Vietnam accelerates repatriation of citizens detained in Myanmar
On April 8, 28, and May 14, three groups comprising a total of 471 citizens safely returned to Vietnam. This marked an important initial success, paving the way for additional repatriation efforts later this month, with the goal of bringing all remaining Vietnamese citizens stranded in Myawaddy, Myanmar, back home as soon as possible.
Myawaddy township is located in Kayin State, southeastern Myanmar. (Photo: AP)
Hanoi (VNA) – In response to the ongoing efforts to protect Vietnamese citizens detained in Myanmar for violations of the country’s immigration regulat🌟ions, Deputy Director of the Consular Department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Luong Thanh Quang reported that authorities have initially verified the identities of 681 citizens hailing from 56 provinces and cities across the country.
In March, Myanmar’s law enforcement agencies, in coordination with Thai police and international partners, launched a series of raids targeting illegal online gambling operations along the Myanmar–Thailand border. Preliminary screening identified a significant number of Vietnamese nationals among those apprehended. These individuals were deemed illegal immigrants or undocumented workers and were ordered to leave Myanmar.
In an official exchange with the Vietnamese MoFA, Myanmar authorities confirmed that the detainees had violated the host country's laws, including illegal entry, overstaying visas, or participating in criminal activities. Some cases had been repatriated in previous times, but now returned to work at gambling establishments. They were expelled from Myanmar and requested that the Vietnamese side accept them back to their country.
Deputy Director of the Consular Department under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Luong Thanh Quang. (Photo: MoFA)
Given the complexity and diversity of the cases, Quang noted that the repatriation process requires not only urgency but also strict attention to safety, order, and thorough oversight. The selected repatriation route involves transporting citizens from Myanmar into Thailand, followed by a nearly 500-km bus journey from Mae Sot to Bangkok, where they board flights home to Vietnam. The entire process takes approximately 20 hours.
On the matter of costs, Quang clarified that those who violate foreign laws and face deportation are responsible for covering their own repatriation expenses.
On April 8, 28, and May 14, three groups comprising a total of 471 citizens safely returned to Vietnam. This marked an important initial success, paving the way for additional repatriation efforts later this month, with the goal of bringing all remaining Vietnamese citizens stranded in Myawaddy, Myanmar, back home as soon as possible.
The MoFA urged citizens to exercise increased caution against deceptive recruitment offers for overseas jobs, especially those lacking clear job descriptions, labour contracts, legal labour export intermediaries, or insurance. Such arrangements can expose individuals to risks of forced labour, fraud, or even human trafficking./.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged Vietnamese citizens to be cautious about job offers abroad that promise “easy work with high pay” but do not require qualifications, contracts, or formal recruitment channels. It advised individuals to thoroughly research job details, locations, the credentials of recruiters, insurance policies, and benefits, and to consult relevant authorities before accepting overseas work to avoid becoming undocumented migrants.
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.