Vietnam - Laos Friendship Association in HCM City convenes 3rd congress
The 3rd Congress of the Vietnam - Laos Friendship Association in Ho Chi Minh City (VLFA HCM City) took place on November 11, focusing on discussing measures to effectively promote people-to-people diplomacy between HCM City and Lao localities.
Ngo Minh Chau, Vice Chairman of the HCM City People's Committee and Chairman of the VLFA HCM City speaks at the Congress (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) - The 3rd Congress of the Vietnam - Laos Friendship Association in Ho Chi Minh City (VLFA HCM City) took place on November 11, focusing on discussing measures to effectively promote people-to-people diplomacy between HCM City and Lao localities.
The congress elected a 31-member Executive Committee for the 2022 - 2027 tenure. Ngo Minh Chau, Vice Chairman of the municipal People's Committee, was elected as Chairman of the VLFA HCM City.
In the new tenure, the association will concentrate on further promoting the popularisation and education of the special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos among the two countries’ people, especially the young; organising national holidays, important anniversaries of the two nations, friendship and cultural exchanges between the youth and students.
Addressing the event, Vanxay Xaysena, Deputy Consul General of Laos in HCM City said people diplomacy activities carried out by the association over the past five years contributed to enhancing understanding between the the two countries' people, bolstering the friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos in general and between HCM City and localities of Laos in particular.
On the occasion, organisations and individuals of the VLFA HCM City were commended for their positive contributions to people-to-people diplomacy activities in the 2016-2021 period./.
The Vietnam-Laos Trade Fair 2022 opened in Vientiane on November 3 as part of activities to celebrate the two countries’ friendship and solidarity year.
An international conference on the strengthening of regional connectivity and development of the East-West logistics corridors was held in Vientiane on November 4, drawing representatives from a number of ministries and agencies of Vietnam and Laos as well as logistics associations, experts and more than 80 enterprises from different countries.
Deputy head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Mass Mobilisation Nguyen Lam held talks with visiting Vice Chairman of the Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC) Central Committee Chanthavong Sene Amatmontry in Hanoi on November 4 to share mass mobilisation experience.
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.
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.
Ngo Minh Chau, Vice Chairman of the HCM City People's Committee and Chairman of the VLFA HCM City speaks at the Congress (Photo: VNA) 
