A health worker handles samples collected for COVID-19 testing (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – ThePrime Minister has requested all ministries, sectors, and localities to ramp upefforts against COVID-19 in the face of the new variant Omicron.
According to the PM’sofficial dispatch issued on December 19, the COVID-19 pandemic remains highlyunpredictable around the world amid the emergence of Omicron, which has beenfound to spread much faster than the Delta variant.
Though Vietnam hasn’t seen anyOmicron cases, the numbers of infections, patients in critical condition, andrelated deaths have still been on the rise, and the healthcare systems in somelocalities have become overloaded, it said.
Facing that fact and the highpossibility of recording Omicron in the country, the PM asked the Ministry ofHealth to keep a close watch on the global pandemic situation to make timelyguidelines, propose necessary and appropriate measures to the PM, and increasemonitoring so as to detect any new variant early.
All ministries, sectors, and provincial-levelPeople’s Committees have to step up the application of COVID-19 prevention andcontrol measures, boost examination, and strictly deal with those who violateanti-pandemic rules.
The Government leader toldthe Health Ministry and provincial-level administrations to organise as safeand fast as possible vaccination and ensure that no persons subject tovaccination are left without full inoculation, especially the ones in high-riskgroups.
They were also requested toincrease training in home treatment to avoid overloading at higher-leverhospitals and enhance the capacity of the healthcare system at all levels.
Meanwhile, the Ministry ofInformation and Communications was demanded to promptly complete IT tools andwork with relevant sides to conduct uniform and effective application. This ministryalso needs to coordinate with the Party Central Committee’s Information andEducation Commission to step up communications to raise public awareness of thepandemic, Omicron, and prevention measures, according to the dispatch./.
Fully vaccinated foreign arrivals with negative COVID-19 test results will only need to self-quarantine at home or places of accommodation for three days upon entry into Vietnam by air, according to the latest guidance from the Ministry of Health issued on December 16.
A ceremony was held in Ho Chi Minh City on December 16 to honour religious dignitaries and followers who made contributions to the city’s COVID-19 fight.
The Italy – Vietnam Cultural Bridge Association in Italy and the Vietnamese community in Cyprus have raised 5,000 EUR in support of Vietnamese children who lost their parents to COVID-19 pandemic.
Students in areas with high pandemic risks, or “orange zones”, will suspend direct learning and return to online learning from December 20, according to a proposal of the municipal Department of Education and Training, which urges district departments of education and training and schools reported to district authorities for approval.
A total of 16,110 new infections of COVID-19, including 17 imported cases, were reported in Vietnam during 24 hours from 4pm December 18 to 4pm December 19, according to the Ministry of Health.
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.
The team’s haul, including one Champion title, 10 golds, seven silvers, and four bronzes, surpassed expectations. Vietnam, competing since 2019, has secured over 200 AIMO medals, cementing its regional standing.
The guiding principle for revising the national energy master plan is that energy development must align with the country’s socio-economic development strategy. The energy system should be optimised as a whole, targeting sustainable and diverse development to ensure stable and adequate energy supply to meet national goals.
The Vietnam Disability Fashion Show 2025 aimed to honour the diverse beauty of individuals, promote humanistic values, and foster equality and social inclusion.
A health worker handles samples collected for COVID-19 testing (Photo: VNA) 
