Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien (blue long dress) at the award ceremony (Source: //suckhoedoisong.vn)
Cape Town (VNA) – The Health Ministry of Vietnamhas won an award of the Bloomberg Philanthropies for its efforts in monitoringtobacco use and prevention policies. The ministry is among six winners of the BloombergPhilanthropies Awards for Global Tobacco Control, which were announced at aceremony in Cape Town, South Africa on March 7, as part of the 17th World Conference on Tobacco or Health. Receiving the award at the ceremony, Minister of HealthNguyen Thi Kim Tien delivered thanks to the World Health Organisation, the BloombergPhilanthropies and domestic and international organisations for their supportof Vietnam during the fight to control tobacco harms in particular andnon-communicable diseases in general. The five other winners came from El Salvador, Mexico,Senegal, Uganda and Argentina. The Vietnamese Health Ministry actively worked with other ministries,agencies and socio-political organisations to draft a law on the prevention oftobacco’s harms. The law, which has been adopted by the National Assembly, bansall smoking in indoor public space along with tobacco advertisement, promotionand sponsorship, among other stipulations. The ministry also helped with the establishment of theVietnam Tobacco Control Fund with mandatory contributions from tobacco productionand trading companies. A global survey revealed that the smoking rate among adultmen has dropped to 45.3 percent from the previous 47.4 percent. The rate ofpassive smoking in working places also reduced to 42.6 percent from 55.9percent, while passive smoking at home declined to 59.9 percent from theprevious 73.1 percent.-VNA
The Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation jointly held a meeting in Hanoi on May 25 to mark the World No Tobacco Day (May 31) and launch the National No Tobacco Week (May 25-31).
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged Vietnam to fully implement the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) on World No Tobacco Day on May 31.
The Ministry of Health organised a meeting in Ho Chi Minh City on May 30 in response to World No Tobacco Day (May 31) and the 2015 National No Tobacco Week (from May 25-31), calling for strong actions against tobacco use harms.
The Vietnam Women’s Union officially launched a communication campaign on the harmful effects of secondhand smoke at a ceremony in Hanoi on December 6.
The Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance has released its Tobacco Industry Interference Index on ASEAN’s implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Article 5.3.
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.
Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien (blue long dress) at the award ceremony (Source: //suckhoedoisong.vn) 
