Society

Regional meeting focuses on legal empowerment

Legal empowerment practitioners, representatives of governments and civil society organisations from 17 countries across the Asia-Pacific region gathered in Hanoi on August 27 for the third annual meeting of the Legal Empowerment Asia Partnership.
Legal empowerment practitioners, representatives of governments andcivil society organisations from 17 countries across the Asia-Pacificregion gathered in Hanoi on August 27 for the third annual meeting ofthe Legal Empowerment Asia Partnership.

Themeeting was organised by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)in coordination with the Vietnam Lawyers’ Association.

Speaking at the event, UNDP Acting Country Director for VietnamBakhodir Burkhanov said justice access and legal rights, labour rights,property rights and business rights are four key aspects in empoweringthe poor, helping them use the law as a shield to protect theirlivelihood and business.

During the meeting,participants discussed methods to implement economic and politicalrights and measures to build on the achievements in the field of legalempowerment, as well as in reaching the Millennium Development Goals.

The sharing of experiences in assisting activities of legalempowerment in Vietnam and other Asian countries were also high onthe meeting’s agenda.

On the occasion, the UNDPpublished a book on concepts and suggestions on specific ways to realisesocial and economic rights and accelerate achievements of theMillennium Development Goals.-VNA
Follow VietnamPlus

See more

Deputy Prime Minister Le Tien Chau addresses the meeting (Photo: VNA)

Deputy PM asks for highest education quality, safety for students

Regarding the construction of inter-level boarding schools in border communes, all 108 schools under Phase 1 opened for the 2026-2027 academic year, with 40 having completed all construction items. Procedures for groundbreaking at 121 schools under Phase 2 across 17 provinces and cities have been completed, with all projects targeted for completion before August 30, 2027.

Hanoi leaders attend the inauguration and groundbreaking ceremonies for projects. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi launches 18 key projects worth nearly 4.94 billion USD

The city announced 292 projects with a combined investment of 384.886 trillion VND (14.92 billion USD), including 18 key projects worth 127.46 trillion VND, focusing on transport, infrastructure, environmental protection and public services.

With just a smartphone, a wealth of knowledge spanning tens of thousands of books can now be accessed in an instant. (Photo: Thanh Nien Newspaper)

Vietnam’s first shared digital library platform launched

Vietnam Digital Library Joint Stock Company (ViLiB) launched its “Digital Knowledge Space – Shared Digital Library” platform in Ho Chi Minh City on October 8, enabling libraries, schools and organisations to connect and share digital resources, thereby broadening access to books and knowledge.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung are welcomed by staff of the Vietnamese Embassy, representatives of Vietnamese agencies and associations, and members of the Vietnamese community in Laos on October 9, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam–Laos special ties nurtured by the people: PM Le Minh Hung

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung urged Vietnamese people in Laos to maintain solidarity, integrate proactively, respect Lao laws and educate younger generations about their national roots and the special Vietnam–Laos relationship. Calling Laos a country undergoing dynamic transformation with emerging opportunities

A cultural, sports, and tourism exchange of the Vietnam-Laos border areas in 2022. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, Laos enhance legal awareness among border village leaders

The conference aimed to help officials, specialised forces and village leaders gain a better understanding of border-related policies and laws, thereby enhancing their sense of responsibility for managing and protecting the border line and markers, maintaining public order and promoting economic development in border areas.

The international workshop on empowering women in the care economy on October 8, 2026 (Photo: VNA)

Int’l workshop focuses on women’s empowerment in the care economy

Vietnam has built a relatively comprehensive legal and policy framework to underpin the sector, including the Labour Code, the Law on Gender Equality, the Law on Social Insurance, the Law on Population and the National Strategy on Gender Equality for 2021-2030. Together, they set goals and measures to narrow gender gaps and give women and men equal opportunities to benefit across a range of areas.

A sea turtle nest found at Mui Tau Beach on Hon Cau Island after a night of rain. (Photo: VNA)

Sea turtle nests on Lam Dong's Hon Cau island for sixth time this year

Since the beginning of 2026, sea turtles have nested six times at three beaches on Hon Cau island, namely Nhat, Mui Tau and Ba Hon. Three nests were left undisturbed at safe locations, while another three were relocated to the incubation area for protection, involving a total of 246 eggs.

The “Colours of the Five Continents” street festival tales place at the Hoan Kiem Lake pedestrian zone, attracting large crowds of locals and international visitors (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam tourism gains appeal from safety, diverse experiences

According to international reports referenced by the WEF, Vietnam has a high level of safety awareness, a low crime rate and a terrorism impact score of zero. These factors helped place the country’s Safety and Security indicator among the world’s highest in the TTDI 2026 rankings.

At Phong Nha communal Public Administration Service Centre in Quang Tri province (Photo: VNA)

Administrative reform shifts focus to practical results

Agencies largely kept the receipt, processing and return of administrative results running continuously, openly and transparently, with citizens and firms at the centre of public service delivery. They also kept upgrading, linking and using the databases serving administrative processing, carried out tasks under the 100-day Action Plan for the Politburo's Resolution 57-NQ/TW, and rolled out new initiatives and models to lift service quality.

Rendering of the APEC Phu Quoc Convention and Exhibition Centre and multipurpose performance venue (Photo: Sun Group)

Inside Phu Quoc’s APEC landmarks: Features ‘never seen before’

Nicolas Medrano, Design Principle and SOM’s Asia-Pacific Practice Leader, said from the outset, the project was designed to fit Phu Quoc's terrain, coastline, elevation and geography. It includes extensive outdoor public spaces that connect people directly with nature, providing a foundation built to adapt, withstand challenges and develop sustainably over the next century.