A delegation from Vietnam’s Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs, led by Minister Nguyen Dinh Khang, visited the Vatican's Secretariat of State, Dicastery for Evangelisation, Dicastery for Communication and Vatican Radio.
Nguyen Tien Hai, Secretary of the An Giang provincial Party Committee, was assigned as Acting Minister of Home Affairs; while Nguyen Hoai Anh, Chairman of the Thanh Hoa People’s Committee, was appointed Permanent Deputy Minister of Ethnic and Religious Affairs.
Emphasising the exacting requirements of national development in the coming period, particularly the pursuit of double-digit growth, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung stated that the ministries and agency concerned will need to focus on effectively implementing their assigned core tasks.
Speaking during the visit, Minister of Ethnic and Religious AffairsY Thong highlighted the sacred significance of the traditional Chol Chnam Thmay festival, describing it as a distinctive cultural tradition and an occasion for the Khmer people to honour their roots and strengthen community solidarity.
On April 12, a delegation from the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs, led by Deputy Minister Y Thong, visited and extended New Year greetings to the Khmer ethnic community in Can Tho City on the occasion of the traditional Chol Chnam Thmay Festival 2026.
Vietnam’s view is that unity among ethnic groups is a strategic issue within the broader framework of national solidarity. Stability is an important foundation for sustainable and faster development.
The PM asked the newly appointed to decisively guide their ministries and agencies in performing assigned tasks, with a strong focus on implementing the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress and other key directives and resolutions of the Party, National Assembly and Government, particularly the Politburo’s nine specialised resolutions in critical areas.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has called on ministries, central agencies, and local authorities to take urgent and coordinated action to fulfil the national goal of doing away with all makeshift and substandard housing by August 31, 2025.
More than 206,000 makeshift and dilapidated houses across Vietnam have been removed as of mid-June, according to the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs.
With the unwavering commitment of the political system, active grassroots participation, and widespread social support, Vietnam is well-positioned to meet its goal of eliminating all substandard housing by October 31.
This nationwide drive is part of an ongoing emulation campaign launched by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and calling for concerted efforts to eliminate substandard houses by the end of this year.
Vietnam has so far replaced 195,068 makeshift and dilapidated houses, including 20,444 for people who rendered service to the revolution, 62,116 under two national target programmes, and 112,508 under the campaign on elimination of substandard houses.
Provinces and cities across Vietnam are making every effort to remove or rebuild substandard homes nationwide by the end of this year.
According to the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs, 54 centrally-run cities and provinces approved plans to do away with substandard houses as of March 16.
The Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs, which officially commenced operations on March 1, 2025, represents a significant milestone in the nation’s governance.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh directed the newly established ministry to fully implement Party guidelines and state policies, ensuring equal access to opportunities for all ethnic groups while countering divisive efforts by hostile forces.