Ho chi minh city map

In April, when the Ban (Bauhinia) flowers cover the northwestern mountains, the orange orchards are ripe and red across the hills, travellers are eager to explore new lands and destinations. About 100 kilometres from the centre of Yen Bai city, Tram Tau district is far, but the unspoilt natural landscapes, majestic mountains and picturesque terraced fields are key factors that draw tourists from across the country.

Cu Vai village, Ta Chi Nhu peak (Ha Ho commune), Hang Te Cho waterfall (Lang Nhi commune) are names many adventurers have heard and that make them want to put on their backpack.

Contributing to the map of Vietnam’s well-known terraced fields, along with the famous terraced fields in locations such as Hoang Su Phi (Ha Giang province), Y Ty (Lao Cai), Mu Cang Chai (Yen Bai), the Tram Tau terraced fields has become a sought after name. In addition, Tram Tau hot springs are also an attractive destination.

After navigating some winding and dangerous roads – typical curves of the Northwestern mountains, passing through Nghia Lo town, about 2 kilometres from the center of Tram Tau district, the Tram Tau hot spring area is bedded in full green rice fields, between layers of mountains and clouds, surrounded by the peaceful and simple roofs of indigenous people.

Covering an area of 600 square metres, situated among the terraced fields, the Tram Tau hot spring area is a gentle highlight amongst the majestic mountains. The underground source circuit has created more attractions for Tram Tau, changing this place into an eco-tourist resort. Visitors to Tram Tau hot springs can immerse themselves in warm water with average temperatures ranging between 43 and 45 degrees Celsius, enjoy breathtaking landscapes and the cultural characteristics of the ethnic minority people here.

Although it is about to enter the early summer days, in Tram Tau, the feeling of spring is still here. The sounds of the birds and insects chirping, and the cool air makes everyone want to immerse themselves in the natural scenery, and thake in the four seasons of the year. Dawn rises to dispel the morning mist, gentle sunlight breaks through the floating clouds; and the cold winds of autumn. The scent of baked potatoes and sticky rice in the kitchen wafts in the chilly late afternoon air.

Located on the Yen Bai – Nghia Lo – Mu Cang Chai travel network, Tram Tau can be a stopover on a travel schedule, but also a suitable destination for a short trip. From Tram Tau, visitors can go to Mu Cang Chai to marvel at the rice fields, conquer the top of Ta Xua mountain to hunt for clouds, or explore fascinating places such as Phu Luong mountain, the top of Ta Chi Nhu mountain, with its pink flowers named chi pau covering the mountainsides.

Coming to Tram Tau, wandering in the villages, talking with the H’Mong and Thai people, visitors have a chance to learn and experience the cultural life of the local people, enjoy typical dishes such as five-colour sticky rice, black banh chung (square glutinous rice cake), bamboo shootw, spring moss, and stir-fried bees with bamboo shoots, black chicken, and drink Shan Tuyet tea in Phinh Ho.

Currently, Tram Tau still retains its pristine beauty all year round. In May and June, Tram Tau’s terraced fields enter their water-pouring season. In the harvest season, in September and October, when the terraced fields turn yellow with ripe rice, Tram Tau shines again with the beauty of labour. Women in traditional clothes hide in the golden rice fields.

In recent years, Tram Tau’s tourism has developed. Many homestays, accommodation services, and dining services managed by indigenous people have expanded, contributing to completing the chain of activities to serve tourists. In addition to experiential mountaineering and community tourism, ecotourism and relaxation in Tram Tau is considered a promising model to be taken advantage of to make the best use of its potential and rich cultural features.

Six years later, in summer 2019, I returned to Copenhagen to visit Jorgen Nilsson and his wife Ulla-Stina, my old friends. Jorgen picked me up at Frederiksberg metro station. He welcomed me with open arms: “Hello Little Na, welcome home!”

I rushed to hug him with a heart full of dear feelings. Jorgen and his wife call me Na, a nickname that my parents and close friends often call me. For them, I am always a little Na.

I first met the old couple more than a decade ago in Hanoi while they were visiting the Temple of Literature, as Vietnamese Poetry Day was taking place. They bought my poetry collection ‘ Nhung Chiec Gai Trong Mo’ (Thorns in Dreams) at a bookstore there. When they heard that the author of the collection was attending the Poetry Day at the Temple, they wanted to meet me. It was poetry that brought us together.

Their three-bedroom apartment is located on the fourth floor of an old house without an elevator in Pile Allé Street. The house faces the street and its back opens onto a spacious courtyard, with flower gardens and fruit-laden trees.

My visit was made when Ulla turned 80 and Jorgen was 86. On Sunday, August 25, their daughters, Mette and Lotte, hosted a joint birthday party for them, with around 20 guests. That was the reason I went to Copenhagen at that time.

My room in the house had a window overlooking Frederiksberg park and the Royal Danish Summer Castle. On the chair, Ulla prepared towels and a nightdress robe for me. On the table, she placed a book entitled “Tales from Moominvalley” by Tove Jansson – a famous Finnish female writer, a family album, a map of Copenhagen and an old postcard. I realised that it was the postcard I sent to Jorgen on his birthday in 2014.

In the family album, I saw a lot of my photos, which I had emailed to them over the previous years. The couple printed them and placed them next to the pictures of their own family members. They even noted down the dates of the photos in the way many parents do. My eyes were suddenly stinging but my heart was comforted. I felt relaxed and peaceful. After a long journey, I realised that I will always have a place to live in the bosom of their house.

During my stay with the Nilssons, I cooked some popular Vietnamese dishes such as fried spring roll, ‘ bun cha ’ (noodle with grilled pork), salads of vegetables and dried beef, steamed spring roll, and chicken ‘ pho’ . My hosts were impressed with the fresh and savoury tastes, particularly the sweet and sour sauce, in the Vietnamese dishes.

One day I decided to make ‘bun bo Nam Bo’ (beef noodle without broth). Literally, ‘bun bo Nam Bo ’ means southern-styled beef noodle, but someone told me that it was created by a Hanoian woman dozens of years ago. She opened a restaurant on Nam Bo (now Le Duan) Street in Hanoi, serving noodles with grilled beef, herbs, sweet and sour sauce, and pickled green papaya. Whether from the North or the South, ‘bun bo Nam Bo’ is still one of the most favoured Vietnamese dishes of people outside the country’s borders.

Jorgen Nilsson and Ulla-Stina enjoy ‘bun bo Nam Bo’, cooked by Vietnamese poet Nguyen Bao Chan during her stay with their family in 2019. (Photo: Nguyen Bao Chan)

On that morning, I joined Ulla in a walk along Vesterbrogade, a busy shopping street where we could find the ingredients needed to cook ‘bun bo Nam Bo’ . Ulla asked me whether the dish was only served on special occasions as she found that it required a lot of ingredients and took a lot of time to cook. She was surprised to know that it was just a normal daily dish in Vietnam, she surely has her respect heightened for the patience of Vietnamese women.

To cook ‘ bun bo Nam Bo’, I first thinly sliced beef, then well seasoned it with oyster sauce, fish sauce, sugar, pepper, and finely chopped garlic and lemongrass. The beef was stir-fried on a high heat until it was just about done.

I also fried shallots, roasted peanuts, and pickled green papaya, carrots, and lettuce with vinegar, sugar and chilli.

The making of the sauce is vital as it is the soul of the dish. Without the exact measurements, I often mix fish sauce, sugar, vinegar in a sufficient amount of warm water and taste it until they incorporate well together, as the balance can depend on the brands of fish sauce and vinegar. Finally, I add pepper, garlic and some drops of fresh lime to finish the sauce.

I didn’t put all of the ingredients in a bowl and mix them together as is often served at restaurants. Instead, I placed each ingredient in a separate dish so that the diners could mix them by themselves in their own bowls. As it is a beef dish, Jorgen opened a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon. The astringent wine mixed well with the ingredients of ‘ bun bo Nam Bo’ , creating an interesting taste.

We enjoyed a cosy dinner full of laughers and tears. I felt like I was at home and Nisson couple were my own parents. I recited to them a Vietnamese folk verse, which literally means “Whoever experiences sweetness and sourness in life together, please don’t forget each other.” They were touched and held my hands. “Na, you are like our third daughter. Thank you for this delicious meal, and thank you for coming back to us,” Ulla told me.

Despite drinking quite a lot during the dinner, I got up very early the next morning. I opened the window and heard the birds chirping from the trees at the park. The air was cold and pure. Looking down, Pile Allé Street was still quiet. The city was waking up. The sky was blushing as the first sunlight began to lighten up the intersection between Vesterbrogade and Pile Allé, gently covering the city with a dreamy golden glow. A new day had come.

I heard Jorgen making coffee in the kitchen. Then the sound of Ulla softly walking toward my room. She knocked on the door and called me in her gentle tone: “Na, let’s get up for breakfast!” – “Yes, I’m up right now,” I replied.

The aroma of coffee and bread filled the air. This city has become so familiar to me! Here the Nilssons gave me a home and a warm kitchen, where I can return any time.

Hai Van Pass

Hai Van Pass in Da Nang city has been listed among the 10 most beautiful drives in the world, according to a recent article published by Travel + Leisure magazine.

Hai Van Pass has been dubbed “one of the best coast roads in the world” by Jeremy Clarkson, former host of British motoring show Top Gear. The website also recommends that those travelling along the route take the road slow as conditions can become a slightly foggy.

Running for a total length of 20km, the pass has become one of the most popular destinations for visitors to snap photographs, with over 52,000 photos taken at the site uploaded to Instagram.

The global list is based on analysis provided by Pentagon Motor Group (PMG), which searches more than seven million Instagram hashtags in order to uncover the world’s most stunning routes.

As part of PMG’s research, they discovered that the Great Ocean Road in Australia is the most beautiful road trip in the world, followed closely by the Big Sur in the United States and Jebel Hafeet in the United Arab Emirates.

Vietnam extends condolences to Indonesia over sunken submarine

Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son on April 26 sent a message of condolences to his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi over the sunken submarine KRI Nanggala-402.

Indonesia’s Antara News Agency reported that KRI Nanggala-402 became untraceable on April 22 during live torpedo training exercises off the Indonesian holiday island of Bali.

The 40-year-old submarine was found split into three pieces on the sea bed after five days of search efforts. All the vessel’s 53 crew have been confirmed dead./.

HCM City cancels fireworks celebrating National Reunification Day

Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong on April 26 cancelled the fireworks display celebrating the South Liberation and National Reunification Day (April 30) and May Day (May 1) holiday, to prevent any spread of COVID-19 given the complex of the pandemic in neighbouring countries and the world.

The city leader asked the Department of Culture and Sports to review preparations for other activities to mark the special occasions, with pandemic prevention and control measures to be strictly implemented.

He also requested that local departments, agencies, and localities remain vigilant in fighting the pandemic, while working hard to control illegal immigration, thus ensuring safety during the holidays and also the upcoming general elections.

The city has gone 73 days without any community transmission of COVID-19. It remains at risk of an outbreak, however, due to complex developments of the pandemic in Thailand and Cambodia.

Held every year on this occasion, 15-minute fireworks displays had been planned at five venues on April 30./.

Top legislator holds working sessions with NA committees

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue on April 26 held working sessions with the NA’s Committee for Social Affairs and Committee for Legal Affairs.

At the working session with the Committee for Social Affairs, the top legislator lauded the committee for its initiatives during the 14th tenure, saying it has taken the lead in consulting the public.

He asked the committee to review the legal framework on the organisation and operation of the legislature and its agencies, as well as delegations of NA deputies and People’s Councils.

The committee should draw up a project to improve its operational quality and efficiency across spheres, he said.

During another working session with the Committee for Legal Affairs, Hue attributed successes of the 14th NA to contributions of the committee.

He also stressed the need to have a long-term strategy in law building in order to ensure the leading role of the NA in legislative activities, and a synchronous legal system./.

No COVID-19 cases logged on April 27 morning

Vietnam documented no COVID-19 infections in the past 12 hours to 6am on April 27, making the nation’s tally unchanged at 2,852 cases, according to the Ministry of Health.

The health ministry’s Medical Examination and Treatment Department said that, a total 2,516 COVID-19 patients have been given the all clear. The death toll remains at 35.

Among those under treatment, 13 have tested negative for the virus once, 15 twice, and 20 thrice.

There are 38,919 people having close contact with confirmed cases or entering Vietnam from pandemic-hit regions under quarantine at present, including 518 at hospitals, 23,409 at concentrated facilities, and 14,992 at home.

According to the ministry, a total 259,736 frontline workers nationwide received COVID-19 vaccine shots as of 4 pm on April 26.

In a bid to live safely with the pandemic, people should strictly follow the Ministry of Health’s 5K message: khau trang (facemask), khu khuan (disinfection), khoang cach (distance), khong tu tap (no gathering) and khai bao y te (health declaration)./.

Localities intensify COVID-19 prevention measures ahead of holidays

Increased pandemic prevention measures have been noticed in cities and provinces nationwide, as the Reunification Day (April 30) and Labour Day (May 1) holidays approach.

Strict fines are imposed on people without facemasks in public places in Ho Chi Minh City, the local authorities said in an urgent direction issued on April 26.

Accordingly, public-awareness-raising communications on COVID-19 and pandemic prevention and control measures have been ordered, with restrictions in place for mass gatherings. Those involved in organising illegal entries in the city also face strict punishments.

The same day, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Chu Xuan Dung emphasized a high risk of new outbreaks during and after the upcoming holidays at a meeting of the municipal Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control on April 26.

He urged the active implementation of pandemic measures that prioritise early detection, quick quarantine, and effective treatment. Wearing facemask is a must in public areas and on public transport vehicles; and events that gather a large number of people are restricted.

The capital will continue its vaccination drive correctly, safely, and efficiently, according to Dung.

Also on April 26, Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long had a working session with the Can Tho People’s Committee, asking the Mekong Delta city to soon complete its national-level COVID-19 treatment hospital and prepare for complicated developments of the epidemic in the future.

For the work to be done, he assigned the Can Tho General Hospital to collaborate with localities and the Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy.

Can Tho also needs to establish a 400-bed COVID-19 treatment hospital in Phong Dien district that is capable of accommodating up to 800 beds when necessary, the minister underscored./.

13th National Party Congress’ outcomes informed to Japanese Communist Party

Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations Le Hoai Trung on April 26 chaired a teleconference to inform the Japanese Communist Party (JCP) on the outcomes of the 13th National Party Congress.

Attending the meeting on the Japanese side was Vice Chairman of the Presidium of the JCP and head of its International Department Ogata Yasuo.

Trung thanked the JCP Central Committee and JCP Chairman Shii Kazuo for extending congratulations on the success of the congress and the re-election of Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong.

He briefed the Japanese side on outcomes of the congress as well as main contents of the congress’ documents regarding various issues such as socio-economic development, Party and political system building, Vietnam’s foreign policies and future development orientations.

Trung underlined that the congress has an important significance, with the continued application and development of the Marxism-Leninism and Ho Chi Minh thought. It set the goal of developing the country to 2025 and 2030 with a vision to 2045, he added.

He said that Vietnam continues implementing the consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralism, diversification of external relations, active and proactive integration into the world, maintenance of a environment of peace and stability, thus enhancing the country’s position and prestige on the international arena.

Trung affirmed that the Communist Party of Vietnam attaches importance to the traditional friendship with the JCP as well as the Vietnam-Japan relations, while expressing his hope that the two Parties and countries will continue to strengthen their partnership in the new situation.

He proposed a number of specific orientations and measures to promote the relations between the two Parties and nations in the near future.

For his part, Ogata Yasuo once again congratulated the CPV on the success of the 13th National Party Congress, saying the information of the congress’ outcomes to the JCP shows the Party, State and people of Vietnam’s appreciation for the JCP as well as the friendship between the two countries’ people.

He agreed with Trung’s proposal on the promotion of bilateral relations, expressing his belief that under the leadership of the CPV, Vietnamese people will successfully implement the congress’ Resolution and gain new achievements in national reform and socialism building, thus playing a positive role in consolidating peace, security and development in the region and the world.

At the meeting, the two sides also discussed a number of regional and international matters of shared concern./.

Miss H’Hen Nie in the hot seat at Miss Universe Vietnam 2021

Miss Universe Vietnam 2017 title holder H’Hen Nie has been selected to join the panel of jury at the Miss Universe Vietnam 2021.

H’Hen Nie will join Vo Thi Xuan Trang, principal of John Robert Powers school, and Dr Le Diep Linh, doctor of anthropology, to judge contestants at the Miss Universe Vietnam 2021, said organisers of the beauty pageant.

H’Hen Nie, who was crowned Miss Universe Vietnam 2017, was one of the five final contestants at Miss Universe 2018. She has actively taken part in social activities and inspired young girls to live a healthy lifestyle.

The beauty queen is considered to be a suitable figure in the hot seat who can provide expertise, connect and assist contestants in performing their role throughout the contest.

The announcement of the jury was made several days before current Miss Universe Vietnam title holder Nguyen Tran Khanh Van leaves for Miss Universe 2021, one of the big four major international beauty pageants.

For the Miss Universe Vietnam 2021, organisers said they are receiving applications from April 23 to September 8, 2021.

Contestants will be selected in many localities across the country, including Hanoi, Long Hai, Vung Tau, Da Lat, Bao Loc, and Ben Tre.

The final round will take place in Long Hai, while Ho Chi Minh City will play host to the semi-finale and finale of the contest.

Dong Hoi boosts night-time tourism through walking street

The inauguration of a pedestrian street in Dong Hoi city in the central province of Quang Binh on April 23 is anticipated to diversify tourism products, accelerate service and trade activities, and develop a strong night-time economy moving forward, according to local authorities.

The inauguration of the pedestrian street will be part of a series of other activities which are being held within the framework of Dong Hoi Culture and Tourism Week 2021.

After being suspended for a year due to the impact of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic, the occasion is set to be held between April 23 and May 2, with plenty of cultural, culinary, and artistic activities taking place, such as a street carnival, a traditional boat racing on the Nhat Le river, a Bai Choi singing festival, art performances, and traditional folk games.

Hoang Thi Thanh Nhung, vice chairwoman of the Dong Hoi City People’s Committee, said the city has now completed all necessary infrastructure and decorated the pedestrian street area. This has been done whilst ensuring the safety of all residents and visitors who can come to enjoy a unique cultural space at night, especially to mark the occasion of the upcoming Reunification Day on April 30 and May Day (May 1) holiday.

Vinh Phuc: wartime bomb moved out of residential area

The Military High Command’s sapper force in the northern province of Vinh Phuc on April 25 moved a bomb weighing 340 kg from a residential area in the province’s Vinh Yen City to a safe place.

