International Day of Persons with Disabilities marked in Hanoi
A ceremony to celebrate the the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3) was held in Hanoi on December 10 in response to the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities (2023-2032).
Chairwoman of the Trade Union of the Ministry of Planning and Investment Le Thi Tuong Thu presents 400 white canes to the Vietnam Blind Association. (Photo: nhandan.vn)
Hanoi (VNA) - A ceremony to celebrate the the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3) was held in Hanoi on December 10 in response to the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities (2023-2032).
Hosted by the Vietnam Blind Association (VBA)'s Central Committee, the event is part of a series of activities to promote equality, progress and integration of the blind in ASEAN.
Addressing the event, Head of the Party Central Committee's Commission for Mass Mobilisation Bui Thi Minh Hoai emphasised Vietnam's commitment to care for and create conditions for people with disabilities in general and the blind in particular to exercise their right to equality, develop their abilities and integrate into the community.
Since 1992, the United Nations has designated December 3 as the International Day of Persons with Disabilities in order to raise public awareness of issues related to persons with disabilities, and mobilize support for actions for the rights, dignity and happiness of people with disabilities.
With the goal of realising the rights of people with disabilities, in October this year, 53 member countries and nine associate members of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) adopted the Jakarta Declaration on the ensuring of rights of persons with disabilities at a summit in Jakarta, Indonesia to review the Asian and Pacific Decade of Persons with Disabilities 2013-2022.
The governments of ASEAN member countries have also committed to implement the ASEAN Enabling Masterplan 2025 on mainstreaming the rights of people with disabilities.
According to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, on December 6, a document on Vietnam’s participation in the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired, or Otherwise Print Disabled was handed over to Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Daren Tang for legal copyrighting.
At the ceremony, Chairwoman of the Trade Union of the Ministry of Planning and Investment Le Thi Tuong Thu presented 400 white canes to the Vietnam Blind Association in response to the journey “White canes for the blind in Vietnam”./.
The Ministry of Planning and Investment presented 3,000 white canes to the Vietnam center for rehabilitation training for the blind at a ceremony on June 22, as part of the ministry’s initiative on supporting blind and visually impaired people.
The Vietnam Blind Association on December 23 held a workshop collecting ideas to serve the supplementation and adjustment of policies and laws on health and education for people with disabilities (PWDs).
The Ministry of Planning and Investment presented 3,000 white canes to the Vietnam Blind Association (VBA) at a ceremony on December 23, as part of the ministry’s initiative on supporting blind and visually impaired people.
A series of activities to promote equality, progress and integration of the blind in ASEAN was launched by the Vietnam Blind Association (VBA)’s Central Committee on December 9.
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.
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.
Chairwoman of the Trade Union of the Ministry of Planning and Investment Le Thi Tuong Thu presents 400 white canes to the Vietnam Blind Association. (Photo: nhandan.vn) 
