Major prizes await participants in “Happy Vietnam 2025” award
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has announced substantial prize money for its “Happy Vietnam 2025” award, an annual human rights media contest, with the grand prize reaching 50 million VND (over 1,900 USD).
Hanoi (VNA) - The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has announced substantial prize money for its “Happy Vietnam 2025” award, an annual human rights media contest, with the grand prize reaching 50 million VND (over 1,900 USD).
Now in its third year, the award seeks to uncover and honour meaningful moments and stories that reflect the diverse political, economic, cultural, and social life of the country. Through photographs and videos submitted by both amateur and professional creators, Vietnamese or foreign, aged 15 and above, the contest showcases the human rights achievements that Vietnam has carved out, while promoting the images of a peaceful, beautiful, dynamic and happy nation on the global stage.
All entries will undergo a rigorous selection process based on clear and transparent criteria, with the judging panel comprising leading journalists, respected artists, and photography and film experts. Submissions will be reviewed in pre-screening and final rounds.
For the photogr🎉aphy category, entries must be single photos or photo series in digital jpg format with a minimum shortest side of 3,000ᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚ pixels. Each author may submit unlimited works, including both single photos and photo series.
Visitors at the photo exhibition of the Happy Vietnam 2024 contest. (Photo: VNA)
Photo series comprise a minimum of five and a maximum of ten images. They should be clearly numbered and include a layout and a short description of up to 150 words.
In the video category, submissions must be in digital mp4 format with a minimum resolution of Full HD. Each video must not exceed five minutes in length or 500MB in file size. Contestants are free to use any video recording device, from professional cameras to smartphones.
All entries must have been created between January 1, 2023, and the submission deadline. Works must not have previously won or been exhibited at regional, national, or international events organised or co-organised by the Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists. Authors must be responsible for the copyright status of their submissions.
Detailed submission guidelines and the official contest rules are available at //happy.vietnam.vn.
Each category offers one first prize (50 million VND or over 1,900 USD), two second ♑prizes (30 million VND each), three third prizes (15 million VND each), an⛦d ten consolation prizes (5 million VND each)./.
The contest calls for Vietnamese citizens, overseas Vietnamese, and international friends to share compelling photographs and videos that illustrate Vietnam’s stories of happiness, cultural richness, and socio-economic achievements.
Throughout the 59th session of the UNHRC, Vietnam’s delegation demonstrated a proactive, constructive, and responsible approach—engaging in dialogue, contributing to resolutions, and co-sponsoring major initiatives.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son commended the AICHR’s contributions over the past 15 years and expressed confidence in its continued role in advancing the realisation of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and other regional cooperation strategies.
The programme, featuring tens of thousands of soldiers and people, aimed to spread messages of cultural values, creativity and the spirit of selflessness for the country and devotion to the people.
Within the framework of the August 9 programme co-hosted by the Vietnamese Embassy in Cambodia and members of the Vietnam–Cambodia Business Association (VCBA), around 600 local residents and people of Vietnamese origin received general health check-ups, basic tests, medical consultations, free medicine, and gift packages containing daily necessities.
Party General Secretary To Lam, his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly, and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation attended the inauguration ceremony of a statue of late President Ho Chi Minh in the Vietnamese Embassy’s campus in Seoul, the RoK, on August 10.
More than 5,000 people gathered at Dam Sen Cultural Park in Ho Chi Minh City for the solidarity walk for victims of Agent Orange/dioxin (AO), marking the 64th anniversary of the AO disaster in Vietnam (August 10, 1961 – 2025).
The embassy advises Vietnamese citizens travelling in Greece that they should avoid standing close to cliff edges, boat sides, and refrain from going out to sea during storms to prevent unfortunate incidents.
Hanoi is advancing green transportation as part of its sustainability goals but faces challenges like limited charging infrastructure, inconsistent regulations, and high electric vehicle costs.
Vietnam has over 4.8 million people exposed to AO/dioxin, including hundreds of thousands in the second, third, and even fourth generations. Many live with severe disabilities, facing high medical costs and loss of earning capacity.
Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Hoang Giang reaffirmed that amnesty is a humanitarian policy of the Party and State, reflecting the Vietnamese tradition of compassion and winning attention and high praise both domestically and internationally.
Vietnam officially grants limited-term visa-free entry to high-profile foreigners whose presence is deemed beneficial to the country’s socio-economic development.
With support from the Vietnamese Association in Ufa, Vietnamese language classes for children have been offered for many years. Currently, 60 children of various ages are attending two classes taught by Duc Anh, free of charge.
Vietnam ranked among the top four countries and territories at the 2025 International Olympiad on Artificial Intelligence (IOAI), reaffirming its strong position in international academic competitions.
All 20 crew members aboard the Vietnamese oil tanker GT Unity were successfully rescued from a fire in the vessel’s engine room, thanks to the swift response of the Liberian-flagged ship Androusa and Vietnamese maritime rescue teams.
Describing Agent Orange as one of the most severe and enduring legacies of the war in Vietnam, Vietnam's former Honorary Consul to Belgium Joseph-Michel de Grand Ry warned that its impact – still affecting generations more than five decades later – could last another two to three decades.
Running from August 4 to September 2, under the hashtag #TuHaoVietNam, the campaign invites participants in two categories: “I Love My Country” video clips and “I Love My Country” check-in photos.
Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP, which took effect on the issuance date, introduces amendments that integrate the procedure for reporting and explaining the demand for foreign workers into the process of submitting applications for work permits.
With a tight 13-month deadline, the move is under a strategic and urgent policy to bridge educational gaps, train the local workforce, and shore up territorial sovereignty in some of the country’s most remote areas.
The parade and personnel send-off ceremony will officially take place on August 10 at the area surrounding the Statue of King Ly Thai To and Dinh Tien Hoang street of Hoan Kiem ward, with the participation of nearly 3,000 officers, soldiers, and local residents.
According to national technical regulations, AIS installation is mandatory for boats carrying more than 50 passengers. However, operators of smaller vessels (under 50 seats) in Ha Long Bay have voluntarily committed to completing installation by the deadline to enhance operational safety.
The activities include a Vietnamese language teaching training course for overseas Vietnamese teachers from August 13 to 28 in Hanoi, Ninh Binh, and Thai Nguyen.
Specifically, the ships will carry out patrols from 7am to 6pm daily along the main tourist routes in Ha Long Bay, with one ship permanently stationed at Ti Top island. From 6pm to 7am the following day, the mobile vessels return to Tuan Chau island to maintain a 24/7 on-call duty shift, ensuring constant readiness.