The bomb, measuring 40cm in diameter and 125cm in length, was found 2.5m underground on April 20 when workers dug the foundation of a house on Ton Duc Thang Street.

Locals living in the dangerous area with a radius of 500m around the spot where the bomb was unearthed were evacuated to safe areas. During the process of transporting the bomb, people living along the route were also evacuated to ensure safety.

Businesses, organisations, and temporary markets nearby were asked to close on the day the bomb was moved./.

Tien Giang takes measures to supply water to more households

The Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang has taken measures to supply water for daily use to more households in areas affected by saltwater intrusion to ensure no one has to buy water at high prices.

For its eastern region, which includes the districts of Go Cong Dong, Go Cong Tay, and Tan Phu Dong and Go Cong Town, it has drilled seven borewells at a cost of more than 10 billion VND (434,000 USD), according to the province’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

It undertook 23 projects for installing pipes to carry water from pumping stations in My Tho City to areas in the east without tap water.

The eastern region now has 198 water pumping stations with a capacity of 98,640cu.m a day that supply 17,804 urban households and 118,266 rural households.

At the beginning of this dry season, which lasts between December and May, the province had finalised plans to set up 103 public water supply sites to provide free water to 6,516 families living in the east in rural and remote areas, outside sea dykes, along the coast, near estuaries, and in fields that do not get tap water and have difficulty getting water for daily use.

It has so far set up 41 of them to supply 1,400cu.m a day, and will set up the rest when the situation worsens.

It has instructed coastal districts to strengthen advocacy about storing freshwater appropriately and using it carefully.

In the islet district of Tan Phu Dong, which is severely affected by saltwater intrusion during the dry season, 1,500 of the 11,800 local households do not get tap water.

But 12 pipes with a total length of 24.2 kilometres have been laid to supply water to the three coastal communes of Phu Dong, Phu Tan and Phu Thanh this year.

The district has also set up five free public water supply sites to benefit households in Phu Tan Commune.

It has pumped water from rivers when the salinity is below 2 grammes per litre into ponds for storing it.

These have helped resolve the shortage of water, Bui Thai Son, Secretary of the district’s Party Committee and Chairman of its People’s Committee, said.

Fireworks to be held in Vietnam on Reunification Day

Firework displays will be organised in many provinces and cities to welcome Reunification Day and May Day Holiday.

A firework display will be held in six locations in Hanoi from 9 pm to 9.15 pm on April 30. High altitude fireworks will be held at Hanoi Post Office in Hoan Kiem District and the Flower garden in Son Tay Town. Low altitude fireworks will be held at the Headquarter of Hanoi Moi Newspaper, Thong Nhat Park, My Dinh National Stadium and Van Quan Lake.

Quang Ninh People’s Committee announced that low-altitude fireworks for 15 minutes will be held at Cam Pha, Ha Long and Dong Trieu. Cua Lo Town in Nghe An Province and Quang Tri Province will also hold a firework display to launch the sea and island tourism season 2021.

Vo Trong Nam, deputy director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports said the city will hold firework displays at four locations, including Saigon River Tunnel, Landmark 81 Building, Dam Sen Park, and Can Thanh Commune, and Can Gio District.

A series of cultural and sports events will be held in Ho Chi Minh City to celebrate Reunification Day and May Day. Ho Chi Minh City authorities encouraged individuals and businesses to fly the national flag during the holiday.

Ha Long beach to open soon

A beach in Ha Long City in the northern province of Quang Ninh will be opened on May 1.

The artificial beach, the first public one in Ha Long City, is 900 metres long and nearly 100 metres wide, running along Tran Quoc Nghien Road.

Tran Quoc Nghien Road connects to other famous tourist sites like Quang Ninh Museum, Library, October 30 Square and Ha Long Flower Park.

People in the Hon Gai area often come to local unlicensed beaches or beaches in the Bai Chay area for swimming. With the high demand of the public, Ha Long authorities decided to open a beach in the Hon Gai area.

The beach is part of a VND680 billion (USD29.56 million) project to upgrade areas around Tran Quoc Nghien Road. Of this funding, VND100 billion has been used for the beach investment.

Ha Long authorities are seeking public opinion for the name of the beach based on the three proposals Ha Long, Hon Gai and Hong Gai.

According to Nguyen Ngoc Son, vice chairman of Ha Long City People’s Committee, most of the surveyed opinions have preferred the name Hon Gai so far.

Job market shows strong signs of recovery

Vietnam’s job market showed strong signs of recovery in the first quarter of 2021, opening up various opportunities for workers, especially highly-skilled workers.

The labour market has been steadily recovering since early in the year, according to data from Adecco Vietnam, with the number of job openings in March rising 40% against January. Growth in job applications was 26%.

Sectors seeing an increase in hiring demand in the quarter included Engineering and Manufacturing, Energy, IT, E-commerce, Electronics, Semiconductor Design, Civil Engineering, and Industrial Construction.

The combination of global supply chain shifts and the positive impact of free trade agreements will offer new prospects for Vietnam’s economy into the future, leading to a significant increase in employment opportunities and hiring demand, said Nguyen Thi Thu Phuong, Adecco Hanoi’s Recruitment Manager.

In Ho Chi Minh City, the labour market in Q1 was livelier than in the same period last year, according to the municipal Centre for Human Resources Forecasting and Labour Market Information (FALMI).

Its figures show that there were over 44,000 job vacancies and nearly 19,500 jobseekers in the southern economic hub during the period, increasing local human resources demand by 13.14% year-on-year. The majority of vacancies (70.38%) were in the services sector, followed by industry (29.51%) and agriculture (0.11%).

The centre forecasts that the city will need between 68,600 and 73,500 workers, mostly in the fields of IT, electronics and electricity; mechanics and automation; healthcare and medicine; accounting and auditing; finance, banking and securities; real estate; and tourism, lodging and catering services.

Adecco Hanoi Office Director Nguyen Thu Ha explained three main reasons contributing to the current situation. The first is the Government’s successful efforts in virus prevention and containment, she said. Second, businesses have gradually ramped up their operations and are eager to bounce back after a period of economic stagnation. Third, in terms of psychology, people now are better able to take care their health and cope with coronavirus anxiety.

FALMI said that demand for trained workers in HCM City made up 85.72% of the total, including 22.19% for university graduates or higher.

Commenting on the labour market outlook for 2021, Andree Mangels, General Director, Adecco Vietnam believed that the recovery of the economy and the global trends of digitalisation will open up opportunities for skilled workers.

A recent survey from the Adecco Group on shifts in workplace expectations in the post-pandemic world indicate that 82% of participants appreciate the strict hygiene regulations at work.

Other noticeable expectations among workers are flexibility (80%), adequate facilities for remote working (79%), investment in technology (77%), financial support policies (77%), and regular updates on business plans and performance (75%).

Various activities prepared for Reunification Holiday in Quang Ninh

About 18 cultural activities will be held in Quang Ninh Province during the coming Reunification Day Holiday.

This is a part of the 27 events to stimulate the tourism industry in Quang Ninh from April 30 until mid-May. Some of the highlights are the opening of Hon Gai Beach and Ha Long-The Gathering of Wonders Show.

Ha Long Carnival also returns and will be held on Tuan Chau Island on April 30, Hon Gai on May 1 and FLC Ha Long Resort on May 2. Former Miss Vietnam beauty queens will join the street performance along with various well-known singers and artists. A fireworks display will be held at three locations.

Along the Tran Quoc Nghien Street are the martial art show, I Love Ha Long photo exhibition, street music, kite flying contest and other activities. Some other summer events in Quang Ninh are Three Regions Circus Gala 2021 in Cam Pha City, Tay Ethnic Culture Day in Tien Yen District and the 60th anniversary of Ho Chi Minh’s visit to Co To Island.

Tourism firms that participate in the stimulus programme have also offered various discounts. Quang Ninh is expecting 500,000-550,000 tourists for the Reunification Holiday.

Pham Ngoc Thuy, director of Quang Ninh Department of Tourism said, “We have worked with other parties to ensure the human resources and equipment for the programme. We have also inspected hotels and other facilities where the main events will be held to keep the prices stable and to ensure a pleasant holiday for visitors.”

Vietnam should be cautious about reopening doors to international tourists: McKinsey

Vietnam should not take risks and reopen its doors and border gates to international tourists until the country reaches herd immunity through widespread Covid-19 vaccination, according to global management consulting firm McKinsey & Company.

Many opinions have thrown their support behind the proposal to reopen doors to boost travel and trade, while the firm said in its recent report that Vietnam should ensure there are no locally-transmitted Covid-19 cases and should not allow free travel until the country reaches herd immunity.

Following this method, Vietnam’s tourism sector can recover in 2024 thanks to the domestic tourism segment, which regained its growth momentum last year after social distancing was lifted. The travel demand will continue to accelerate and recover quickly, according to the firm.

Local tourists who are not allowed to take foreign trips will alter their plans and opt for tours in Vietnam and spend more money than they did in 2019.

Vietnamese visitors spent US$5.9 billion on tourism in foreign countries in 2019. This is a big chance for local tour operators to tap the local tourism market, according to the report.

The consulting firm also suggested tourism firms offer more luxurious tours to tourists and reduce the prices of their products to stimulate travel. The reduction should not be a long-term solution, said McKinsey & Company.

The firm also presented some solutions to help Vietnam and other countries maintain the status of having no new locally-infected Covid-19 cases during their recovery process, including taking the domestic travel demand into account, considering setting up prices, applying digital technology and offering new experiences to tourists.

Besides, tour operators should also grasp information about the travel demands of international tourists and meet safety regulations to be ready to serve foreign visitors before Vietnam reopens its doors.

Those who organized illegal exit on NA chairperson’s flight to stand trial next month

The HCMC People’s Court will hold the first-instance hearing early next month for eight people who had earlier helped nine people travel to South Korea on a flight transporting a delegation of the then National Assembly (NA) chairperson in late 2018.

Among the eight accused, three were indicted for allegedly organizing the illegal exit from Vietnam, comprising former director of GVA Company Le Thi Lieu, an ex-official of a magazine under the Ministry of Planning and Investment Tran Thi Tuyet and former director of TD Vietnam Education Consulting and Training JSC Luong Manh Hung.

Five others were charged with allegedly mediating so that the nine could go abroad, the local media reported.

On August 6, 2018, the NA’s Foreign Affairs Committee asked the Ministry of Planning and Investment to make a list of enterprises accompanying the NA chairperson to China and South Korea. The Ministry of Planning and Investment assigned the Foreign Investment Agency and the Investment Promotion Center-North Vietnam to do the job.

The schedule changed and the delegation visited only South Korea from December 4 to 7, 2018.

However, nine people of the delegation did not return to Vietnam after the trip. Six of them were helped by Lieu and her accomplices to illegally escape to South Korea.

In early 2018, Lieu made contact with Hoang Anh, a resident of Nghe An who was living in Germany, and discovered that many residents in Hoang Anh’s hometown wanted to travel to South Korea for work. Through Trinh Bang Dung, Hoang Anh introduced Lieu to some of these people, who had to pay US$10,000 each to be taken to South Korea.

The accused agreed that Dung would collect US$11,500 each to earn profit.

After hearing the Ministry of Planning and Investment’s news, Lieu directed her employees to prepare dossiers and complete procedures so that she and her customers could be a part of the NA’s delegation.

She asked her customers to wear formal clothes and learn information about the companies they represented. Once in South Korea, under the pretense that they had to meet their partners or go shopping, they took back their passports and stayed on to look for jobs.

According to investigators, Lieu earned more than VND700 million from these people.

Sapa woos tourists with big stimulus programs

The People’s Committee of Lao Cai Province in collaboration with the Sapa Tourism Association has launched a big tourism stimulus campaign to attract more visitors to the northern mountainous region.

The program, themed Huong Sac Lao Cai (The Beauty of Lao Cai), received a positive response from some 100 tourism businesses, including hotels, homestays, car agencies and tourist spots in Sapa town in Lao Cai Province.

Discounts offered by all the units range from 20%-70% and will go on from April 10 to December 31, the local media reported.

Trinh Xuan Truong, chairman of the People’s Committee of Lao Cai Province, said that this is the largest-scale stimulus program to ever be implemented by Lao Cai to date.

The committee, along with Lao Cai’s Department of Tourism, will accompany districts and towns as they organize various programs and extraordinary tourism activities imbued with the highland’s cultural identity throughout 2021, painting a colorful and attractive picture of Lao Cai and offering a rich experience for tourists.

Pham Cao Vy, chairman of the Sapa Tourism Association, expects the program to be a hit among tourists, helping local tourism, especially tourism businesses make a quick recovery and flourish.

So far, Lao Cai’s tourism stimulus program has been receiving positive feedback as booking rates toward the end of April across Sapa alone have reached 80% and up to 100% for the upcoming holidays of April 30 and May 1.

Aside from the unprecedented discount program, lots of exciting events and festivals will be held throughout 2021 to give tourists an unforgettable experience in Sapa.

UK education and technology on roadshow in HCMC

The British Consulate-General in HCMC in collaboration with the British University Vietnam, NashTech Vietnam and Study in Wales on April 23 organized the “UK Education and Technology Roadshow” in HCMC, following its success in Hanoi, Danang and Haiphong.

The double-decker bus visited four universities–the University of Greenwich Vietnam, the University of Science – Vietnam National University HCMC, the Hong Bang International University and the University of Economics and Finance HCMC.

More than 1,200 students in the city had the opportunity to learn about studying in the UK and the skills needed for future work from two Chevening alumni: Nguyen Thi Phuong Nghi (Master of Philosophy in Therapeutic Science at the University of Cambridge) and Ton Nu Tuong Vy (Master of Education and International Development at the University College London).

The UK Government’s Chevening Scholarships Officer was also present at the roadshow to provide more information about the scholarship such as the selection criteria, the number of scholarships per year and the benefits of being awarded the prestigious scholarship.

Besides, the roadshow also provided information about studying in the UK and tips to choose suitable programs based on the strengths and interests of students.

In case students prefer to study in Vietnam, there are also domestic programmes to pursue recognized UK degrees, which can offer value for their future career paths.

British technology company NashTech also spoke about job opportunities at the company as well as the desirable skills employers look for in an international working environment.

Speaking at the event, British deputy consul general in HCMC Sam Wood said education, technology and skills training are key pillars in the UK and Vietnam bilateral partnership.

“I hope that the students in HCMC learned more about joint-training programmes, scholarships and career opportunities after graduating. Whether you want to acquire world-renowned valuable skills in the UK, or receive a UK-recognized degree in Vietnam, the UK has it for you,” Wood said.

Chevening is the UK government’s international awards programme aimed at developing global leaders. Funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and partner organizations, Chevening offers full coverage for a one-year Master’s degree at any university across the UK.

Music performance to be held in complete darkness in HCMC

A special music performance will be held in complete darkness at the SOUL Live Project Complex in HCMC on April 25, enabling the audience to focus entirely on the experience provided by music and the word.

“Music In The Dark” promises to be an evening where music has more emotional power because all visual distractions will be eliminated.

Studies show that some 70% of all the body’s sensory receptors are located in the eyes. Therefore, when listening to music in the dark without any stage effects, the audience can explore the purity of sound.

In the dark, music becomes the only language. Listeners may find it unfamiliar at first but music will gradually touch every corner of their soul in a surprisingly enchanting way.

The main highlight of the event is the performers’ vocals as an amazing instrument capable of conveying a wide range of emotions. Whether as a solo or in combination with another voice or all together as a choir, the human voice has incredible power.

This concert features vocal students, teachers and ensembles, both accompanied and unaccompanied, from the Soul Music & Performing Arts Academy’s Faculty of Music. With the theme of “HOME”, the songs offer diverse forms of vocal music for different combinations of voices.

This is the fourth year that “Music in the Dark” is being organized. The event also serves as an opportunity for the community to support charitable causes, including assistance for blind people.

The concert is not suitable for children under 10 years of age and begins at 7 p.m.

20 streets in Thu Duc City named after historical figures, famous people

A road naming ceremony of 20 arterial streets and new residential areas in Thu Duc City after historical figures and famous people was held at the Thu Thiem new urban area yesterday under the witness of leaders of HCMC and Thu Duc City and delegates.

Speaking at the event, Chairman of the Thu Duc City People’s Committee Mr. Hoang Tung emphasized that this was considered as a meaningful activity to express respect and commemorate the great contributions by historical figures to the revolutionary cause of the Party and the country.

The event contributes to the implementation of urban and administrative management and creates favorable conditions for organizations and individuals in the economic, cultural and social transactions in Thu Duc City.

According to Mr. Nguyen Thien Nhan, former Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee and Head of Ho Chi Minh City’s delegation of National Assembly deputies, the event was also a great honor for families as well as deep gratitude for the previous generations who had made great contributions to the fight, construction and defense of the country.

Besides, the street naming ceremony aims to mark the 46th anniversary of the Liberation of Southern Vietnam and National Reunification Day (April 30, 1975-2021).

Accordingly, 20 streets in Thu Duc City were named after famous and historical figures namely To Huu, Tran Bach Dang, Nguyen Thien Thanh, Bui Thien Ngo, Tran Van Sac, Nguyen Dinh Thai Ly, Ho Thi Nhung, An Tu princess, Luu Dinh Le, Tinh Trieu, Bach Dong On, Pham Van Ngon, Dang Binh Thanh, Dang Dinh Tuong, Duong Lam, Duong Thanh, Tran Quy Kien, Tran Duc Thao, Nguyen Thi Thich and Nguyen Thi Diep. The street naming is based on Resolution No. 86 / NQ-HDND dated December 9, 2020 of the People’s Council of Ho Chi Minh City on the addition of street names and road naming in HCMC.

Attending at the ceremony were former Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, Head of Ho Chi Minh City’s delegation of National Assembly deputies Mr. Nguyen Thien Nhan; alternate member of the Party Central Committee, member of the Standing Committee of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, Secretary of the Thu Duc City Party Committee Mr. Nguyen Van Hieu; Vice Chairwoman of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City Ms. Phan Thi Thang;

HCMC to hold culture-art activities to mark National Reunification Day

Ho Chi Minh City has planned a series of culture and arts events to celebrate the upcoming National Reunification Day (April 30) and International Labour Day (May 1).

According to Vo Trong Nam, Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Culture and Sports, a photo exhibition on Vietnam’s border areas at Lam Son Park in District 1 will kick off activities on April 26.

On April 28, an exchange with witnesses of the Ho Chi Minh Campaign is scheduled. The campaign liberated the south of Vietnam, paving the way for the country’s independence and reunification after 21 years of separation.

