TSTC tối 2/11: Tổng Bí thư Tô Lâm, Chủ tịch nước Lương Cường tiếp Bộ trưởng Chiến tranh Hoa Kỳ

Key Concepts

• Natural Disaster Response: Military efforts to restore access to isolated areas, government visits and aid distribution to flood-affected regions, and measures to prevent post-flood epidemics.
• International Relations: High-level meetings between Vietnamese and US officials, focusing on defense cooperation, post-war reconciliation, and future bilateral relations.
• Economic Policy: Transition from fixed tax to declared tax for businesses, and the implementation of electronic invoicing.
• Youth Employment and Education: High rates of unemployed and out-of-school youth, the paradox of young people dropping out of education despite job scarcity, and the need for skill development and career guidance.
• Fraud and Scams: Online gambling scams via livestream, international scholarship scams, and the methods used by perpetrators.
• Infrastructure and Development: Plans for a COVID-19 memorial park and the impact of infrastructure damage from natural disasters.

Natural Disaster Response and Government Support

Flood Situation in Central Vietnam: The transcript details the severe impact of recent heavy rains and floods in the central provinces of Vietnam.

• Affected Areas: Quảng Ngãi province's Ngọc Linh commune was isolated for nearly a week, with over 400 households affected. Quảng Điền commune in Huế city is described as a "flood basin," with over 40,000 residents experiencing prolonged flooding for over a week, leading to the isolation of many villages.
• Government Response:
  • On-site Visits and Support: General Secretary Tô Lâm visited Quảng Điền commune in Huế to offer condolences and encouragement to the affected residents. He emphasized the government's commitment to ensuring no one is left isolated or lacking timely support. He also distributed 45 gifts to disadvantaged households in Quảng Điền.
  • Financial and Material Aid: The government provided 100 billion VND and 200 tons of rice to Huế city to aid in post-flood recovery. The Prime Minister also decided to provide urgent support of 100 billion VND to Đà Nẵng and an additional 100 billion VND to Huế, directing ministries and localities to mobilize rescue forces and provide essential supplies.
  • Infrastructure Restoration: Military forces, including the 10th Division and the 7th Engineer Brigade of Corps 34, worked to clear debris and build a temporary bridge to restore access to Ngọc Linh commune in Quảng Ngãi, reconnecting over 400 households.
  • Long-term Flood Prevention: General Secretary Tô Lâm stressed the importance of long-term, sustainable flood prevention strategies. He proposed significant investment, potentially around 10,000 billion VND, for large-scale projects like reservoirs and sea dykes to modernize infrastructure and withstand severe storms.
• Data and Statistics:
  • As of the reporting date, nearly 60 traffic blockages remained in central provinces due to floods.
  • Over 11,000 meters of irrigation canals and nearly 16,000 meters of river and sea dykes were eroded.
  • 40 people were reported dead or missing, 60 injured, and over 16,000 houses were flooded.
  • In Huế, 8 out of 40 communes/wards remained flooded, with water levels ranging from 0.3 to 0.5 meters. 15 people had died and one was injured.
• Public Health Concerns: Huế city is actively implementing disinfection and environmental sanitation measures to prevent potential disease outbreaks, such as diarrhea, dengue fever, flu, conjunctivitis, and skin diseases, due to exposure to waste and floodwaters. Concerns were raised about the lack of clean water and inadequate sanitation.
• Medical Services: Healthcare facilities in Huế maintained stable operations, with pre-prepared disaster response plans and medical supplies, especially in low-lying areas. Residents are being advised on preventive measures like handwashing and hygienic food consumption.

Dam Breach Incident in Lâm Đồng: A dam breach at a poultry farm in Tuy Phong commune, Lâm Đồng province, resulted in a flash flood.

• Casualties: A 13-year-old girl died, and her family of three was swept away. Two adults survived by clinging to trees.
• Damage: The breach affected approximately 20 hectares of water surface with a volume of about 900,000 cubic meters. An initial assessment indicated that 200 households were impacted, with significant flooding of crops, damage to irrigation canals, rural roads, and small-scale irrigation works.
• Response: Local authorities evacuated residents downstream for safety and launched an investigation into the cause of the breach. Six task forces were established to investigate and address the consequences.

International Relations: Vietnam-US Bilateral Engagements

Meeting between General Secretary Tô Lâm and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin: General Secretary Tô Lâm met with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin during his official visit to Vietnam.

