VIETNAM: NEW ERA

Thousands of officers, soldiers, and civilians on August 30 morning took part in the final state-level rehearsal for the coming grand parade celebrating the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day at Ba Dinh Square, Hanoi.

From August 30 to September 2, Hanoi will waive fares on subsidised public transport services (buses and urban railways) for residents and visitors. This not only facilitates travel to revolutionary historical sites and participation in commemorative events, but also helps ease traffic congestion, and promote the image of a modern, civilised and welcoming capital.

Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Thanh Man held talks with Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives (Parliament) Gerry Brownlee in Hanoi on August 28. The event followed a welcome ceremony for the guest, who is on an official visit to Vietnam from August 27 to 31.

All five Hanoi students won medals at International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics 2025 (IOAA 2025) in India, securing 1 gold, 3 silver and 1 bronze. The competition brought together nearly 300 students from 66 countries and territories.

Despite significant global challenges, Vietnam has achieved remarkable economic progress in recent years, the Asian Development Bank (ADB)'s Country Director for Vietnam Shantanu Chakraborty has said.

Present in Vietnam since 1994, AFD has accompanied the country for 31 years. As France’s bilateral development bank, together with its affiliates Proparco and Expertise France, AFD has committed a total of 3.2 billion EUR (around 3.73 billion USD) in support of Vietnam.

Vietnam is emerging as a safe and attractive destination with great potential to attract travellers shifting from regional markets. However, to turn short-term advantages into long-term momentum, the country’s tourism sector needs decisive action – not only to attract and retain visitors, but also to affirm its position on the global tourism map.

The Government held a grand ceremony in Hanoi on August 20, to celebrate its 80th founding anniversary (August 28, 1945–2025), marking its first dedicated anniversary event.

The exhibition “80 Years of Independence – Freedom – Happiness” will take place from August 28 to September 5 at the National Exhibition Center in Dong Anh, Hanoi. To support visitors to the exhibition, the municipal transport sector plans to operate nearly 900 daily bus trips daily on 20 routes connecting with the center.

Experts and foreign business leaders have expressed optimism that Vietnam’s recent changes to visa and foreign labour policies will enhance the country’s competitiveness and attract greater investment, while acknowledging that certain challenges remain.

The groundbreaking and inauguration ceremony was held online, connecting 80 locations across cities and 34 provinces and cities nationwide.

The event will be held at the National Exposition Centre as the main venue, connected with 79 other sites across the 34 provinces and cities via teleconferencing.

A business networking seminar to promote Vietnamese rice products was held in Hong Kong (China) on August 15, attracting the participation of about 40 major Vietnamese rice and agricultural exporters along with representatives of rice trading enterprises in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

A cultural extravaganza titled “Tu hao la nguoi Viet Nam” (Proud to be Vietnamese) in Hanoi on August 17 evening fostered deep gratitude to the Party, President Ho Chi minh, and generations of leaders, compatriots, and soldiers who sacrificed their lives for national independence and reunification