Favourable legal framework needed to facilitate drug, HIV/AIDS prevention
The National Assembly's Social Affairs Committee, on September 24, organised a workshop to collect feedback on the draft revised Law On Drug Prevention and Control and Law on amendments and supplements to several articles of the Law on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control.
Lao Cai (VNA) - The National Assembly's SocialAffairs Committee, on September 24, organised a workshop to collect feedback onthe draft revised Law On Drug Prevention and Control and Law on amendments andsupplements to several articles of the Law on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control.
Taking place in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai’sSa Pa town, the event gathered nearly 100 delegates from the committee, the Administration for HIV/AIDSControl, the UNAIDS programme, the Drug Crime InvestigationDepartment, and Department of Social Vices Prevention and Combat.Representatives of centres for disease control and Departments of Labour,Invalids and Social Affairs of many northern localities also attended.
Participants agreed upon the necessity of amending the lawsto create a favourable legal framework for the work and ensure theinstitutionalisation of related Party’s guidelines and policies.
Nguyen Thi Bich Hue from the UNAIDS programme suggestedchanging and number of terms related to HIV/AIDS to ease social stigma againstHIV and to put human at the centre instead of the disease.
Hue also recommended removing or changing the age at which aperson can take voluntary HIV tests, which is currently 16 years old and above.
Many participants agreed with the suggestion, saying that incase the removal of the stipulation is not possible, under-15 people who arepregnant or at risk of being infected should be allowed to take consultationsand tests with the support of a medical worker or a trained social worker.
Representatives of centres for disease control anddepartments of Lao Cai, Nam Dinh, Lai Chau, Hai Phong and Quang Ninh pointed toa number of shortcomings in implementation of the law on HIV/AIDS control, andasked for prompt amendments and supplements to encourage concerted engagementof the community in the fight against HIV to achieve the goal of eradicatingthe disease in 2030./.
A recent workshop in HCM City sought recommendations from experts on policies for drug detoxification and HIV/AIDS prevention and control that suit Vietnam’s existing circumstances.
Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam congratulated UNAIDS Country Director Marie-Odile Emond on successfully fulfilling her tenure in Vietnam during a reception in Hanoi on September 3.
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.
At the event (Photo: VNA) 
