Happy Vietnam

The World Heritage Committee of UNESCO has approved the expansion of the world natural heritage site of Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park in Vietnam’s Quang Tri province to include Hin Nam No National Park in Laos' Khammouane province. The decision was made during the 47th session of the committee held in Paris, France, on July 13. Following the adjustment, the world natural heritage site is officially named “Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park and Hin Nam No National Park”. Vietnam is now home to nine world heritage sites. These include two inter-provincial sites – Ha Long Bay-Cat Ba Archipelago (Quang Ninh province and Hai Phong city), and the Complex of Yen Tu-Vinh Nghiem-Con Son, Kiep Bac Monuments and Landscapes (Quang Ninh province, Bac Ninh province, and Hai Phong city). The latest recognition is Vietnam’s first transboundary world heritage site. VNA Photo

Just over a week into its official operation, the authority of Thuan My commune (Tay Ninh province) has begun to earn the trust of local residents, thanks to a renewed management mindset and particularly the “close-to-the-people” approach of the commune’s Party Secretary Nguyen Van Khai. Photo: Duc Hanh - VNA

The Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son - Kiep Bac Relics and Landscape Complex has been recognised as a World Culture Heritage site. In the afternoon of July 12 (Paris time), at the 47th Session of the World Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Professor Nikolay Nenov, Chairman of the Session, officially knocked the hammer to recognise the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son - Kiep Bac Relics and Landscape Complex as a World Cultural Heritage site. VNA Photo

Tam Hoa plums from Bac Ha, a famed delicacy of Lao Cai, are known for their crisp texture, mild sweetness, and rich flavor of the Northwest mountains. Due to the short harvest season, Quang Tom Cooperative (Bac Ha commune, Lao Cai province) has been collecting fresh plums and processing them using soft-drying technology, preserving their natural color and flavor while extending shelf life to 6–12 months. Each year, the cooperative supplies about 10 tonnes of 3-star OCOP-certified soft-dried plums to the market, generating jobs for 10 local workers and stable income for 7 cooperative members. This is not only an effective economic solution and sustainable market channel, but also a way to enhance the value of local agricultural products and promote the regional brand of Northwest specialties. Photo: Hoang Hieu – VNA

Markets and convenience stores in Hanoi shall be banned from using single-use plastic bags and non-biodegradable foam containers from January 1, 2028, pursuant to a newly-approved resolution. The Hanoi People’s Council passed a resolution aimed at significantly reducing plastic waste across the capital at a sitting on July 10. Accordingly, the use of plastic in production, business, service, and daily activities throughout the capital city will be phased out. Photo: Thanh Phuong – VNA

Within the grounds of Buppharam Pagoda (also known as Chot Pagoda) in Cai Gia Hamlet, Hung Hoi Commune, Ca Mau province, stands a rare and nearly intact wooden structure — the Sala (Dharma hall) — built in 1915 and now over 100 years old. The Sala features traditional Khmer stilt-house architecture with two storeys, measuring 21 meters long, 10 meters wide, and nearly 10 meters high. It is supported by over 100 wooden pillars made of rare timbers such as rosewood, ironwood, and thao lao. Despite its age, the structure remains well-preserved and in active use. Photo: Chanh Da - VNA

Vietnam earned 807 million USD from fruit and vegetable export in June 2025, up 30.8% from the previous month and up 20.2% year-on-year. This brings the total export value in the first half of the year to 3.1 billion USD. Major export markets include China, accounting for 48.2%, the US with 9%, and the Republic of Korea with 5.7%. Photo: Vu Sinh – VNA

Lao Cai – a land where the cultural colors of ethnic minorities blend together – is also home to many unique traditional craft villages. In Sa Pa, the Lan Rung brocade embroidery village has diligently preserved and promoted the traditional craft of brocade embroidery for over 20 years—a craft closely tied to skilled hands and a refined spirit. The village not only preserves ethnic identity but also taps into tourism potential, creating dual benefits: safeguarding and promoting cultural values while generating socio-economic gains. Photo: Hoang Hieu - VNA

Farmers in Ninh Thuan province are proactively adapting to climate change through promoting the conversion of crop structure, applying science and technology in agriculture, and enhancing product value chain to form concentrated commodity production areas with high economic value. In 2025, the province plans to convert about 1,300 hectares of crops, including 500 hectares of inefficient rice cultivation land to dry crops that can withstand hot and dry climates and have high economic efficiency such as grapes, apples, custard apples, green asparagus, green-skinned grapefruit, aloe vera, among others. The province strives to achieve a production value of 155 million VND per hectare on irrigated land. VNA Photo: Nguyễn Thành

