Irish Ambassador to Vietnam Cait Moran during the working visit (Source:VNA)
Ha Giang (VNA) 🐷– Ireland will continue supporting t he northern mountainous province of Ha Giang, according to Irish Ambassador to Vietnam Cait Moran.
The diplomat visited Ha Giang from April 11 to 14 to review projects supported by the Irish government in the locality from 2011 to 2015.
At a working session with the provincial People’s Committee on April 14, the ambassador praised the results of the Vietnamese Government’s Programme 135 designed for most disadvantaged communes as well as Irish-funded projects in Ha Giang.
She said the projects contributed to socioeconomic development and improving infrastructure in the province’s disadvantaged communes.
Ambassador Moran suggested the province improve education and tourism development for ethnic people as well as deal with issues related to poverty reduction.
Deputy Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Minh Tien expressed his hope that the Irish government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will continue investing in the projects on sustainable poverty reduction in the province from 2016-2020.
Since 2012, the Irish Government has provided Ha Giang with 83 billion VND (3.6 million USD) to implement 47 projects. Of the figure, as many as 41 projects were put into operation, according to the provincial People’s Committee’s report.
🐷 From 2011 to 2015, Ha Giang also received 911 billion VND (nearly 40 million USD) from Programme 135 to build infrastructure and develop production.
Government Programme 135, launched in 1999 under the Prime Minister's Decision 135/1998/QD-TTg on July 31, 1998, aimed to improve living conditions for rural residents in most disadvantaged communes across the country with a focus on ethnic communities.-VNA
The Committee on Ethnic Minority Affairs proposed a fund of 39.4 trillion VND (1.806 billion USD) for Programme 135 from 2016-2020 during a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Vu Van Ninh on July 2.
A training conference took place in the central city of Da Nang on November 26 to share experience in carrying out Programme 135, which was designed for extremely disadvantaged communes.
The Prime Minister has agreed to add 2,275 disadvantaged villages in 48 provinces and cities nationwide to the investment list for Programme 135 in the 2016-2020 period.
The Vietnamese Government has prioritised resources for realising the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) over the last 15 years and made strides in boosting socio-economic development.
The poverty rate among households in the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang was reduced to 8.88 percent by the end of last year from 24.31 percent in 2010 thanks to the Government’s Programme 135.
Huong Phong Commune in the central province of Thua Thien- Hue has become the first mountainous commune in the province to accomplish targets set by the government’s Programme 135 in 2015.
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.
Irish Ambassador to Vietnam Cait Moran during the working visit (Source:VNA)
