President attends opening of new academic year at VNUHCM
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on October 13 attended a ceremony to launch the new academic year at the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNUHCM), which is Vietnam’s leading centre of higher education and scientific research.
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc beats drum to launch new academic year at the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) – President Nguyen Xuan Phuc on October 13 attended a ceremony tolaunch the new academic year at the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNUHCM), which is Vietnam’s leading centre of higher education andscientific research.
Highlighting the importance ofinnovation to build and develop the country, the President said thatuniversities and institutes should continue serving as pioneers in this field.
He noted that Vietnam islagging behind in terms of technological readiness, innovation and labourproductivity compared to other Asian countries, while both the public andprivate sectors have not prioritised spending on science and technology in aneffective manner.
A lack of policies tostimulate creativity among scientists and experts has led to the failure tocreate a driving force for the development and application of science andtechnology, the State leader noted.
Stressing the need for VNUHCM to be a pioneer in promoting innovation, President Phuc asked the university toupdate, innovate and develop its training programmes towards the level of topuniversities in Asia, change its management outlook, and innovatescientific activities to maximise resources and brainpower of professors,lecturers, and students.
The President also expressed his hopethat students will actively grasp and master technologies amid the fourth industrial revolution.
With a total area of 643.7hectares, VNUHCM is one of the largest educational institutions in Vietnamwith 38 units, including seven member universities. Each year, it trains more than80,000 undergraduate students, more than 7,000 graduate students, and over1,000 PhD students./.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh reaffirmed the importance of developing high-quality human resources for agriculture, while attending an innovation event and job fair of the Vietnam National University of Agriculture (VNUA) in Hanoi on August 17.
The US-based electronic design automation (EDA) company Synopsys will assist Vietnam in developing human resources in chip design, as part of a deal signed with the Management Board of Saigon Hi-Tech Park (SHTP) in Ho Chi Minh City on August 26.
A memorandum of understanding on communication cooperation was signed between the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and Vietnam National University-Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM) on September 13.
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.
President Nguyen Xuan Phuc beats drum to launch new academic year at the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (Photo: VNA) 
