EU, French agency support Vietnam’s resilience to climate change, COVID-19
The European Union (EU) and the French Development Agency (AFD) have reached an agreement to strengthen their joint cooperation for increasing Vietnam’s resilience to climate change and natural hazards, and trying to ease the impact of COVID-19 in the Southeast Asian country.
A mangrove forest in the southernmost province of Ca Mau (Photo: AFD)
Hanoi (VNA) –🍬 The European Union (EU) and the FrenchDevelopment Agency (AFD) have reached an agreement to strengthen their jointcooperation for increasing Vietnam’s resilience to climate change and natural hazards,and trying to ease the impact of COVID-19 in the Southeast Asian nation.
The deal was signed by Ambassador of the EU to VietnamGiorgio Aliberti and AFD Director in the country Fabrice Richy on May 11. Under the agreement, the EU provides a grant of 20 million EUR(nearly 21.6 million USD) to the AFD. In coordination with the Vietnamese Government and local administrations,the AFD will mobilise the Water and Natural Resources Management (WARM) Facilityto prepare and implement investment projects co-financed with the AFD loans andVietnam’s own resources over the period 2021-2029 for an estimated total amountof 200 million EUR. “Adaptation to climate change is crucial for thesustainability of Vietnam’s development, and water and natural resources are akey element of it,” EU Ambassador Aliberti said. The intention of the new grant is to support Vietnam on apathway towards a greener and resilient future, he added. Vietnam is one of the countries most severely affected byclimate change and natural disasters. Rising temperatures and sea levels, and the increasedfrequency and intensity of extreme weather events combined with populationgrowth and urbanisation are increasing the risk of coastal erosion, urbanflooding and drought./.
The ceremony for the first National Press Award on Natural Disaster Prevention and Control will be delayed until October due to the complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control has said.
An animation addressing climate change, based on a story of a Vietnamese student in Hanoi, has been introduced by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Vietnam.
Tan Phu Dong, an islet district in the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang, has developed specialised farming areas to enable local farmers to adapt to climate change.
The central province of Quang Nam has allocated a fund of 300 billion VND (13 million USD) to build an underwater dyke system protecting Cua Dai beach from erosion.
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.
A mangrove forest in the southernmost province of Ca Mau (Photo: AFD) 
