An overview of the annual meeting of the Executive Committee of the ASEAN Book Publishers Association. (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA)🦋 – The annual meeting of theExecutive Committee of the ASEAN Book Publishers Association (ABPA) kicked off in Ho Chi Minh City on September 15.
The event was a forumfor ABPA members to exchange experiences and propose solutions to strengthencooperation in the publishing industry in the region, especially in the contextthat digital transformation and international integration are becoming moreextensive.
💛 President of the VietnamPublishers Association (VPA) Pham Minh Tuan, who is holding the rotatingpresidency of the ABPA for the 2022-2023 term, said that the VPA hasmet the needs of exchange and cooperation among member countries, becoming achannel for exchanging information, sharing new policies of each country's publishingindustry as well as sharing experiences and ways to promote the development ofreading culture.
He went on to say that ABPA membershave the opportunity to learn from each other. During its presidency, the VPAorganised many activities, aiming at commongoals, especially the goal of maintaining and pushing up peace and securityas well as enhancing regional resilience by promoting political, security,economic and socio-cultural cooperation. Participants at the meeting held that giventhe current context, the publishing industry faces many difficulties due to thecompetition between books and reading culture with other audio-visual forms andsocial networks, and copyright infringement. Along with solutions to promotereading culture, member countries are taking drastic measures to prevent bookcopyright violations. At the event, ABPA membersagreed with proposals put forth by the VPA, notably the “One ASEAN” initiative whichpromotes exchanges between publishing units of the member countries, thereby fosteringexperience sharing and copyright exchange in the region and realising the goalof diversifying ASEAN unity. They consented that the MalaysianPublishing Association will take on the role of ABPA's rotating presidency forthe 2024 - 2025 term.
Someactivities are organised within the framework of the event, including an international book fair on HCM City's BookStreet which features about 100 book titles about President Ho Chi Minh andother Party and State leaders.
🌱 ABPA delegates alsoparticipate in sideline activities to better understand Vietnamese cultureand publishing, such as visiting relics, bookstores and HCM’s Book Street.
Foundedin 2005, the ABPA aims to provide a friendly community where ASEAN-basedpublishers and industry partners can share knowledge and experience./.
Vietnamese publishing houses are gradually promoting digital transformation to survive and develop, an inevitable trend of all industries, according to industry insiders.
Given great changes in readers’ approach and reading culture, implementing digital transformation is an urgent part of book publication, affirmed Nguyen Nguyen, Director of the Department of Publishing, Printing, and Issuing under the Ministry of Information and Communications.
The Vietnam Publishers Association (VPA) and the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City will organise an annual conference of the Executive Committee of the ASEAN Book Publishers Association (ABPA) and sidelines activities from September 14-19, according to the VPA.
An exhibition of books on President Ho Chi Minh and leaders of the Party and State opened on Ho Chi Minh City's book street on September 15 in the framework of the annual meeting of the ASEAN Book Publishers’ Association Executive Committee.
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.
An overview of the annual meeting of the Executive Committee of the ASEAN Book Publishers Association. (Photo: VNA) 