There will also be ceremonies to bestow the Hero of People’s Armed Forces title upon recipients and to announce the Prime Minister’s decisions on recognising Can Gio district as a new-style rural area and Thach An commune as an island commune under the administration of HCMC.

The department’s pop music centre will hold a special concert on the evening of April 29, while the local Police High Command’s brass band will perform on the evening of April 30, both on District 1’s Nguyen Hue walking street.

A host of activities are also set for May in celebration of President Ho Chi Minh’s 131st birthday on May 19.

Vietnamese publisher releases internationally-famous books

After making an effort to purchase copyright, the Youth Publishing House released a series of books for children along with the National Geographic Kids’ scientific book series.

These books with good content and design not only bring vivid knowledge to children helping them to learn more about the world around them but also are a way to nurture reading habits for families.

The Youth Publishing House has translated books into Vietnamese. For the first time in Vietnam, five volumes of the National Geographic Kids scientific books including Human Body; What Would Happen?; Explorer Academy; Do not read at midnight have been released.

The books with coherent presentation of scientific information, accurate and interesting illustrations are very interesting ensuring that readers will not miss any knowledge. Along with that are the images beyond small readers’ understanding. After reading, small readers will build up a useful mind map by themselves, with outstanding scientific knowledge retention.

Another set of scientific books including eight books to be released on this occasion is My Science Castle. The eight books are about animals to plants such as how eggs hatch into chicks; Why do whales migrate; Why does the seed sprout in the spring; How tadpoles turn frogs; How do our bodies work; Is black bear dangerous; How do caterpillars turn butterflies.

The book series is the first adventure in natural history sharing with readers the amazing world of science with its up-to-date knowledge, eliciting curiosity, curiosity and desire to explore for each child. The stories are attractive from beginning to end, clarifying all questions of children. The book ‘How our bodies work’ will answer them: How do we smell and taste food? How do we hear and look? Why do we have teeth? What is the skeleton for? Why do we have muscle? Why do we have skin? How does the brain work?

The book sets including Horrible Histories, Horrible Science, Horrible Geography, The Knowledge has published more than 40 titles and more books will be released as predicted. They are designed to get children interested in science by concentrating on the trivial, unusual, gory, or unpleasant.

Most small readers are excited about science after reading these series of books such as Horrible Science, Horrible Geography, and Horrible Geography.

Parents can’t miss books of Om Books publisher such as Wait for Your Turn, Never Give Up, I am not scared, Let’s Shake Hand, Is Daddy Coming Back in a Minute?

Restaurant reported on overpriced bill

Accordingly, on April 23, 2021, a tourist with the Facebook account Van Le visited a seafood restaurant named Thap Ba 86 (located at the address of 29 Pham Van Dong Street of Nha Trang City).

After listening to the recommendations from the restaurant, Van Le decided to order 3 seafood dishes, with the price ranging from VND200,000 to 420,000 per kilo (approx. US$8.7-18.3). The whole meal was captured and posted on Review Du Lich Nha Trang Forum. This meal was bill VND1,460,000 in total ($63.6).

The tourist annoyingly said that he had already asked for the detailed price of each seafood kind before ordering, yet in the end he was still billed illogically. Among them, the price of sweet snail was the most unacceptable, at VND1.8 million per kilo ($78.4).

Explaining the situation to the local authorities, Nguyen Van Luong – the restaurant owner – first confirmed that the discussed bill was from his restaurant. He further stated that sweet snails in his restaurant have diverse sizes, some of which are extremely large and unique in the city (18-19 snails per kilo). This leads to such a high input price of VND1.2 million a kilo ($52.3). Therefore, the retail price mentioned above is not at all overpriced.

He also displayed the bills of other customers as an illustration, one of which was over VND9 million ($392) for a meal including 2.4 kilo of sweet snail.

Van La said that he had visited the People’s Committee of the ward where the restaurant was sited right on that day, but had been instructed to contact the special tourism-support hotline of the province instead, since this organization was not authorized for such matters.

However, Nguyen Thi Le Thanh, Deputy Director of Khanh Hoa Province Department of Tourism, shared that the concerned tourist did not report the case to the above hotline.

HCMC focuses on tourism advertising plan

The tourism sector of Ho Chi Minh City will focus on promoting safe tourism destinations and services, including shopping, healthcare, agriculture and resort.

To create more new and attractive tourist products, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism established survey teams to connect new products and tours, tourism routes on the Liberation of Southern Vietnam and National Reunification Day (April 30) and May Day (May 1) as well as for other holidays in the year.

Besides, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism planned to develop new mid-term and long-term tourist products to meet the needs of domestic and foreign tourists. Ho Chi Minh City also focuses on attracting travelers from provinces and cities nationwide to Ho Chi Minh City and vice versa.

On the same day, Quang Binh, Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Nam and Da Nang in collaboration with the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism launched the “Back to the miraculous heritage domain” program to promote and attract tourists to experience the beautiful landscapes of four provinces and cities. The program aims to recover the tourism industry after the significant impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Accordingly, the contents were released at a brief meeting between the Municipal Department of Tourism and press agencies about tourism stimulus programs and the development of HCMC in the coming time yesterday.

Ca Mau-Nam Du-Phu Quoc high-speed boat route to be resumed

Phu Quoc High Speed Boat Joint Stock Company (Phu Quoc Express) will resume operation of Phu Quoc high-speed boat in Ca Mau-Nam Du- Phu Quoc route on the Liberation of Southern Vietnam and National Reunification Day (April 30) and May Day (May 1).

Particularly, the maritime tourism routes of Ca Mau- Phu Quoc, Ca Mau- Nam Du, Nam Du- Phu Quoc, Phu Quoc- Ca Mau, Phu Quoc-Nam Du, Nam Du- Ca Mau will operate daily from April 29 to May 3.

From May 4 to August 15, Ca Mau- Phu Quoc, Ca Mau- Nam Du and Nam Du- Phu Quoc routes will operate on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, and routes of Phu Quoc- Ca Mau, Phu Quoc- Nam Du, Nam Du- Ca Mau will operate on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Earlier, the Phu Quoc High Speed Boat Joint Stock Company put the Phu Quoc high-speed boat into operation on Ca Mau-Nam Du- Phu Quoc route in July 2020.

That is the first sea-island tourism route of Ca Mau Province, contributing to the tourism development of Ca Mau Province. However, the route was suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

50% Vietnamese travelers are willing to travel in May and June

The newly launched “insight snapshot” by Outbox Consulting show that 50% of local travelers are intending to travel in May and June, among them, 40% are more interested in sightseeing and cuisine.

Summer is considered as one of the most important travel seasons of Vietnam tourism. In the current context when the country is making effort to contain Covid-19 pandemic while boosting economic growth, the success of this peak tourist season will be decisive for the recovery of Vietnam’s tourism industry.

The insight snapshots entitled “Vietnamese Travel Behaviors – Summer 2021”  conducted by Outbox Consulting shows that half of those surveyed are willing to travel this summer, especially in the coming May and June. Over 30% all travelers start looking for travel information three to four weeks before their trip and social media is the main source of information for their trips.

Covid-19 has changed the behavior of tourists almost completely.  According to the survey, price is the most important factor affecting decision-making at a destination, accounting for 30% of all mentions.

Travelers of Gen X (aged 41 to 56) and Gen Z (aged 18 to 24) consider price as the most important factor when choosing a travel agent. Meanwhile, Millennials (aged 25 to 40) tend to be more generous when traveling as they take more into account the travel agent’s reputation, customer service and feedback from friends/relatives about tour quality.

In addition, service quality and safety account for over 30% of all mentioned factors determining travelers’ satisfaction at a destination. Also, the research showed that 42% independent travelers book accommodation first before any other services.

Contrary to the fussy tour selection trend of Gen Z and Millennials, travelers of older generation seem to be more reckless in choosing a tour. They don’t need up to a month to plan where to travel. While the younger generation of tourists, aged between 18 and 40, tend to be pickier about their destination as they  usually take about one to two months to decide where to travel.

“Du Lich Viet, Vietravel & Saigontourist are three most popular travel agents  trusted by package-tour travelers,” the Outboxs’ insight snapshot showed.

Unlike conventional long-format analysis reports, the “insight snapshot” displays important information prominently to help readers easily get an overview of research results and focus on data. It is considered an initiative of Outbox Consulting to help both individuals & businesses in the tourism industry understand Vietnamese in terms of who they are, their travel preferences, travel motivations, and their behaviors during the planning and booking for a trip in summer 2021.

USAID-supported forest service project generates US$120M for Vietnam annually

The eight-year project increases transparency, efficiency and effectiveness in payment for forest environmental services.

A forest service project, funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in 2012-2021, enables Vietnam to generate roughly US$120 million per year.

The USAID Vietnam Forests and Deltas project on climate change program that costs US$31.4 million and implemented by Winrock International helps Vietnam’s transition to climate resilient and low-emission sustainable development, according to the US Embassy in Hanoi.

The news was released on April 22 to mark the completion of the project and launch the new USAID Sustainable Forest Management project and USAID Biodiversity Conservation project with the attendance of Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) Ha Cong Tuan and USAID Acting Mission Director Bradley Bessire.

The project supported MARD to successfully implement the Payment for Forest Environmental Services (PFES) system at the national scale.

The project supported the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) to successfully implement the Payment for Forest Environmental Services (PFES) system at the national scale.

The annual earnings of approximately US$120 million help finance the management of roughly six million hectares of Vietnam’s forests.

The PFES system contributes to increasing incomes and living standards for hundreds of thousands of people living in the mountainous areas who receive payments to protect forests.

The project also helps MARD expand the PFES system to increase its transparency, efficiency and effectiveness through application of electronic payments in disbursing funds and enhancement of monitoring and evaluation.

In addition, the project trained about 350,000 people on climate change adaptation, forest management and livelihoods development and helped over 200,000 people implement climate change risk reduction practices in the Mekong and Red River Deltas.

Over more than eight years of implementation at the national level and in the provinces of Quang Ninh, Nam Dinh, Son La, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Lam Dong and Long An, the project achieved significant results, receiving wide recognition from the government of Vietnam, local communities, and other related stakeholders.

Airlines urged to tighten COVID-19 preventive measures

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) have issued a telegram urging both airports and airlines to strengthen their supervision over passengers wearing face masks in terminal areas, especially during Reunification Day on April 30 and May Day on May 1, along with the upcoming summer season.

This move comes following several passengers flouting rules regarding the wearing of face masks in quarantine areas at airports, despite regulations being put in place, thereby increasing the risk of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic spreading via aviation hubs.

The CAAV has therefore requested that all airports and airlines remind passengers in the terminal area to strictly abide by regulations regarding wearing face masks as a means of preventing the potential spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Airlines have been urged to refuse to transport passengers who fail to fill in medical declaration forms and those who disregard epidemic prevention rules, while strictly punishing individuals who violate these rules.

At present, local airlines have entered the peak season in terms of meeting the growing travel demands of passengers during the upcoming holidays with the number of travelers anticipated to see a 40% increase compared to the same period from last year.

Source: VNA/VNS/VOV/VIR/SGT/Nhan Dan/Hanoitimes

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Quoc Dung on April 27 hosted a reception for Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Pranay Kumar Verma, during which he affirmed Vietnam’s solidarity and readiness to stand side by side with the Indian government and people in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dung expressed his sympathy over hardships and damage caused by the second COVID-19 wave in India, voicing his belief that the country will soon overcome this difficult time and challenges.

He also conveyed the sympathies of Vietnamese leaders and people to their Indian counterparts.

In reply, the Indian Ambassador briefed his host on the COVID-19 situation in the South Asian nation and voiced his gratitude for the sentiments and support of the Vietnamese Government and people for India.

He affirmed that the Indian government will create the best conditions and exert efforts to ensure safety for Vietnamese citizens living, working and studying in India./.

Vietnamese nationals must not return home illegally: Vietnamese embassy

The Vietnamese Embassy in Thailand has called on Vietnamese nationals to strictly follow COVID-19 prevention measures in the host country in the face of increasing infections recorded in the country over recent days.

In an announcement on April 27, the embassy said it is working with Vietnamese and Thai authorities to arrange repatriation flights for Vietnamese citizens and has asked them not to return to the homeland illegally.

The Thai Government is introducing new restrictions to halt the country’s spiralling outbreak, the embassy said.

Wearing a face mask is now compulsory in Bangkok and 46 other provinces. Those not doing so risk a fine of up to 20,000 THB (640 USD).

Vietnamese nationals are advised to avoid public spaces and travel, and to contact Thai authorities for support if they exhibit symptoms of the coronavirus disease.

They should contact the embassy via its citizen protection hotline on ( 66) 898 966 653 or ( 66) 2650 8979.

The embassy will continue keeping a close watch on COVID-19 developments in the country, and stay in touch with Thai authorities to remain updated.

Thailand reported 15 new fatalities from the pandemic on April 27 – a new record for the third time in four days during a growing third wave of infections.

Some 2,179 new infections were reported on the day, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 59,687. Fatalities now stand at 163.

The Thai Government will adopt a single command system to improve the efficiency of the national COVID-19 vaccination drive, with the aim of vaccinating about 30 million people over the next three months and 50 million by the end of the year.

According to a post on Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha’s official Facebook page, he has met with advisers at the Government House to discuss ways to ramp up the distribution of vaccines, which is a top national priority.

The Government will do everything in its power to procure more doses to support the national vaccination drive, with a target of purchasing 10-15 million doses a month from several manufacturers, according to the post./.

Information ministry calls for use of COVID-19 tracing tools

The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) has issued a document guiding the use of tools to prevent, control, and trace COVID-19 cases in the community, as travel demand is forecast to soar during the April 30 – May 1 holiday.

The set of tools comprise the Bluezone app, which issues alerts on any contact with suspected cases, and the NCOVI app, which manages voluntary health declarations and a COVID-19 tracking map.

According to the MIC’s Authority of Information Technology Application, QR scanning in public places plays an important role in the fight against the pandemic. It should be carried out on Bluezone, NCOVI, and Vietnam Health Declaration.

The ministry affirmed that the widespread use of these tools will help to precisely trace areas with suspected cases.

Vietnam had reported no new COVID-19 infections for 12 hours as of 6am on April 27, with its tally unchanged at 2,852 cases, according to the Ministry of Health.

The ministry’s Medical Examination and Treatment Department said that a total 2,516 COVID-19 patients have been given the all clear. The death toll remains at 35./.

CAAV orders tightened aviation security at airports

The aviation security control must be tightened and raised to Level 1 before, during and after the four-day holiday of Southern Liberation and National Reunification Day (April 30) and International Labour Day (May 1), the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has recently requested.

Accordingly, security measures will be enhanced at all units in the sector, including airport authorities, airports, aviation service providers and air traffic service suppliers.

They are asked to increase personnel for aviation security control, examine and supplement necessary equipment, while preparing measures to improve service quality which helps meet travel demand of people.

Under current regulations, when there are high risks to aviation security, security control measures can be tightened in three levels.

Level 1 is applied in case of nationally important socio-political events, or complicated situations of political security and social order.

Level 2 is applied when there is intelligence information about an illegal interference plot in civil aviation activities with places, targets and time undetermined; or in case of serious political insecurity and social disorder in localities.

Meanwhile, level 3 is applied when there is verified information about an illegal interference plot in civil aviation activities with specific places, targets and time; or in case of extremely serious political insecurity and social disorder in localities.

Travel demand during public holiday is expected to increase significantly.

According to a survey conducted by the Vietnam Tourism Advisory Board and VnExpress.net in March, of 3,500 respondents, 53.4 percent had plans to travel between May and September while 30.2 percent said they were ready to go on holidays in March and April.

The top 10 getaways are Da Nang, Kien Giang, Lam Dong, Lao Cai, Khanh Hoa, Quang Ninh, Binh Dinh, Binh Thuan, Ha Giang, and Quang Nam, the survey revealed.

Meanwhile, travel firms said that up to 60 percent of tours have been booked for the four-day holidays. Tourists are booking mostly short-distance trips and brief stays in Sa Pa, Ha Long, Phu Quoc, Da Nang, Da Lat, and Con Dao Island.

Vietravel said that around 60 percent of its vacation packages, which include flights, car rentals, and hotels, have been bought.

Condolences extended to Indonesia over submarine sinking

State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc has extended condolences to Indonesian President Joko Widodo over the recent submarine sinking.

Media in Indonesia reported that KRI Nanggala-402 became untraceable on April 22 during live torpedo training exercises off the Indonesian holiday island of Bali.

The 40-year-old submarine was found split into three pieces on the sea bed after five days of search efforts. All the vessel’s 53 crew have been confirmed dead.

The same day, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh also cabled a message of condolences to President Joko Widodo over the tragedy./.

Hanoi, Hai Duong reinforce COVID-19 prevention efforts

A woman passes through a “face mask required” sign on downtown Hanoi’s Hoan Kiem Lake

In an official dispatch, the Party Committee of Hanoi ordered the suspension of festivals and pedestrian zones in the city, and restriction of non-essential events with mass gatherings. In case the events are held, preventive measures must be in place.

If COVID-19 infections are detected, contact tracing and quarantine must be promptly rolled out to curb the spread of the pandemic.

Local people are asked to closely follow the 5K message and wear face masks in public places.

Meanwhile, leaders of Hai Duong proivnce requested relevant agencies to bolster communications to raise public awareness.

Hai Duong police will work with departments, sectors, localities and inspection groups in illegal entry prevention and supervision at concentrated quarantine facilities and homes.

People are recommended to refrain from travelling to crowded places and those with high COVID-19 risks, especially as the National Reunification Day (April 30) and May Day holidays are approaching.

Non-essential services in the province like massage parlors, karaoke, bars and discotheques will continue to be suspended until further notice, while vaccinations are asked to be sped up.

As of 5 pm on April 27, Hai Duong has neither COVID-19 patients under treatment nor people staying in quarantine for having close contact with infected people.

The province reported 726 cases in the resurgence of COVID-19 outbreaks that began on January 27./.

VBS requires strict following of COVID-19 prevention measures at places of worship

The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) has called for the mandatory wearing of face masks and strict adherence to COVID-19 prevention regulations at pagodas and monasteries nationwide amid the ongoing complex developments of the pandemic.

Vice President and General Secretary of the VBS Executive Council, Venerable Thich Duc Thien, stressed that COVID-19 prevention measures must be enhanced at places of worship around the country.

VBS chapters in all 63 cities and provinces have been asked to strictly implement requirements, he said.

The Ministry of Health’s 5K message – khau trang (face masks), khu khuan (disinfectant), khoang cach (distancing), khong tu tap (no gatherings), and khai bao y te (health declarations) – must be seriously observed, he added.

