International Festival of Volunteers returns to HCM City
A host of activities took place during the 10th International Festival of Volunteers held in Ho Chi Minh City on December 5, providing an opportunity for local volunteer associations, clubs and groups to meet and together engage in community and volunteer services.
A blood donation event takes place during the 10th International Festival of Volunteers in Ho Chi Minh City on December 5. (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) – A host of activities took placeduring the 10th International Festival of Volunteers held in Ho Chi Minh Cityon December 5, providing an opportunity for local volunteer associations, clubsand groups to meet and together engage in community and volunteer services.
Aiming to mark the International Volunteer Day (December 5),the festival’s theme focused on combating COVID-19 this year.
During the event, young volunteers helped clean anddisinfect condo buildings and residential areas, raised public awareness of the“5K” message and planted new trees.
A number of volunteer associations, clubs and groups are honoured by the Vietnam Youth Federation in HCM City in recognition for their outstanding work in blood donation, COVID-19 fight and other charitable activities. (Photo: VNA)
A number of volunteer associations, clubs and groups werehonoured by the Vietnam Youth Federation in HCM City in recognition for their outstandingwork in blood donation, COVID-19 fight and other charitable activities.
It also included the launch of the city’s second quickresponse team sent to support the COVID-19 fight in Soc Trang, a photo exhibitionon volunteer work, a blood donation event, a space for introducing volunteerideas and projects and a playground called “I am a Volunteer” featuring gamebooths and music performances by attendees./.
More than 10,000 volunteers nationwide have registered through website //chongdich.doanthanhnien.vn to participate in the COVID-19 prevention and control work in the southern region, according to the central committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union.
Ho Chi Minh City’s Vietnam Fatherland Front held a ceremony on September 24 to honour 147 religious volunteers who have completed their tasks of supporting doctors in the front line of the fight against COVID-19 pandemic at COVID-19 treatment hospitals in the city.
The Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, the city Party Committee’s Mass Mobilisation Commission and municipal Religious Affairs Committee on October 8 held a send-off ceremony for 50 volunteers who are Buddhist dignitaries, monks, nuns and followers to join frontline forces in the fight against COVID-19 at the COVID-19 Intensive Care Hospital.
The Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Committee of Ho Chi Minh City and the city's Committee for Religious Affairs on October 13 honoured 82 religious volunteers who have worded side by side with medical workers at local COVID-19 treatment hospitals.
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.
A blood donation event takes place during the 10th International Festival of Volunteers in Ho Chi Minh City on December 5. (Photo: VNA)
A number of volunteer associations, clubs and groups are honoured by the Vietnam Youth Federation in HCM City in recognition for their outstanding work in blood donation, COVID-19 fight and other charitable activities. (Photo: VNA)
