Hanoi (VNA) –🔜 Vietnam and Laos share close cultural ties, with the Vietnamese language serving as a key bridge connecting the two nations.
The 2024 "Search for Vietnamese Language Ambassadors Abroad" competition highlighted these bonds as Lanny Phetnion, a Lao university lecturer, became the first foreigner to be named among the five winner.
Lanny, from northern Huaphanh province of Laos, received a scholarship to study Vietnamese at the Laos National University. After five years, she became fluent in Vietnamese, confidently sharing her knowledge with friends and family.
Lanny now creates contents on platforms like TikTok and YouTube, teaching Vietnamese and Lao in accessible ways. She has also authored textbooks for learners at various levels. She sees herself as fortunate, given the strong Vietnam-Laos relations, and hopes to contribute to teaching Vietnamese in Laos, further strengthening the two countries' bonds.
The competition, organised by the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese (SCOV) under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aims to promote the Vietnamese language abroad. This effort coincides with the Vietnamese Language Day (September 8), a new cultural milestone for the Vietnamese community worldwide.
Phan Minh Chien, Chargé d'affaires at the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos, noted that the event and the growing movement to promote Vietnamese in Laos underscore the importance of the language as a tool for strengthening the Vietnam-Laos ties. This initiative is also seen as a step toward broader cultural cooperation between the two nations./.
Pasaxon newspaper, the official mouthpiece of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party, on September 5 ran an article about the cooperative relationship between Laos and Vietnam.
A delegation from the Lao Embassy in Australia visited the Vietnamese Embassy on September 4 to extend their congratulations on the 79th anniversary of Vietnam’s National Day (September 2, 1945 – 2024).
National Assembly Vice Chairman Nguyen Duc Hai held talks with his Lao counterpart Sommad Pholsena in the central city of Da Nang on September 4, vowing to advance economic cooperation between their nations.
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.