• Significance of Visit: General Secretary Tô Lâm highly valued the visit and conveyed greetings to President Donald Trump, inviting him and his wife to visit Vietnam. He acknowledged President Trump's efforts in promoting peace and resolving global conflicts, affirming Vietnam's readiness to play a constructive role in regional and international issues.
• Defense Cooperation: Both sides acknowledged the positive outcomes of the meeting between Secretary Austin and Vietnamese Minister of National Defense Phan Văn Giang. General Secretary Tô Lâm requested continued US support and enhanced cooperation in overcoming the consequences of war, including dioxin remediation, bomb and mine clearance, support for people with disabilities, and the search and identification of Vietnamese martyrs missing in action.
• US Commitment: Secretary Austin conveyed President Trump's regards and recognized General Secretary Tô Lâm's leadership in shaping bilateral relations. He expressed condolences for the flood-related losses in Vietnam and affirmed the US commitment to supporting Vietnam in modernizing its defense industry, expanding high-quality human resource training programs, and completing ongoing war legacy projects, while also exploring new areas of cooperation.
• Future Engagements: Both sides agreed to maintain high-level exchanges and regular dialogues between their respective agencies, particularly between the Ministries of National Defense. They emphasized cooperation based on mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit, envisioning a new era of practical and sustainable cooperation.

Meeting between President Lương Cường and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin: President Lương Cường also met with Secretary Austin.

• Strategic Partnership: President Cường expressed confidence that the visit would contribute to realizing commitments between the two countries' leaders and advancing the comprehensive strategic partnership. He reiterated Vietnam's foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification, and multilateralism, positioning Vietnam as a reliable friend and partner, and an active and responsible member of the international community. He also highlighted Vietnam's "Four Noes" defense policy, contributing to regional and global peace and stability.
• War Legacy Cooperation: President Cường thanked the US for its cooperation in addressing the aftermath of bombs, mines, and Agent Orange. He requested continued close cooperation in searching for and identifying Vietnamese martyrs and US service members missing in action, and increased support for war victims in Vietnam.
• Presidential Visit: President Cường proposed that the US arrange President Donald Trump's visit to Vietnam, viewing it as a new historical milestone for bilateral relations.
• US Perspective: Secretary Austin thanked Vietnam for its hospitality and expressed the US desire to expand cooperation in defense industry and maritime security, supporting a strong, independent, and prosperous Vietnam that plays a key role in peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

Meeting between Minister of National Defense Phan Văn Giang and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin: Minister Phan Văn Giang hosted a welcoming ceremony and held talks with Secretary Austin.

• Defense Cooperation Achievements: Minister Giang acknowledged positive developments in defense cooperation and requested continued US support for Vietnam's capacity to overcome the consequences of bombs, mines, and chemical agents. He also sought assurance that grant aid would be disbursed as agreed, including an additional $130 million for the Biên Hòa airport project, with Vietnam committing to facilitate these activities.
• Areas of Cooperation: Both sides agreed to enhance exchanges at all levels, continue dialogue and consultation mechanisms, and cooperate in military branches, the defense industry, training, military medicine, and humanitarian assistance.

Economic Policy: Tax Reform for Businesses

Transition from Fixed Tax to Declared Tax: The tax authorities are implementing a 60-day high-intensity campaign to transition businesses from a fixed tax model to a declared tax model.

• Timeline: The campaign runs from November 1st to December 30th, 2025, nationwide.
• Objective: To ensure 100% of businesses are either applying declared tax or have transitioned to enterprise status by May 1st, 2026.
• Focus Areas: The campaign will concentrate on tax units in areas with a high number of businesses operating under the fixed tax model, such as traditional markets, commercial streets, and areas with many resident businesses.
• Key Targets:
  • 100% of businesses will have access to information and support regarding the transition from fixed tax to declared tax, and from business households to enterprises.
  • 100% of entities subject to e-invoicing generated from cash registers must register and use them.
  • 100% of businesses will be able to complete tax procedures electronically in a convenient and easy manner.
• Mandatory Transition: From May 1st, 2026, the fixed tax system will be abolished. All businesses currently using the fixed tax method will be required to switch to the declared tax model or opt to become small and medium-sized enterprises.
• Current Progress: As of the report, over 18,500 fixed-tax households have transitioned to declared tax, and 133,000 households have registered to use e-invoices from cash registers.

Youth Employment and Education Challenges

Unemployment and Disengagement Among Youth: The transcript highlights a concerning trend of increasing unemployment and disengagement among young people in Vietnam.

