Breakfast @ Tuoi Tre News – August 21

Check out the latest news in Vietnam today:

Politics

-- Thailand sees Vietnam as not only a close friend but also a key partner within ASEAN, with many similarities and complementary strengths, Wiraka Moodhitaporn, Consul General of Thailand in Ho Chi Minh City, told an arts program on Thursday to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations.

-- Vietnam considers strengthening relations with China a top priority in its overall foreign policy, Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) Central Committee and Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra told Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam He Wei on Thursday, reported the Vietnam News Agency.

-- Member of the Political Bureau and Permanent Member of the Secretariat of the CPV Central Committee Tran Cam Tu will pay an official visit to Singapore and co-chair the first Vietnam-Singapore Strategic Dialogue between the CPV and the People’s Action Party of Singapore from August 24 to 25.

Society

-- Some representatives of several companies involved in the Long Thanh International Airport project in Dong Nai City, a neighbor of Ho Chi Minh City, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) online newspaper on Thursday that completing the airport on schedule remains within reach. The airport is set to enter commercial operation in December this year.

-- Nguyen Van Thinh, head of the food safety and hygiene sub-department of Quang Ngai Province, central Vietnam said on Thursday that officials had conducted an inspection of Chung Thuy Rice Eatery in Binh Son Commune, which has gone viral on social media for serving meals at VND35,000 (US$1.3) per person.

-- Phu Quoc Special Zone in the southern province of An Giang is entering a new phase of development, with increasingly higher demands for the quality of its workforce, urban development, living environment and capacity for international integration, heard a conference held on Thursday.

Economy

-- Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc has asked the State Bank of Vietnam to take measures to ensure that exporters can access credit to support their export activities.

Travel

-- Vietnam ranked third globally in searches for package tours on Google in the first half of 2026, up 22 percent year on year, while searches from international travelers increased by 20 percent, according to Google Vietnam.

Sports

-- Vietnam had seven players named in Sofascore’s best XI for the second leg of the 2026 ASEAN Cup semi-finals, including center-back Doan Van Hau, defenders Truong Tien Anh and Nguyen Van Vi, midfielder Nguyen Hoang Duc, and forwards Nguyen Hai Long, Nguyen Xuan Son and Nguyen Dinh Bac.