Children talk about their ideas for a smarter and more child-friendly city (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) - More than 270children aged 8 to 14 are taking part in a summer programme to design a“smarter and more child-friendly” city.
The programme called “Children Innovate: a Smartand Child-friendly City” kicked off on June 8.
It was organised by UNICEF Vietnam incollaboration with the Saigon Innovation Hub (SiHub) under the city’sDepartment of Science and Technology, Department of Planning andArchitecture, and Arkki - School of Architecture for Children and Youth inFinland.
“The programme creates an environment forchildren to express their opinions about decisions that may affect them,” saidMarianne Oehlers, chief of programme partnerships office at UNICEF Vietnam.
It consists of 11 creative thinking workshopsduring this summer for children, including vulnerable and disadvantagedchildren.
Each workshop lasts for five days with a dailyschedule from 9am to 4pm. There will be three hands-on working sessions duringeach day.
Participants will use clay, wood, computers,Sketch up and Microsoft Hololens to express their ideas.
Nguyen Phi Van, chairwoman of Saigon InnovationHub’s Board of Advisors, said: “Our aim is to provide kids with human-centereddesign thinking, important skills for the 21st century, and STEAM(Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) knowledge.”
Twenty-five children took part in the firstworkshop, she said.
"I find the program a lot of fun. We havelearned many ways to build a child-friendly city based on our own views,” saidHoang Mai Anh, 11, from Tran Van On Secondary School in District 1, whoattended the first workshop.
All the ideas and projects will be displayed atan exhibition during Creativity and Innovation Week inOctober to urban planning experts, decision-makers and the public.
The best ideas and projects will receive awardsfrom the organisation.
The programme is part of the city’s ChildFriendly City Initiative Project that runs from 2017 to 2021. -VNA
The child friendly city initiative was announced in Ho Chi Minh City on September 24 at a high-ranking roundtable conference between the municipal People’s Committee and the UNICEF.
Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong has highlighted the support of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for child care and protection in the city.
A cooperation mechanism among stakeholders to effectively implement the child friendly city initiative in Ho Chi Minh City was the focus of discussion at a workshop in the city on July 18.
Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh has reaffirmed Vietnam’s strong commitments to implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the country’s Law on Children.
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.
Children talk about their ideas for a smarter and more child-friendly city (Photo: VNA) 
