Global contest for social entrepreneurs comes to VN
Blue Venture Award, a contest for social entrepreneurs, was launched in HCM City on November 6 to promote development of social enterprises and help solve social and environmental problem in the community.
The Blue Venture Award is launched in HCM City to identify start-up business that have a strong influence on society and communities. (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNS/VNA) - Blue Venture Award, a contest for socialentrepreneurs, was launched in HCM City on November 6 to promote development ofsocial enterprises and help solve social and environmental problem in thecommunity.
Organised by Pernod Ricard Vietnam and TV Hub, the competition also seeks tocreate a platform for young entrepreneurs, enabling them to reach outinternationally to learn from start-ups around the world.
The contest will select a representative for the country to participate in aninternational competition called The Venture to be held next May.
The contestants, start-ups from fields that bring practical value to thecommunity, will go through a selection process.
Blue Venture Award is part of a global entrepreneurial award, The Venture,founded by Chivas Brothers, to support social entrepreneurs who aspire topromote positive change in the world and spread the message that a company canboth do business well and create a social impact.
It was first held in 2014, and has since spread to more than 40 countriesincluding Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, China, Greece, Japan, Israel, the UK, andthe US.
In the last three years, it received over 6,000 applications, with 73 enteringthe global finals and start-up businesses receiving investments of 4 millionUSD.
They have undertaken community projects that provide 24 million litres of cleanwater, help children and women attend school, reduce CO2 emissions by 60million tonnes, recycle 1,300 tonnes of waste, and save eight million trees.-VNS/VNA
State incentives and a solid legal framework for social enterprise are not yet in place, said experts at the workshop entitled "Social enterprise - From policy to practice" co-hosted recently by the Central Institute for Economic Management (CIEM) and the British Council (BC) in Hanoi. Report by the Vietnam Business Forum.
Vietnam's Dao Lan Huong has been selected as one of 15 entrepreneurs to take part in the Australia-ASEAN Emerging Leaders Programme, which was scheduled to take place in Australia in March.
As Vietnam’s economic hub, Ho Chi Minh City boasts advantages to develop startups, with its science-technology resources accounting for 25 percent and the number of operating businesses taking up 50 percent of the country’s, while its labour productivity is 2.5 times higher than the national average.
Hanoi is advancing green transportation as part of its sustainability goals but faces challenges like limited charging infrastructure, inconsistent regulations, and high electric vehicle costs.
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.
The Blue Venture Award is launched in HCM City to identify start-up business that have a strong influence on society and communities. (Photo: VNA) 
