VietnamPlus wins two second prizes at the National External Information Service Awards 2016 (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) –Sixty nine press works were honoured under the National External InformationService Awards 2016 at a ceremony in Hanoi on May 31. The awards included sixfirst prizes, 15 second prizes, 18 third prizes, and 30 consolation prizes. This is the third timethe awards have been organized by the Party Central Committee’s Information andEducation Commission and the Central Steering Committee for ExternalInformation Services. The 2016 contest received893 entries in 17 languages, up 21 percent in number of entries and sixlanguages more compared to the event in 2015. President Tran Dai Quangand head of the Party Central Committee’s Information and Education CommissionVo Van Thuong presented awards to the first prize winners. The prize winning worksfocused on such themes as Vietnam’s political and diplomatic activities, seaand island, culture, environment and climate change. The State-run VietnamNews Agency (VNA) won one first prize, four second prizes, two third prizes,and five consolation prizes. The first-prize photo work“Early election in Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago” by Tran Le Lam from theVNA’s Press Photography Department was evaluated to have produced good impactwith excellent photographic techniques. The VNA’s e-newspaperVietnamPlus won the second prize with a series of stories in the “mega-story”style, featuring the Monsoon Music Festival in Hanoi. Speaking at the event, Thuongsaid external information is an important part in the communication andexternal work of the Party and State, which will help people around the worldunderstand better Vietnam’s policies and the country’s stance on regional andinternational issues. The work also promotesthe country’s land, people, history and culture as well as achievements in the“doi moi” (renewal) process, he added. At the same time, the externalinformation service keeps the domestic public updated on the latestdevelopments in the region and the world, connects Vietnam with theinternational community and Vietnamese abroad, and garners support andcooperation from international friends along with consensus and contributionsof expatriates to the cause of national building and defense, the officialsaid. The service also providesaccurate information to fight against wrong viewpoints and distortedallegations about Vietnam of hostile forces, he noted. The head of the PartyCentral Committee’s Information and Education Commission urged externalinformation agencies to continue with efforts to improve their performance andreach wider audiences. The National ExternalInformation Service Awards was launched in 2014.-VN
The Party Central Committee’s Commission for Popularisation & Education and the Steering Committee for External Information Service is organising the 2nd National External Information Service Awards.
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.
VietnamPlus wins two second prizes at the National External Information Service Awards 2016 (Photo: VNA)
