People-Centred Development Model: Party General Secretary and State President To Lam set orientations for overhauling Vietnam’s growth model, stressing citizens as the goal, engine and primary stakeholders, with policies judged by whether they improve lives, build capabilities and avoid leaving anyone behind. Hanoi Growth Push: In a separate working session, To Lam urged Hanoi to accelerate growth while raising quality, citing slower-than-expected progress, underused resources, weak private-sector dynamism and lingering urban bottlenecks. Prison Management Reform: To Lam called for a professional, elite, modern and humane prison management police force, shifting focus from detention control to rehabilitation and reintegration. Foreign Affairs as Development Engine: Politburo Resolution 06-NQ/TW reframes diplomacy as a “vital and regular” task that must directly serve national development, linked to global integration and sci-tech priorities. Foreign Investment Strategy: Resolution 10-NQ/TW pushes Vietnam to move from investment-at-any-cost toward selective, high-quality, sustainable capital and stronger ties with domestic firms. Legislative Agenda: The NA’s first extraordinary session is tentatively set for Aug 3–24, with 27 items including 20 laws and resolutions. South China Sea Commentary: An op-ed revisits the decade after the 2016 PCA ruling, arguing legal victory has not changed China’s behavior and highlighting how Vietnam and the Philippines converge on resisting coercion while keeping diplomatic engagement. Regional Diplomacy & Incidents: Vietnam and the Philippines mark 50 years of ties and an Enhanced Strategic Partnership; Vietnam’s embassy in India expressed condolences and coordination after a Phu Quoc boat tragedy killed 15 Indian nationals. Hanoi Master Plan: Hanoi’s 100-year plan targets high growth through 2035, then gradual easing, with science, technology and innovation as key drivers.