Overseas Vietnamese (OVs) in Laos gathered at a “Xuan que huong” (Homeland Spring) programme in Vientiane on January 13 on the occasion of the coming Lunar New Year (Tet) - the most important festival of Vietnamese people in a year.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on January 14 urged the labour, invalids and social sector to take stronger determination in 2023 to complete its tasks, towards spreading the spirit of kindness; accelerating human resources developmentl and promoting social progress and justice, and sustainable social development in line with the motto of “leaving no one behind”.

Foreign ambassadors, officials from diplomatic agencies and international organisations as well as tourists gathered in Duong Lam ancient village in Hanoi's outlying district of Son Tay on January 14 to enjoy Vietnamese traditional New Year (Tet), the most important festival of Vietnamese people in a year.

With a policy putting humans at the centre and leaving no one behind, when the COVID-19 pandemic broke out in Vietnam, the Government has continuously made drastic instructions to support labourers with relief packages of largest-ever coverage, besides pandemic control measures.

The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) on January 13 held a get-together for historical witnesses to look back on the Paris Agreement on Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Vietnam (Paris Peace Accords) which was signed on January 27, 1973.

The northern province of Bac Giang has planned numerous cultural tourism activities to boost its tourism, targeting to attract about 2 million visitors this year.

The Tet (Lunar New Year) tourism market this year is assessed to be more exciting, as diverse domestic, inbound and outbound tours are offered.

Vietnam has been named the Best Culinary Destination in the Bucket List Places in Asia in 2023 published by US magazine Travel+Leisure.

UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam Ramla Khalidi has commended Vietnam for its achievements in poverty reduction and development, as well as the country’s commitments to sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Nearly 4,000 tonnes of rice provided by the Government will come to needy households in the Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang as Tet (Lunar New Year) draws near.

A ceremony was held in Le Thuy district of the central province of Quang Binh on January 12 to inaugurate the Son Thuy kindergarten and the medical station of Hoa Thuy commune, which were built at a cost of 700,000 USD in total provided by the US.

Flights arranged by budget Vietjet, HD SAISON and the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour have recently carried nearly 500 workers to their hometowns for the upcoming Lunar New Year festival.

Vietnamese Minister of Justice Le Thanh Long and his Lao counterpart Phayvy Siboualypha signed a judicial assistance agreement on civil affairs under the witness of the two Prime Ministers in Vientiane, Laos on January 11, within the framework of PM Pham Minh Chinh’s Lao visit from January 11-12.

The Vietnamese Embassy in the UK has reported that the UK's Supreme Court ruled on January 6 that Ronan Hughes, the head of an illegal human trafficking ring that caused the lorry tragedy involving 39 Vietnamese citizens in 2019, has to pay 180,000 GBP (218,820 USD) in compensation for the victims, said Foreign Ministry's Deputy Spokesperson Pham Thu Hang at a regular press conference on January 12.

The Vietnamese Government has resumed pre-pandemic procedures and processes on the issuance of visas and visa exemption certificate to foreigners and Vietnamese residing abroad like those before COVID-19 since March 15, 2022, in line with the 2019 Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam and guideline documents.

Vietnam’s passport climbed four spots to rank 88th among the most powerful passports in the world, according to the newly-released Henley Passport Index 2023.

Millions of overseas Vietnamese (OV) residing in more than 130 countries and territories across the world are an extremely important factor that has contributed to Vietnam’s extensive and intensive international integration, promotion of external cooperation, and mobilisation of international resources serving its cause of national construction and development, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Quang Hieu wrote in his recent article.

Honda Vietnam will present 620,000 helmets to first and second graders in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho during the 2022-2023 academic year, the company’s representative said in an announcement ceremony held in Hanoi on January 11.

Young Vietnamese expatriates in the Netherlands recently gathered to learn how to make Chung (square glutinous rice) cake – the soul of Tet (Lunar New Year) - as the biggest traditional holiday of Vietnam is around the corner.

The Vietnamese Consulate General in Preah Sihanouk province held a programme on January 11 to bring a warm Tet atmosphere to the Vietnamese community living and working in the Cambodian southwestern provinces of Preah Sihanouk, Kampot, Kep, Koh Kong, Kampong Speu, and Takeo.