51 Years of Building the Stature of Vietnam After the unification of the country on April 30, 1975, Vietnam faced immense challenges: infrastructure was heavily damaged, the economy was in ruins, and people’s living conditions were dire. However, from these difficulties, Vietnam chose the path of harmony, unity, self-reliance, and the aspiration to rise. In 1986, the Party introduced the "Doi Moi" (Renovation) policy, a historic decision that opened new spaces for economic development. Vietnam gradually transitioned from a centralized planning system to a socialist-oriented market economy, unleashing productive forces and unlocking resources. This shift enabled the economy to make remarkable strides, gradually escaping poverty and backwardness to grow strongly. Vietnam’s GDP, which was less than $2 billion in the mid-1980s, has now surpassed $514 billion, ranking 32nd globally. Per capita GDP reached $5,026, more than 1.4 times the 2020 level, placing Vietnam in the group of countries with high middle-income status. For many years, Vietnam has maintained stable GDP growth rates of 6-7% annually, despite global economic fluctuations. Even during challenging periods like the 2008 financial crisis or the COVID-19 pandemic, the economy demonstrated rapid recovery capabilities. In 2025, GDP growth reached 8.02%, placing Vietnam among the fastest-growing nations in the region and globally. Vietnam has become a significant export nation. In 2025, the country achieved a record trade volume of over $930 billion, with a trade surplus of $20.03 billion, marking a decade of consecutive surpluses. Key export products such as textiles, electronics, and agricultural goods have not only elevated Vietnam’s international standing but also created millions of jobs.#vietnam #ho_chi_minh_city #hanoi #doi_moi_policy #long_thanh_international_airport
Total Lunar Eclipse of 2026 Captured in Stunning Images Worldwide The March 3 total lunar eclipse of 2026 captivated skywatchers across the globe, offering a breathtaking display of celestial mechanics as Earth’s shadow transformed the moon into a crimson-hued blood moon. The event, which occurred during a full moon phase, saw the lunar disk pass through Earth’s umbra, the darkest part of the planet’s shadow, while sunlight filtered through Earth’s atmosphere to create the striking red glow. This phenomenon, known as a blood moon, occurs when Earth blocks direct sunlight from reaching the moon, allowing only the longer red wavelengths of light to reach its surface. The eclipse’s dramatic visuals were captured by photographers in various locations, each offering unique perspectives of the event. Ted Aljibe’s image of the moon glowing orange over Manila highlighted the interplay of light and atmosphere, as the lunar disk’s proximity to the horizon caused its reflected sunlight to travel a longer path through Earth’s atmosphere, scattering blue light and enhancing the orange hue. Similarly, Lee’s wide-angle shot from Beijing captured the moon’s crescent edge illuminated by refracted sunlight, with the city’s skyline casting light into the night sky. As the eclipse progressed, the moon’s surface took on a foreboding crimson tone, as documented by Tayfun Coskun’s photograph. The image revealed a deep orange-red hue, with a faint bluish light visible along the moon’s lower edge—a fleeting phenomenon known as the “turquoise band.” This occurs when red light is scattered by Earth’s ozone layer, allowing blue wavelengths to bend onto the lunar surface.#beijing #total_lunar_eclipse_2026 #manila #ho_chi_minh_city #chiang_mai