He also called on people to report any instance of illegal entry, in order to effectively contain the spread of the virus./.

Da Nang tops ICT Index for 12th straight year

The central city of Da Nang has maintained its leading position in terms of readiness for information and communications technology (ICT) development and application, after topping the Vietnam ICT Index rankings for the 12th consecutive year.

In the rankings for 2020, the city led the way with a total score of 0.9238, followed by the neighbouring province of Thua Thien-Hue.

Compiled by the Ministry of Information and Communications since 2005 and based on UN criteria, the Vietnam ICT Index assesses technical infrastructure, IT application, online public services, and the IT industry.

It has secured a prestigious reputation over the years and serves as a foundation for the ministry and local authorities to adopt appropriate decisions and policies to develop the ICT sector and the IT industry./.

Vietnam treasures comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia

Vietnam always attaches importance to the comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son told his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on April 27.

During his phone talks with the Russian minister, Son affirmed that Russia is among leading important partners in Vietnam’s foreign policy, and congratulated the country on its success in containing COVID-19, especially in vaccine research and production.

Despite the pandemic, Vietnam and Russia have maintained exchanges, with many phone talks held between their high-ranking leaders, contributing to promoting the bilateral cooperation across spheres, Son said.

The ministers discussed Vietnam-Russia collaboration, covering politics-diplomacy, security-national defence, economy-trade, investment, energy-oil and gas, and COVID-19 prevention and control.

They also compared notes on cooperation between the two foreign ministries and coordination between the two countries at multilateral forums, including the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and ASEAN.

Both expressed their hope to well organise activities during the Vietnam-Russia and Russia-Vietnam Year in 2021.

Minister Son used the occasion to thank Russia for supporting Vietnam’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2020, and non-permanent membership of the UNSC for 2020-2021.

Vietnam is willing to closely coordinate with Russia and other ASEAN countries in organising activities marking the 25th anniversary of the ASEAN-Russia relations (1996-2021), Son said.

For his part, the Russian minister lauded Vietnam’s performance in external affairs, as well as the country’s increasingly impressive role in regional and international arena.

On this occasion, Lavrov invited Son to visit Russia at a convenient time. The Vietnamese minister accepted the invitation with pleasure.

Religious communities offer support to Cambodia, Laos amid COVID-19 spread

The Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh City on April 27 called on followers to make contributions to present 4 million face masks to people in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, in a bid to ease their difficulties amid the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic.

Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang, Deputy Patriarch of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha and Chairman of the Executive Council of the HCM City Buddhist Sangha, donated 100 million VND (over 4,300 USD) while a charitable group of the HCM City Buddhist Sangha presented 500 million VND to support disadvantaged Buddhist followers and people hit by COVID-19 in Laos and Cambodia.

Phnom Penh capital of Cambodia has been hardest-hit by COVID-19 in recent weeks, with hundreds of new cases being reported daily.

By the afternoon of April 27, Cambodia had logged 11,063 COVID-19 infections and 82 fatalities.

Meanwhile, a total of 511 COVID-19 cases were reported across 15 out of 18 provinces and cities of Laos./.

Working group heads to Truong Sa island district

A working group headed to Truong Sa (Spratly) island district and DK1 Platform on April 26 from Cam Ranh city in the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa.

A farewell ceremony for the group, including officers and soldiers of the Naval Zone 4 High Command, representatives departments and agencies, and journalists, was held by the Naval Zone 4 High Command and the provincial People’s Committee.

The delegation will present necessities to soldiers and residents in the island district, according to Rear Admiral Phan Tuan Hung, Deputy Commander of the Naval Force.

They are scheduled to visit DK1 Platform and several islands in the Truong Sa archipelago, where they will meet with officers, soldiers, and local people.

On this occasion, the delegation of National Assembly deputies of Khanh Hoa province will also present certificates of merit from the provincial People’s Committee to collectives that performed strongly in fulfilling national defence and security tasks in 2020./.

Photo exhibition marks 46th anniversary of National Reunification Day

Twenty-one prize-winning photos in a contest named “Tu Hao Mot Dai Bien Cuong” (Pride in the frontier strip) are on display at an exhibition launched in Ho Chi Minh City on April 26.

These works vividly reflect daily life and the beauty of distinctive architectural works, festivals and folk arts of ethnic minority people living along the border; and life of on-duty border guard officers who stay ready to defend the country’s sovereignty and border security.

The exhibition will run through May 7./.

Localities intensify COVID-19 prevention measures ahead of holidays

Increased pandemic prevention measures have been noticed in cities and provinces nationwide, as the Reunification Day (April 30) and Labour Day (May 1) holidays approach.

Strict fines are imposed on people without facemasks in public places in Ho Chi Minh City, the local authorities said in an urgent direction issued on April 26.

Accordingly, public-awareness-raising communications on COVID-19 and pandemic prevention and control measures have been ordered, with restrictions in place for mass gatherings. Those involved in organising illegal entries in the city also face strict punishments.

The same day, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Chu Xuan Dung emphasized a high risk of new outbreaks during and after the upcoming holidays at a meeting of the municipal Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control on April 26.

He urged the active implementation of pandemic measures that prioritise early detection, quick quarantine, and effective treatment. Wearing facemask is a must in public areas and on public transport vehicles; and events that gather a large number of people are restricted.

The capital will continue its vaccination drive correctly, safely, and efficiently, according to Dung.

Also on April 26, Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long had a working session with the Can Tho People’s Committee, asking the Mekong Delta city to soon complete its national-level COVID-19 treatment hospital and prepare for complicated developments of the epidemic in the future.

For the work to be done, he assigned the Can Tho General Hospital to collaborate with localities and the Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy.

Can Tho also needs to establish a 400-bed COVID-19 treatment hospital in Phong Dien district that is capable of accommodating up to 800 beds when necessary, the minister underscored./.

Nation to enjoy sunny April 30-May 1 holidays

All regions across the country are expected to see sunny weather on the upcoming National Reunification Day (April 30) and May Day (May 1) holidays, according to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

In the northern and north-central region, rains are forecast to reduce on April 29. From April 30, the weather will be good again with cool temperature, according to the centre. However, high temperature is forecast in certain areas such as northwest as well as northern and central mountainous regions.

From April 30 to May 3, the northern region is expected to enjoy sunny weather, but a hot spell is forecast for the northwest region in the daytime and rains at night.

Hanoi is predicted to enjoy sunny weather in the daytime but whirlwinds and rains at night. The central coastal, central and Central Highlands regions are expected to experience the same developments of weather.

Meanwhile in Ho Chi Minh City, the weather will be good with sunlight in the morning and potential rains, thunder and whirlwinds in the afternoon and night./.

Multiple tourism products, services launched in HCMC

HCMC is launching a series of tourism introduction programs between April 25 and August 15 to attract domestic visitors to the city, while many three- to five-star hotels are also lowering room prices by up to 65% during the period.

Apart from many tourist destinations and special eateries, various new check-in points and street food in HCMC will be introduced through these tourism programs, according to the HCMC Department of Tourism.

The city will be offering new tours, including “Throwing back at the history-Silent Footprints-Saigon Army Rangers”, telling visitors about the stories of HCMC, “Can Gio- a different Saigon” and “Back to sacred place”, in which tourists will be taken to Binh Chanh to explore historic fights against French troops.

The “Talking with typical three-generation families of artists in HCMC” program will also bring new experiences to tourists.

In addition, traditional plays of hat boi, a genre of Vietnamese traditional drama, which is over 500 years old, will be performed at the Lang Ong Ba Chieu Temple, where the tombs of Le Van Duyet and his wife lie, or the Saigon Zoo & Botanical Garden.

Aside from reducing room prices, many hotels such as Nikko Saigon, Park Hyatt Saigon and Le Meriden are rolling out staycation packages for the city’s residents.

Report claims right to autonomy and self-determination

Nearly half of women in 57 developing countries are denied the right to bodily autonomy, said a report released on Thursday.

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)’s 2021 flagship report – State of World Population – was launched in cooperation with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the HCM Central Youth Union.

For the first time, a UN report focuses on the topic of bodily autonomy, without fear of violence or having someone else decide for you.

The report shows that in countries where data is available, only 55 per cent of women are fully empowered to make choices over healthcare, contraception and sexual relations.

Only 71 per cent of countries guarantee access to overall maternity care.

Only about 56 per cent of countries have laws and policies supporting comprehensive sexuality education.

Addressing the launch, Nguyễn Tường Lâm, Secretary of the Central Youth Union, said: “The theme of this year’s World Population Report “My body is my own” turns the spotlight on bodily autonomy. With the focus on comprehensive sexuality education and gender equality, the report calls for joint efforts in strengthening awareness among young people and rights to ensure that they are equipped with knowledge and skills to make their own decisions about their health.”

Naomi Kitahara, UNFPA Representative in Việt Nam, said: “A woman who has control over her body is more likely to be empowered in other spheres of her life. She is more likely to thrive, and so is her family, her community and her country.”

Bodily autonomy is measured through two sustainable development goals (SDGs) indicators, including 5.6.1 and 5.6.2. In the report, Việt Nam is cited, among 75 countries which have data, for the measurement of SDG indicator 5.6.2 – the existence of laws, regulations, or policies that guarantee full and equal access to women and men aged 15 years and older to sexual and reproductive healthcare, information and education.

Việt Nam has the indicator value of 54 per cent out of 100 per cent achievement, which is higher than Nepal (48 per cent) but lower than Cambodia (98 per cent) and Myanmar (75 per cent).

Việt Nam does not yet have a full data set for SDG indicator 5.6.1 about proportion of women aged 15-49 years who make their own informed decisions regarding sexual relations, contraceptive use and reproductive healthcare, but plans to make it available in the coming years.

The Sate of World Population report is UNFPA’s annual flagship publication. Published yearly since 1978, it shines a light on emerging issues in the field of sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Job market shows strong signs of recovery

Vietnam’s job market showed strong signs of recovery in the first quarter of 2021, opening up various opportunities for workers, especially highly-skilled workers.

Sectors seeing an increase in hiring demand in the quarter included Engineering and Manufacturing, Energy, IT, E-commerce, Electronics, Semiconductor Design, Civil Engineering, and Industrial Construction.

The combination of global supply chain shifts and the positive impact of free trade agreements will offer new prospects for Vietnam’s economy into the future, leading to a significant increase in employment opportunities and hiring demand, said Nguyen Thi Thu Phuong, Adecco Hanoi’s Recruitment Manager.

In Ho Chi Minh City, the labour market in Q1 was livelier than in the same period last year, according to the municipal Centre for Human Resources Forecasting and Labour Market Information (FALMI).

Its figures show that there were over 44,000 job vacancies and nearly 19,500 jobseekers in the southern economic hub during the period, increasing local human resources demand by 13.14% year-on-year. The majority of vacancies (70.38%) were in the services sector, followed by industry (29.51%) and agriculture (0.11%).

The centre forecasts that the city will need between 68,600 and 73,500 workers, mostly in the fields of IT, electronics and electricity; mechanics and automation; healthcare and medicine; accounting and auditing; finance, banking and securities; real estate; and tourism, lodging and catering services.

Adecco Hanoi Office Director Nguyen Thu Ha explained three main reasons contributing to the current situation. The first is the Government’s successful efforts in virus prevention and containment, she said. Second, businesses have gradually ramped up their operations and are eager to bounce back after a period of economic stagnation. Third, in terms of psychology, people now are better able to take care their health and cope with coronavirus anxiety.

FALMI said that demand for trained workers in HCM City made up 85.72% of the total, including 22.19% for university graduates or higher.

Commenting on the labour market outlook for 2021, Andree Mangels, General Director, Adecco Vietnam believed that the recovery of the economy and the global trends of digitalisation will open up opportunities for skilled workers.

A recent survey from the Adecco Group on shifts in workplace expectations in the post-pandemic world indicate that 82% of participants appreciate the strict hygiene regulations at work.

Other noticeable expectations among workers are flexibility (80%), adequate facilities for remote working (79%), investment in technology (77%), financial support policies (77%), and regular updates on business plans and performance (75%).

Kien Giang acts to protect Phu Quoc from Covid-19 transmission

The Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang has adopted multiple measures to prevent the Covid-19 transmission from hitting its island city of Phu Quoc, as scores of Vietnamese citizens working in Cambodia and other countries, which share the border with Vietnam, are forecast to return home through the Cambodia-Ha Tien border gate after these neighboring countries lifted Covid-19 lockdown.

At a recent meeting reviewing the efforts to control and prevent Covid-19 infection throughout the province, Lam Minh Thanh, chairman of the provincial government, said that the province will face more difficulties in fighting the disease in the coming time since it shares a long borderline with Cambodia, where the pandemic is at its peak, and has many border crossings.

Therefore, aside from receiving and taking anti-epidemic measures for Vietnamese citizens returning home from Cambodia, Thanh asked local border guard forces to ramp up efforts to monitor vehicles operating in the locality and increase the frequency of patrols at border areas to prevent illegal entry.

The chairman also required the local competent forces to check the compliance with Covid-19 safety protocols in the province and monitor fishermen and those living and trading in border areas in order to promptly detect and prevent illegal immigrants.

Besides this, sea patrol police were asked to team up with the competent forces to direct boats operating at sea to combat Covid-19 and quickly deal with problems arising on the island.

Phu Quoc Island is a popular tourist destination in Vietnam. Recently, many local carriers have launched new air services to this island city to meet the rising travel demand among passengers after the coronavirus outbreak in the country has been brought under control.

Son La receives rice support for between-crop period

Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai has signed a decision assigning the Ministry of Finance to provide over 59,800 tonnes of rice to the northern mountainous province of Son La during the between-crop period of 2021.

The rice, sourced from the national reserves, aims to support local residents in order to ensure no one suffers from hunger during the period.

The Deputy PM assigned the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs to allocate the rice to the locality, while asking the provincial authorities to ensure timely delivery to right beneficiaries in line with regulations.

In case Son La still faces difficulties after receiving the aid, the local authorities are advised to report to the two ministries for further assistance./.

Hai Phong’s Flamboyant Festival to draw tourists

Various cultural, economic, sport and tourism activities will be held in the northern port city of Hai Phong between May 11 and 15 during the annual Flamboyant Festival of the northern port city.

An art show titled Hai Phong – A Successful Destination on May 11 will be a highlight of the programme with a fireworks show.

The event aims to celebrate the anniversary of the Liberation Day of the city from French occupation (May 13, 1955).

Last year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was not held to spare funding to fight the virus. This year, with the pandemic under control, authorities decided to host the festival at a cost of some 20 billion VND (869,000 USD) contributed by local individuals and enterprises.

Local authorities of all culture, sport, tourism and art sectors in 15 districts in the city will host 66 activities during the festival.

They include photo exhibitions, a virtual contest titled “Check-in Hai Phong, My Beloved City” on Facebook; ca tru (ceremonial singing) performances; a golf tournament; exhibition of Hai Phong’s achievements in socio-economics; a cooking contest; a tourism fair; a singing contest on Hai Phong; an ao dai (traditional long dress) festival; a women’s beach volleyball tournament, and a classic car show.

According to Le Khac Nam, deputy chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, the event will promote the city’s image as a smart developing city, which is friendly to international visitors and also a successful destination for investors.

Hai Phong is 100km to the northeast of Hanoi. Flamboyant trees are planted in many streets in the city, which come into full bloom in summer (May-June), hence the name of the festival./.

Man arrested for illegal deforestation

The investigation police agency at the Police Department of the northern mountainous province of Son La on April 26 decided to arrest a 43-year-old man for his illegal deforestation.

Lo Van Quy, from Co Noi commune, Mai Son district, Son La province, will be arrested for his violation of regulations on exploitation and protection of forests and forest product management in line with Article 232 of the Penal Code.

The decision has been approved by the provincial People’s Procuracy.

Investigators said Quy hired a group of people to illegally exploit forest products and they were caught red handed in a forest in Na Pan hamlet, Chieng Dong commune, Yen Chau district.

The case is under further investigation./.

HCMC Transport Dept proposes restricting vehicles with over 30 seats downtown

The HCMC Department of Transport has proposed restricting vehicles with more than 30 seats in downtown areas, including districts 1, 3, 5 and 10.

The restriction will not be applied to buses that transport students, workers and tourists and vehicles for special purposes.

The department also proposed increasing the number of cameras installed in downtown areas and around the Mien Dong Bus Station in Binh Thanh District as many coaches frequently stop on the streets in these areas to pick up or drop off passengers.

The pickups and drop-offs of passengers have worsened traffic congestion and caused dangers to commuters in these areas. The city will publish the list of locations that allow coaches to pick up or drop off passengers.

Besides that, the HCMC Transport Department proposed that the Directorate for Roads of Vietnam upgrade the data analysis system for dashcams to effectively detect and punish vehicles that violate traffic regulations.

HCMC currently has over 110 stops for coaches to pick up and drop off passengers.

Project launched to protect children in coffee production

A project on enhancing capacity and bolstering the protection of children working in coffee production in Dak Lak was officially launched in the Central Highlands province on April 26.

Implemented from October 2020 to March 2023 at a total cost of nearly 5.7 billion VND (248,000 USD), the project covers the six communes of Ea Tan and Dlie Ya in Krong Nang district, Ea Drong and Ea Tul in Cu M’Gar district, and Cu Bao and Ea Drong in Buon Ho township.

Objectives include improving the living conditions of children in coffee growing and processing areas, to ensure they are protected and their rights are observed.

About 2,000 children are expected to benefit from the project, most of whom are from ethnic minority groups.

According to Vice Director of the Dak Lak Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Pham Phuong, Dak Lak is an agriculture province and nearly 70 percent of its population are farmers.

Coffee is the major crop, he said, adding that the project will contribute to improving awareness among children, parents, businesses, and local authorities about children’s rights, realising targets set regarding their care, especially in preventing them from leaving school during the harvest season.

Along with strengthening communications, the department will support poor children to return to school while assisting local authorities to inspect workplace safety at coffee production facilities, Phuong said.

At the same time, the department will coordinate with the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union to organise contests on technology application in coffee production, with the aim of erasing work involving child labour, while cooperating with the Health Department to prevent children being injured during production.

The capacity of units in the coffee supply chain to protect children will be enhanced, he said, adding that training courses will be held for relevant parties while communications on child protection laws will be strengthened. Businesses will be encouraged to sign agreements on not using child labour and ensuring workplace safety./.

Commune on Phu Quoc Island to hold elections early

The National Election Council recently issued Dispatch No 533/HDBCQG-VP dated April 20, allowing Tho Chau island commune of Phu Quoc city to hold the elections of deputies to the National Assembly and all-level People’s Councils for the 2021-2026 tenure on May 21, two days earlier than the national election day.

