Conference reviews fight against smuggling, counterfeits
Chief of the Office of the National Steering Committee 389 has named authorities’ asynchronous coordination and loopholes in mechanisms and policies as shortcomings in the fight against smuggling.
Hanoi (VNA) – Chief of the Office of the National Steering Committee 389 DamThanh The named authorities’ asynchronous coordination and loopholes inmechanisms and policies as shortcomings in the fight against smuggling andcounterfeits during a conference in Hanoi on July 11 to review the effort.
The National Steering Committee 389 deals with prevention andcontrol of smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeit goods.
Inthe first half, the committee’s units inspected 19,057 cases, dealt with 12,162cases, and launched criminal proceedings against 42 cases with 48 defendants, collecting1,569.577 billion VND (68.24 million USD) for the State budget, up 172.53billion VND (7.5 million USD) annually.
ChuXuan Kien, Deputy Director of the Hanoi municipal Department of Industry andTrade, said the trade and transport of illicit and smuggled goods remaincomplicated, adding that smugglers often store goods in the northern provinces ofBac Giang, Bac Ninh, Hung Yen and the suburbs of Hanoi, then put them in smallpackets for easier transport.
Dueto lax export-import procedures, frauds in customs filling have also occurred.
Counterfeitsand others violating intellectual property rights are not only manufactured athome but also abroad, then shipped to the domestic market for consumption,particularly consumer goods, electronics, apparel, footwear, handbags,cosmetics, food and sport devices.
Somemerchants have even purchased expired or near-expiry goods to correct theirexpiry date and sell in remote and suburban areas, mostly confectionary, vegetablesand fruits, and livestock products.
Betweennow and the year’s end, particularly before and during the New Year festivalwhen purchasing power soars, the steering committee’s units were asked to strengtheninspection on trade, transport and slaughter of poultry, as well as trade inalcohol, cigarettes and street food.
ViceChairman of the Hanoi municipal People’s Committee Le Hong Son asked forintensifying synchronous collaboration in the effort and increasingcommunications campaigns to raise public awareness in the regard.-VNA
The market management departments of 19 provinces and cities in the south in the first half of the year discovered more than 11,420 violations of smuggling, trade fraud and counterfeiting.
Customs officials at all airports and seaports in the country will strengthen supervision and inspection of all goods, luggage and cargo transported via the ports, an official said.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Illustrative image (Source: VNA) 
