Society

Ha Noi has achieved many accomplishments in building a creative city; however, the capital still needs new breakthroughs to fully harness its advantages and potential. The city is strengthening experience-sharing and international cooperation so that this model can truly contribute to socio-economic development.

It also marks one of the most ambitious social-development commitments of the coming decade, with State budget resources of about 423 trillion VND (16.05 billion USD) allocated for 2026–2030 alone.

As of the end of November 2025, Viet Nam had more than 20.04 million people enrolled in social insurance, accounting for 42.4% of the working-age population.

The Sweden–Viet Nam Health Innovation Symposium brings together policymakers, hospital leaders, researchers and innovators to accelerate Viet Nam’s transition towards preventive, digital and sustainable healthcare.

Traffic congestion, environmental pollution, and numerous shortcomings in urban management are major challenges hindering Ha Noi’s development into a civilised and modern city.

Half a century after the war, bombs and explosive remnants of war (ERW) remain buried beneath the ground, posing a constant threat to millions of people. Thanks to the efforts of the Government, the Ministry of National Defence, the Viet Nam National Mine Action Centre (VNMAC), and support from the international community, the work of clearing contaminated land is delivering tangible results.

Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Vu Chien Thang and Vietnamese Ambassador to Austria Vu Le Thai Hoang co-chaired the Viet Nam - Austria forum on skilled labour and vocational training on December 10 during a working trip to Europe, drawing 320 participants onsite and online.

To fundamentally and comprehensively reform education and training, Party committees and the political system at all levels have expressed the strong determination and taken concrete action in recent years, with priority given to areas facing extreme difficulties, ethnic minority-inhabited areas, border regions, islands, and policy beneficiaries.

The Law on amendments and supplements to several articles of the Law on Education, passed by the National Assembly on December 10, contains several breakthrough provisions that not only address current shortcomings but also establish a sustainable policy framework aligned with development requirements for many years to come.

Thanks to the determination of the entire political system and the active participation of all social strata, poverty alleviation efforts in Da Nang City during the 2021–2025 period have yielded remarkable results.

Resolution No. 71-NQ/TW affirms that vocational education plays a pivotal role in developing a highly skilled workforce and constitutes an essential component of “an open, interconnected, and lifelong learning education system.”

Although the health insurance coverage rate in Viet Nam reached 94.2% in 2024 and the healthcare network has been expanded to the commune level, out-of-pocket spending by people still accounts for more than 40% of total health expenditure. Therefore, a hospital fee exemption policy is an objective and necessary requirement to ensure the right to healthcare for all people.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has directed ministries, sectors and localities to pursue the dual goal of combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing while fostering sustainable fisheries, thus safeguarding national reputation and interests and protecting the livelihoods of coastal communities.

Equipping pupils and students with “digital culture” and appropriate behavioural skills in cyberspace needs to become an integral part of building school culture and educating morality and lifestyle in the current context. This not only helps protect young people but also contributes to developing a safe, healthy and humane online environment.

Ho Chi Minh City’s Ben Thanh-Suoi Tien metro line is expected to be extended to Long Thanh International Airport, which is currently under construction in Dong Nai Province.

Ho Chi Minh City will light up the sky with fireworks displays at four locations on January 1, 2026 to ring in the New Year 2026.

In the context of rapid digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming an important driver of innovation in education and training. Educational institutions, especially higher education institutions, need to intensify reform and effectively harness AI to improve training quality in the new context.

A draft Population Law is expected to be passed at the ongoing 10th plenary session of the 15th National Assembly. One of the issues attracting considerable feedback is the need for long-term solutions to maintain the replacement fertility rate.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on the morning of December 9 ordered accelerating construction and repair of homes for residents affected by storms and floods, stressing that any shortfalls must be addressed.

President of the Lao Journalists’ Association (LJA) Savanhkhone Razmountry on December 8 expressed wish for more professional experience exchanges with the Viet Nam Journalists’ Association (VJA), including dispatching seasoned Vietnamese experts to bolster reporting skills in Laos.