HCM City’s Buddhist Sangha proposes using pagodas as COVID-19 treatment hospitals
The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) of Ho Chi Minh City said on July 22 that it had sent an official dispatch to authorized agencies, proposing the use of its religious establishments as temporary COVID-19 treatment hospitals and quarantine facilities for Buddhist monks and nuns.
The Vietnam National Pagoda in district 10 (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) – The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) of Ho Chi Minh Citysaid on July 22 that it had sent an official dispatch to authorized agencies, proposing the use of its religious establishments as temporary COVID-19 treatment hospitalsand quarantine facilities for Buddhist monks and nuns.
Amidst the complicated developments of theCOVID-19 pandemic in HCM City, Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang, DeputyPatriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and Chairman of the Executive Councilof the HCM City Buddhist Sangha, sent the official dispatch to the city’s leadersand the Department of Health, asking for permission to use the Vietnam National Pagoda in district 10 and Pho Quang Pagoda in Tan Binh district as temporary COVID-19treatment hospitals for Buddhist monks and nuns.
If approved by the city’s leaders and the Department of Health and provided with medical equipment and workers, the HCM City Buddhist Sangha will cover all accommodation and transport expenses.
He emphasised that this move will contribute to reducing themedical burden that is currently putting great pressure on hospitals andmedical centres in HCM City.
The Most Venerable also suggested municipal authorities pay attention to giving vaccination against COVID-19 to Buddhist monks, nuns, and followers who areperforming social charitable activities in support of the city’s COVID-19 fight.Currently, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha in HCM City is providing morethan 30,000 servings a day for medical workers and people in concentrated quarantine sitesand COVID-19 treatment hospitals.
If health authorities accept, the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha inHCM City will quarantine Buddhist volunteers at its religious establishments when they test positive for SARS-CoV-2 or after they finish theircharity activities./.
Three million doses of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine supplied by the US via the COVAX Facility will arrive in Vietnam on July 25, unveiled Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang during the ministry’s regular press conference held virtually on July 22.
A total of 6,194 new COVID-19 infections, including 6,164 domestic and 30 imported cases, were detected on July 22, the largest ever number in a single day.
More than 2,000 medical devices and supplies have been transported to a field storage serving COVID-19 prevention and control activities in Ho Chi Minh City - the country's current largest pandemic hotspot, and other southern localities.
Party General Secretary To Lam, his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly, and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation attended the inauguration ceremony of a statue of late President Ho Chi Minh in the Vietnamese Embassy’s campus in Seoul, the RoK, on August 10.
More than 5,000 people gathered at Dam Sen Cultural Park in Ho Chi Minh City for the solidarity walk for victims of Agent Orange/dioxin (AO), marking the 64th anniversary of the AO disaster in Vietnam (August 10, 1961 – 2025).
The embassy advises Vietnamese citizens travelling in Greece that they should avoid standing close to cliff edges, boat sides, and refrain from going out to sea during storms to prevent unfortunate incidents.
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.
The Vietnam National Pagoda in district 10 (Photo: VNA) 
