COVID-19 tracing app Bluezone hits 15.7 million users

Some 15.7 million smartphone users had downloaded Bluezone, a locally-developed contact-tracing app to identify and alert people who have interacted with COVID-19 patients, as of 11am on August 11, according to the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC).
COVID-19 tracing app Bluezone hits 15.7 million users ảnh 1Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - Some 15.7 millionsmartphone users had downloaded Bluezone, a locally-developed contact-tracingapp to identify and alert people who have interacted with COVID-19 patients, asof 11am on August 11, according to the Ministry of Information andCommunications (MIC).

The number was 15.5 million higher than thaton July 25, when Vietnam confirmed its first case of community transmissionafter 99 days, for an average of over a million downloads a day.

The central city of Da Nang saw thehighest rate of smartphone users downloading the app, at 34.13 percent. It wasfollowed by the capital city of Hanoi with 23.83 percent; the northern provinceof Quang Ninh, 22.61 percent; Ho Chi Minh City, 22.05 percent; and the northernprovince of Bac Ninh,17.84 percent.

As of August 6, thanks to the app, thehealth sector had verified 21 cases of F1 persons (who had close contact withCOVID-19 patients, or F0), and F2 persons (who had been in close contact withF1).

Minister of Information and CommunicationsNguyen Manh Hung has urged localities to step up communications work to have atleast 30-40 percent of the population using the app.

While chairing an online meeting earlierthis month, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc stressed that each citizen is asoldier and each house, hamlet, and residential area is a fortress in the fightagainst the pandemic.

He therefore recommended that everyone installthe Bluezone app to facilitate the rapid tracing of infections.

Developed by tech firmBkav, the app uses Bluetooth Low Energy, a wireless personal area networktechnology, to link with smartphones within a two-meter distance.

If a user is positive for SARS-CoV-2 (known asperson F0), health authorities can identify those who had close contact with F1,and the system will alert them about the risk of infection.

They will be also provided with instructionson contacting health authorities for assistance.

The app is completely confidential, anonymous,and transparent, as it only stores data on users’ phones and does not transferinformation or locations to the system.

The development of Bluezone was overseenby MIC and the Ministry of Health (MoH). It was launched on April 18.

Other apps have also proven effective inCOVID-19 prevention and control.

As of August 11, nearly 874,500 medicaldeclarations had been made via “tokhaiyte.vn” and the Vietnam HealthDeclaration rolled out by the Viettel Military Industry and Telecoms Group(Viettel).

Another 17.8 million health declarationswere made via NCOVI, another app being used in the fight against the disease.

MIC and MoH have suggested that allVietnamese people use NCOVI to report their health status and obtain up-to-dateinformation./.
VNA

See more

Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Thanh visits Vietnamese Heroic Mother Nguyen Thi Thom. (Photo: VNA)

NA Vice Chairwoman presents Tet gifts in Ninh Binh province

Thanh handed over 1,564 gift packages, each worth 1 million VND (about 37 USD), to policy beneficiary families, the poor and those in difficult circumstances. The gifts were distributed through the provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, socio-political organisations, relevant associations and local authorities.

Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki (first row, left) and UNICEF Representative in Vietnam Silvia Danailov exchange the notes at the ceremony. (Photo: VNA)

Japan, UNICEF join hands to strengthen children’s resilience to natural disasters, climate change

Natural disasters in Vietnam have been increasing in both frequency and intensity. Typhoon No.3 in 2024 (Yagi), along with severe floods, inundation and landslides in 2025, caused significant human and material losses. This underscores the need for targeted and sustainable investments in disaster risk reduction and early warning, particularly for children and vulnerable communities.

Nguyen Thanh Tung, head of the VEPH delegation, speaks at the meeting with Cuban Vice Minister of Higher Education Reynaldo Veláquez Zaldivar. (Photo published by VNA)

Vietnam, Cuba strengthen cooperation in educational publishing

During a working session with Cuban Vice Minister of Higher Education Reynaldo Veláquez Zaldivar, the two sides discussed coordination to support Cuba in printing and distributing books in the coming period, while enhancing information exchange and sharing experience in the publishing sector.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Minh Tam (third from left) and Lao Party and State leaders at the Tet gathering (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam–Laos solidarity highlighted in Tet gathering

Regarding bilateral ties, Ambassador Nguyen Minh Tam affirmed that Vietnam–Laos relations have been elevated to a new height as a great friendship, special solidarity, comprehensive cooperation and strategic cohesion framework following the state visit to Laos by Party General Secretary To Lam in December 2025.

Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

Resolution 71 seeks to renew teaching, learning toward effectiveness

Dr Nguyen Thi Giang from the Institute of Linguistics under the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences said that the practical implementation of Resolution No. 71 should focus on enhancing learners’ learning capacity, viewing this as the starting point for renewing teaching and learning toward substance and effectiveness.

A booth showcasing bamboo and rattan handicrafts from Ninh So craft village in Hong Van commune (Hanoi) at the Spring Fair 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Spring Fair 2026: Keeping spirit of Vietnamese bamboo alive in modern life

In addition, bamboo and rattan products are highly versatile, meeting a wide range of daily needs - from household items to interior décor and gifts. Thanks to artisans’ skill, each product bears its own distinctive character, reflecting aesthetic value and Vietnam’s traditional cultural identity. This is why bamboo and rattan products are increasingly embraced by diverse consumer groups and are steadily making their way onto international markets.

Foreign tourists visit Pu Luong in Thanh Hoa province. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam ranked among world’s top retirement destinations

Vietnam ranked 9th in the 2026 list, earning high marks for its affordable living costs, diverse living environment, and steadily improving healthcare system and urban infrastructure. While living costs may be slightly higher than in some other Asian destinations, the country is viewed as offering a balanced combination of affordability, living conditions and long-term development potential.

A lion dance performance by the Hwaseong Lion Dance troupe at the programme. (Photo: VNA)

Homeland spring gathering tightens Vietnam–Korea community links

Overseas Vietnamese, wherever they live and work, always turn toward the homeland and wish to contribute knowledge, experience, resources and responsibility to national development. Following the 14th National Party Congress, the community expects reform policies and strategic orientations to soon materialise, unlocking the collective strength of society to help Vietnam advance further.

Passengers travel on urban railway Line 2A Cat Linh-Ha Dong. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi Metro adjusts peak hours, train schedules on two urban railway lines

Hanoi Railway Company Limited (Hanoi Metro) has announced that to better meet rising passenger travel demand, especially during peak hours, it will adjust peak-hour time frames and apply new train schedules on both urban railway Line 2A Cat Linh–Ha Dong and Line 3.1 Nhon–Hanoi Station from February 9.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu commends collectives that have made significant contributions to community work in 2025. (Photo: VNA)

Homeland Spring 2026 brings overseas Vietnamese together in Japan

The ambassador expressed his delight at the growing strength of the Vietnamese community in Japan and its active contributions to Vietnam’s development as well as to the bilateral ties. Currently, the Vietnamese community in Japan remains the second-largest of its kind in the world, with around 700,000 people and an average annual increase of 50,000–60,000.