President of the European Council (EC) António Costa arrived in Hanoi on January 28 evening, beginning his two-day official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of State President Luong Cuong.

President of the European Council (EC) António Costa arrives in Hanoi on January 28 evening, beginning his two-day official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of State President Luong Cuong.

He was welcomed at Noi Bai International Airport by Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee for Culture and Social Affairs Nguyen Dac Vinh, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Manh Cuong, Ambassador and Head of the Vietnamese Mission to the European Union (EU) Nguyen Van Thao, and EU Ambassador to Vietnam Julien Guerrier.

President Costa is accompanied by Chief Foreign Policy Advisor of the EC President Anna-Maria Boura, Foreign Policy Adviser Veronika Şentürk Musilová, and Spokesperson of the President’s Office Maria Tomasik.

President Costa’s official visit holds great importance to Vietnam–EU relations, particularly as it marks a visit by a senior EU leader to Vietnam shortly after the successful conclusion of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Ambassador Thao told the Vietnam News Agency's correspondent in Belgium.

According to the diplomat, the visit goes beyond protocol, providing an opportunity for leaders of the two sides to hold in-depth discussions on concrete and substantive cooperation programmes, with a view to elevating Vietnam–EU relations to a higher level, in line with their potential and development needs.

Meanwhile, EU Ambassador Guerrier said the visit comes at a time when Vietnam–EU relations have reached their most comprehensive and dynamic stage after a 35-year journey.

From initial humanitarian assistance in the early 1990s, cooperation has expanded across a wide range of fields, creating favourable conditions to usher in what he described as a “new era” in relations between the EU and Vietnam.

Vietnam emerges as one of Asia’s must-visit destinations: Vogue

From the fast pace of life in major cities to pristine, alluring beaches framed by lush tropical forests, Vietnam offers travellers experiences that are not to be missed, writes Vogue.

 

Bac Ninh: Green spaces keep visitors coming back

BAC NINH – Amid the hustle and bustle of urban life, the desire to return to nature and enjoy green, peaceful spaces for relaxation and rejuvenation is growing. Responding to this trend, many eco-tourism sites across Bac Ninh province have been developed, each offering distinctive and appealing features that attract visitors.

Tourism sector posts strong New Year performance, serving 3.5 million visitors

Vietnam’s tourism sector recorded strong momentum during the New Year 2026 holiday from January 1–4, welcoming an estimated 3.5 million visitors nationwide.

 

Quy Nhon among best cities to visit in 2026: Lonely Planet

Lonely Planet suggested that to explore beyond Quy Nhon’s bounds, it'd better to "hop on a motorbike and wind your way to secluded coves and pristine beaches".

 

Tourism destinations refresh offerings to welcome New Year/Lunar New Year visitors

Across the Mekong Delta, many tourist sites have been busy upgrading their offerings. At the Con Son tourism site in Can Tho city, members of the local tourism cooperative have been pruning fruit orchards, refurbishing stages for traditional don ca tai tu performances, cleaning fish ponds used for visitor experiences, and expanding areas for making traditional cakes.

 

Viet Nam targets 25 million international visitors for 2026

Building on the strong recovery in 2025, when Viet Nam welcomed an estimated 21.5 million international visitors, the tourism sector has set an ambitious target of attracting 25 million foreign arrivals in 2026.