims to create private economic groups that hold regional and global significance. It must also combat corruption, support the growth of SMEs and startups, and promote foreign investment sp…

My take on Resolution 68:

Still, the US is reported to have placed “tough demands” on Vietnam and asked it to reduce its trade with China.

US companies push for lower Vietnamese tariffs as China hedge Businesses argue south-east Asian country has become vital part of ‘China plus one’ strategy

With over half of Nike’s footwear production hailing from Vietnam, will greater pressure from American firms result in tariff reduction for Vietnam? www.ft.com/content/6ff2...

Why Is Vietnam Blocking Access to Telegram? Hanoi claims that the encrypted messaging app is enabling criminal activity, but there may be deeper considerations at play.

Vietnam’s blocking of Telegram went into effect yesterday.

Vietnam’s Trump Card: Navigating Growth, Politics, and US Relations | FULCRUM Vietnam’s fast-tracking of a Trump-branded project is a high-stake diplomatic gambit to curry favour with the US president to ameliorate the extent of US tariffs. But the Trump project should also …

Is Vietnam’s fast-tracking of the Trump Organization golf complex a strategic gamble, a concession to Trump’s transactional approach, or pure pragmatism? Perhaps all three? Interesting analysis here:

The US$67 billion question: who will fund Vietnam’s North-South express railway? Vingroup and Thaco’s proposals to build the Hanoi-Ho Chi Minh City high-speed rail line both demand substantial state support.

This comes as debate still rages over who will finance Vietnam’s flagship high-speed rail project. www.scmp.com/week-asia/ec...

Vietnam's Hoa Phat to make high-speed train rails with German tech Steelmaker claims to be sole Southeast Asian manufacturer addressing that need

With technological help from Germany’s SMS Group, Vietnamese steelmaker Hoa Phat Group plans to become the only Southeast Asian manufacturer capable of producing high-speed rail tracks. asia.nikkei.com/Business/Mat...

Vietnam health minister: Fake medical products are not fraud - they’re a crime Counterfeit health goods spark reform push, with new decree updates expected.

Health Minister Dao Hong Lan laments poor coordination and ineffective deployment in countering counterfeit medicine, something she notes is not just fraud, but a crime.

In 2023. 4% of visitors to China were Vietnamese, meanwhile over 3.7 million Chinese visitors visited Vietnam in the same year.

Back on track: China, Vietnam reopen railway line to support tourism boom As Beijing expands visa-free travel, the route could also make it easier for international tourists to visit China, analysts say.

The China-Vietnam international passenger rail service resumed its first service for the first time in five years. The resumption follows a broader trend of greater connectivity between China and its southern neighbors. www.scmp.com/economy/chin...

Feasibility studies of exporting clean energy via submarine cables to the power grid of the Malaysian peninsula are expected to ensue.