A health worker prepares to administer COVID-19 vaccine to labourers at an industrial park in Bac Giang province. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy PrimeMinister Vu Duc Dam on March 17 signed a resolution issuing the COVID-19prevention and control programme for 2022 - 2023.
The programme’s overall goal is toensure effective control of the pandemic, contain the coronavirus spread in thecommunity, practice maximum protection of people’s health and lives, minimise severeCOVID-19 cases and deaths, and boost socio-economic recovery and development.
Among the detailed targets, the programme aims that by the end of the first quarter of 2022, Vietnam will have finishedadministering the second vaccine doses to people aged 12 and under 18, and thethird doses to those aged 18 and above, except for the ones with a contraindicationto vaccination. It looks to ensure sufficient vaccine supply and complete theinoculation of children aged 5 and under 12 by September 2022.
Besides, administrations at all levelshave to devise anti-COVID-19 plans, and all people comply with suitablepandemic prevention and control measures. The country will also strive toreduce the mortality rate per 1 million people to less than the average inAsia.
Under the programme, Vietnam willwork to improve the capacity of the healthcare system, especially preventivemedicine and grassroots health care; increase investment in medical suppliesand infrastructure; give appropriate treatment policies to those working inpreventive medicine and grassroots health care; and enhance the emergency aidand intensive care quality at all-level medical establishments.
Apart from implementing COVID-19vaccination as fast as possible, it will quickly consider the inoculation of the fourth vaccine dosesfor adults, the third doses for people aged 5 and under 18, and vaccination forchildren aged 3 - 5.
The best possible conditions will be createdto speed up vaccine manufacturing and production technology transfer, apply thenational population database to update information about the vaccinated people,monitor the COVID-19 vaccine coverage, and distribute vaccines in a reasonableand effective manner.
In addition, Vietnam will keep aclose watch on the pandemic situation in the country and the world while makingtimely amendments and supplements, and updating specialised guidelines toensure safe and flexible adaptation to, effective control of the pandemic, andsocio-economic recovery and development, according to the programme./.
After one year implementing the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, Vietnam has administered nearly 198.3 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines on people living in the country, becoming one of the six countries with the highest vaccination coverage in the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on March 14 thanked foreign countries and organisations for their practical, timely support to Vietnam during the COVID-19 combat over the past more than two years.
Nguyen Trung Khanh, General Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), has stressed the need for ministries, agencies and localities to observe regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control unanimously as the country fully opens its doors to international tourists from March 15.
Vietnam recorded 178,112 new COVID-19 infections, including three imported cases, in the past 24 hours to 4pm on March 17, the Ministry of Health announced.
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.
The Party and the Government pay special attention to accelerating the development of clean and green energy sources to support double-digit socio-economic growth target and ensure national energy security, focusing on developing the Ninh Thuan 1 and Ninh Thuan 2 nuclear power plants.
A health worker prepares to administer COVID-19 vaccine to labourers at an industrial park in Bac Giang province. (Photo: VNA) 
