Teaching of French developing in Southeast Asia: OIF regional director
The teaching of French is developing in Southeast Asia, according to Director for the Asia-Pacific of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) Eric-Normand Thibeault.
Director for the Asia-Pacific of the OIF Eric-Normand Thibeault (L) presents the first prize of the the Young Francophone Reporters contest in 2016 (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The teaching of French is developing in Southeast Asia,according to Director for the Asia-Pacific of the International Organisation ofLa Francophonie (OIF) Eric-Normand Thibeault.
In a recent interview with Vietnam News Agencyon the threshold of International Francophonie Day (March 20), he said theFrancophone community gathers more than 80 States and governments around theworld.
Since the OIF’s establishment in 1970, it hasexpanded to many countries such as Vietnam, Vanuatu, Laos, and Cambodia. TheOIF is a diverse community in which member states and governments promotesolidarity, peace, dialogue and linguistic diversity.
He noted that in recent years, thanks to effortsof the regional centre for education and training and the OIF’s French teachingsystem, many primary and high school students in Cambodia have been taughtFrench. While the teaching of French is maintained in Vietnam and Laos, thenumber of French-language learners in Thailand is growing.
The OIF has been carrying out a four-year masterplan since 2015, he said, elaborating that the plan consists of 16 programmes,including those supporting the French language teaching, the cultural industry,and efforts to fight climate change.
One thing that should be enhanced is youngFrench-language teachers’ teaching methods by helping them use digitaltechnology. They can practice self-learning and search for teaching resourceson the internet, Thibeault said.
He lauded the TV programme “Espace fracophone”of the Le Courrier du Vietnam newspaper on Vietnam News Agency’s VNews channel.It has helped popularise the French language through digital communication.
French helps to bolster linguistic diversity,and the learning of languages plays an important role in education, he said,adding that French can be practiced through literature, blog or on socialnetworks.
With the assistance of the OIF, Le Courrier duVietnam successfully held the first Young Francophone Reporters contest in 2016,through which many young talents were discovered.
The OIF wants to continue working with thenewspaper to hold this competition this year to honour the Francophonecommunity, Thibeault said.-VNA
Vietnam wants the Francophone community to promote economic cooperation, aside from linguistic and cultural diversity, among its member countries, President Tran Dai Quang said on October 11.
Vietnam is playing an active and constructive role in the Francophone community, Secretary-General of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) Michaelle Jean said.
Vietnam is ready to intensify economic cooperation with Francophone countries and share experience in socio-economic development with them, especially African nations, President Tran Dai Quang said.
Various activities will be held in Vietnam to celebrate International Francophonie Day, said Director of the Asia-Pacific office of the International Organisation of La Francophonie Eric-Normand Thibeault.
Within the framework of the August 9 programme co-hosted by the Vietnamese Embassy in Cambodia and members of the Vietnam–Cambodia Business Association (VCBA), around 600 local residents and people of Vietnamese origin received general health check-ups, basic tests, medical consultations, free medicine, and gift packages containing daily necessities.
Party General Secretary To Lam, his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly, and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation attended the inauguration ceremony of a statue of late President Ho Chi Minh in the Vietnamese Embassy’s campus in Seoul, the RoK, on August 10.
More than 5,000 people gathered at Dam Sen Cultural Park in Ho Chi Minh City for the solidarity walk for victims of Agent Orange/dioxin (AO), marking the 64th anniversary of the AO disaster in Vietnam (August 10, 1961 – 2025).
The embassy advises Vietnamese citizens travelling in Greece that they should avoid standing close to cliff edges, boat sides, and refrain from going out to sea during storms to prevent unfortunate incidents.
Hanoi is advancing green transportation as part of its sustainability goals but faces challenges like limited charging infrastructure, inconsistent regulations, and high electric vehicle costs.
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.
Director for the Asia-Pacific of the OIF Eric-Normand Thibeault (L) presents the first prize of the the Young Francophone Reporters contest in 2016 (Photo: VNA) 
