Second-class Labour Order presented to Australian group
Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh on March 30 presented the second-class Labour Order to Australian-based Norfolk Group, one of the first foreign firms landing investment in hi-end restaurants and hotels in Ho Chi Minh City and Con Dao island in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province.
Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh presents the second-class Labour Order to Australian-based Norfolk Group. (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) – Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh on March 30presented the second-class Labour Order to Australian-based Norfolk Group, oneof the first foreign firms landing investment in hi-end restaurants and hotelsin Ho Chi Minh City and Con Dao island in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province.
Thinh lauded Norfolk Group’s contributions to the development of the Vietnamesesouthern hub in the past 30 years, saying besides generating new jobs for localworkers, the group has shouldered its social responsibility through grantingscholarships to disadvantaged students.
Meanwhile, Australian Consul General to Ho Chi Minh City Julianne Cowley spokehighly of Norfolk’s business activities in both nations, particularly in thetime when the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc globally.
Norfolk is a long-term partner of the Australian Embassy in Vietnam andConsulate General in HCM City to bolster Australia’s strategic cooperation withVietnam, she said, emphasising as a founder and sponsor of the AustralianChamber of Commerce in Vietnam, Norfolk has helped promote trade network aswell as consolidate collaboration between the two nations.
The corporation has had a strong presence in the Vietnamese market since 1990,with the first project being four-star Norfolk Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City. Afterthat it built international-standard PDD Building and five-star apartments, andmost recently, Six Senses Con Dao resort in Ba Ria – Vung Tau province./.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison had a telephone talk on January 21 to discuss bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of shared concern.
The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) of Australia on January 22 signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in tertiary education and smart city building.
The Australian Institute of International Affairs (AIIA) on February 5 published an article written by Kyle Springer, a Senior Analyst at the Perth USAsia Centre, saying that the outcomes of the freshly-ended 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam suggest continuity in leadership and policy.
More than 30 consultants and social workers, on February 26, began a three-day Australian-funded course that helps them improve their work toward abused women and children during the current time of pandemic.
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.
Vice President Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh presents the second-class Labour Order to Australian-based Norfolk Group. (Photo: VNA) 
