Countries celebrate lunar new year

The 15 other countries where Saudi citizens are barred from traveling are India, Indonesia, Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Libya, Armenia, Belarus, and Venezuela, reported Gulf News . The Saudi government's Directorate General of Passports issued the travel ban on Saturday after it observed a consistent increase in the number of daily Covid-19 cases in the previous weeks. On Saturday, the Saudi Ministry of Health announced 414 new infections of Covid, with the weekly figures seeing a five-fold increase compared to those seen through March and April. More than 9,100 people have died due to Covid in Saudi Arabia. Vietnam has been seeing major drops in Covid infections and hospitalizations. The country recorded 1,319 new local Covid-19 cases on Sunday, down 45 percent from a week earlier. Saudi Arabia lifted most Covid restrictions for arrivals from Vietnam in December last year. … [Read more...] about Saudi Arabia bans citizens from traveling to Vietnam, 15 other countries

A technician analyses biological specimens to detect COVID-19 infections in the southern province of Bạc Liêu's Centre for Disease Control. — VNA/VNS Photo HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam registered 1,179 new COVID-19 infections, all domestically transmitted, and one death on Monday. The capital Hà Nội again led the number of new daily cases with 332. The other localities reporting new transmissions were Vĩnh Phúc (75), Quảng Trị (72), Yên Bái (60), Quảng Ninh (56), Tuyên Quang (42), Đà Nẵng (40), Nghệ An (39), Phú Thọ (38), Thái Bình (37), Quảng Bình (37), Hải Dương (36), Thái Nguyên (30), Lào Cai (26), Sơn La (22), Bắc Kạn (19), Hưng Yên (18), Hải Phòng (17), Hà Tĩnh (15), Hòa Bình (15), Quảng Ngãi (14), Cao Bằng (13), Điện Biên (12), Lâm Đồng (11), Hà Giang (11), Hà Nam (9), Thanh Hóa (9), Lạng Sơn (9), HCM City (8 ), Lai Châu (8 ), Khánh Hòa (7), Nam Định (7), Bình Phước (6), Phú Yên (5), Ninh Bình (4), Gia Lai (4), Bắc Giang (3), Bình Định (3), Bình Dương (3), Bà Rịa - Vũng Tàu (3), Thừa … [Read more...] about Việt Nam logs 1,179 new COVID-19 cases, one death on Monday

Traveling duo Dang Duc Tuan and Vo Minh Tan planted more than 500 trees during their 110-day journey through all 63 cities and provinces in Vietnam, hoping their seedlings will help a new culture of environmental awareness take root across the country. Travel lovers in Vietnam often talk about cross-country motorbike journeys, but few have time to make the trip. When COVID-19 brought the country to a standstill earlier this year, Tuan and Tan, both 29 years old, decided to take a break from their office jobs in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and Phnom Penh, Cambodia, respectively, to make the life-changing trip. Hoping to share their mantra – 'If you love Vietnam, love its environment, too' – the two men launched A Little Vietnam, their personal initiative to spread public awareness of responsible tourism. Tan and Tuan came up with the idea for a cross-country environmental awareness journey after social media users praised a video they made in Dak Lak Province, in which … [Read more...] about Traveling duo plant hope for ‘greener’ Vietnam

The Timor Leste runner has bagged two silvers in the men’s 5,000m and 10,000m competitions at the Hanoi-hosted SEA Games 31, setting new regional records for his country’s sports delegation in this event. Felisberto de Deus, after finishing second in the men’s 10,000m event, waved a small Vietnamese flag while wrapping himself in his homeland’s banner in celebration of his achievement. Felisberto de Deus waves a small Vietnamese flag while wrapping himself in his homeland’s banner in celebration of his achievement. Photo: Hoang Linh The moment of the 23-year-old athlete holding hands and running together with Vietnamese gold and bronze medal winners Nguyen Van Lai and Le Van Thao, respectively, is considered the most impressive image for Vietnamese and Southeast Asian fans at the sporting event. It was the striking demonstration of SEA Games 31slogan: For a Stronger Southeast Asia. Hanoi-hosted event highlights sportsmanship Though the exciting … [Read more...] about “Vietnamese runners are my second family”: Timor Lester athlete at SEA Games 31