This was reported by the Election Committee of the Mekong Delta’s Kien Giang province, to which Phu Quoc belongs.

Covering over 1,395 ha, Tho Chau island commune consists of eight islands and islets: Tho Chu, Hon Tu, Hon Cao Cat, Hon Nhan, Hon Kho, Hon Xanh, Hon Cai Ban, and Hon Da Bac.

Tho Chu is the largest and only inhabited island in the commune.

The elections are being held early due to difficult access and extreme weather conditions here./.

New NA Chairman receives more congratulations

Parliamentary leaders of foreign countries continued to send letters of congratulations to National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue on his election as the top leader of the Vietnamese legislature.

NA Chairman Hue received congratulations from President of the Senate of Romania Anca Dana Dragu, President of the Belgian Chamber of Representatives Eliane Tillieux, and Speaker of the National Assembly of Mozambique Esperanca Laurinda Francisco Nhiuane Bias./.

Japan-funded project to help mitigate COVID-19 impacts on vulnerable populations

The Japanese Government will provide Vietnam with more than 2.8 million USD to finance a project on “Mitigating COVID-19 Impacts on Vulnerable Populations”, which was launched in Hanoi on April 26.

The project aims to aid the Vietnamese Government’s ongoing efforts to mitigate the negative impacts of COVID-19 on vulnerable populations and ensure national progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It plans to intervene in four areas: gender-based violence, improvements to elderly care, sexual and reproductive health care, and support for returning Vietnamese migrants.

The project will be conducted from April 2021 to March 2022 in 14 cities and provinces: Thai Nguyen, Dien Bien, Lao Cai, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Da Nang, Quang Tri, Quang Nam, Dak Lak, An Giang, Can Tho, Vinh Long, and HCM City.

Addressing the launch of the new project, the Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam said the COVID-19 pandemic proved the importance of mutual understanding, the sharing of resources, and, above all, solidarity and cooperation between communities, societies, and nations in tackling the unprecedented challenges. The new project also demonstrates the good relationship between Vietnam and Japan, he added.

Though Vietnam responded to COVID-19 better than most countries, the social and economic consequences it has caused are of great concern, the ambassador went on, and vulnerable groups such as women and girls, the elderly, and adolescents have been hit hardest.

Naomi Kitahara, representative of the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) in Vietnam, said the challenges facing Vietnamese people, especially vulnerable groups, have become more complex due to COVID-19, which has deepened existing inequalities and exposed social gaps.

For Vietnam to achieve the SDGs, it is necessary to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and ensure that all people are part of the sustainable development process so that no one is left behind. She expects the project will represent a great leap forward for Vietnam in remaining committed to fulfilling the SDGs.

The project plans to establish three one-stop shop service centres, hold 10 creative and innovative campaigns on the prevention of gender-based violence amid COVID-19, and provide training for around 500 men and women on preventing and responding to gender-based violence.

Under the project, about 1,000 elderly citizens in selected cities and provinces will be provided with high-quality health care and support services, while some 58,000 others are expected to benefit from telehealth services.

About 5,000 ethnic minority women will benefit from a mobile application offering information and consultation on sexual and reproductive healthcare, while 45 district-level public clinics will receive medical equipment to protect their health workers from COVID-19.

It will also register returning migrant workers for training courses on soft skills and comprehensive gender education, and provide them with counselling in sexual and reproductive health, the prevention of gender-based violence, and future careers./.

Vietnam ready to help Laos respond to COVID-19

Vietnam is ready to provide support within its capability to Laos in overcoming difficulties that Laos faces in COVID-19 prevention and control work, standing member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Vo Van Thuong said.

The official made the pledge during a reception in Hanoi on April 27 for Lao Ambassador to Vietnam Sengphet Houngboungnuang.

Thuong expressed his delight at the development of the special solidarity between Vietnam and Laos, and affirmed that Vietnam will work together with Laos to protect and foster the ties between the two countries.

He offered sympathy to the Lao Party, State and people over the loss caused by the pandemic, noting his belief that under the leadership of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, the governance of the Lao Government and the solidarity of the entire political system and Lao people, the country will be able to contain the spread of the pandemic in the shortest time possible, thus ensuring the implementation of socio-economic development tasks.

The Party official appreciated the important role of the Lao Embassy in Vietnam and asked the embassy to continue working as a bridge to connect ministries, sectors and localities of the two countries towards more effective bilateral cooperation.

Ambassador Sengphet Houngboungnuang congratulated Vietnam over its great and comprehensive achievements and voiced his belief that the Vietnamese people will continue to reap even greater accomplishments in their Doi Moi (Renewal) cause and successfully realise the resolution of the 13th National Party Congress.

The ambassador also thanked the Vietnamese Party, State and people for their whole-hearted and effective help for Laos, and took the occasion to update Thuong on the situation in Laos, especially developments of the COVID-19 pandemic./.

Five COVID-19 cases recorded on April 27

Vietnam recorded five cases of COVID-19 during the past 12 hours to 6pm April 27, raising the national total to 2,857, according to the Health Ministry.

Among the new patients, four are Vietnamese citizens returning from abroad and have been quarantined immediately after arrival. The fifth patient was a staff member at a hotel which is used as a quarantine facility in the northern province of Yen Bai, where several Indian experts are quarantined after arriving in Vietnam. This staff member has also been under medical monitoring since the first day he made contact with the Indian experts.

Meanwhile, 2,516 COVID-19 patients have been given the all clear, and the death toll remains at 35.

Among patients still under treatment, 13 have tested negative for the novel coronavirus once, 15 twice and 20 thrice.

A total 38,266 people are being quarantined across the country./.

Government committee meets foreign religious practitioners in Vietnam

The Government Committee for Religious Affairs held a meeting with foreign religious practitioners on April 27 to inform about legal regulations on beliefs and religions, and the realisation of the right to freedom of belief or religion of foreigners legally residing in Vietnam.

The event was attended by officials of the Government committee, the Ministry of Home Affairs, relevant ministries and agencies, and localities’ committees for religious affairs, along with dignitaries representing 43 places and groups for concentrated religious practices of foreigners.

Vu Chien Thang, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs and Chairman of the Government Committee for Religious Affairs, said Vietnam’s strong integration into the world has attracted a large number of foreign entrepreneurs and businesses. Many of foreigners working, studying, and living in the country have beliefs or religions, thus having the demand for religious practices.

He emphasised Vietnam’s policy of respecting and protecting all people’s right to freedom of belief or religion, noting that the 2013 Constitution recognised the right as one of the fundamental human rights while the Law on Belief and Religion, adopted by the National Assembly on November 18, 2016 and coming into force on January 1, 2018, detailed this right of all people, including foreigners legally residing in Vietnam.

In fact, foreigners legally residing in the country have had their right to freedom of belief or religion ensured in line with legal regulations, Thang went on.

Local authorities have created conditions for tens of foreigners’ places and groups to practice religions at legal sites in Vietnam. Meanwhile, foreign dignitaries are allowed to preach at places or groups of concentrated religious practices. Foreigners are also permitted to bring religious publications and items to serve their practices, according to the official.

He expressed his hope that the dignitaries and representatives of foreigners’ places and groups for religious practices will not only help introduce the land, people, and religious life in Vietnam, but also correctly present the country’s relevant policies and legal regulations to other foreigners.

At the meeting, participants learned about the basic contents of the Law on Belief and Religion, the rules on exit from and entry into Vietnam, and the provision of online public services related to belief and religion.

They also discussed issues relevant to the realisation of foreigners’ right to freedom of belief or religion to help build a healthy religious life in the country./.

Kien Giang readies medical infrastructure in face of COVID-19 risk

The Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang is working to establish a temporary hospital for COVID-19 treatment in its border city of Ha Tien amid complex developments of the coronavirus in neighbouring Cambodia and illegal border crossings.

Based at the centre for culture, information, and sports in My Duc ward, the hospital will be capable of handling about 300 patients with mild symptoms in the initial phase, according to Director of the Kien Giang Department of Health Ha Van Phuc.

He noted that if the number of Vietnamese people in Cambodia returning home via the Ha Tien International Border Gate keeps increasing, the province will add 200 beds to the temporary hospital.

Eleven rooms for COVID-19 patients in a critical condition will be set up at the Healthcare Centre of Ha Tien city, while the second storey of this centre will be able to provide treatment for 39 patients in fair condition.

After new infrastructure at the Kien Giang General Hospital opens in early May, the old facilities will serve as another temporary hospital if the COVID-19 situation becomes more complex, Phuc added.

On April 19, a quick response team from the Cho Ray Hospital in HCM City was sent to assist Kien Giang in its COVID-19 response.

Dr Tran Thanh Linh, deputy head of the resuscitation and emergency department at the Cho Ray Hospital, said local authorities have thoroughly prepared pandemic prevention and control plans, including the arrangement of treatment sites, as the border areas of Ha Tien city are facing a high risk of COVID-19 transmission.

As of the morning of April 27, Vietnam had recorded 2,852 cases of COVID-19, including 2,516 recoveries, while fatalities remain at 35, according to the Ministry of Health./.

Vietnam’s largest man-made crystal lagoon to be launched

Final touches are being put on the 6.1-hectare salt-water lagoon in Hanoi’s Vinhomes Ocean Park, which will be launched during the upcoming public holiday this weekend.

Constructed by US-based Crystal Lagoons, the project is holding a national record as Vietnam’s largest salt-water lagoon recognised by the Vietnam Record Association. It is also the sixth largest man-made crystalline lagoon in the world.

Dubbed as a jewel in the city, Vinhomes Ocean Park’s crystal lagoon offers its residents and visitors a unique and exciting beach life experience with beautiful turquoise waters surrounded by 35-metre-wide white sand beach.

The sand has been brought here from Nha Trang whose beach was listed in the top 50 most beautiful white sand beaches in the world.

Once operational, the lagoon is expected to help create a unique living space for Hanoians and realise the dream of enjoying beach life every day right in the hustle and bustle capital city.

Vietnamese people will enjoy four days off during the upcoming public holiday from April 30 to May 2 to celebrate the National Reunification Day (April 30) and May Day (May 1)./.

Da Nang starts legal proceeding against illegal entry organisers

Police in the central city of Da Nang have started legal proceedings and detained 14 suspects involving in a ring of brokering and organising illegal entry to Vietnam for Chinese people.

According to Major General Vu Xuan Vien, Director of the Da Nang Department of Public Security, the suspects reside in different northern localities such as Ninh Binh, Ha Nam, Hoa Binh, Hanoi and Hung Yen.

He highlighted the joint efforts of the police of Da Nang and other localities in raiding the ring, saying this is important amid the current COVID-19 situation.

In December 2020, the police of Da Nang discovered four illegal Chinese immigrants in a seven-seat car driven by Dinh Xuan Hien, a resident of Thai Binh province. Expanding investigation into the case, the police arrested additional 14 suspects.

The investigation results showed that from December 21-29, the ring managed to bring 49 Chinese people to Vietnam and then to Cambodia for 28-30 million VND for each person.

Meanwhile, authorities in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang, which shares sea border with Cambodia, are tightening control over illegal entry to Vietnam, especially during the upcoming April 30- May 1 holidays and the upcoming general elections as part of efforts to prevent COVID-19 pandemic to enter Vietnam.

Senior Lieutenant Colonel Doan Dinh Tranh, Vice Political Commissar of the provincial Border Guard High Command said that Kien Giang has set up 30 posts, eight mobile teams and 11 checkpoints in Phu Quoc Island to prevent COVID-19 pandemic.

On April 23-24, local forces discovered four illegal immigration cases with 23 illegal immigrants to Phu Quoc./.

16 teams progress to next round of Bamboo Airways National Cup 2021

A total of 16 teams have made it into the round of 16 of the Bamboo Airways National Cup 2021, which is scheduled to take place in July.

The results were announced following the conclusion of two final matches as part of the national cup’s qualifying round on April 25.

Phu Dong FC and Khanh Hoa FC became the final two football clubs to have their progress to the round of 16 confirmed after recording a 1-0 win over Hue FC and a 2-0 victory over Phu Tho FC, respectively.

The most notable match in the next round of the competition will be between Hoang Anh Gia Lai FC and SHB Da Nang FC, with both teams being placed in first and second positions in the current V.League 1 table.

Hanoi FC, the current National Cup champions, are exempt from competing in the qualifying round, therefore they will face Pho Hien FC in their first match in the following round.

As V.League 1 champions of the 2020 season, Viettel FC will play Hai Phong FC in their first match of the competition.

The tournament’s next round is set to get underway in July, with the winner being granted a sum of VND1 billion, equivalent to US$43,000, in prize money, whilst also earning a place in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup 2022.

The first and second runners-up will be given VND500 million, equal to US$21,500, and VND200 million, equivalent to US$8,600, respectively.

Source: VNA/VNS/VOV/VIR/SGT/Nhan Dan/Hanoitimes

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has decided to continue imposing anti-dumping duties on certain aluminium products originating from China with a tax rate from 4.39 per cent to 35.58 per cent after carrying out the first review.

On September 28 last year, the Ministry of Industry and Trade issued a decision to impose anti-dumping duties on some aluminium products originating from China with a rate from 2.49 per cent to 35.58 per cent.

The ministry initiated the investigation into the anti-dumping case in January 2019. The investigation found injuries to the domestic aluminium industry. Specifically, most domestic producers suffered losses, many production lines had to stop operating and a large number of workers lost jobs.

The major cause was found to be the dumping of aluminium products originating from China at margins of 2.49 per cent to 35.58 per cent.

In mid-2020, the ministry received an inquiry to conduct the first review on anti-dumping duties on Chinese aluminium products.

After the review, the ministry issued a decision on April 20 this year which took effect five days later to continue levying anti-dumping duty on some aluminium products originating from China.

On the same day, the ministry also issued a decision after carrying out the first review about the imposition of anti-dumping duty on some painted flat-rolled alloy and non-alloy steel products originating from China and the Republic of Korea. Accordingly, the anti-dumping duties of 2.56 per cent to 34.27 per cent were imposed.

April industrial production expands 24.1 per cent

Viet Nam’s index of industrial production (IIP) in April rose by 24.1 per cent year-on-year, driven by the positive impact of free trade agreements (FTA), according to the General Statistics Office.

The IIP in the first four months of 2021 enjoyed a year-on-year increase of 10 per cent, boosted by the growth of manufacturing and processing (12.7 per cent), electricity production and supply (6.6 per cent), and water supply and waste and wastewater treatment (7.5 per cent).

Key industries that recorded high increases include metal production (37.9 per cent), motorised vehicle production (32.9 per cent), and furniture production (17.6 per cent).

On the contrary, the mining sector posted a decrease of 5.7 per cent against the same period last year.

The number of labourers working in industries as of April 1 rose by 1.5 per cent month-on-month, and 1.8 per cent year-on-year.

To address inventory and promote production in the future, the Ministry of Planning and Investment proposes localities continue reforming administrative procedures, simplifying specialised inspection procedures, and implement the Prime Minister’s Decision approving the Action Plan on improving competitiveness and developing logistics services.

Sectors are advised to focus on supporting the development of the domestic markets, studying consumption stimulus policies for locally-made products, and developing supporting industries.

Vietnam could lead SE in renewable energy development: German newspaper

Vietnam will soon lead Southeast Asia in renewable energy development, Germany’s Energiezukunft highlighted in its latest article, describing the country’s energy transition as very impressive.

Vietnam is experiencing a solar boom, with 11.6 GW of power of this kind added to the national grid last year, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency.

Only 105 MW of solar electricity was installed in the country in 2018, and the figure rose to 5 GW in only a year later, and even to 16.5GW in 2020, the article said, adding this is a considerable increase as compared to other nations at the same time.

As demand for energy in this Southeast Asian country is forecast to shoot up dramatically in the coming time, big players in the field have invested heavily in solar energy plants. Last summer, a 45 MW plant was put into operation in the central province of Ninh Thuan by Sharp Energy Solutions Corporation, contributing some 76 MWh per year. The firm is carrying out another five 245 MW plants in the country.

The successful solar energy story in Vietnam was sparked by a special market mechanism, which drew much interest from investors. Under the purchasing power at fixed prices, investors would sell the renewable energy they create to the grid at a fixed price – one that would more than cover the cost of investing in renewable energy facilities.

Vietnam could carry out more bidding mechanisms for solar projects, in which all renewable energy projects which are not subject to the fixed price mechanism are able to join.

The Vietnamese Government is planning to double the power capacity in the next 10 years. Accordingly, 29 percent of the nation’s electricity will come from renewable energy source by 2030, and 18 percent from hydropower.

Capacity of renewable energy is envisioned at 45 GW, much higher than the previous plan of 27 GW – the level which is achievable within 2021 or next year as the latest.

Although the energy transition is taking place rapidly, coal-generated electricity accounted for 28 percent of the nation’s total power. However, renewable energy will take the lion’s share by 2045./.

Ca Mau develops high-quality rice farming

The Mekong Delta province of Ca Mau will step up the application of advanced technology to expand high-quality rice material farming, according to Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Thanh Trieu.

Under the province’s planning, local farmers will cultivate rice on an area of some 110,000 ha, with an average yield of 4.7 tonnes per ha by 2025. Ca Mau will strive for a rice output of 520,000 tonnes by 2025, which is expected to then remain stable until 2030.

Trieu said the focus will be sharpened to develop organic rice materials that meet both domestic and international standards as well as promote the value chain of the food.

In the meantime, the shrimp – rice rotary cultivation model will be developed with a view to increasing the amount of certified organic shrimp, he added.

Farmers are encouraged to shift to growing high-quality rice varieties that are resilient against disease.

Figures from the department show that the local rice growing area increased to 117,390 ha in 2020 from 112,534 in 2017. The yield surged by an average of 0.64 tonnes per ha to 4.54 tonnes in 2020.

The department turned 50,000 ha of ineffective fields into cultivating high-yield rice that is resilient to climate change. In particular, it has successfully planted the grain under international organic standards./.

Bac Giang moving towards digital transformation

The northern province of Bac Giang is striving to develop information technology infrastructure for digital transformation and also the development of smart urban areas.

According to Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Mai Son, Bac Giang targets its digital infrastructure being able to provide an average of 14 GB of data each month per broadband subscriber by 2025, with the figure to increase to 27 GB by 2030.

It also envisages that each 100 local people will be connected to 75-100 IoT devices by 2025 and 150-200 by 2030. Consideration is also being given to the construction of an information technology industrial park.

Son said that priority will be given to building and upgrading local fibre optic lines to serve the development of broadband services and smart urban areas.

The province is striving to expand its broadband infrastructure to all villages while having more than 80 percent of households connected to cable internet by 2025.

