Diplomats of G4 countries visit HCM City-based Village Chance
Ambassadors and Chargé d'affaires to Vietnam of the G4 countries, namely New Zealand, Canada, Norway and Switzerland, recently visited Village Chance - a complex of schools and apartments for the disabled, poor and orphaned children, in Ho Chi Minh City ahead of the Lunar New Year (Tet) festival.
Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam Shawn Steil passes the ball during a special match between the representatives of the four G4 countries (Photo taken from the video clip)
HCM City (VNA) – Ambassadors and Chargé d'affaires to Vietnam of the G4 countries, namely New Zealand, Canada, Norway and Switzerland, recently visited Village Chance - a complex of schools and apartments for the disabled, poor and orphaned children, in Ho Chi Minh City ahead of the Lunar New Year (Tet) festival.
They played sports with disabled children and conveyed New Year wishes which were recorded in a video clip lasting over three minutes.
Founded in 1993, Village Chance is part of Maison Chance project invested by Maison Chance whose founder is Tim Aline Rebeaud, a Swiss woman dedicated to the disabled and the poor in Vietnam, and the HCM City Sponsoring Association for Poor Patients. It has supported hundreds of the less fortunate in Vietnam since its establishment.
New Zealand Ambassador to Vietnam Trendene Dobson called for mitigating barriers to the handicapped in their daily lives, adding that an inclusive society is the one that recognises and respects all individuals, including those with disabilities, as equal partners.
Undertaking his mission in Vietnam in May 2022, Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam Shawn Steil expressed his support for an inclusive education in Vietnam which enables everyone to make the most of their potential.
In the video clip, Norwegian Ambassador to Vietnam Hilde Solbakken was seen to draw cat and décor paintings for Tet. She said sustainable employment is key to ending poverty and ensuring social integration. She wished that everyone would have a chance to integrate into and proudly join labour force this year, toward achieving a prosperous and inclusive society.
Stressing that solidarity brings about a stronger and richer society, Swiss Chargé d'affaires to Vietnam thanked Maison Chance for creating a shelter for those in need and inviting all to act in unity together./.
The Ambassadors of Canada, New Zealand, Norway and Switzerland (the Group of Four - G4) recently spent a day making cookies with the women of Vietnam’s Hope Box, a shelter for victims of gender-based violence and sharing their stories of hope for the New Year.
On the threshold of the Lunar New Year (Tet), Ambassadors to Vietnam of the G4 countries, namely New Zealand, Canada, Norway and Switzerland, have visited Hope Box, a shelter for victims of gender-based violence, in Hanoi.
On the eve of the New Year of the Tiger, New Zealand Ambassador Tredene Dobson, Norwegian Ambassador Grete Lochen, Canadian Ambassador Deborah Paul, and Swiss Ambassador Ivo Sieber (G4 countries) visited Hope Box organization, the organization that supports and helps victims of gender-based violence, which has headquarter in Hanoi.
According to the Central Committee of the Vietnam Red Cross Society (VRC), this year’s campaign provided long-term aid for 3,785 individuals and organisations. Support included houses, clean water systems, school meal facilities, books, and livelihood assistance, with a total value of more than 118 billion VND.
The programmes have brought about positive changes to rural infrastructure, comprehensively improved the material and spiritual lives of farmers, and contributed to Vietnam's economic restructuring, said PM Pham Minh Chinh.
The festival highlighted the contributions and robust development of Vietnam's revolutionary press over the past century while promoting press products and showcasing the creativity of Vietnamese journalists.
The programme on sustainable poverty reduction has achieved its annual targets for reducing the poverty rate as assigned by the National Assembly and the Government. It has fulfilled five specific objectives and five five-year goals, and met nine out of 12 indicators related to addressing basic social service shortages.
UNICEF stands ready to support the Government in implementing this important law and in continuing to invest in teachers as the cornerstone of a resilient, inclusive, and high-quality education system for all children.
PM Pham Minh Chinh highlighted how Vietnam's revolutionary press has continuously evolved and strengthened over the past century, affirming its role as a sharp and vital political, cultural, and ideological weapon serving the Fatherland and the people in the glorious revolutionary cause of the Party.
Vietnamese Consul General in Fukuoka Vu Chi Mai highlighted the growing demand for Vietnamese workers in Kyushu, especially in Fukuoka, Oita, and Saga prefectures. Currently, the region employs about 35,000 Vietnamese manual workers and over 5,000 IT engineers.
In Vietnam’s case, she said, President Ho Chi Minh demonstrated his strategic vision by founding the revolutionary press a century ago. The late leader understood the press's role not only as a means to reflect the country’s realities but also as a powerful tool to strengthen national unity and inspire the resistance wars and national construction process.
In recent interviews granted to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)'s reporters in Mexico, prominent figures reflected on the press’s legacy and its global influence.
VietnamPlus e-newspaper of the VNA clinched an A prize in the “Outstanding Press Product” category for its immersive 3D multimedia project, “Epic of Reunification,” a groundbreaking blend of storytelling and technology. The VNA won another A prize for its eye-catching exhibition booth.
Today, the press for foreign service has evolved into a distinct, irreplaceable force, bridging Vietnam with the world and portraying a nation that is stable, peace-loving, and fully integrated into the international community.
At a review conference held on June 21, Deputy Minister of Construction Nguyen Van Sinh praised the province’s scientific, coordinated, and flexible approach. He noted that the early completion reflects the strong commitment of local authorities, the business community, philanthropists, and residents in improving housing conditions for disadvantaged groups.
The VNA delegation, led by General Director Vu Viet Trang, actively participated in the event, engaging in both professional and diplomatic activities.
In the context where AI dominates and produces vast volumes of content, the only sustainable path forward for journalism is to focus on high-quality content and core values. Journalism must redefine its mission - not to report the fastest, but to provide the most profound and trustworthy value.
Granma and the VNA have great potential for cooperation, especially in sharing content regularly, so that VNA products are published on Granma platforms and vice versa, thereby helping Cuban and Vietnamese people access true information and gain a deep understanding of each other's country and people.
During his stay in China’s Guangzhou city from 1924 to 1927 to prepare for the establishment of a Communist Party to lead Vietnam’s revolution, President Ho Chi Minh founded “Thanh nien” newspaper and released its first issue on June 21, 1925.
Vietnam and Cambodia are hoped to strengthen their robust collaboration across various sectors, particularly in resolving remaining border issues to transform the border area into a zone of peace, friendship, cooperation, and development.
The strategic product, managed and operated by the Vietnam News Agency Digital Media Centre (VNA Media), is an official channel for popularising the Party and State’s information and documents as well as delivering mainstream and trustworthy news to both domestic and international audiences through various kinds of multimedia formats.
Since President Ho Chi Minh founded Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper in 1925, the Vietnamese revolutionary press has become the voice of the people. During the resistance war against the colonialists, journalists took great personal risks to inspire patriotism and the will of rising up against foreign invaders.
Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam Shawn Steil passes the ball during a special match between the representatives of the four G4 countries (Photo taken from the video clip) 
