Hanoi leaders convey Christmas greetings to local Catholics
Politburo member and Secretary of Hanoi’s Party Committee Hoang Trung Hai and Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung have extended Christmas greetings to Catholic dignitaries and followers in the capital city.
Hanoi leaders meet with newly-appointed Archbishop of the Hanoi Archdiocese Joseph Vu Van Thien (second from right) (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Politburo member and Secretary of Hanoi’s PartyCommittee Hoang Trung Hai and Chairman of the municipal People’s CommitteeNguyen Duc Chung have extended Christmas greetings to Catholic dignitaries andfollowers in the capital city.
They heldseparate meetings on December 19 for newly-appointed Archbishop of the HanoiArchdiocese Joseph Vu Van Thien, who replaced his predecessor Pierre Nguyen VanNhon.
Hai expressedhis belief that with his knowledge and experience, Archbishop Joseph Vu VanThien will fulfil his tasks at the Hanoi Archdiocese.
As a nationalpolitical-administrative centre and the country’s major centre for culture,science, education, and economy, the city is currently facing many challengesrelated to infrastructure, traffic congestion, and environmental pollution,thus requiring the involvement of people from all walks of life to addressthem, he said.
Therefore, Hanoiauthorities hope that the Hanoi Archdiocese, as well as Catholic dignitariesand followers, will stand side-by-side with the city to help prove its positionand role, Hai stated.
Meanwhile, Chungalso affirmed that during the implementation of its socio-economic developmenttasks, the capital city hopes to continue receiving support of all itscitizens, including the Catholic community.
Earlier, theSecretary of the municipal Party Committee visited the Hanoi Archdiocese onDecember 18, while the Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee visited thearchdiocese the day before.–VNA
Truong Thi Mai, head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Mass Mobilisation, on December 15 extended her Christmas greetings to Catholic dignitaries and followers in the northern province of Nam Dinh.
A delegation from the Ministry of Home Affairs led by Minister Le Vinh Tan visited and extended Christmas greetings on December 17 to bishops and priests of Long Xuyen Diocese and Catholic followers in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang.
Party and administration officials in Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta province of An Giang extended their Christmas greetings to local Evangelical churches on December 18.
The Central Highlands province of Kon Tum organised 19 delegations to visit local religious dignitaries on December 17-18, on the occasion of the upcoming Christmas celebrations.
National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan on December 19 visited and extended Christmas greetings to Auxiliary Bishop of Ho Chi Minh City Archdiocese Do Manh Hung and local Catholic dignitaries and followers.
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.
The team’s haul, including one Champion title, 10 golds, seven silvers, and four bronzes, surpassed expectations. Vietnam, competing since 2019, has secured over 200 AIMO medals, cementing its regional standing.
The guiding principle for revising the national energy master plan is that energy development must align with the country’s socio-economic development strategy. The energy system should be optimised as a whole, targeting sustainable and diverse development to ensure stable and adequate energy supply to meet national goals.
The Vietnam Disability Fashion Show 2025 aimed to honour the diverse beauty of individuals, promote humanistic values, and foster equality and social inclusion.
Hanoi leaders meet with newly-appointed Archbishop of the Hanoi Archdiocese Joseph Vu Van Thien (second from right) (Photo: VNA) 