Half of the local population are to have e-payment accounts within the next four years and all residential areas will have 5G coverage.

By 2025, the locality will prioritise digitalisation in key sectors such as education, health care, transportation, agriculture, and the environment, and develop the provincial capital Bac Giang city into a smart and modern urban area.

According to Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Duong Van Thai, as digitalisation is an inexorable trend, the local Party Committee is working to issue a resolution on digital transformation right this month, having asked local authorities at all levels to join in the process.

Bac Giang province is home to 1,422 base transceiver stations (BTS), with 3G and 4G services covering the entire province. There are more than 1.77 million mobile phone subscriptions and over 1.25 million internet subscribers.

Total telecommunications revenue in 2020 topped 1.9 trillion VND (82.17 million USD). There are 658 IT and telecommunications enterprises in the province who earned over 153 trillion VND in revenue last year./.

Ba Ria-Vung Tau expanding IPs to welcome investment

New waves of investment coming to the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau will push up demand for land rentals at local industrial parks (IPs), which in turn will need to be expanded.

According to the provincial IPs management board, the province is home to 16 IPs covering a total area of 9,054 ha.

Together they house 469 valid projects worth more than 20.09 billion USD, with occupancy rates standing at 52.35 percent.

Nguyen Anh Triet, head of the board, noted that the upcoming expansion of local IPs is in line with a Government decree as well as State regulations on the management and planning of IPs and economic zones.

The board proposed the addition of eight more IPs on more than 8,120 ha in the 2021-2025 period.

In response, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Van Tho asked relevant departments and sectors to tightly monitor the establishment and expansion of local IPs, taking into consideration their investment effectiveness and impact on the environment and social welfare.

Nguyen Khac Thanh, General Director of Tin Nghia – Phuong Dong Industrial Park Joint Stock Company, said an immediate expansion is necessary to meet investors’ demand./.

Kien Giang province eyes 12.7 percent export growth in Q2

The Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang is aiming at 218 million USD in export revenue in Quarter 2, a year-on-year surge of 12.7 percent.

With this figure, total earnings from exports in the first half will likely top more than 355 million USD, accounting for 47.3 percent of the annual plan and up 2.3 percent year-on-year.

According to the provincial Department of Industry and Trade, the locality pocketed more than 136 million USD from exports in Quarter 1, down 15.5 percent year-on-year.

Of the total, rice brought home 42 million USD, seafood over 45 million USD, leather shoes 27 million USD, fruit and vegetables 5.66 million USD, and other products 15.17 million USD.

COVID-19 made it difficult for local firms to ship products to traditional markets, and processors also faced a shortage of raw materials due to climate change and diseases, the department said.

However, with sound business strategies, many companies were successful in fulfilling contracts and were able to ship products to markets on the road to recovery.

Local companies also received legal documents on the application of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) of WTO member states, which could affect the shipment of Vietnamese agricultural products.

The department also provided support and worked to remove bottlenecks in capital, materials, workers, trade promotion, and market development for local producers./.

HCM City lures $1.14 billion in FDI in four months

HCM City reported a foreign direct investment (FDI) influx of USD1.14 billion in the first four months of 2021, a year-on-year decline of 12.92 per cent.

Approximately $360 million was channelled into 100 new projects, primarily in commerce ($225.1 million ) and real estate ($125.8 million).

Meanwhile, $403 million was added to 30 existing projects and another $377.6 million was used for capital contribution and share purchases in a total 547 transactions.

Foreign investors pumped most of the capital in processing and manufacturing with $322 million, making up 28.2 per cent, followed by commerce with $321.2 million, real estate ($196.3 million), science and technology activities ($175.4 million), and education-training ($30.3 million).

Among 55 countries and territories investing in the city during the period, Japan took the lead with $494.4 million, Singapore second with $281.6 million, and the Republic of Korea was third with $97.7 million.

Hua Quoc Hung, head of the management board of industrial and export processing zones of HCM City, said the southern hub’s processing and industrial zones had lured $237 million as of late April, an increase of 26 per cent against the same period last year.

The municipal People’s Committee has devised a plan to meet with FDI businesses in a bid to improve investment climate and support the firms, as well as introduce major projects and the city’s investment plans for the next five years.

Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Finance Group acquires 49% stake in FE Credit

VPBank on Wednesday signed an agreement to sell a 49 per cent stake in FE Credit to Japan’s Sumitomo Mitsui Finance Group (SMFG) in a transaction that values the non-bank lender at US$2.8 billion.

SMBC Consumer Finance Company (SMBCCF), a subsidiary of SMFG, bought the stake.

Through this transaction, FE Credit is expected to receive support in capital resources, management capacity and experience in the consumer finance sector in Asia from SMBC Group, especially SMBCCF – a leading consumer finance company in the Japanese market. At the same time, this transaction will add a large amount of capital to VPBank, contributing to enhancing the bank’s financial potential to capture new investment opportunities in the market.

For SMBC Group, the investment in FE Credit is part of the group’s mid-term strategy to expand its business base in Asia. SMBC Group expected that this investment would create synergy in both sharing and acquiring business know-how of its partners.

FE Credit is currently the leading consumer finance company in Viet Nam with approximately 50 per cent market share, 20,000 service referrals nationwide, and over 13,000 employees. During the development process, FE Credit has consistently carried out the mission of “meeting the need to access official credit capital of all classes of the population in order to improve the quality of life”. With small loans, FE Credit is especially focused on serving middle and low income earners – a segment which has not yet been served by banks – to help reverse their dependence on “black credit”. FE Credit has served nearly 11 million Vietnamese people through its unsecured loan products and services so far.

SMBC is one of the three largest financial and banking groups in Japan, with total assets of over $2.1 trillion as of December 31, 2020. The group operates globally in retail banking, corporate banking, and investment banking, with a presence in more than 40 countries. SMBCCF is the leading consumer finance company in the Japanese market with more than 900 branches nationwide. In the Asia region, SMBCCF has established subsidiaries in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, and China.

M&A expected to soar in second half

Despite a drop in mergers and acquisitions during the pandemic, a breakthrough is expected in the second half of the year thanks to some billion-dollar deals in the making.

The foreign direct investment (FDI) report of the Ministry of Planning and Investment’s Foreign Investment Agency (FIA) in the first four months showed significant decreases in capital contributions and share purchases, with 1,151 instances (down 64.1 per cent) and a total investment of $1 billion (down 57.8 billion).

This can be explained by the fact that the economy and investment activities in the country were not yet impacted by COVID-19 in the first few months of 2020, so FDI and M&A activities were still quite dynamic during that time. Specifically, $827.3 million was poured into the economy through capital contribution and share purchases in the first two months of 2020, and the figure surged quickly to $2 billion in the first quarter and $2.48 billion in the first four months.

However, after one year hit by the pandemic, the FDI mobilisation and M&A deals’ value in the first four months of 2021 has reflected the worry of foreign investors.

“Amid the economic and financial instabilities during the past year, it is understandable that investors are holding their money and think a lot more before making any large investment decisions,” Nguyen Viet Cuong, an FIA senior expert, explained, but saying that FDI mobilisation in the first four months of 2021 was acceptable, compared to other countries.

“While there was a decline in the number of deals and M&A deal value in the first four months, the value of capital contributions and share purchases has soared by 10-30 per cent on-year,” added Cuong.

The average value of capital contributions and share purchases in the first quarter and four months of this year was estimated at $1,1 million and $870,000, respectively, while they were $793,000 and $772,000 last year.

According to the FIA, between January and April, industries like processing and manufacturing; real estate; wholesale, retail, vehicle repair; science and technology and professional activities have seen hundreds of M&A deals with hundreds of millions of dollars in value.

Singapore and South Korea were the biggest M&A investors with $265 million and $258 million these months, followed by Thailand, Taiwan, and Japan.

PDP8 expected to be tabled for government approval in June

The Ministry of Industry and Trade has been asked to revise and adjust the Power Development Plan 8 to submit to the government in June.

At the meeting between ministries and relevant authorities, which was hosted by Le Van Thanh, Deputy Prime Minister cum head of the National Steering Committee for Power Development, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) was asked to review the draft Power Development Plan 8 (PDP8).

This masterplan was not approved in late March under the 2016-2020 government term as expected, though the MoIT on behalf of the Appraisal Council presented the report on the assessment of the draft PDP8 for the period of 2021-2030, with a vision to 2045. Accordingly, the Appraisal Council reached a conclusion that the draft PDP8 met the conditions to be submitted to the government for approval.

Previously, on March 18, the Appraisal Council organised the second meeting to vote to approve the appraisal report and the content of the masterplan. Four members agreed with the appraisal report and the master plan in full, while 22 others said they would approve the report and the masterplan if the latter was adjusted.

The report on assessment also mentioned that although the Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment approved the environmental impact report of the master plan, however, it is still necessary to adjust other contents of the master plan.

EVN, PetroVietnam and National Power Transmission Corporation (EVNNPT) have also expressed concerns about the content of the draft PDP8. Notably, the masterplan does not evaluate primary energy (energy sources found in nature that have not been subjected to any human engineered conversion process) or the proportion of local and imported primary energy in order to ensure national energy security as well as problems relating to imported materials namely liquefied natural gas (LNG) and imported coal, among others.

In addition, according to the above groups, the designed power transmission system has a large capacity to accommodate the registered renewable energy generation capacity and future potential. However, there will be problems if renewable energy and power transmission projects are not implemented synchronously, which will cause waste for both the investors and the state. Thus, EVN, PetroVietnam, and EVNNPT requested further adjustments to the draft to better suit current realities

Furthermore, numerous power grid projects were named without deciding on an actual location, which may impact the land clearance process and prolong the time for land clearance compared to the timelines stipulated in the draft PDP8.

Ninh Binh proposes to build airport and remove thermal power plant

Ninh Binh People’s Committee has proposed building an airport to support tourism development and simultaneously removing a thermal power plant.

In a report submitted to the prime minister, the province requested adding its own airport to the national airport planning in 2021-2030 with a vision to 2050.

According to the proposal, the airport would be constructed in 2021-2025 from private capital, with state investment only needed to construct infrastructure connecting to the airport.

The province has highlighted two potential locations for the project, in Kim Son and Yen Khanh districts.

The airport in Ninh Binh would be able to handle planes the size of A320 and A321 models to welcome tourists. According to the province, Ninh Binh has great potential to develop its tourism sector with a diverse landscape including Trang An Landscape Complex and Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, among others.

The province forecast that by 2025, it would welcome 8-9 million passengers, including 2.5 million foreigners.

The province has submitted a similar proposal early this year to the Ministry of Transport.

According to the draft master plan on the development of the national airport network to 2030 with a vision to 2050, the Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam has proposed to have 26 airports by 2030, 14 of which will be international airports. The number could reach 30 by 2050.

At present, Vietnam has 22 airports in operation, nine of which are international and 13 domestic. Seven airports are located in the north, while seven others are in the central region. The remaining eight ones are located in the south.

Along with the airport, the province is seeking the prime minister’s approval to stop the operation of the 100MW Ninh Binh Thermal Power Plant and remove the 220kV substation from the province. The thermal power plant has been operating since 1974.

Singaporean startup pours $15 million into Vietnam’s cashback market

E-commerce cashback platform ShopBack has injected around $15 million into Vietnam with a view to creating a new shopping habit for local shoppers.

Truc Nguyen, country manager of ShopBack Vietnam said that the startup unveiled its beta launch in Vietnam in late 2019 and made an official debut last August. It has continuosly improved the app and invested $15 million in the local market. To date, VND22 billion($956,520) in cashback has been given out to ShopBack users in Vietnam.

“Depending on the market conditions, user demand, and readiness of our technical and product partners, we will expand our offerings and raise more investment to make cashback a new shopping habit in Vietnam,” she said.

ShopBack is backed by e-commerce group Rakuten Group Inc., one of the better-known companies that dole out cash-back rewards for online purchases. Other investors into the startup are EV Growth, Temasek Holdings, and Credit Saison, among others. ShopBack has raised a total funding of $134 million since 2014.

The increasing number of internet users, rising internet penetration, and steady increase of the e-commerce share of total retail sales in Vietnam makes it a core and high-potential market for ShopBack. Vietnam presents a tremendous opportunity for the startup to grow and succeed in the digital space, with large marketplaces such as Shopee, Lazada, Tiki, and Sendo – all of whom are its merchant partners – experiencing record-breaking growth in the past years.

The country manager said that it will focus on increasing the number of partners and clients in the next 2-3 years. With the current growth trajectory, ShopBack is likely to reach 2 million users in Vietnam.

In line of booming e-commerce demand, Vietnam has welcomed more online cashback platforms such as Finhay, Cashbag, Catback, and ShopBack. However, there are aslo some fraud cashback scams that customers need to be aware like consumer rewards app MyAladdinz. There is a key difference between legitimate players from fraudulent ones, which are operated like multi-level platforms. They require shoppers to submit money to the apps to receive rewards, after a short time they will shut down and steal all users’ money.

Proactively welcoming the fourth FDI wave

The COVID-19 pandemic is changing the global economic structure, breaking production and circulation chains, promoting new technology development and “rectifying” investment flows. In that context, attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) into Vietnam also needs to be adjusted to suit the new situation.

Entering its 33rd year of implementing the open-door policy to attract foreign capital, up to now, FDI inflows have become one of the important drivers of Vietnam’s economic growth with a significant increase in theircontribution to GDP.

By the end of 2020, the whole country has 33,070 valid FDI projects with total registered capital of over US$384 billion, the implemented capital having reached US$231.86 billion, equalling more than 60% of the total registered. FDI is present in all 63 localities in the country and is invested in 19 out of 21 industries in the national economic sub-sector. The FDI sector accounts for a large proportion of total industrial production value and the total export value of Vietnam, and revenues to the State budget have steadily increased over the years.

However, along with the positive contributions, the limitations of foreign capital flows have also been clearly revealed. Of which, the biggest limitation is the low level of connection and spread of the FDI sector to the domestic investment sector; the attraction and transfer of technology from the FDI sector to the domestic investment sector not meeting expectations, and limitations in attracting FDI in a number of priority industries and sectors and from multinational corporations. In addition, there has been a phenomenon ofsome enterprises not strictly following the law on investment or regulations on environmental protection.

According to some economic experts, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is an opportunity for Vietnam to actively attract new generation FDI in a more selective manner, with quality, efficiency, technology and environmental protection as the main evaluation criteria. In order to catch up with the flow of the fourth wave of FDI taking place globally, Vietnam needs to be more adaptive, proactive and creative.

At the macro level, the Government will focus on solving a number of major issues. These are to maintain the stability of the macroeconomic, socio-political environment, a competitive advantage of Vietnam in attracting FDI; focus on improving the quality of institutions, policies and laws in order to implement the policy of foreign investment cooperation with priority and selection associated with the goal of improving competitiveness, building an independent economy and prioritising investment in infrastructural development.

At local level, it is necessary to organise and support effectively and promptly investors to build projects with the fastest speeds, the shortest times and the highest levelsof effectiveness through the reform of business and administrative procedures, especially procedures for land and land clearance, and so on.

Enhancing tourism development in the new normal state

The complicated development of the COVID-19 pandemic has left both types of international tourism, inbound and outbound, almost paralysed; therefore, domestic tourism has been identified as the salvation to gradually restore the country’s smoke-free industry.

The importance of domestic tourism

According to travel experts, the COVID-19 epidemic has caused the tourism sector to be full of hardships but also offered an opportunity for the sector to look back and learn lessons from the crisis. One of the most important lessons is to re-realise the importance of domestic tourism in order to balance development policies among different types. Vu The Binh, Standing Vice Chairman of Vietnam Tourism Association said that previously, domestic tourism was not considered a key branch, so did not received proper attention. The demand, preferences, trends, favourite products of Vietnamese tourists or tourism services serving Vietnamese people have not been clearly shaped. The relevant agencies should develop a strong domestic travel market even after the pandemic is controlled completely.

The statistics of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism showed that the number of domestic tourists was only 30 million in 2011 but increased to 85 million (nearly tripling) in 2019, equal to an average growth rate of about 15% per year. Trip time as well as spending of domestic tourists is increasing by an average of 3.7 days and VND1-1.6 million. In 2015, the domestic tourists only contributed VND158 trillion to the total revenue of the sector and VND334 trillion in 2019, with an average increase of about 20.5% per year. This showed that during 2011-2019, before the pandemic appeared, domestic travel saw positive growth. Currently, Vietnam is controlling the epidemic quite well and a series of companies and travel service providers are offering promotions to stimulate demand, so the purchase of domestic tours and products has increased sharply. Airlines must continuously increase supply capacity and open more domestic routes. Many accommodation establishments in “favourite” tourist destinations have to announce “out of rooms” during the upcoming holidays. These are proof that domestic tourism is a potential market. If effective exploitation policies are implemented, this market will ensure the sustainable development of the whole sector.

In response to urgent requirements about the need to have a specific strategy to promote domestic tourism, towards increasing the resistance of Vietnamese tourism, Vietnam Tourism Association, in collaboration with the Ninh Binh Provincial Department of Tourism and Tourism Association, held the 2021 National Domestic Tourism Forum themed “Domestic tourism – The driving force to restore Vietnam tourism in the new normal state”. The event featured the participation of leaders from travel management agencies and nearly 500 enterprises around the country. At the forum, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung affirmed that in recent years, Vietnamese tourism sector has taken the number of visitors and revenue from the international market as a measure of the tourism development’s effectiveness. This is about to change. The tourism sector needs to go firmly on both international and domestic feet.

Linking and diversifying products

According to the tourism sector’s leader, four groups of measures should be implemented to develop domestic tourism. Firstly, travel businesses should soon restructure themselves and recalculate important and key aspects of domestic travel business. Secondly, it is essential to re-study the domestic tourism market. Thirdly, the linkages should be strengthened on the basis of developing unique tourism products and contributing to spreading their values. Lastly, relevant agencies should focus on gradually forming culture in destinations.

It is a fact that with international travel businesses having also shifted their attention to domestic tourism, the competition in this “territory” has become even more fierce. That situation requires tourism service providers to enhance their linkages and coordination to share benefits while finding ways to self-position their travel brands through the development of diversified but unique tourism products. According to Director of the Travel Department under the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Nguyen Quy Phuong, the COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed the needs and tastes of tourists regarding safety, experiences of nature and the ecosystem, small groups, short time, and technology applications. Therefore, the localities and enterprises should proactively innovate, create and develop new products in line with the customers’ demand.

