A young family on a weekend outing in Hanoi (Vietnam). Photo: Pham Tuan Anh/VNA

In 2012, the United Nations announced March 20 every year as the International Day of Happiness at the proposal of Bhutan - a country with a high happiness index based on factors of health, spirit,education , environment, quality of management, living standards and quality of life of the people.

According to the United Nations, the International Day of Happiness is an occasion to raise awareness of the importance of happiness in the lives of people around the world. The United Nations also notes that happiness is not only derived from economic prosperity but also from caring, grateful and kind gestures between people; and people need to cherish and spread the happiness they have for a happier and better world.

The concept of “happiness” is defined very broadly. According to the United Nations definition, happiness does not only revolve around economic prosperity but also the concern of each individual in society. The International Day of Happiness is meant to urge governments of member countries to incorporate happiness and well-being of people into national plans and public policy goals, in order to create harmony in the process of socio-economic development of the country, to ensure that people have a sustainable future. Honoring human happiness is also considered a concrete step for countries to live in harmony and peace with each other, creating a happy world.

Some researchers believe that happiness also includes good health, having enough food to feed yourself and your family, enough money to do and buy what you want, and having fun with your family...

Happiness also means being able to say what you think without fear, being able to practice the religion of your choice, feeling safe in your own home, and having the opportunity to study, become an entrepreneur…

“Happiness for All” is the theme of the International Day of Happiness 2024 to encourage all individuals, organizations, and communities to actively bring happiness to their loved ones, families, and communities.

In the context of the world facing many challenges, experts say that the path to building a happy world is not always smooth, there are many factors that cannot be changed overnight (violence, conflict...) or are unpredictable (natural disasters, epidemics...). But the world can still be happier and better thanks to people's responses to difficulties and challenges. Difficulties in the international environment help highlight and shine the love for humanity, caring for each other for the happiness of all people. That is how the world is spreading happiness, building a peaceful, fair and sustainable world for everyone.

In Vietnam, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 2589/QD-TTg dated December 26, 2013 approving the Project "Organizing activities on the occasion of the International Day of Happiness on March 20 every year" to raise awareness of all levels, sectors, organizations, individuals, families, and the whole society about the International Day of Happiness, thereby taking specific and practical actions to build happy families and happy communities of Vietnamese people; enhancing the participation and coordination between all levels, sectors, and people of all walks of life and the cooperation and assistance of domestic and foreign organizations and individuals in activities on the occasion of the International Day of Happiness. This is an opportunity to remind everyone to inherit and promote the fine traditional values ​​and filial piety of the Vietnamese people; love and share to find for yourself and help those around you, first of all your family, to have many moments of true happiness... International Day of Happiness is also a way to spread the value of happiness, a way to bring happiness to every family, contributing to the goal of building a prosperous, equal, progressive, happy, civilized family; building a happy living, learning and working environment. In which, each happy family will be the foundation of a happy society. Every happy family will create a happy society and country.

According to VNA