Programme 135 pays off in northern mountainous provinces
The implementation of Programme 135 under the National Target Programme on Sustainable Poverty Reduction has considerably contributed to socio-economic development of northern mountainous provinces over the last two years.
A ditch is built with assistance from Programme 135 in Bat Xat district, Lao Cai province (Photo: VNA)
Lao Cai (VNA) – Theimplementation of Programme 135 under the National Target Programme onSustainable Poverty Reduction has considerably contributed to socio-economicdevelopment of northern mountainous provinces over the last two years.
The assessment was made by participants in aworkshop held in Lao Cai city of Lao Cai province on June 1. The event was anoccasion for 19 northern mountainous provinces to share their experience in theimplementation of the programme.
Data revealed at the workshop show that by theend of 2017, the rate of poor households in the region dropped to 13.12percent, down 5.36 percent from 2015. The provinces with the fastest poverty declineare Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Yen Bai and Ha Giang.
In Hoa Binh, people’s active engagement is oneof the key factors to ensure the effective implementation of the programme, anofficial of the province said, noting that grassroots authorities have beeninstructed to step up disseminating the State’s policies and call for people’sjoint efforts in the programme.
Meanwhile, Lao Cai province has worked to ensuredemocracy in the work by boosting people’s participation in the planning,preparation, implementation, supervision and examination of projects underProgramme 135.
Quang Ninh province was said to have usedpolicies and resources in an appropriate manner to enhance the effectiveness ofassistance provided by this programme. In the 2016-2020 period, seven communes ofQuang Ninh have escaped from the particularly disadvantaged situation andexited from Programme 135.
Meanwhile, five and 12 communes have registeredto accomplish the programme in 2018 and 2019, respectively, so the province isexpected to have no communes benefiting the programme in 2019, a Quang Ninhofficial reported.
Launched in 1999, the Government’s Programme 135aims to boost socio-economic development in particularly disadvantaged communesin ethnic minority-inhabited and mountainous areas.
In 2017-2020 period, the programme covers 2,139extremely disadvantaged and border communes in 46 provinces nationwide.-VNA
The Prime Minister has approved a list of 2,139 extremely disadvantaged and border communes in 46 provinces nationwide eligible for Programme 135 in the period of 2017-2020.
The National Assembly’s Council of Ethnic Affairs has proposed issuing a new set of criteria for delimitation of ethnic minority and mountainous areas in service of bettering the making of policies.
The Central Highlands province of Gia Lai, home to 34 ethnic minority groups, has implemented effectively numerous policies on socio-economic and cultural development in areas inhabited by ethnic minority groups.
The Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh will spend 179 billion VND (7.16 million USD) to bolster efforts in new-style rural area building and sustainable poverty reduction this year.
The living standards of Khmer ethnic people in the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang have been improved in recent years thanks to the Party and State’s investment policies to develop the region.
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 ditch is built with assistance from Programme 135 in Bat Xat district, Lao Cai province (Photo: VNA) 