In recent times, several units have built new tourism products that have attracted a large number of visitors such as tours to the Yoko Onsen Quang Hanh hot springs, Ha Long Bay by seaplane, Hoa Lo Prison at night, and air balloon experiences in Hanoi’s Ba Vi District. The introduction of these new products has contributed to creating an exciting atmosphere for the domestic tourism market, bringing more options to travellers. To promote domestic tourism in Vietnam, tourism development orientations must ensure security, safety and principles of respect for the environment, harmony with nature, respect for local culture and identity, proactive adaptation to the epidemic and sustainable development.

In addition, the experts noted that the Government, ministries and agencies should make policies and solutions to remove difficulties for the enterprises, especially small and medium-sized ones, in facing COVID-19 outbreaks. The direct assistance includes financial support, tax exemptions and concessional loans. The indirect supports are human resources training, the promotion of common destinations. The joint efforts from all tourism service providers, management agencies and relevant ministries will create a positive ecosystem for boosting domestic tourism development, thus ensuring the operation and growth of the tourism sector in the new normal state.

Hanoi works to ‘refresh’ tourism image to lure visitors

As one of the country’s tourism markets, Hanoi is rolling every effort to ‘refresh’ the image of tourism to lure domestic visitors, with a focus on creating new experiences and strengthening connection with other localities to develop more attractive tourist products.

A night tour at the Hoa Lo Prison historical site was launched to provide visitors with a unique experience with a combination of sounds and lights which change as they walk through different rooms inside the prison-turned-museum.

Visitors will be filled with a range of special emotions, from sympathy for prisoners in the gruesome conditions of a colonialist prison to respect for their resolute resilience and fighting spirit for national independence.

According to head of the site’s management board Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy, Hoa Lo Prison welcomes hundreds of visitors every year. The site has also chosen as a venue for extracurricular activities of many schools to educate their students about the country’s revolutionary tradition and patriotism.

The management board has coordinated with travel agencies to launch two night programmes at the site, which have received much appreciation from visitors.

In addition to the night tour at Hoa Lo Prison, many other new tourist products have also been launched to welcome back visitors to the capital city, including tours to explore Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Indochinese styled buildings in Hanoi, and places of interest along Red River such as Chem and Soc temples, Bo De Pagoda, Bat Trang pottery village, and Me Linh flower village.

Of which, the tour to Indochinese-styled buildings, which is designed by travel company Hanoitourist, helps visitors to gain a closer insight into typical buildings constructed in Hanoi in early 20th century, namely the Sofitel Metropole Legend, the Hanoi Opera House, the National Historical Museum, and the Government Guest House.

Meanwhile, the Hanoi Tourism Department in coordination with tourism departments of Ninh Binh, Quang Ninh, Sa La, Thua Thien Hue, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City recently debuted the ‘Hanoi+’ tours, which connects Hanoi with tourist attractions in the neighbouring localities.

In order to provide travellers with high-quality tourist products at affordable prices, Hanoi’s tourism sector has actively worked with, airlines, railway sector, travel associations, hotels, restaurants and management boards of tourist attractions in implementing programmes on restructuring the hospitality sector and stimulating domestic travel demand.

Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism Dang Huong Giang said that after more than a year facing numerous many difficulties caused by COVID-19 pandemic, travel businesses want to grasp opportunities for recovery.

Therefore, the department receives enthusiastic cooperation from those operating in the tourism sector, she stated, adding that airlines have launched generous discounts for passengers, particularly for travel agents who buy tickets in bulk.

The active participation from the businesses has contributed to the building of tourism products at attractive prices while ensuring quality.

The recent Hanoi Tourism and Cuisine Festival 2021 brought together travel agents and transport businesses from 12 localities which have strong advantages of tourism, including Khanh Hoa, Binh Dinh, Da Nang, Thua Thien Hue, Quang Binh, and Ha Giang, among others. Around 1,000 tour packages were on sale at the event with prices seeing discounts of up to 25%.

However, after a year of falling in “hibernation” and facing great losses due to COVID-19, thousands of travel businesses and accommodation establishments have remained closed. Many of them have hesitated to “restart” because of worries that the risks may return.

Since then, as stated by Director of Flamingo Redtours Company Nguyen Cong Hoan, travel businesses are seeking for the State’s support, particularly in terms of tax and land lease payment extensions so that they are able to return to the market.

Vietnamese tourists pay stronger attention to sustainable tourism

According to a survey by Booking.com, one of the world’s leading digital travel companies, nearly 100% of Vietnamese tourists want to stay in eco-friendly accommodations at least once.

The survey was conducted with 29,349 participants from 30 travel markets found that 81% of global travellers aspire to stay in eco-friendly and environmentally sustainable accommodations at least once. Accordingly, almost 1,005 Vietnamese tourists aged 18 years and over who participated in the survey expressed their desire for these kinds of accommodations. Meanwhile, the figure is 98% in Thailand, 90% in Singapore and 81% in the Republic of Korea.

Previously, an online survey conducted by Booking.com in July 2020, with the participation of 20,934 people from 28 countries and territories around the world, showed that over 53% of global visitors, including 59% from Vietnam, 68% from Thailand and 60% from Chinese Taipei, admitted that they pay more attention to sustainable tourism as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to Anthony Lu, Country & Mekong Region Head (China) at Booking.com, its study proved many restrictions enacted globally have inspired 59% of Vietnamese travellers to prioritise sustainable travel in the future. This is a positive sign that travellers will be more considerate before they make decisions about their future travels, while also being aware that any sustainable actions they take will help correct their impact on the environment. No matter how small or simple, Vietnamese visitors are believed to have a great impact on the environment and the tourism sector.

The Covid-19 pandemic has made global residents to re-evaluate their effects on their surroundings, towards sustainable travel in the future after travel restrictions are removed.

In fact, Vietnam is an advantageous country for sustainable tourism development. The country possesses nine world biosphere reserves recognised by UNESCO and over 30 national parks, including six ASEAN heritage parks that maintain their ecosystems, diversity and values of population. Notably, Vietnam owns 400 hot water resources, ranks 27th out of 156 nations with seas in the world with 125 beaches, most of which are beautiful. It is also among the 12 countries with the most beautiful bays (Ha Long and Nha Trang).

Over the years, tourism activities in Vietnam have been held towards sustainable tourism, with many resorts receiving international green certificates such as EarthCheck and Green Growth 2050, including Banyan Tree Lang Co in Hue City, Caravelle Saigon, Angsana Lang Co, Avani Quy Nhon, Anantara Mui Ne Resort and Spa, Harbour View Hai Phong and Anantara Hoi An Resort.

Long An wants companies to invest in Ring Road 3

The Long An government has proposed allowing companies to invest in a section of the Ring Road No. 3 project that will run through the Mekong Delta province aimed at speeding up the construction of the key traffic route, according to the provincial government.

The section will be 6.65 kilometers long, have six lanes and cost VND4.63 trillion. Of the total investment, site clearance will cost VND1.6 trillion, Thanh Nien Online reported.

The provincial government had earlier passed a plan allowing the Investment and Industrial Development Corporation (Becamex IDC Corp.) and Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park Joint Venture Co. to study and map out a 1/2,000 master plan for the Becamex-VSIP Service-Industrial and Urban Area project in Ben Luc District. The project is set to cover some 2,300 hectares, with some 4.7 kilometers of the Ring Road No. 3 cutting through.

As such, the investors proposed allowing them to implement the site clearance works for the 4.7-kilometer section and invest in two parallel lines in line with the master plan.

The solution was appropriate, said the Long An government, proposing the Ministry of Transport ask the Government and relevant ministries and departments for opinions so that Long An Province can hold tenders and choose investors to speed up the project.

Due to its limited budget, the province also proposed the Ministry of Transport use the capital from the central budget to develop the remaining 1.95 kilometers of the section of the Ring Road No. 3.

The Ring Road No. 3 project was approved by the prime minister in 2011. The 89.3-kilometer-long Ring Road 3 will pass through Dong Nai, HCMC, Binh Duong and Long An. As planned, the ring road would be completed by 2020, but a mere 16.3 kilometers of the road running through Binh Duong Province has been completed, accounting for 17.9% of the total length.

Number of newly-established firms in Jan-Apr hits new record

In the first four months of 2021, nearly 44,200 new enterprises were established, up 17% over the same period last year and the highest-ever recorded for the period, according to the Business Registration Department under the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

The result was positive as the number of newly-established enterprises fell over 13% in the same period last year due to the pandemic, news site VnExpress reported.

The retail, wholesale and auto and motorbike repair sectors saw the highest number of newly-established enterprises at nearly 14,700, followed by the construction sector with 5,700 companies and the processing and manufacturing sector with 5,600 firms.

However, the real estate, healthcare, social welfare, service, education and logistics sectors reported the highest growth in the number of new enterprises.

New firms registered total capital of nearly VND628 trillion, also an all-time high for the period.

According to the Business Registration Department, the increase in newly-established firms highlighted the recovery of the economy and enterprises’ confidence in the country’s economic development prospects in the coming periods.

However, the number of enterprises withdrawing from the market in the first four months of the year also increased to some 51,500, mainly the small ones. Of the total, 28,350 businesses temporarily stopped operations for a certain period and 16,400 others completed procedures for disbandment.

Firms withdrawing from the market were mainly those in the healthcare, education, mining, property and agriculture sectors. More than 91% of enterprises suspending their operations and 89% of dissolved firms had charter capital of less than VND10 billion and operated for less than five years.

According to the Business Registration Department, they were vulnerable to the pandemic. Many enterprises have chosen to suspend operations to review the development of the market, seek new business plans or wait for the Government’s support policies.

HCMC plans to borrow US$100 million from WB for eight programs

The HCMC government has proposed borrowing US$100 million from the World Bank (WB) to provide capital for its eight policy programs as the city’s budget is not enough for its development demand.

The municipal government has asked the standing board of the municipal Party Committee for its opinion on the second development policy operation program (DPO-2). This program includes eight policy sub-programs relating to the standardization of the shared database, announcement of vector-based zoning plans, increase of wastewater drainage and treatment service prices and organization of tenders for State-owned commercial housing assets for production and business purposes, among others.

According to the municipal government, the Government approved over VND42.2 trillion for the city this year, including VND14.8 trillion in official development assistance loans and VND27.4 trillion from the city’s reciprocal capital, Thanh Nien Online newspaper reported.

Meanwhile, the capital needed is over VND47.8 trillion. Thus, the city will face a shortage of over VND20.4 trillion.

In April 2020, the Ministry of Finance disbursed loans for the DPO-1 program and VND2.86 trillion was provided for 153 projects.

Vietnam’s outward investment in Jan-Apr soars 7.9 times

Vietnam’s outward investment in the first four months of 2021 reached nearly US$546 million, surging by 7.9 times compared with the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

Specifically, 18 projects worth US$142.8 million received investment licenses and nine projects got additional capital of US$403.2 million.

Data of the ministry showed that Vietnamese companies invested in 10 sectors in foreign countries between January and April. The science and technology sector attracted the largest investment with US$279.8 million, accounting for 49.6% of the total.

Retail ranked second with US$147.8 million, accounting for 27.1%, followed by agriculture-forestry-aquaculture and supporting services.

Vietnamese companies invested in 15 countries and territories, with the United States absorbing US$302.3 million of the registered capital (accounting for 55.4%), followed by Cambodia with US$89.1 million (16.3%), France, Canada, Germany and the Netherlands.

As of April 20, Vietnam had 1,417 valid outward investment projects worth US$21.8 billion. The biggest investment was poured into mineral exploitation, accounting for 36% of the total, followed by the agriculture-forestry-aquaculture sector with 15.4%.

Laos was the biggest recipient of Vietnamese investment to date, accounting for 23.1% of the registered capital, followed by Cambodia with 13% and Russia with 12.7%.

Vietnam’s outward investment in 2020 was more than US$590 million, increasing 16.1% year-on-year.

It needs objective remarks for rice export decline

There are different remarks over the good harvest and export prices of rice in the Mekong Delta but the strong decline in rice export volume. In all, subjectively, businesses have been paying more attention to improving rice quality to meet the strict standards of many markets; while objectively, the global demand for food reserves has been increasing and the prices of Thai and Indian rice have made record highs in recent years. In this context, Vietnam can “leisurely” wait for positive rice export results in the upcoming months. However, the real scenario is not quite so.

The scenario may not unfold as expected because of the following reasons.

First, it’s not known what the basis for the remark “The high global demand for food reserves has pushed up the world’s rice price”(1) is but two most prestigious agencies for global rice, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), have quite different remarks.

According to the latest forecast by the USDA, the global rice reserves early this year were large, at nearly 178 million tons. Though the volume grew insignificantly against the year-earlier period, it increased by more than 14 million tons from the same period in 2019 and was enough to meet the consumption demand over 129-130 days. Obviously, this is a scenario contrary to the period when the global rice reserves were thin, only enough to meet the consumption demand over half the time above (64-68 days in 2006-2009). For the consumption demand for up to 80 days, the time the reserves can meet this demand is equivalent to seven years (2005-2011), which was the period of the global rice price fever.

Further, the USDA also argued that the global rice growing area this year has increased quite strongly, resulting in an increase of 10 million tons of rice, not standing “the same” as in 2020.

In this situation, the global rice imports this year are forecast at only 43.7 million tons, up 1.33 million tons from 2020, while imports in 2020 were 1.65 million tons lower than 2019. As a result, the global rice imports have been on a downward trend against the record imports of 47.2 million tons in 2018.

The statistics and the forecast of FAO, albeit somewhat different, also show a similar trend in general.

Therefore, one cannot refer to certain particular phenomena to assess the global rice supply and demand as mentioned above. This is also the unpersuasive point mentioned in the scandal over rice export quotas in Vietnam early last year.

Second, the price increase by Thai rice exporters is true, but possibly because of force majeure causes, while the information about the increase of Indian rice price “past the records in recent years”(1) needs verification.

India’s rice exports in the first two months of this year increased exponentially, certainly because of the strongest price decline since the end of the global rice price fever.

According to official statistics of India, the country’s rice exports in the first two months reached 3.63 million tons, surging 84.2% year-on-year, but the average price was only US$460 per ton, the lowest since 2008.

Notably, while exports of fragrant rice fell, exports of non Basmati rice surged 162.1%. The average price of Basmati rice in the first two months was US$855 per ton, the lowest since 2017, and white rice US$353 per ton, a record low since 2008.

Meanwhile, the increase in the price of Thai rice since 2020 is due to reasons beyond the imagination of Thai rice traders, in addition to other reasons similar to those of Vietnam. They are the heavy crop losses in early 2020 due to record droughts in decades, floods which have pushed up production costs, the Thai Government’s diverse rice supports to stabilize prices and the appreciation of the baht. The synergy of these factors slumped rice exports and increased rice storage strongly in 2020. The storage is forecast to continue at a very high level this year.

This situation in Thailand, coupled with the strong price rise of Vietnamese rice, may force some customers to turn their back on Vietnamese rice and switch to the abundant supply of Indian rice with soft prices, especially white rice.

Third, the increase in the price of Vietnamese rice due to the improvement of the rice quality or Vietnamese rice exporters’ increased attention to rice quality improvement and traceability to meet strict standards of export markets like the EU, the U.S. and South Korea is certainly something true and worth cheering in terms of quantity, but it may be doubtful in terms of quality.

Statistics of the USDA show that five years ago, the fastidious markets of Europe, America and Australia accounted for 11.3% of the total of 50.8% of Vietnamese white rice exports and only 2% of the total of 44.6% of Vietnamese fragrant and glutinous rice exports (the total rice exports is 100%). However, in 2020, the share of white rice exports to these markets plunged drastically to 6.9% while the share of glutinous and fragrant rice exports increased to only 2.7%.

Nevertheless, this statement is not meant to completely negate the efforts of the rice industry, but on the contrary, it needs recognition for enterprises which have developed rice material areas and sustainable rice value chains to build a brand for rice. Still, with the possibly vast remaining rice area, it’s too optimistic to say that more and more attention is being paid to the rice quality, and so it may not be sound to say that this is the reason for the rice price increase.

Source: VNA/VNS/VOV/VIR/SGT/Nhan Dan/Hanoitimes

Nine cases of COVID-19 associated with the pandemic cluster at the Hanoi-based National Hospital for Tropical Diseases were reported on May 6 morning.

Of the latest infections, two are relatives of patients being treated at the hospital, the city’s Centre for Disease Control (CDC) said.

On the day, the health department of northern Thai Binh province also reported five new cases linked with the hospital’s pandemic cluster.

Thai Binh has decided to impose social distancing across the province from 12:00 on May 6, and activate anti-COVID-19 groups.

The two other cases were recorded in the northern province of Hung Yen.

The localities have quickly conducted contract tracing and rolled out measures to seal off pandemic-hit areas.

Located in Hanoi’s outlying district of Dong Anh, the hospital was the frontline facility in the COVID-19 fight. On May 4, a doctor of the hospital was confirmed positive for the coronavirus./.

Vietnam prioritises safety for people amid COVID-19

The Ministry of Health will join hands with relevant ministries and sectors to study and recommend the Government the suitable time to apply vaccine passports, with safety for locals being the overriding priority, said Deputy Minister Tran Van Thuan.

Vaccine passport only proves its efficacy until herd immunity is reached, which means around 70 percent of the Vietnamese population get vaccinated, Health Deputy Minister Thuan said at the Government’s press conference on May 5.

Currently, no vaccines show 100 percent protection against the SARS-CoV-2 variants, he said, highlighting competent authorities must have meticulous consideration before carrying out the vaccine passport.

Besides COVID-19 inoculation, Thuan stressed that implementation of the Ministry of Health’s 5K message: Khau trang (facemask), Khu khuan (disinfection), Khoang cach (distance), Khong tu tap (no gathering) and Khai bao y te (health declaration) will contribute to stamping out the pandemic.

Regarding support policies for local people and businesses battered by the novel outbreak, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Quoc Phuong said that the ministry outlined specific support measures in February and have reported to the Government.

Meanwhile, the State Bank of Vietnam has told financial institutions to reschedule debt repayments to help customers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Under Circular No 03/2021/TT-NHNN dated April 2, 2021, the central bank gives permission to financial institutions to reschedule debts with repayment obligations incurred from January 23, 2020 to the end of this year./.

Authorities move to handle illegal entry, exit

Authorities in northern Quang Ninh and Dien Bien provinces and southern Binh Phuoc province on May 5 took actions against persons involved in illegal migration.

Police of Quang Ninh’s Hai Ha district said they had officially launched an investigation into and temporarily detained Le Van Kieu, born in 1978, from the nearby city of Hai Phong for organising illegal entry.

Kieu was initially found to have arranged persons helping Luong Thi Xuan (born in 1964), whose passport was granted by the Vietnamese Consulate General in China’s Nanning city, illegally cross the border to enter Vietnam.

The case is still under further investigation.

