Students, teachers and people in Ho Chi Minh City on March 17 gathered at an event to mark International Francophone Day (March 20), during which they engaged in various activities.
HCMCity (VNA) – Students,teachers and people in Ho Chi Minh City on March 17 gathered at an event tomark International Francophone Day (March 20), during which they engaged invarious activities.
Apartfrom exhibitions and contests, the festival-goers learned about curricula ofschools which offer French language teaching.
BuiThi Diem Thu, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Education andTraining, said French language teaching has been carried out in the city formore than 20 years, and the language has been introduced at 18 educationalinstitutions from primary to high schools, with 4,000 students.
HCMCity is one of the localities nationwide that have worked hard to promoteFrench language learning and cultural exchanges with French-speaking countries,she said, adding that the festival aims to bring together French language andculture lovers.
Frenchis spoken by 300 million people around the world, according to theInternational Organisation of Francophonie (OIF).
TheOIF’s mission is to embody the active solidarity between its 88 member statesand governments (61 members and 27 observers), which together represent overone-third of the United Nations’ member states and account for a population ofover 900 million people, including 300 million French speakers.
Itorganises political activities and actions of multilateral cooperation thatbenefit French-speaking populations. Its actions respect cultural and linguisticdiversity and serve to promote the French language, peace and sustainabledevelopment.
Vietnam has been an OIF member since 1970 and is considered among its founders.–VNA
Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Le Van Khoa on March 17 welcomed Adama Ouane, OIF Director, who is on a working visit to Vietnam and attends Francophone Day activities in the southern city.
The 22nd Francophone festival of the Mekong Delta is underway in Can Tho city to tighten the relations between Vietnam and France and promote the bilateral cultural exchange.
The 2019 International Francophone Day entitled “Couleurs Francophones” (Francophone Colours) will offer a range of interesting activities, heard a press conference on the event held in Hanoi on March 12.
A ceremony took place at the Ly Thai To Statue Square in downtown Hanoi on March 15 evening to celebrate the 2019 International Francophone Day (March 20).
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.
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.
At the festival (Photo: hcmcpv.org.vn) 
