Vietnam

| VIETNAM - VATICAN

The President of the National Assembly in Hanoi presented the Pope with a letter from the President, who is now firmly at the helm of power in Vietnam. It was precisely internal disagreements over the local political balance of power that had slowed down the preparations for the visit, which is so eagerly awaited by the Catholic community. Cardinal Parolin is due to visit soon to establish full diplomatic relations. The possibility of 2027, when the Pope is already expected in Seoul for World Youth Day.


A delegation from UNIAPAC, which brings together 45,000 entrepreneurs from around the world in the name of the Church's social teaching, is meeting with Catholic colleagues from Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam to establish new contacts. The goal is to develop businesses that put people, not profit, at the centre, in places where GDP growth too often fails to address inequality.

| 03/02/2026
| THAILAND

An investigation has been launched into a warehouse accused of producing powder mixed with soybeans in Lam Dong province. The product is destined for the domestic market. Vietnam is a leader in exports of the Robusta variety, which is experiencing a boom in sales on international markets: in the first 15 days of 2026 alone, there was an increase of over 20% in sales volumes.

| 30/01/2026
| VIETNAM

The 180-member Central Committee has unanimously re-elected Tô Lâm as party general secretary until 2031. The alliance with the military has been strengthened to support economic and administrative reforms. Both current Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính and President Lương Cường were left out of the Politburo. Making Tô Lâm head of state, like Xi Jinping in China, is in the works.

| 23/01/2026
| VIETNAM

The Vietnamese leader pledged support for joint efforts to bring peace to Gaza. He promised to work closely with his country’s former enemy in various areas in line with both sides' needs and priorities. Among Central Asian countries, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan have joined the new body.

| 22/01/2026
| VIETNAM – MIDDLE EAST – UNITED STATES

From 19 January, the 14th Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam will decide the country's leadership until 2031. General Secretary To Lam arrives at the event on the back of strong economic results achieved in 2025, so further centralisation of power is expected after the anti-corruption campaign that eliminated several political opponents. But the Party has several options available to make the country's administration more efficient.

| 16/01/2026
| VIETNAM

Some 15,000 people gathered in Hanoi at the shrine of the Vietnamese martyrs to celebrate the conclusion of a Holy Year marked by more than a thousand pilgrimages. Celebrations were also held in dioceses in mainland China. In Japan, Cardinal Kikuchi addressed the Church of Tokyo: "May the flame of hope never be extinguished.”

| 04/01/2026
| ECCLESIA IN ASIA
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