Thirty million people access soft loans in 15 years
Over 30 million poor households and other welfare beneficiaries have accessed soft loans from the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP) as of the end of August 2017, according to the VBSP.
Over 30 million poor households and other welfare beneficiaries have accessed soft loans from the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP) as of the end of August 2017. (Photo: VNA
Hanoi (VNA) – Over 30 million poorhouseholds and other welfare beneficiaries have accessed soft loans from theVietnam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP) as of the end of August 2017, accordingto the VBSP.
The VBSP was established on October 4, 2002 to implementpreferential credit policies targeting disadvantaged groups. Over the past 15years, its soft loans have helped more than 4.5 million families escape frompoverty; created jobs for 3.5 million people, including 111,000 overseas guestworkers; and enabled over 3.5 million poor students to continue education.
The bank has also funded the construction of approximately10 million rural clean water and environment treatment facilities; 520,000houses for poor people and welfare policy beneficiaries and about 116,000 stormand flood-resistant houses, mostly in the Mekong Delta.
By the end of August, the bank’s total outstanding loansstood at an estimated 167 trillion VND (7.34 billion USD) with bad debtsaccounting for only 0.43 percent.
Deputy Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam Dao Minh Tusaid the VBSP has contributed to preventing predatory lending practices inrural areas, encouraging the poor to save money for their future andimplementing the national target programme on sustainable poverty reduction.
The percentage of poor households across the countrydeclined from 11.8 percent in 2010 to 4.25 percent in 2015.-VNA
The Vietnam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP) said it had a total credit balance of nearly 166.43 trillion VND (7.3 billion USD) as of June 30, 2017, up 5.8 percent compared with the end of last year.
More than 1,473,000 ethnic minority households across the country have been benefiting from preferential credit programmes with total loans worth up to 40 trillion VND (over 1.76 billion USD).
Credits provided by the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies have helped 179,100 households in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho escape from poor and near-poor status over the past 15 years.
The Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre has implemented a plan with numerous programmes to help locals develop livelihoods and achieve sustainable poverty elimination from 2016 – 2020.
The Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh is making a beeline for sustainable poverty reduction, aiming to cut the rate of impoverished households in the locality by 2.5 percent by the end of this year.
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.
Over 30 million poor households and other welfare beneficiaries have accessed soft loans from the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP) as of the end of August 2017. (Photo: VNA 
