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Dao Viet Anh, Head of the International Relations Department at the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency, speaks at the conference. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, China enhance business connectivity

A Vietnam - China (Chongqing) business conference was held by the Vietnam’s Trade Promotion Agency (VIETRADE), under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, in coordination with the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce (China) in Hanoi on April 11, as part of the 2025 National Trade Promotion Program.

Speaking at the event, a representative from VIETRADE emphasised the increasingly close coordination between the two sides in organising trade fairs, exhibitions, and networking events, contributing to deeper business cooperation.

In the first quarter of 2025, bilateral trade between Vietnam and China reached 51.2 billion USD, up 17.5% year-on-year, with expectations for continued growth throughout the year. China remains Vietnam’s largest trading partner, while Vietnam is among China's top six trading partners globally, cited VNA.

Cooperation between Vietnam and Chongqing has also seen positive developments, supported by strategic agreements at the central level and enhanced by trade infrastructure such as the Vietnam–Chongqing–Europe rail corridor. However, trade turnover between Vietnam and Chongqing, reaching 5.68 billion USD in 2024, still accounts for a modest share of overall Vietnam–China trade.

The event also highlighted the potential for Vietnamese small and medium-sized enterprises to access Chongqing’s growing demand for high-value, eco-friendly, and locally adapted products. Processed agricultural products, in particular, are seen as a promising area of cooperation, given the city’s shifting consumption trends and desire for stable, high-quality supply chains.

Vietnamese culture impresses international friends at Francophonie Festival

Vietnamese culture made a hugely positive impression on many foreign friends through the introduction of a famous film and traditional food at the 2025 Francophonie Festival held in Chile from March 20 to April 8.

The Embassy of Vietnam showcased the film “Toi thay hoa vang tren co xanh” (Yellow flowers on the green grass) at the Francophonie Festival, to honor the stellar values and cultural diversity of the Francophone Community.

The film, directed by Victor Vu, promotes images of beautiful landscapes and unique cultural features of the Vietnamese countryside to international friends, according to VOV.

A scene of Vietnamese film “Toi thay hoa vang tren co xanh” being screened at the 2025 Francophonie Festival held in Chile.

Furthermore, a booth to display dishes made by staff at the Embassy of Vietnam in Chile also captivated visitors thanks to their special flavor.

Vietnam's participation in the Francophone Festival in Chile over recent years has demonstrated the country’s spirit of proactive international integration, promotion of cultural exchanges, and commitment of strengthening friendship with French-speaking countries, including Chile which is now an observer of the International Organization of La Francophonie.

Vietnam taps e-commerce boom to supercharge export growth

As global buying behaviour shifts and digital trade accelerates, Vietnam is riding the wave of cross-border e-commerce to unlock fresh momentum for its export sector.

In recent years, the number of Vietnamese enterprises engaging in online exports has climbed sharply, mirroring the country’s fast-paced digital transformation. A standout example is the Shopee International Platform (SIP), which now boasts nearly 400,000 Vietnamese sellers. Together, they have introduced more than 15 million products to markets like Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, and Taiwan, achieving monthly sales growth of 20–30%.

Exports, alongside investment and domestic consumption, remain a critical pillar of Vietnam’s economic engine. But beyond traditional trade routes, more Vietnamese producers are turning to e-commerce as a game-changing channel to reach global buyers directly, empowered by proactive Government support for digital economy development.

According to Cognitive Market Research, the global cross-border e-commerce market was valued at 791.5 billion USD in 2023 and is forecast to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30.5% from 2024 to 2031.

Recognising the potential, Amazon Global Selling established a presence in Vietnam in early 2019 to support local businesses with the expertise needed to sell globally. Since then, the number of Vietnamese companies achieving over 1 million USD in annual sales on Amazon has surged tenfold.

Several Vietnamese brands have successfully leveraged the platform. Newbam, a cashew brand owned by Organic Viet Food (OVF), capitalized on market trends and consumer insights to grow exports via Amazon. Meanwhile, VINUT, a beverage brand, combines traditional exports with a strong online push to reach more consumers worldwide, VNA reported.

Consumers experience shopping via Amazon. (Photo: VietnamPlus)

Business-to-consumer (B2C) exports are rapidly expanding. According to Access Partnership, Vietnam’s online exports hit 3.5 billion USD in 2022, up 7% from the previous year. If current efforts by small and micro enterprises continue, the figure could reach 5.5 billion USD by 2027, or potentially 13 billion USD with more coordinated, robust engagement from stakeholders.

However, challenges remain. Among Vietnam’s vast pool of manufacturers and exporters, only a small percentage have fully embraced online trade. About 60% of businesses currently use e-commerce platforms, while the rest rely on self-built websites or apps. Just 37% report that e-commerce contributes 10–20% of their total export value.