• Statistics: In the third quarter of the year, over 1.6 million young people aged 15-24 were unemployed, not in education, or not in training. This figure represents 11.5% of Vietnam's youth population and is higher than in the previous quarter and the same period in 2024.
• The Paradox: Despite the difficulty in finding employment, many young people are choosing to drop out of education or vocational training early. This leads to a "skills gap" and a lack of career direction.
• Personal Accounts:
  • One young man, unemployed for nearly half a year, struggles with a loss of motivation and purpose, even pretending to his parents that he is still employed.
  • Another young individual dropped out of education due to personal and family reasons, regretting the missed opportunity for a better future. He currently works in temporary, low-skilled jobs like driving a motorbike taxi, working in restaurants, or doing manual labor, often for only a week or two before moving on. He is contemplating whether to return to education or pursue a specific career path.
• Expert Analysis:
  • Experts point to a growing "lying flat generation" where young people, despite having knowledge, health, and youth, lack the motivation to strive.
  • Individuals who do not update their skills for the digital age risk burnout.
  • There is a need to develop mental resilience and the ability to recover quickly from stress and fatigue.
• Recommendations: To bridge the skills gap, businesses are urged to invest in training, while individuals need to invest in themselves through continuous learning, adaptability, and perseverance.

Fraud and Scams

Online Gambling Scams (Tài Xỉu Livestream): A new scam involves livestreaming online gambling, specifically "Tài Xỉu" (a dice game), with promises of guaranteed wins and high profits.

• Modus Operandi:
  • Perpetrators purchase or rent Facebook fan pages and accounts from closed Telegram groups.
  • They organize livestreams of "Tài Xỉu" games, targeting people's greed.
  • Viewers are encouraged to invest money, with promises of 100% wins and profits 5 to 10 times their investment.
  • Fake comments and fake money transfer receipts are used to create a sense of trust.
  • When participants request to withdraw their winnings, they are told they need to pay fees or taxes.
  • After receiving the "fees," the scammers block the victims and move on to other fan pages.
• Financial Impact: This scam has defrauded over 15 billion VND from thousands of victims nationwide.
• Perpetrators: The groups often consist of young individuals with backgrounds in information technology.
• Money Laundering: The illicit gains are often converted into cryptocurrency through a network of money launderers, with a portion allocated to advertising costs (10%) and money laundering fees (10-20%).
• Legal Warning: Authorities warn that participating in such online gambling activities is illegal and can lead to legal consequences.
• Case Details: The investigation has been transferred to the security investigation agency of Lạng Sơn Provincial Police.

International Scholarship Scams: The Ho Chi Minh City Police's Criminal Investigation Department has warned of a new scam involving fake international scholarships.

• Modus Operandi:
  • Scammers impersonate major domestic universities that claim to have partnerships with foreign institutions.
  • They lure students and parents into transferring billions of VND for deposit fees and processing.
  • Victims are then manipulated, their communication with families is cut off, they are forced to record sensitive videos, and pressured to send more money.
• Recent Cases: Two recent incidents in Ho Chi Minh City involved a bank account named Lê Quang Linh, which defrauded nearly 4.5 billion VND from victims.
• Public Advisory: Citizens are urged to be vigilant, avoid transferring money or providing personal information, and report any suspicious activities to the police immediately.

Arrest of Foreign Fraudsters in Thailand: Thai police arrested 24 foreign suspects involved in fraud who had fled from Myanmar and were hiding in luxury villas in Thailand.

• Intelligence: The arrests were based on intelligence from the Cybercrime Prevention Center.
• Illegal Entry: The group entered Thailand illegally through border trails, using it as a transit point.
• Targeting Singaporeans: Initial investigations suggest the criminal network targeted individuals in Singapore.
• Ongoing Investigation: Thai police are continuing their investigation and coordinating with regional countries to apprehend remaining suspects and dismantle the transnational fraud network.

Infrastructure and Development: COVID-19 Memorial Park

Ho Chi Minh City's COVID-19 Memorial Park Initiative: Ho Chi Minh City is seeking public input on the development of a park and memorial for COVID-19 victims.

• Purpose: The project aims to commemorate the city's collective efforts and sacrifices in overcoming the pandemic.
• Location: The proposed site is over 4 hectares, situated between Lý Thái Tổ, Hùng Vương, and Trần Bình Trọng streets.
• Public Sentiment: Many residents, including those living near the proposed site, express strong support for the initiative, viewing it as a meaningful way to remember the past and educate future generations about pandemic prevention.
• Proposed Features: The park is envisioned not only as a memorial but also as a space for public recreation, exercise, and cultural activities.
• Symbolism: The memorial is expected to serve as a symbol of unity, compassion, and resilience, encouraging the city to overcome future challenges and foster development and prosperity.