High-speed North-South railway project: minimising foreign labour dependence
With the development of the high-speed North-South railway project, the focus has turned to training a local workforce to minimise dependence on foreign expertise in express rail operations.
Hanoi (VNA) 🅰– With the development of the high-speed North-South railway project, the focus has turned to training a local workforce to minimise dependence on foreign expertise in express rail operations.
According to Vu Hong Phuong, Director of the Railway Project Management Unit, the Ministry of Transport has instructed relevant agencies to develop a workforce training plan as part of the project proposal. This plan includes early-stage training initiatives, allowing personnel to become familiar with the types of technology and management work needed once the project receives approval.
Preliminary estimates indicate that the project will require approximately 180,000 workers for construction, 13,880 operation staff, 700 management personnel, and around 1,200 consulting engineers.
To meet these demands, a multi-tiered training programme has been devised, encompassing domestic training, overseas training, and a hybrid model. It offers four levels of qualification – technical workers, engineers, master's, and doctoral levels – targeting the five key groups of state agencies, project management units, operations units, training institutions, and research institutions.
The Politburo and the Party Central Committee have approved the project, assigning the Government to present a proposal to the 15th National Assembly at its 8th session scheduled to commence on October 21.
In the project's pre-feasibility study, the Ministry of Transport proposed a 1,541-km high-speed railway with a designed speed of 350 km/h. The 1,435-mm gauge-line dual-track will be electrified, with a total estimated investment of 67.34 billion USD.
Traversing 20 provinces and cities from Ngoc Hoi station in Hanoi to Thu Thiem station in Ho Chi Minh City, the line will include 23 passenger and five cargo stations at key freight hubs.
The ministry has recommended the adoption of an open rail technology platform, which will enable the integration of multiple train types and prevent monopolies.
At a recent meeting on the project’s investment plan, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha directed the Ministries of Transport, and of Planning and Investment, and other related ministries to expedite their work, ensuring that it is submitted to the NA for approval on schedule./
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on October 5 order specific and special mechanisms be devised for the North - South high-speed railway project so that procedures are streamlined and construction duration shortened.
The Politburo has recently asked for opinions of the Party Central Committee regarding the investment policy for a North-South high-speed railway before the Government submits it to the National Assembly at its 8th session.
The Politburo convened a meeting in Hanoi on September 18 to deliberate on an investment policy for the North-South high-speed railway project, concluding that it is a highly important and necessary infrastructure work.
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.
