Vietnam, Laos strengthen cooperation in STEM and Robotics education

Traditional handicrafts and culturally distinctive souvenirs of Vietnam the 2025 Minsk International Charity Christmas Fair in Belarus attracted a lot of interest from visitors.

Speaking at the ceremony, Nguyen Thanh Ha, Consul General of Vietnam in Western Australia and the Northern Territory, praised the dedication of young Vietnamese living in the region. She emphasised that the success of Xuan Que Huong was built not only on its colourful performances, but also on the strong sense of responsibility and tireless behind-the-scenes efforts of students and volunteers.

The upgrade follows directives from the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Construction and is designed to ease pressure on existing infrastructure by lifting the terminal’s annual capacity from 10 million to 15 million passengers. For the first time, a full suite of automated technologies has been deployed across the terminal, giving travellers greater control over their procedures from check-in to boarding.

The contest served as a meaningful platform contributing to the preservation of the Vietnamese language and cultural identity within the Vietnamese community in Japan.

The province is urgently rebuilding houses that collapsed or were completely destroyed, with assistance of 120 million VND per house.

The “Quang Trung Campaign” to rapidly repair and rebuild houses for affected families in central provinces is seen as a catalyst for faster and more sustainable recovery, extending beyond housing restoration to reinforcing essential infrastructure, enhancing community resilience, and strengthening public trust in the Party and Government.

Two residents of Ly Son special zone in the central province of Quang Ngai received the State President's Bravery Order for their courageous rescue efforts during Typhoon Kalmaegi at a ceremony on December 15.

The 2025 VR Robots Competition left a strong positive impression and is expected to become a regular activity, contributing to the promotion of learning, scientific research and innovation among young people in Laos' Savannakhet province.

Citizens were recommended to stay updated on and strictly comply with regulations and guidance issued by local authorities.

Vietnam has climbed 12 places in the 2025 Chandler Good Government Index (CGGI) since 2021, rising from 60th to 48th globally. Over the past five years, the country has recorded progress in six out of seven CGGI pillars, making it one of Asia’s most notable governance reformers.

Based on assigned tasks and functions, ministries, agencies and local authorities are required to develop their own implementation plans for the Decision, which should be sent to the Ministry of Justice by March 1, 2026, for coordination and monitoring.

The strategy aims to build a high-quality Vietnamese intellectual workforce with a rational structure, identified as a core driving force for the rapid development of modern productive forces, as well as a leading force in digital transformation, innovation and international integration.

According to the first-instance verdict, Nguyen Van Hau, Chairman and CEO of Phuc Son Group, exploited personal and professional connections to bribe over 132 billion VND (over 5 million USD) to leaders of the Party Committees, People’s Committees, and departments in Vinh Phuc and Quang Ngai, enabling Phuc Son Group to secure many contracts in these localities and Phu Tho province.

Just one day after the Prime Minister issued a direction on implementing the Quang Trung Campaign, Military Region 5 had deployed 80 construction teams, each comprising 12-15 officers and soldiers, assigned to 80 locations to build 213 houses damaged in Gia Lai, Dak Lak and Khanh Hoa.

Addressing the gathering that drew more than 300 guests, Vietnamese Consul General in Sydney Nguyen Thanh Tung highlighted contributions of the Vietnamese community in Australia, particularly intellectuals and professionals, to the host society as well as cooperation between the two countries.

A report from the Central Steering Committee for National Target Programmes for the 2021–2025 period showed that poverty reduction in ethnic minority-inhabited areas averaged 3.2% per year. Per capita income among ethnic minorities is estimated to reach 45.9 million VND (1,760 USD) in 2025, a 3.3-fold increase from the 2020 level, well surpassing the goal of more than doubling.

Takebe Tsutomu, Special Advisor to the Japan–Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Alliance, highlighted the rapid and substantive development of the Vietnam–Japan comprehensive strategic partnership, while hailing the Vietnamese Government’s education reforms, particularly in higher education.

Vietnam is set to welcome its 20 millionth international tourist in a single year for the first time ever at Phu Quoc International Airport in An Giang province in mid-December, marking a historic milestone for the country’s tourism sector.

Professor Dr. Tran Hong Thai, Standing Vice President of the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) was granted an Honorary Doctorate by The Moscow Power Engineering Institute (MPEI) for his outstanding contributions to scientific development, education and international cooperation in the energy sector.

Quang Tri province suffered multiple consecutive disasters this year, resulting in heavy losses, including 21 deaths, 10 missing and 24 injured, with economic damage estimated at over 2.5 trillion VND./.