Medics collect samples for COVID-19 testing. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinhon July 17 ordered social distancing in 19 southern localities that are strickenby the COVID-19 pandemic.
Of the localities, Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Duong andDong Nai province have already enacted social distancing in line with the PM’sDirective No. 16/CT-TTg.
The others are Can Tho city and Binh Phuoc, Tay Ninh,Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Tien Giang, Long An, Vinh Long, Dong Thap, Ben Tre, Hau Giang,An Giang, Bac Lieu, Soc Trang, Tra Vinh, Ca Mau and Kien Giang provinces.
According to the document issued on the day, the 14-daysocial distancing period will be decided by Chairpersons of provincial People’sCommittees but it must begin before July 19.
For the localities where social distancing has beenrolled out, the PM asked their Chairpersons to report to competent agenciesbefore deciding to maintain the period as scheduled earlier or extend it.
Attention should be paid to medical supplies and personnel in the localities during the combat, the PM requested.
It is a must to ensure food and other necessities for localresidents, especially the poor, those in difficult circumstances and labourerswho have been rendered jobless due to the pandemic, he said.
Only production and business facilities that meetCOVID-19 prevention and control requirements are required to operate, accordingto the document.
The PM called on people and the business community toseriously observe the directive, go out in case of extremely necessity, and strictlyfollow the Ministry of Health’s 5K message - khau trang (facemask), khu khuan(disinfection), khoang cach (distance), khong tu tap (no gathering), and khaibao y te (health declaration)./.
The number of new COVID-19 cases in Ho Chi Minh City is forecast to keep growing on the coming days, but with the serious implementation of the Prime Minister’s Directive 16/CT-TTg and adjustments to the contact tracing, sample collection, and testing strategies, the city will manage to contain the outbreak.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has required southern localities to immediately set up support centres and hotlines to provide help to people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic which has been spreading fast recently.
Vietnam recorded 2,106 new COVID-19 infections, including one imported case, from 6:30pm on July 16 to 6am on July 17, raising the national count to 46,292, according to the Ministry of Health.
With the second COVID-19 support package from Government being disbursed for a wide range of recipient groups including informal workers, vendors like Nguyen Thi Chien is counting the days for the money to arrive.
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.
Medics collect samples for COVID-19 testing. (Photo: VNA) 
