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Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet addresses the ceremony (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam announces candidacy for next-term UN Human Rights Council

Vietnam has officially announced its candidacy for re-election to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) for the 2026-2028 tenure.

The announcement was made at a ceremony held by the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the United Nations (UN) in New York on December 12 on the occasion of International Human Rights Day, drawing a large number of diplomats and representatives from various UN missions.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet, expressed gratitude to countries that supported Vietnam's election to the UNHRC for the 2023-2025 tenure. He reviewed the nation's contributions over the past two years, including advancing the rights of vulnerable groups, promoting gender equality, labour rights, access to healthcare services, and education, cited VNA.

Vietnam has also led key resolutions on the "75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights" and "Climate Change and Human Rights," marking its strong presence at the UN’s main body for human rights protection, he noted.

Viet underscored that Vietnam's remarkable socio-economic progress over nearly four decades of Doi Moi (Renewal) is resulted from the country’s policy of placing the people at the center of development, a balanced approach to the promotion of a broad spectrum of human rights, from civil and political to economic, social, and cultural rights, and the country’s priority to caring for and protecting vulnerable groups, as well as concerted efforts from the Vietnamese people, both domestically and abroad.

The official called on the international community to continue supporting Vietnam’s candidacy for the upcoming term. He affirmed that if re-elected, Vietnam will remain an active, constructive, and responsible member, working hard to realise the council’s common goal to ensure better human rights protection globally.

On the sidelines of the event, Ambassador Riyad Mansour, Permanent Observer of Palestine to the UN, praised Vietnam as a long-standing advocate for freedom and justice. He described the country as an essential player on the global stage, highlighting Vietnam’s active and responsible roles in organisations such as the Non-Aligned Movement, the Group of G77 and China, and the UNHRC. Ambassador Mansour expressed his confidence in Vietnam’s re-election. He stated that Vietnam’s continued presence in the UNHRC is crucial, pointing to the need for members like Vietnam at the UN.

Vietnamese, Kuwaiti foreign ministries hold fourth political consultation

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang and Assistant Foreign Minister for Asian Affairs of Kuwait Samee Essa Johar Hayat co-chaired the fourth political consultation between the two foreign ministries in Hanoi on December 13.

The Vietnamese Deputy FM congratulated Kuwait on its upcoming presidency of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in 2025, a testament to the country's growing stature in the region.

She reaffirmed Vietnam's commitment to reinforcing its friendship and cooperation with Kuwait, the first Gulf nation to establish diplomatic ties with Vietnam in 1976, shortly after its national reunification.

In response, Hayat acknowledged the regular mutual support at international forums and organisations and expressed the Kuwaiti Government’s wish to consolidate political trust and create breakthroughs in bilateral ties across multiple areas.

Recognizing huge potential to improve the effectiveness of their collaboration, the two sides agreed on measures to step up cooperation in the time to come, with priority given to delegation exchange at all levels as well as people-to-people exchanges, particularly among the youth, according to VOV.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang (R) and Assistant Foreign Minister for Asian Affairs of Kuwait Samee Essa Johar Hayat.

Johar Hayat handed over a letter from Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya inviting Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son to visit Kuwait at a mutually convenient time to further advance bilateral ties.

In a bid to boost trade, Hang proposed augmenting cooperation in sharing expertise, mutual recognition, and investment in Halal product production with a view to increasing Vietnam's exports to Kuwait and the broader Gulf region.

Both sides consented to work closely to draw investment, particularly from the Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA), into Vietnam. They also examined ways to improve the efficiency of the Nghi Son refinery project, ensuring it continues to contribute positively to both countries’ socio-economic development.

They also discussed promising areas such as food security, tourism, labour and aviation, with both sides pledging to expedite negotiations and finalise documents to refine the legal framework for bilateral cooperation.

Hang suggested that Kuwait consider increasing scholarships for Vietnamese students and collaborate closely with Vietnam to effectively deploy and expand ODA cooperation projects in the future.

Host and guest also compared notes on global and regional issues of shared concern such as the East Sea and the Middle East.

