Vietnam has made progress on its gender equality targets. The revised Constitution adopted in 2013 and the 2006 Gender Equality Law explicitly prohibit gender-based discrimination.
Members of a family take part in an activity marking the Vietnam Family Day in Ho Chi Minh City in 2015 (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) 🐭– Vietnam has made progress on its gender equality targets. The revised Constitution adopted in 2013 and the 2006 Gender Equality Law explicitly prohibit gender-based discrimination, and the policy and legal framework to promote gender equality and empower women and girls is now stronger.
However, discriminatory laws, policies and practices are still prevalent.
In a statement sent to Vietnam News, the English language daily of the Vietnam News Agency last week, UN Women said 58 percent of women experienced at least one type of violence at some point in their lives.
Further, the frequency, mostly of domestic violence, was estimated to cost 3.2 percent of Vietnam’s GDP by calculating the total productivity losses and potential opportunity costs. At the same time, women who experience domestic violence earn 35 percent less, on average, than women who experience no violence.
Conviction rates of violent offenders against women are extremely low. While 43 percent of violent crimes come to the attention of police, only 12 percent of reported cases result in criminal charges, and only 1 percent of reported cases lead to convictions.
The overuse of reconciliation measures limit women’s capacities to seek formal protection, redress or justice, leaving survivors exposed to repeated violence during their lifetimes.
Beyond violence that includes domestic violence, there are gaps in evidence, policies, laws and awareness about other forms of violence against women, such as dating violence, cyber violence and violence in public spaces.
Women continue to face discrimination in both public and private spheres, ranging from women’s low political representation, unequal access to educational and economic opportunities, violence and lack of access to justice.
The root cause of gender-based discrimination is the prevailing patriarchal attitudes and gender stereotypes that privilege men over women. These negative social norms held by law and policy makers, media, and the general public continue to accept discrimination against women and girls. It remains common for violence survivors to be blamed for causing their partners to be violent.-VNA
The Prime Minister has given the nod to a project on gender-based violence (GBV) prevention and control, prioritising sectors and localities experiencing the prevalence of or facing high risks of GBV.
Gender equality for the advancement of women is both a target and a factor contributing to the country’s economic development, stated Vietnam Women’s Union President Nguyen Thi Thu Ha.
As many as 87 percent of victims of domestic violence in Vietnam did not seek help from society, while half of them did not tell anyone about their situation.
The number of domestic violence cases reported in the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre dropped from 642 in 2012 to 187 in 2015, according to the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
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.