Society

HCM City facilitates the blinds to access IT

Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Information and Communication and the Blind Association held on December 29 an award ceremony for winners of the first informatics contest for the blinds.

Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Information and Communication and theBlind Association held on December 29 an award ceremony for winners ofthe first informatics contest for the blinds.

The event drewcontestants from 15 blind associations across the city, performing theirtests through special software which is designed for sight-impairedpeople.

Addressing at the event, Chairman of the Ho Chi MinhCity Blind Association Nguyen Dinh Kien said the competition aims toencourage the blinds to have access to and apply information technologyinto their study and work, thus helping them integrate into thecommunity and improving their working capacity.

Ho Chi Minh City Blind Association now has 1,381 members living in 24 districts.-VNA

Follow VietnamPlus

See more

Adrien Jean (right) introduces his photos at the exhibition (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam - France friendship captured through photographs

The “Lyon – Ho Chi Minh City” exhibition showcases 14 large-format photographs by Adrien Jean, a French photographer living in Ho Chi Minh City, and Tony Noel, a French-Vietnamese photographer based in Lyon. The works are displayed along the exterior wall of the French Residence at 6 Le Duan street, making art accessible to a wide public - from passers-by to photography enthusiasts.

VNA General Director Vu Viet Trang (second from right) and Permanent Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists Association Nguyen Duc Loi (fourth from right) present the A Prize to the winners. (Photo: VNA)

VNA Press Awards 2025 inspire professional commitment, innovation in digital era

A notable feature of this edition is the significant rise in both the number and diversity of entries across all categories. These figures reflect not only growing engagement but also a more coordinated and professional approach among editorial departments and domestic and overseas bureaus, forming a consistent and multi-dimensional flow of information.

Glenn Mathews and his wife hand over the diary of Vietnamese martyr Vo Van Cong to Minister Counsellor Nghiem Xuan Hoa, representing the Embassy of Vietnam in Australia. (Photo: VNA)

Australian veteran’s son returns diary of Vietnamese martyr

Entries in the diary show that Vo Van Cong was born in 1944 in the former Phuoc Tho commune, Nhon Trach district, Bien Hoa province, now Dong Nai province. He joined the revolutionary movement in April 1961 and was admitted to the Communist Party of Vietnam in May 1962.

A number of youth union members at the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences visit the exhibition space showcasing books and materials on culture. (Photo: VNA)

Book week underscores role of knowledge in policymaking

The highlight is a series of activities on April 21, including a book and document exhibition on culture, the launch of a special publication titled “Special scientific information for leadership” and initiatives promoting reading culture, including a book donation programme and a book review contest.

Hanoi has over 1,100 libraries and numerous cultural and educational spaces in the community. (Photo: VNA)

Spreading value of books, building foundations of learning society

Each weekend in Hanoi, the “Reading with Children” Club brings together students to practise reading, explore language, and express ideas creatively. According to founder of the club Nguyen Thuy Anh, the club encourages children to reflect, retell stories, and connect books with personal experiences, making reading more vivid and meaningful.

Automated ticketing system is used on the urban railway Cat Linh-Ha Dong line in Hanoi. (Photo: VNA)

Digital transformation powers Hanoi metro expansion

Beyond convenience, stable fares and the elimination of fuel, parking and maintenance costs have made urban rail increasingly attractive. The growing preference for metro travel is also contributing to a greener, more modern urban lifestyle.

Delegates cut the ribbon to inaugurate the operation of electric bus route No. 43. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi accelerates shift to green buses, targets 100% by 2030

In the 2027–2030 period, the city will accelerate the transition towards the complete phase-out of fossil fuel-powered buses. The share of electric and green energy-fueled buses is projected to reach 79–89% by 2029 and 100% by 2030.

At the second session of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Council (Photo: VNA)

Ho Chi Minh City greenlights central square, administrative centre in Thu Thiem

The new central city square and administrative centre will create a modern, centralised political-administrative complex for Ho Chi Minh City, designed to house around 8,000 officials, civil servants, and employees. It will also handle daily traffic of 1,500- 2,000 citizens and business representatives through a unified one-stop-shop administrative service system.