HCM City’s district 5 official visits and presents a gift to a local disadvantaged household. (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNS/VNA) - Authorities of Ho Chi Minh Cityplan to spend more than 10.2 trillion VND (433 million USD) on a sustainablepoverty reduction programme this year.
As part of the programme, the city will offer a credit packageworth around 1.7 trillion VND (72.2 million USD) at preferential interestrates, nearly 420 billion VND (17.8 million USD) in non-refundable support, and16 billion VND (679,200 USD) in the sustainable poverty-reduction programme atall levels.
Le Van Thinh, permanent deputy head of the city’s SteeringCommittee for Sustainable Poverty Reduction Programme, said HCM City aimed toreach its target of having no poor households by the end of 2023 according tostandards for the 2021-2025 period.
Under the city’s poverty standards for the 2021-2025 period, apoor household has an average income of below 36 million VND (1,530 USD) perperson per year, and a near-poor household 36 million VND to 46 million VND (1,950USD).
The city aims to reduce the number of poor households by 0.38% andthe number of near-poor households by 0.28%, and increase the poor’s averageper capita income.
Measures to help the poor include loans, vocational training, jobintroduction and scholarships, as well as support for education, housing,healthcare, and legal aid for the poor and near-poor.
The steering committee has asked the Party committees andauthorities at all levels and sectors to strengthen information andcommunication activities to raise public awareness of the meaning, objectivesand goals of the poverty reduction programme.
Localities should combine the poverty reduction programme withtheir annual socio-economic development programmes, Thinh said.
The solutions and policies supporting socio-economic developmentare implemented in the direction of gradually reducing financial assistance andincreasing support for production and businesses to help poor and near-poorhouseholds to lift themselves out of poverty.
Localities and departments have also been asked to regularlyreview and update the list of poor households to promptly provide support.
Last year, the city had 16,100 fewer poor households and 9,700fewer near-poor households.
By the end of last year, the whole city had more than 21,300 poorhouseholds and 18,068 near-poor households, accounting for 0.84% and 0.71% ofthe city's total households, respectively./.
Instead of having to go to many places to seek support, women and children who are victims of violence just need to go to a one-stop model for women and children located at Hung Vuong Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City for medical care, and psychological and legal counselling.
The Department of Industry and Trade of Ho Chi Minh City on April 3 announced a market stabilisation programme for food and essential products in 2023 and during the lunar New Year (Tet) holidays 2024.
Ho Chi Minh City has taken the lead in the voluntary blood donation movement for many years, accounting for one-fifth of the donated blood nationwide, President of the city’s Red Cross Society Tran Truong Son said on April 7.
New tourist destinations, tourism products and services as well as promotion programmes of Ho Chi Minh City were introduced at the 19th HCM City Tourism Festival that concluded on April 9.
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.
HCM City’s district 5 official visits and presents a gift to a local disadvantaged household. (Photo: VNA) 
