A prayer for peace for Vietnamese expats living, working and studying in Laos was held at the Phat Tich pagoda in Vientiane on February 15 (the 15th day of the first lunar month).
Prayer for peace held for OVs in Phat Tich pagoda in Vientiane, Laos (Photo: VNA)
Vientiane (VNA) – A prayer for peace forVietnamese expats living, working and studying in Laos was held at the PhatTich pagoda in Vientiane on February 15 (the 15th day of the first lunar month).
Participants prayedfor a happy New Year and good health for their families and other loved ones, anddevelopment and prosperity for the homeland.
Venerable Thich Minh Quang, head of the coordinating board of Buddhism in Laos and head monk of the Pagoda, urged Vietnamese monks, nuns and followers in Vientiane to further promote unity.
At the event, donors presented 150 gift packages to disadvantaged OVs in Vientiane on the occasion of the Lunar New Year festival.
Inaugurated in 2010, Phat Tich pagoda isamong the popular destinations for OVs in Laos with architectural style imbuedwith Vietnamese spirituality. It offers them a spring atmosphere like in their homeland.
♕ It not only serves the demand for religious practice of Vietnamese expats, but also contributes topreserving and promoting Vietnam’s culture identities and values in the host country./.
President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor (VGCL) Nguyen Dinh Khang on December 7 suggested the VGCL and the Lao Federation of Trade Unions (LFTU) step up online exchanges amid the complex developments of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A Lao official has highly valued Vietnam’s open foreign policy of diversification and multilateralisation of foreign relations and being a friend of all countries as seen in its support for other countries in the COVID-19 combat.
The official visit to Vietnam by Lao Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh from January 8-10 will be the opening of the Vietnam-Laos, Laos-Vietnam Friendship and Solidarity Year, aiming to further foster the special ties between the two countries amid the complicated regional and world situation.
Lao newspapers on January 7 published articles on the upcoming official visit to Vietnam on January 8-10 by Lao Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh, highlighting that the trip aims to strengthen the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.
A prayer for peace for overseas Vietnamese (OVs) living in Paris and surrounding areas was held on February 13 at Truc Lam Zen Monastery in Villebon-sur-Yvette, 25km south of the capital.
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.
Prayer for peace held for OVs in Phat Tich pagoda in Vientiane, Laos (Photo: VNA) 
