The Office of Vietnam’s Honorary Consul in the Italian city of Turin held a gathering on February 17 on the occasion of Vietnam’s traditional Lunar New Year.
Vietnam’s Honorary Consul in Turin, Sandra Scagliotti (first, right), speaks at the gathering (Photo: VNA)
Rome (VNA) – The Office of Vietnam’s Honorary Consul in the Italian city of Turinheld a gathering on February 17 on the occasion of Vietnam’s traditional LunarNew Year.
Addressing Turin officials and a large number ofItalian people and Vietnamese expatriates, Vietnam’s Honorary Consul SandraScagliotti praised the beauty of the Southeast Asian nation, which boasts adiverse culture, and recalled her memories of the Vietnamese people.
She also took this chance to call on Italianpeople and the Vietnamese community to continue their efforts to strengthen thetwo countries’ friendship.
At the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy CaoChinh Thien presented his country’s recent attainments, including those inexternal ties and social, economic and cultural development.
He underlined the sound bilateral relationswhich have been affirmed and solidified during recent high-ranking visits,including a State visit to Italy by President Tran Dai Quang in November 2016.Those visits illustrate both sides’ political resolve to intensify theVietnam-Italy strategic partnership.
He expressed his belief that the countries willhave more practical cooperation activities in the time ahead.
Regarding economic ties, Thien noted bilateraltrade has risen sharply in recent years, especially since the strategicpartnership was set up in 2013, reaching 4.6 billion USD in 2016. Italy is thefifth biggest EU trade partner of Vietnam, which in turn is the largest partnerof the European nation among ASEAN countries.
Turin is a big city in the northwest of Italyand also a mechanical and manufacturing hub of the country. It is also the onlyItalian city with an honorary consul office of Vietnam.-VNA
The relations between Vietnam and Italy have been developed across the fields from politics, economics-trade-investment, culture-education, science-technology and defence over the past four decades.
The target of 6 billion USD in two-way trade between Vietnam and Italy in 2017-2018 is within reach since the Vietnam-EU free trade agreement is going to be sealed, President Tran Dai Quang said.
Vietnam expects that its friendship and multifaceted cooperation with Italy will develop more practically and effectively for the interests of both nations, President Tran Dai Quang has said.
President Tran Dai Quang has proposed that Italia’s Milan city and Lombardy region support the organisation of Vietnamese cultural and art activities in the locality, helping locals in Milan and Lombardy get deeper understanding on Vietnam.
Businesses from Italy’s Trento province have shown their interest in Vietnam’s investment incentives, especially in technology, electro-mechanics, green agriculture, forestry and pharmaceuticals, which are their strengths.
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.
Vietnam’s Honorary Consul in Turin, Sandra Scagliotti (first, right), speaks at the gathering (Photo: VNA) 
