History and meaning of International Day of Happiness March 20

CTTĐT - March 20th is chosen as the International Day of Happiness every year. Up to now, the International Day of Happiness has received the response of 193 countries, including Vietnam. Countries have pledged to support, act and make every possible effort to build a world of solidarity, a fair society, sustainable development, improve the quality of life and bring happiness to humanity.

Encourage all individuals, organizations, and communities to have positive activities that bring happiness to relatives, families, and communities.

International Day of Happiness (March 20) was officially announced at the United Nations Conference (June 2012) at the proposal of the Kingdom of Bhutan, a country in South Asia, located deep in the eastern Himalayas.

Since 1970, in addition to economic indicators commonly used to assess material wealth, the King of Bhutan has introduced a new way to assess social prosperity, which is through the national happiness index. This index is calculated based on factors such as health, spirit, education, environment, quality of management and living standards of the people. Bhutan - a country with a high happiness index - has recognized the prestige of national happiness over national income and is famous for implementing the goal of gross national happiness instead of gross domestic product. The representative of Bhutan said that the need for this Happiness Day is for all countries and people around the world.

To date, 193 member countries, including Vietnam, have pledged to support, act, be more active and make more efforts to build a world of solidarity, improve the quality of life, build a fair society, develop sustainably, and bring happiness to humanity. On December 26, 2013, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 2589/QD-TTg approving the Project "Organizing activities on the occasion of the International Day of Happiness on March 20 every year".

The organization of Vietnam's International Day of Happiness is to express with the world the desire, belief and determination to strive for a world of peace, without war, without poverty; a world of prosperous and sustainable development; a world where everyone, regardless of skin color, ethnicity, religion, can enjoy complete happiness. The project also aims to raise awareness of all levels, sectors, organizations, individuals, families, and the whole society about the International Day of Happiness on March 20, thereby taking specific and practical actions to build happy families and happy communities in Vietnam. Strengthening the participation and coordination between all levels, sectors, and people and the cooperation and assistance of domestic and foreign organizations and individuals in activities on the occasion of the International Day of Happiness on March 20.

In Yen Bai province, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has issued a plan to organize propaganda activities in response to the International Day of Happiness on March 20, 2025 with the theme "Happiness for all". Accordingly, raising awareness and responsibility of all levels, sectors and the whole society about the International Day of Happiness, clearly understanding the meaning of the International Day of Happiness, focusing all resources to improve the quality of life, building a fair society, sustainable development to bring happiness to the people. This is also one of the key tasks of the sector in implementing solutions to improve the happiness index of the people of Yen Bai province.

To make the International Day of Happiness meaningful and noble, let us join hands, unite our hearts, be responsible, creative, and determined to successfully carry out the task of socio-economic development, promote poverty reduction, and pay special attention to ethnic minority areas with many difficulties. Encourage all individuals, organizations, and communities to actively bring happiness to relatives, families, and communities. Mobilize all classes of people to participate in organizing activities associated with industry and local events. Prioritize charitable activities, visiting, and helping individuals, families, and disadvantaged communities in remote areas, ethnic minority areas, and policy beneficiaries... in the spirit of love and sharing, leaving no one behind, first of all, families and loved ones, to have many moments of true happiness./.

Source: https://yenbai.gov.vn/noidung/tintuc/Pages/chi-tiet-tin-tuc.aspx?ItemID=36086&l=Tintrongtinh