Concerning cooperation at multilateral forums, they pledged to continue offering mutual support at international and regional organizations, especially within the frameworks of the United Nations, ASEAN, GCC, and the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in both regions and the world as a whole.

Vietnam fulfils role as Chair of ASEAN Spouses Circle

The ASEAN Spouses Circle (ASC) and its partners have applauded Vietnam’s successful presidency of the circle in 2024 at a recent meeting held in Washington, D.C.

The meeting, aimed at reviewing the year’s activities under the leadership of the ASC 2024 Chair – the Vietnamese Spouses Association in Washington, highlighted Vietnam’s outstanding contributions. Members noted that Vietnam successfully fulfilled its responsibilities by organising numerous vibrant and meaningful events, which significantly promoted the cultures of ASEAN member states to the American public and the international community in the DMV area (Washington D.C, Maryland, and Virginia). Among the highlights were the ASEAN Cultural Day and the ASEAN & Friends Bazaar, both of which celebrated the diverse cultural heritage of the ASEAN community.

Tran Thi Bich Van, President of ASC 2024, emphasised that hosting monthly activities, with each ASEAN member country taking turns, aims to introduce the unique cultures of ASEAN member states while also fostering an understanding of American history and culture. This not only strengthens unity and bonds among ASC members but also deepens cultural connections with local communities, she said.

With unanimous agreement from all ASC members, Van handed over the ASC Presidency 2025 to Soo Fen Teng, the spouse of Singaporean Ambassador to the US, VNA reported.

Members of the ASEAN Spouses Circle in Washington D.C pose for a group photo (Photo: VNA)

At the year-end gathering, Vietnam also showcased its unique bamboo toothpick art (Boarc), a technique integrating bamboo toothpicks into intricate designs. ASC members enthusiastically joined in by placing the final toothpicks to complete the ASC logo.

The Vietnamese spouses also guided participants how to create lifelike floral decorations on jelly cakes and introduced typical Vietnamese daily meals.

Fireworks to light up Ho Chi Minh City skies on New Year’s Eve

Both locals and tourists in Ho Chi Minh City will be entertained with dazzling firework displays at two sites across the southern city as part of efforts to welcome in the New Year and the start of 2025.

The series of 15-minute firework performances will start as soon as the clock hits midnight on the final day of the year to mark the beginning of the New Year.

High-range fireworks will light up the skies over the entrance of the Saigon River Tunnel in Thu Duc City for people to enjoy, cited VOV.

Photo: VOV

Elsewhere, low-range fireworks will also be on display at Dam Sen Theme Park in District 11. Furthermore, Ho Chi Minh City plans to hold countdown events at Nguyen Hue pedestrian street and Bach Dang Wharf Park, running from 7 p.m. on December 31 to 0:30 a.m. on January 1, 2025.

Moreover, art performances will get underway across 12 districts on December 31 and January 1, 2025.

New Year celebrations will also take place throughout the southern metropolis, including a marathon, an international martial arts festival, and a cycling race.

Vietnam listed among world’s 25 best new things to do in 2025

Traveling across the nation by vintage steam train has been named among the list of the 25 best new things to do in the world in 2025, as compiled by British magazine Time Out.

Coming in at seventh place is a vintage steam train journey across the country that should chug out of the station by early 2025.

As Time Out contributor Liv Kelly reports, these are original steam trains from the 1960s that have been restored to beautiful working condition under the hands of some of the last remaining Vietnamese steam engineers.

These trains will travel between Da Nang and Hue and also have themed dining menus at the three stops of Kim Lien (Da Nang), Lang Co, and Hue.

Traveling across Vietnam by vintage steam train is one of the 25 best new things to do in the world in 2025. (Photo courtesy of Revolution Express)

From beautifully restored vintage trains, visitors will be able to contemplate many sightseeing spots, ranging from the steep limestone mountains and the rice-terraced hills to its island-dotted coast.

Joining a once-every-quarter-century spiritual celebration in Italy took the lead in the list of 25 best new things to do in the world in 2025. Cycling, walking, or paddling along Australia’s longest river came in second.

The third position went to FENIX, which is the world’s first museum to tell stories of migration through art-open in the Netherlands.

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