Parliamentary & trade diplomacy: Côte d’Ivoire’s National Assembly President Patrick Achi is in Vietnam (Aug 23-26) to deepen parliamentary cooperation and economic-trade ties, building on 50 years of diplomatic relations. Foreign policy coordination: Vietnam and Russia agreed in Moscow (Aug 21) on concrete steps to deepen their comprehensive strategic partnership, including preparations for high-level exchanges in 2026. Governance cooperation: Singapore and Vietnam will hold their first high-level strategic dialogue on Aug 25, co-chaired by Chan Chun Sing and Tran Cam Tu, focusing on public service transformation, leadership development, and technology/capacity building. War-martyr identification: Ho Chi Minh City sent 7,104 sealed biological samples to Hanoi for DNA testing (Aug 21), part of efforts to identify unidentified martyrs’ remains. Party building & accountability: General Secretary/President To Lam urged the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics to become a model of Party building and discipline, strengthening research and strategic policy capacity. Regional partnerships: Vietnam highlighted its “special and enduring friendship” with India as 2026 marks the 10th anniversary of their comprehensive strategic partnership, while also expanding ties with Kazakhstan and the Philippines. Youth justice mobilization: A Gen Z “Justice Tree” campaign in Hanoi continues to test public trust after police cleared tributes tied to a fatal 2025 crash, with online mobilization pushing for accountability.