Budhist dignitaries and followers in a Quang Tri worship event (Illustrative image). Photo: VNA
More than 100 representatives from State agencies and embassies of European Union (EU) member states in Vietnam, foreign experts and religious dignitaries gathered at a seminar in Hanoi on October 8 to discuss policies and laws ensuring belief and religious freedom in Vietnam.
Their discussions focus on the preservation of religious freedom and the reality in Vietnam , and contributions of religions to the national construction.
The seminar aims to provide a panorama on the religious situation in Vietnam as well as a roadmap to improve policies and laws related to religion and belief, thus improving human rights.
It showed Vietnam’s willingness to dialogue with the EU on religious issues, thus strengthening mutual understanding in the field.
Participants also talked Vietnam’s achievements in fostering and ensuring religious and belief freedom, the building of its legal framework on this field, and its international commitments to protecting and promoting human rights in terms of religious freedom.
The EU members’ experience in religious affairs and their efforts to protect religious freedom and values were also shared.
According to Bui Thanh Ha, Deputy Head of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs, Vietnam is a multi-religion nation with 24 million religious followers, accounting for 27 percent of its population. Approximately 95 percent of Vietnamese population follow a belief or religion.
He underscored that Vietnam always respects and protects the people’s right to belief and religion freedom through designing more completed policies and laws on the matter.
Shortly after the country declared independence, on September 3, 1945, President Ho Chi Minh announced that religious freedom, solidarity among religious and non-religious people and citizens’ right in the field are among the State’s principles, noted Ha.
The 2013 Constitution also clarified that the right to religious and belief freedom is one of the basic rights of human beings, which has been institionalised in legal documents and included in the draft Law on Belief and Religion.
Meanwhile, Juan Zaratiegui, Political Advisor of the EU Delegation to Vietnam, said the union takes the protection of the right to religious freedom for all as one of the indispensable part in its external policies.
He pledged that the EU is willing to support Vietnam in the process of drafting the Law on Belief and Religion.-VNA
Religious dignitaries have urged the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) to work harder in the role as a bridge linking the Party, State and the people with religious followers.
The Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) and the Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC) shared experiences in ethnic and religious affairs towards tightening relations between the two countries.
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.
The team’s haul, including one Champion title, 10 golds, seven silvers, and four bronzes, surpassed expectations. Vietnam, competing since 2019, has secured over 200 AIMO medals, cementing its regional standing.
The guiding principle for revising the national energy master plan is that energy development must align with the country’s socio-economic development strategy. The energy system should be optimised as a whole, targeting sustainable and diverse development to ensure stable and adequate energy supply to meet national goals.
Budhist dignitaries and followers in a Quang Tri worship event (Illustrative image). Photo: VNA