Even larger firms are grappling with the shift. A textile exporter generating 50 million USD in annual sales cited difficulties ranging from operational bandwidth to limited knowledge of e-commerce workflows and managing customer service across time zones.

To maximize the potential of cross-border e-commerce, many countries are investing in supportive policies to help businesses leverage it as a powerful tool for market expansion.

Vietnam’s National E-Commerce Development Master Plan for 2026–2030 places strong emphasis on promoting exports of "Made in Vietnam" products and supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in enhancing their global competitiveness.

Whether via traditional or digital channels, success in export markets requires that Vietnamese products meet stringent quality and sustainability standards. E-commerce is no longer just an option. It is a vital channel to help Vietnamese goods reach international consumers faster, more efficiently, and more sustainably.

Vietnam successfully performs first implantation of 3rd-gen artificial heart

The 108 Central Military Hospital on April 12 announced the successful implantation of a third-generation left ventricular assist device (LVAD), marking a significant milestone in Vietnam’s cardiac surgery field and bringing the country closer to advanced global medical standards.

The patient, H.T.X 46 years old, from Thanh Hoa province, was diagnosed with end-stage heart failure caused by dilated cardiomyopathy, with an ejection fraction (EF) of only 19%, and severe complications including a previous stroke and subclavian artery blockage.

Despite years of treatment with top medications, her condition remained critical, with frequent episodes of acute shortness of breath and pleural effusion requiring emergency care.

Following thorough consultations with both domestic and international experts, doctors decided to implant the latest generation left ventricular assist device (LVAD – HeartMate 3). This mechanical pump supports the heart’s left ventricle, helping circulate blood throughout the body, while minimizing risks like blood clots and hemolysis.

The device has external battery components and has been proven to significantly extend and improve quality of life for patients with advanced heart failure, cited VOV.

Doctors from the 108 Central Military Hospital perform the surgery on the patient. (Photo: Hospital)

The four-hour surgery was performed by doctors from the 108 Hospital under the guidance of Professor Jan D. Schmitto, president of the European Society for Mechanical Circulatory Support, and the first person to successfully implant the HeartMate 3 in a patient in 2014. That patient is still living a normal life 11 years later.

Two weeks after surgery, the patient has recovered well, is independently mobile, and is preparing for discharge while receiving specialized care guidance.

The 108 Central Military Hospital is currently the first facility in Vietnam authorized to routinely perform this procedure under regulations from the Ministry of Health and the Military Medical Department. The hospital's leadership has committed over VND5 billion (approximately US$200,000) per patient to support the initial cases.

This success reflects strategic investment, international collaboration, and Vietnam’s growing expertise in high-tech medicine. It offers new hope for thousands of end-stage heart failure patients, many of whom previously had no option but to wait for scarce donor hearts.

Vietnam’s first music archive enters UNESCO’s Memory of the World

For the first time, a Vietnamese music collection has been inscribed in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register.

At 11 p.m. on April 10, 2025 (Paris time), UNESCO’s Executive Board officially recognized “The collection of composer Hoang Van” as a World Documentary Heritage.

According to UNESCO’s International Advisory Committee for the Memory of the World Programme, Vietnam’s nomination met all international criteria, with exceptional cultural and historical value.

The collection is well-preserved and easily accessible through a multilingual digital platform, helping to share Vietnamese cultural values with the global community.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ngo Le Van, head of the Vietnamese delegation, stated: “This recognition is not only an honor for composer Hoang Van and his family, but it also affirms the stature of Vietnamese music within humanity’s intellectual heritage. It reflects the enduring vitality of Vietnamese music - a living memory of history, echoing the spirit, identity, and aspirations of an entire nation.”

Photo: VNN

Le Thi Hong Van, Director of the Department of External Affairs and Cultural Diplomacy (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), and Secretary-General of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, called the inscription a “remarkable success,” achieved through the close cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, and a team of domestic and international experts.

She emphasized that this is the fourth Vietnamese entry among UNESCO’s 570 global documentary heritages, and the very first musical heritage from Vietnam to be honored - an important contribution to the cultural legacy of both the nation and humanity, VNN reported.

The recognition is especially significant as Vietnam’s revised Cultural Heritage Law - set to take effect on July 1, 2025 - includes, for the first time, a dedicated chapter on documentary heritage. This highlights the growing attention of the government, state agencies, and society to preserving documentary history.

The collection features over 700 musical works composed between 1951 and 2010, capturing the social and historical transformations of Vietnam, as well as the spiritual life of its people.

Hoang Van masterfully blended European classical styles with Vietnamese traditional music, making his works not only artistic achievements but also invaluable sources for research in musicology, cultural studies, and history.

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