Hanoi (VNA) – A wide range of activitieswill be held to celebrate 20 years since Hanoi was recognised as a “City forpeace” by UNESCO (July 16, 1999), said Deputy Director of the municipalDepartment of Culture and Sports Bui Thi Thu Hien told the press on July 9.
A meeting will take place at Ly Thai To flowergarden near Hoan Kiem Lake on July 13 with the attendance of Party and Stateleaders as well as delegates both at home and abroad.
At this event, Hanoi will mobilise nearly 10,000people to join a walk for peace, and organise a street festival to create apicture of cultural diversity and promote Hanoi as a destination of peace,friendship and cooperation.
A workshop titled “Hanoi – City for peace – 20years of integration and development” will be held on the same day.
A festival featuring various art and cultureactivities will be held from July 13-14 such as music nights themed “I loveHanoi” and “Lightening peace” and introduction to UNESCO-recognised intangiblecultural heritage like “bai choi” art singing in the central region and “nhanhac” (Hue royal court music).
At the “Friendship Village” exhibition on LeThach street, foreign organisations and embassies will set up pavilionsintroducing the cultures of participating countries such as China, India andLaos.
A photo exhibition featuring the nicety andelegance of Hanoians is scheduled to take place in July and August and anotherdisplaying photos and documents on activities to heal the wound of the warbetween Vietnam and the US, and promote peace worldwide from July to December.
The capital city will also launch a writingcontest on “Hanoi – City for peace” in April – October, and a competition to seekthe friendship ambassador for peace in May – November.
Hanoi was honoured by UNESCO as the “City forpeace” in La Paz city, Bolivia, in 1999.-VNA
Secretary of the Party Committee of Hanoi Hoang Trung Hai has asked the city’s tourism sector to invest further in the development of tourism products and infrastructure in order to promote the city’s image and attract more tourists.
Authorities of Hanoi have decided to earmark more 124 billion VND (over 5.3 million USD) each year for promoting sustainable poverty reduction in the locality, towards having no poor households by the end of this year.
The east of Hanoi leads the new supply of landed property, covering 80 percent of the total new launch in the first half of 2019, property consultancy CRBE Vietnam announced in an event to review the capital city’s real estate market from January to June and the future trends.
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.
The Hanoi Opera House (Photo: VNA) 
