Ambassador thanks American friends for contributions to bilateral ties
Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN), has thanked Merle Ratner, a close and long-time friend of Vietnam, and her family for their tireless contributions to the Vietnam-US relations over the past decades.
Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang visits Merle Ratner, a close and long-time friend of Vietnam, and her family last weekend. (Photo: VNA)
New York (VNA) – Ambassador Dang HoangGiang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN), has thankedMerle Ratner, a close and long-time friend of Vietnam, and her family for theirtireless contributions to the Vietnam-US relations over the past decades.
The ambassador visited Ratner last weekend, during whichhe commended initiatives by Ratner and her husband to help Vietnam improve theefficiency of people-to-people diplomacy.
Giang expressed his hope that the couple will continue toboost exchanges between Vietnam and representatives of left-wing movements inthe US to further improve the mutual understanding between people of the two countries.
Ratner and her husband – Ngo Thanh Nhan, who is aPh.D. in Linguistics from the New York University, noted with joy the ambassador’ssentiments towards American left-wing friends in New York.
Ratner is a leading left-wing activist in the US whoparticipated in movements against the American war in Vietnam when she was 13.She is also co-founder and coordinator of the US-based Vietnam Agent Orange(AO) Relief and Responsibility Campaign (VAORRC).
VAORRC co-ordinator Nhan also joined the anti-Americanwar movements in the 1960s.
He contributed to coding and standardising Vietnamese,Han Chinese and Cham scripts on computer. He is also the Vice President of the VietnameseNom Preservation Foundation in the US./.
National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue on March 9 received President and CEO of the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) Ted Osius and executives of some US firms operating in the consumer goods, industrial energy, IT, and financial service industries.
Politburo member and head of the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission Tran Tuan Anh had a meeting in Hanoi on March 10 with a delegation from the US-ASEAN Business Council (USABC) and representatives from 28 leading US businesses.
Energy is among potential fields for investment cooperation between Vietnamese and US firms, with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh announcing that Vietnam gives high priority to sustainable energy development to maintain national energy security and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to Chairman of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) Pham Tan Cong.
Vietnam has over 4.8 million people exposed to AO/dioxin, including hundreds of thousands in the second, third, and even fourth generations. Many live with severe disabilities, facing high medical costs and loss of earning capacity.
Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Hoang Giang reaffirmed that amnesty is a humanitarian policy of the Party and State, reflecting the Vietnamese tradition of compassion and winning attention and high praise both domestically and internationally.
Vietnam officially grants limited-term visa-free entry to high-profile foreigners whose presence is deemed beneficial to the country’s socio-economic development.
With support from the Vietnamese Association in Ufa, Vietnamese language classes for children have been offered for many years. Currently, 60 children of various ages are attending two classes taught by Duc Anh, free of charge.
Vietnam ranked among the top four countries and territories at the 2025 International Olympiad on Artificial Intelligence (IOAI), reaffirming its strong position in international academic competitions.
All 20 crew members aboard the Vietnamese oil tanker GT Unity were successfully rescued from a fire in the vessel’s engine room, thanks to the swift response of the Liberian-flagged ship Androusa and Vietnamese maritime rescue teams.
Describing Agent Orange as one of the most severe and enduring legacies of the war in Vietnam, Vietnam's former Honorary Consul to Belgium Joseph-Michel de Grand Ry warned that its impact – still affecting generations more than five decades later – could last another two to three decades.
Running from August 4 to September 2, under the hashtag #TuHaoVietNam, the campaign invites participants in two categories: “I Love My Country” video clips and “I Love My Country” check-in photos.
Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP, which took effect on the issuance date, introduces amendments that integrate the procedure for reporting and explaining the demand for foreign workers into the process of submitting applications for work permits.
With a tight 13-month deadline, the move is under a strategic and urgent policy to bridge educational gaps, train the local workforce, and shore up territorial sovereignty in some of the country’s most remote areas.
The parade and personnel send-off ceremony will officially take place on August 10 at the area surrounding the Statue of King Ly Thai To and Dinh Tien Hoang street of Hoan Kiem ward, with the participation of nearly 3,000 officers, soldiers, and local residents.
According to national technical regulations, AIS installation is mandatory for boats carrying more than 50 passengers. However, operators of smaller vessels (under 50 seats) in Ha Long Bay have voluntarily committed to completing installation by the deadline to enhance operational safety.
The activities include a Vietnamese language teaching training course for overseas Vietnamese teachers from August 13 to 28 in Hanoi, Ninh Binh, and Thai Nguyen.
Specifically, the ships will carry out patrols from 7am to 6pm daily along the main tourist routes in Ha Long Bay, with one ship permanently stationed at Ti Top island. From 6pm to 7am the following day, the mobile vessels return to Tuan Chau island to maintain a 24/7 on-call duty shift, ensuring constant readiness.
The Ministry of Construction (MoC) plans to open to traffic 208km of expressways of six key projects by August 19, bringing the country’s total expressway network to 2,476km.
As of July 1, a two-tier local government model started in 34 provinces and cities, streamlining administration but creating a surplus of public properties. If not promptly addressed, these assets could become a financial burden.
Whether they grow up to become journalists, diplomats, or professionals in other fields, these children can one day become bridges of friendship and cooperation, telling new and inspiring stories of Vietnam – China relations, said Ambassador Pham Thanh Binh.
A 21-year-old Indian tourist was successfully resuscitated and treated by doctors at Hoan My Da Nang Hospital after a near-drowning incident left him in critical condition. After three days of intensive care, the man was discharged from the hospital and has since returned to India.
In an document issued on August 5, the PM emphasised the need to stablise living conditions for people hit by floods, landslides, and flash floods in late July and early August in northern and north-central provinces, especially Dien Bien, Son La, and Nghe An which suffered some of the worst damage.
Although millions of Vietnamese were affected by AO, only over 626,000 individuals, including war veterans and their children suffering from dioxin-related conditions, are currently receiving state benefits.
Ambassador Dang Hoang Giang visits Merle Ratner, a close and long-time friend of Vietnam, and her family last weekend. (Photo: VNA) 
