Since Christmas is just a few days away, the festive atmosphere has overwhelmed every corner of downtown Hanoi.

The goal for Hanoi is to become a green, modern and smart city by 2030.

The Hanoi People’s Council during a recent session has passed a target programme on mitigating traffic congestion and ensuring road safety in the city for the 2021-25 period with total funding of VND1.8 trillion (nearly US$80 million).

Churches in Hanoi are being covered with decorations to prepare for the Christmas holiday.

A number of experts are against Hanoi’s plan to prohibit motorbikes beginning in 2025, warning that proper conditions will not be ready to implement the plan.

Motorbikes in the future may be stopped from entering Hanoi inner city districts at Belt Road 3, Truong Sa and Hoang Sa Roads and Highway No 5.

Hanoi's 12th graders returned to school on Monday after seven months of online learning in the capital, joining their peers in many other provinces around the country. 

The Hanoi municipal administration is considering restrictions on non-essential services amid a skyrocketing number of coronavirus infections in the community.

Most people have been familiar with coloured pencils since they were kids. They are not only for drawing or writing, however, as they can also be turned into unique interior décor items. 

Local growers in Hanoi have tried to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic and are hoping to have a good year-end flower crop, with only two months left until the Tet (Lunar New Year) holidays.

The Hanoi Department of Education and Training on December 5 changed its plan on face-to-face learning for high school students due to the complicated nature of the COVID-19 outbreak locally.

The first smart electric buses in Vietnam that use eco-friendly energy were officially put into operation in Hanoi on Thursday.

Students at senior high schools in Hanoi will return to school from December 6 after a long period of online learning due to COVID-19 impacts.

The news about one more death in Binh Phuoc after a Covid-19 vaccination and the extension of expiry dates for two batches of Pfizer vaccines has caused concern among Hanoi parents.

VinBus Ecology Transport Services Limited Liability Company (VinBus), the transport services arm of conglomerate Vingroup, is due to launch the first smart electric bus fleet of Vietnam in Hanoi starting December 2.

Hanoi will spend a total of VND437 trillion (USD18.83 billion) on housing projects in the 2021-2025 period.

The Hanoi Department of Health confirmed on December 1 that it has suspended COVID-19 vaccinations for two batches of shelf-life Pfizer vaccines that had already expired on November 30 for consultations.

Students at high schools and vocational training centers in Hanoi are expected to head back to class on December 6 if the places have no new Covid-19 infections for two weeks.

Despite the coronavirus pandemic and lengthy lockdowns putting a huge strain on access to many of the capital’s key cultural sites, the use of advanced online technologies has enabled many to flourish.

Given that the COVID-19 vaccination for children goes on at an expected pace, high school students in Hanoi will be allowed to return to school in December.