For the Mong ethnic people in the mountainous areas of Lao Cai, the khen (a traditional reed pipe) is an essential and distinctive musical instrument deeply embedded in community cultural life. The craft of making the khen has become an important traditional profession, preserved and promoted by the Mong people to both domestic and international visitors. Photo: Tuan Anh – VNA

In recent years, officers and soldiers of the Quang Ninh Border Guard have consistently fulfilled their duties in protecting border lines and markers, as well as conducting patrols and monitoring the border areas. These efforts have contributed to firmly safeguarding national sovereignty. They have also worked closely with local authorities and people of all ethnic groups to maintain peace and security in this northeastern frontier of the country. Photo: Duc Hieu – VNA

Founded in 2019 in Hanoi, the Green Wind Choir has spent the past five years organizing numerous non-profit concerts in cities including Hanoi, Da Nang, Ha Long, and Hue. Hundreds of complimentary tickets have been offered to disadvantaged children from social protection centers, with around 1,800 children having attended performances to date. The Green Wind Choir contributes to community bonding, spreading compassion, and promoting the spirit of Vietnamese Family Day (June 28) - a day celebrating the traditional values of Vietnamese families. Photo by courtesy/VNA

Recently honored as a “Vietnam Gold Tourism Product 2025,” Datanla Waterfall Tourist Area (under Lam Dong Tourism Joint Stock Company – Dalattourist) continues to affirm its appeal as a haven for adventure tourism. Visitors can conquer all seven majestic tiers of the falls, slide down natural waterfalls, zipline through the forest, or test their limits with canyoning amidst the pristine nature of Da Lat. Photo: Hoang Hieu – VNA

The Vietnam Post Corporation (Vietnam Post) has proactively developed and synchronously implemented a series of measures to assist commune-level People’s Committees in receiving and delivering the results of administrative procedures starting July 1, 2025 following the Prime Minister’s directive in Official Telegram. These efforts aim to contribute directly to building a modern, citizen-oriented administration in the two-tier government model. Photo: Minh Quyet – VNA

Vietnam began issuing level-2 electronic identification (e-ID) accounts for foreign residents in the country on July 1 as part of the national digital transformation agenda and governance modernisation efforts. According to the Ministry of Public Security’s Immigration Department, foreigners holding valid temporary or permanent residence permits in the country are eligible to obtain the digital ID, making it easier for them to complete online administrative procedures while reducing processing time, paperwork and direct contact requirements. The system ensures authentication accuracy and protects legitimate rights during their stay in Vietnam. VNA Photo: Phạm Kiên

Starting from July 1, 2025, Vietnam officially transitioned to a two-tier local administration model, comprising 34 provinces and centrally-run cities and 3,321 commune-level administrative units. This marks a historic milestone in the country’s administrative reform. Photo: VNA

The two-tier local administration model officially came into operation on July 1, with Vietnam now consisting of 34 provinces and cities, and 3,321 communes and wards. Marking this sacred historic moment and celebrating the country's entry into a new era of national advancement, at exactly midnight on July 1, nearly 1,000 monks, nuns, and Buddhist followers from the Vietnam Buddhist University (VBU) in Hanoi solemnly held a grand prayer ceremony for national peace and prosperity. At 6am on the day, pagodas across the country also simultaneously conduct a ceremonial ringing of bells and drums to pray for national peace, solidarity, and prosperity. VNA Photo: Minh Đức

Localities nationwide simultaneously held ceremonies on June 30 toannounce central and local resolutions and decisions regarding the organisationof the two-tier local government model. The events, broadcast live in eachprovince and city and connected via online platforms to every commune, ward andspecial zone, unveiled decisions related to the mergence of administrativeunits, the establishment of new Party organisations, and the appointment ofleaderships for the Party Committees, People's Councils, People's Committees,and Vietnam Fatherland Front Committees. The reform reduces the total number ofprovincial administrative units from 63 to 34, including 28 provinces and six centrally-runcities. VNA Photo

As climate change increasingly affects agricultural activities, Bac Lieu province is implementing solutions to promote sustainable rice production and improve farmers’ incomes. By 2030, the province aims to cultivate 46,000 hectares of rice under the project “Sustainable Development of One Million Hectares of High-Quality, Low-Emission Rice Associated with Green Growth in the Mekong Delta”. Photo by courtesy/VNA

Though not a native of Quang Ngai, it was here — amid the fierce years of war — that heroic doctor Dang Thuy Tram lived, fought, and gave her life, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of local people. The Party Committee, authorities, and residents continue to honor her legacy, ensuring that her spirit remains alive as a source of inspiration for current and future generations. Photo by courtesy/VNA