May 24 is one of Bulgaria’s most important days honoring the country’s traditional and modern cultural values, honoring teachers, students, and training institutions with great contribution to the establishment and development of Bulgarian education sector. The day is also to commemorate Bulgarian brothers Kiril and Metodi who created Slavic alphabet being used by around 20 countries in the world. Speaking at the ceremony, the Bulgarian Ambassador to Vietnam Marinela Petkova affirmed the significance of the celebration of the Bulgarian Culture and Education and Slavic Language Festival in Vietnam. She emphasized the important role of knowledge, education and cultural exchange in building long-lasting friendship among countries. Evaluating the bilateral relationship, the Bulgarian diplomat said that the efforts of leaders of the two countries in maintaining political dialogues and promoting the partnership in line with their potential, demand and strengths are clear proof of the … [Read more...] about Bulgarian Culture and Education and Slavic Language Festival observed in Vietnam

The Deputy PM’s participation at the session will deliver an important message from the Vietnamese Government that it highly values the effective cooperation with the U.N. in general and ESCAP in particular over the past 45 years, while demonstrating the country’s strong commitments to promoting its partnership with the U.N. and ESCAP in the coming time, according to Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Phan Chi Thanh, who is also the Permanent Representative of Vietnam to ESCAP. Vietnam wants to further accelerate the dialogue and cooperation process with member countries, effectively optimize ESCAP's support to implement Vietnam's development strategies and goals, especially during the post-pandemic recovery and sustainable development process, and realize its commitments at the 26th UN Climate Conference (COP26), he stressed. Ambassador Thanh affirmed that the Deputy PM will be the highest leader of Vietnam to attend a session of the commission in person in many years, which shows … [Read more...] about Vietnam aims to deepen partnership with U.N., ESCAP: Diplomat

Hanoi (VNA) - The following is a list of selected news summaries last weekend by Vietnam News Agency. - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had an online meeting with voters in nine districts of the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on May 21, ahead of the third session of the 15th National Assembly. Voters at the event expressed their approval of the Government’s drastic and effective measures in COVID-19 prevention and control, and the country’s socio-economic recovery and development. Read full story - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended a ceremony marking the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai’s 90th founding anniversary held in Pleiku City on May 21 evening. He said Gia Lai should make renewable energy a key economic sector and pay more attention to developing tourism and processing industries. The leader also asked Gia Lai to go towards sustainable development planning, effectively mobilise social resources for infrastructure development, zone off hi-tech farming areas, … [Read more...] about ☀️ Morning digest on May 23

AFP Sport picks out five memorable moments: Rock-star treatment Efren Reyes of the Philippines was given the kind of reception usually more associated with rock stars than aging pool players. Vietnamese cueist Nguyen Tran Thanh Tu (R) takes a selfie with Efren Reyes after their SEA Games match in Hanoi, May 18, 2022. Photo by Giang Huy With more than 100 professional titles to his name in a career spanning over four decades, the 67-year-old was mobbed by young fans eager to get a closer look and a selfie whenever their hero showed up. Despite bowing out early from one event, hundreds of fans still chased the veteran player known as the 'Magician' as he left the building under a heavy security escort. "I love you!" they shouted as he waved regally from a bus. He left the Games with one bronze. Faster than Bolt Thai teenager Puripol Boonson blitzed the field in the men's 100m and 200m to underline his status as a possible global sprint star of the future. … [Read more...] about Marriage proposals to ‘Magician’: 5 SEA Games moments

Speakers at last week’s conference noted that dozens upon dozens of multinationals are interested in the healthcare PPP model in Vietnam. Photo: Chi Cuong At last week’s conference on the issue, hosted by VIR , Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Duy Dong said that Vietnam’s healthcare sector is facing a number of big issues, including rising infectious and non-communicable disease figures, hospital overload, and an ageing population. The pandemic has also revealed some weaknesses in the sector. “To further improve healthcare service quality and meet demand, mobilising financial resources for new development of infrastructure and medical equipment is a key requirement,” he noted. For the past five years, the government has looked to strengthen the implementation of a model for public-private partnerships (PPPs) for the public sector, including in healthcare services. However, according to VIR’s editor-in-chief Le Trong Minh, the picture of such investment in … [Read more...] about More favourable rule system urged for healthcare PPPs

Vietnam ranked 51th out of 165 countries and territories in terms of progress toward the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs), 30 places higher compared to five years ago. Vietnam remains committed to contributing to peace, stability, and inclusive growth for development and prosperity in the region and the world. Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam at the event. Source: VNA Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam gave the remarks at the 78 th session of the UN’s Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), currently underway in Bangkok, Thailand from May 22-23. The event, themed “A common agenda to advance sustainable development in Asia and the Pacific”, drew the participation of high-ranking officials from 51 member countries of ESCAP. In his speech, Dam stressed the significance of this session, which coincided with the 75 th anniversary of ESCAP’s establishment, as well as the body’s contribution to socio-economic development in the … [Read more...] about Vietnam remains committed to inclusive growth for world’s prosperity