In Dien Bien province, the A Pa Chai border guard post handed over 13 Chinese nationals to Chinese authorities.

Together with 12 Vietnamese, they were arrested on April 18 and 19 for assisting others to illegally exit from the country. They admitted that they had been seeking ways to help several Chinese illegally come to Laos.

Before being returned to Chinese authorities, they had been sent to concentrated quarantine to prevent any possible COVID-19 transmission.

In the southern border province of Binh Phuoc, the healthcare centre of Loc Ninh district said that it received many people with illicit exit and entry transferred from anti-COVID-19 forces on May 4 and 5.

They include six Chinese nationals who were trying to cross the border to enter Cambodia, a Cambodian attempting to come to Vietnam, and seven Vietnamese illegally moving to the country from Cambodia.

They are being tested for the coronavirus and also under investigation./.

Train services on Hanoi-Yen Bai/Haiphong routes to be suspended due to Covid-19

The Hanoi Railway Transport JSC (Haraco) has decided to suspend the operations of the YB3/YB4 trains on the Hanoi-Yen Bai route and the HP1/LP2 trains on the Hanoi-Haiphong route starting from May 8, due to the impact of the latest Covid-19 resurgence in Vietnam.

Before the suspension, the YB3/YB4 and the HP1/LP2 trains were only operational on weekends. The YB3 train departs from Hanoi station on Saturdays and the YB4 starts at the Yen Bai station on Sundays. The HP1 departs from the Hanoi station and the LP2 at the Haiphong station, reported VietnamPlus.

Passengers who booked tickets for these trains can return them to railway stations before the time of departure and will not be charged any fee, a representative of Haraco said.

Passengers boarding trains departing from other provinces to Haiphong City were informed that the northern city had started applying quarantine measures such as quarantining at concentrated quarantine centers, home-quarantining, health declarations and medical monitoring for people arriving from virus-hit localities, starting from May 4.

On the Hanoi-Haiphong route, the LP3, LP5, LP6, LP8 trains are still operational daily.

Earlier, the provincial government of Yen Bai on May 3 issued a dispatch ordering the implementation of social distancing in public places starting from the same day to combat Covid-19.

Vinh Phuc to increase Covid-19 testing capacity fivefold

Amid the complicated Covid-19 situation, chairman of the Vinh Phuc Provincial government Le Duy Thanh asked the provincial Department of Health to augment the Covid-19 sample collecting and testing capacity by five times.

Addressing a meeting held early this morning, May 5, Thanh also tasked the local health authorities with scaling up the number of hospital beds serving quarantine purposes by three times and making preparations to resume the province’s Covid-19 field hospital.

Districts in the province were told to complete setting up concentrated quarantine centers and facilitate patrols and tackle people illegally entering the country.

The provincial government will work out and allocate appropriate financial amounts to local units to deal with the pandemic, Thanh added.

The northern province had mapped out Covid-19 testing plans for residents in vulnerable areas such as the Dong Son urban area where the hotspot Sunny Club is located and six coronavirus cases had been reported, the Phuc Yen General Hospital and locations linked to a group of Chinese experts who were confirmed to have been infected with Covid-19.

Besides this, the province will expand its field hospital, add at least 2,000 beds at concentrated quarantine facilities and propose purchasing or renting 10-15 Covid-19 testing machines to meet the testing demand.

As of May 4, the province had discovered over 5,000 people were linked to coronavirus patients through its contact tracing efforts. Further, it had quarantined over 5,700 people and collected the samples of over 2,800 people, according to VnExpress news site.

The Covid-19 community transmission broke out in Vinh Phuc on May 2, reportedly originating from a group of Chinese experts that had left Vietnam. Up to now, the province has reported 14 infections during the latest coronavirus wave.

Big smuggling case at Nhat Cuong Company put on trial

The People’s Court of Hanoi on May 5 opened a first-instance trial of a case related to smuggling and violations of accounting regulations which occurred at the Nhat Cuong Technic Co Ltd.

This is one of the five major cases which the Central Steering Committee for Corruption Prevention and Control has required to be tried as early as possible.

At the opening session on May 5, the trial jury announced a decision to cancel the trial against Mai Tien Dung, 38, head of Nhat Cuong Company’s used mobile business line, who died due to fatal illness.

Among 14 defendants put on trial, there are three women. All of the defendants have been held in custody.

Two defendants are charged with violating accounting regulations, causing serious consequences, who are Nguyen Bao Ngoc, the firm’s finance director, and Nguyen Thi Bich Hang, its chief accountant.

The 12 other defendants, along with Ngoc, are prosecuted for smuggling.

Regarding the charge of smuggling, the indictment said from January 2014 to May 2019, Bui Quang Huy, Nhat Cuong General Director, personally directed the company’s staff to conduct 2,502 illegal transactions involving the purchase and sale of more than 255,000 mobile phones and electronic equipment worth over 2.92 trillion VND in total (126.7 million USD) with 16 suppliers in Hong Kong (China).

Huy then contacted and hired smuggling rings to transport the products from Hong Kong to Vietnam and hand over to the Nhat Cuong Company for selling, with a total of 52,811 products sold at a total value of 307 billion VND.

As for the violations of accounting regulations that cause serious consequences, the indictment said in 2014, Huy instructed the firm’s employees to set up two different accounting systems, one for internal use and another fake one for public reporting.

The procuracy said that this is a banned act under Article 13 of the law on accounting, which caused a loss of nearly 30 billion VND in tax revenue for the State.

Huy and several other defendants are on the run and have been put on the wanted list by police.

The trial is expected to last one week./.

Humanitarian Month 2021 launched in Hanoi

The Hanoi Red Cross Association held a ceremony on May 5 to launch Humanitarian Month 2021, on the occasion of the World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day (May 8).

With the theme “For a safe community”, the month-long event will feature practical activities to build a united, healthy, and safe community amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Chairman of the association Dao Ngoc Trieu said the event will help raise public awareness and sense of responsibility about the humanitarian work while creating a philanthropic emulation campaign among agencies and people from all walks of life.

He expressed his belief that activities held will help with poverty reduction and new-style rural development in localities.

On the occasion, the association also presented two houses, each worth 50 million VND (2,100 USD), to two poor households in Hanoi’s outlying districts of My Duc and Quoc Oai.

The organising board also handed over 20 bicycles and aid to 10 local families and students in need.

At the launch ceremony, the association received more than 11 billion VND in donations from its chapters and enterprises, which will be used to support 7,000-8,000 poor residents, build at least two humanitarian works, and repair 69 Red Cross houses.

As part of the event, a blood donation drive was also launched in Gia Lam district.

Piloted from 2018 to 2020, activities during the month have benefited more than 153,000 people and cost around 53 billion VND./.

Ba Son underground station’s ground floor completed ahead of schedule

Construction for the first ground floor (B1) at Ba Son station, part of Ho Chi Minh City’s Metro Line No.1 (Ben Thanh – Suoi Tien), was completed one month earlier than the set deadline.

Ba Son is one of the metro line’s three underground stations, together with Municipal Theatre and Ben Thanh stations. The station consists of two stories with a combined length of 240 metres, width of 34.5 metres and depth of 20 metres.

The freshly-completed B1 is built with a lobby, ticket vending machines, automatic toll gates, and a passenger information centre. Meanwhile, the platform is arranged at the second ground floor.

Ba Son station is designed with wave-like decorations reminiscent of the Saigon River.

According to Le Van Quang Vinh, manager of the CP1b package (construction of the underground line from Municipal Theatre station to Ba Son station), said that construction of Ba Son station will be fulfilled by the end of May.

The city’s first metro line between Ben Thanh Market in District 1 and the Suoi Tien Theme Park in District 9 has 14 stations, three of them underground. There will be 17 trains with three carriages each that will run at a maximum speed of 110km/h above ground and 80km/h below ground.

Construction on the line is now 84.44 percent done./.

Urgent dispatch on concentrated quarantine regulations issued

The National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control on May 5 sent an urgent dispatch requiring the strict implementation of concentrated quarantine regulations and post-quarantine management.

Under the document, the steering committee requests strict management over those entering Vietnam, as well as tighter inspection of concentrated quarantine along with strict punishment of organisations and individuals violating regulations on concentrated quarantine and quarantine at home and place of residency.

Chairpersons of the People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities are asked to direct the implementation of concentrated quarantine for at least 14 days followed by home quarantine for the next 14 days for everyone entering the country.

The committee required checking infrastructure at concentrated quarantine facilities to ensure the strict monitoring of quarantined people. Localities must improve the handover, transport and reception of those who complete their quarantine period at concentrated facilities back to their places of residence.

People who return from concentrated quarantine facilities should make daily health declarations for local medical workers. If showing signs of fever, cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, tiredness and loss of taste, they are advised to move to the closest health clinic for timely guidance.

They are not allowed to leave their houses or places of residence. In cases they need to go out for work or other necessary purposes, they are required to report to local police and medical staffs and strictly follow the Ministry of Health’s 5K message: khau trang (facemask), khu khuan (disinfection), khoang cach (distance), khong tu tap (no gathering), and khai bao y te (health declaration).

In addition, COVID-19 testing should be conducted on the seventh day since the concentrated quarantine period ends, said the urgent dispatch.

The Ministry of National Defence is requested to direct army-managed concentrated quarantine establishments to seriously follow disease prevention and control measures, while the Ministry of Public Security is asked to direct local police forces to coordinate with medical agencies to manage the health monitoring at home and place of residency for those entering Vietnam./.

First Vietnam International Photography Festival on horizon

A view of Trang An boat wharf (Photo: hanoimoi.com.vn)

The event comprises a competition to select a logo for the festival, an exhibition in Ninh Binh showcasing 250 photos of Vietnam through the lens of foreign photographers, and a host of symposiums.

The festival, part of activities during the 2021 National Tourism Year in Ninh Binh, is hoped to build brand for Vietnamese photography, thereby promoting the country’s image and enhancing international exchanges through photography.

Call for entries is scheduled for May and June, while photo selection in September. The award ceremony and exhibition will be held later this year./.

National inspection drive aims to detect illegal immigrants

The Minister of Public Security has ordered a national examination campaign to discover illegal immigrants in Vietnam, the Ministry of Public Security’s Spokesperson Lieut. Gen. To An Xo said at the Government’s regular press conference on May 5.

Xo said that under the order, motels, hotels and accommodation facilities across the country will be examined, while the border guards will increase border patrols, and the police will seek illegal immigrants and launch legal proceedings against them and brokers of illegal immigration.

Illegal immigrants who are negative to COVID-19 will be returned to the places they departed, while accommodation facilities violating relevant regulations will have their licences revoked and receive administrative fines and even criminal punishments, he said.

According to the officer, since the beginning of the year, about 150,000 people have entered Vietnam, including 110,000 through land border gates, and 40,000 through flights.

Meanwhile, 39 localities nationwide have reported 199 cases with 1,343 illegal Chinese immigrants. The Ministry of Public Security prosecuted 49 cases with 141 defendants.

“It is crucial to drastically prevent illegal immigrants, as illegally entering Vietnam is violating the country’s sovereignty, causing high risks of pandemic outbreaks and affecting the livelihoods of Vietnamese people,” he stressed.

The officer added that the major method of organising illegal entry into Vietnam is contacting those wishing to enter Vietnam through the Internet before transporting them to the country.

As Vietnam shares a long border with neighbouring countries, it is easy to cross the land border, he said, adding that through the general examination campaign, localities will report to the ministry major methods of brokering illegal entry into Vietnam, thus put forth effective prevention and combat measures./.

Hoa Binh: mother, son jailed for anti-State propaganda

The People’s Court of the northern province of Hoa Binh on May 5 sentenced a woman and her son to eight years in prison each for “making, storing, distributing, or disseminating information, documents and items against the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.”

Can Thi Theu, born in 1962, and her son – Trinh Ba Tu, born in 1989, reside in Ngoc Luong commune, Yen Thuy district.

At the court, Theu and Tu confessed that they had created, published and distributed video clips with fabricated and distorted contents defaming people’s administration.

Between January 9-14, 2021, they used their Facebook accounts to post eight video clips against the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. They also published video clips inciting people to revolt against authorities, insulting organisations and agencies, and defaming Party, State and Government leaders.

The judge decided that the duo will be under home probation for another three years after their jail terms end./.

Red-shanked douc released to the wild

An individual of red-shanked douc was released into Bach Ma National Park in Phu Loc district, the central province of Thua Thien – Hue on May 5.

The animal, weighing 6.3 kilogrammes, is the queen of primates, and has been listed as critically endangered in the 2007 Vietnam’s Red Book. It was found near Ta Trach reservoir by a local in Duong Hoa commune, Huong Thuy town, on April 28.

According to Director of the Bach Ma National Park’s management board Nguyen Vu Linh, the animal is in a good health condition.

The Park’s staff will keep a close watch on its moving, and ability to integrate into the red-shanked douc herds in the park.

Recent research shows that Bach Ma National Park is home to 15 herds of red-shanked doucs with more than 170 individuals. Since 2017, the park has received and released more than 200 endangered individuals, including Indochinese serows, red-shanked doucs, Indochinese box turtles, and pangolins, among others./.

Exhibition on National Assembly kicks off in Bac Ninh

More than 500 photos and documents featuring the first General Election and development of the National Assembly of Vietnam are being displayed in the northern province of Bac Ninh.

It gives visitors an insight into the formation of the legislative body, the first general election on January 6, 1946, the 75-year journey of the National Assembly.

The exhibition also features activities of delegation of National Assembly deputies of Bac Ninh and the provincial People’s Council during 2021-2026 tenure.

The event will last until the end of June./.

Front leader examines election preparations in Kien Giang

The Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang has completed major electoral steps, including the organisation of three consultative conferences, the provincial Election Commission told Do Van Chien, President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee, on May 5.

The province has also established election groups in localities, stepped up the communication work, and settled complaints and denunciations regarding the upcoming elections in line with regulations.

Candidates for the seats of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and all-level People’s Councils have met with voters. Meanwhile, the lists of candidates and voters have been announced.

Apart from measures to ensure security and order during the important political event, Kien Giang has drawn up a COVID-19 prevention and control plan.

Speaking at a meeting with representatives of the provincial Election Commission, Chien, who is also Vice Chairman of the National Election Commission (NEC), lauded Kien Giang’s efforts in the preparation work.

Pointing out the high risk of COVID-19 infections as Kien Giang borders Cambodia that is facing a surge in cases, he asked the province to observe COVID-19 prevention and control regulations during the organisation of meetings between candidates and voters./.

Long An supports Cambodian provinces in COVID-19 fight

The Mekong Delta province of Long An on May 5 presented medical supplies worth 150 million VND (6,500 USD) to Cambodia’s Svay Rieng and Prey Veng provinces to support their fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the Youth Federation of Long An also handed over 30,000 face masks, 2,500 litres of sanitizer gel, and 4 anti-bacterial chemical sprayers to the Youth Unions of the two provinces of Cambodia.

The gifts aim to support the two provinces to overcome hard times due to the COVID-19 pandemic, while showing the mutual support and assistance between Vietnam and Cambodia.

On the occasion, Long An also presented 400 gifts to Vietnamese Cambodians in Svay Rieng and Prey Veng./.

Working group for Vietnam-France defence ties meet via videoconference

The working group for Vietnam-France defence cooperation held a meeting via videoconference on May 5 during which the two countries’ officials agreed to maintain high-level contact and strengthen links in different aspects.

The event was chaired by Lt. Gen. Vu Chien Thang, Director of the Department for External Relations under the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence, and Brigadier General Eric Peltier, head of the south bilateral cooperation department of the French army.

Reviewing the cooperation outcomes in the recent past, the two sides noted that Vietnam and France have maintained their cooperative ties in many areas in an appropriate manner.

Despite complex developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, they have sustained high-level contact via videoconference while working closely and rather effectively in other spheres like training, UN peacekeeping operations, and military medicine.

Thang appreciated the French Ministry of Armed Forces’ assistance for Vietnam in personnel training, knowledge exchange, and experience sharing.

Particularly, he added, France has sent its experienced experts to provide specialised advice for the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations under a cooperation agreement between Vietnam and the EU.

For the time ahead, the two sides agreed to maintain high-level contact in suitable forms, in person or via teleconference; organise activities to mark the 30th founding anniversary of defence relations; and enhance ties in hydrography, peacekeeping operations, military medicine, and training.

They will also specify the time for the Vietnam-France defence strategy and cooperation dialogue this year and finalise the defence cooperation plan for 2021-2022./.

‘No one left behind’ project helps locals start online F&B businesses

The “No one left behind” project in Ho Chi Minh City is offering support to local people who want to start their own food and beverage business online.

Gojek Vietnam, the HCM City Women Cultural House under the HCM City Women Association, and Cafetek, a production of the HCM City Television (HTV), have jointly launched the project.

Relatives of Gojek drivers are also given training to help them start a technology-based business, with the aim of improving their incomes and living conditions.

Under the project, experts from the Women Cultural House and Gojek provide courses on financial planning and e-commerce store management, cooking skills, and knowledge about food safety and hygiene.

After completing the courses, participants receive support to help them become merchant partners of GoFood, a food delivery platform developed by Gojek.

Gojek also helps the participants advertise their products to millions of its users, and gives 2 million VND (87 USD) to each person for cookware purchases.

Phan Thi Bich Huong, director of the city’s Women Cultural House, said: “The ‘No one left behind’ project is part of the cultural house’s efforts to help people in the digital transformation era, and create conditions for them to start businesses and improve incomes with the aim of building a sustainable and happy family.”

Pham Thi Nam, wife of Gojek driver Ngo Cong Huong, one of the first 50 people participating in the project, said: “I have a passion for food and have been recognised as a good cook. My family encouraged me to open a food store but I didn’t know how to begin. Thanks to this project, I have a new start.”

The project was initiated by Gojeck Vietnam and Cafetek HTV in 2020, which was initially carried out from April to December.

It provided support for micro-, small and medium-sized shops and hawkers that have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic by helping them start their business on the GoFood platform.

Dozens of shop owners have become partners on GoFood, and now have more new customers and higher incomes.

Their stories have been broadcast on the HTV9 channel, and have received a warm welcome from TV audiences.

Phung Duc Tuan, general manager of Gojek Vietnam, said: “Supporting our drivers and micro-, small and medium-sized shops and hawkers is one of the key duties of Gojek. By helping them join the digital economy, we give them a chance to improve their incomes as well as contribute to social and economic development.”

“The cooperation with the Women Cultural House and Cafetek HTV helps us implement the project more effectively. I believe our work will create a positive impact for people who dream of starting their own business,” Tuan said.

The 2021 “No one left behind” project is expected to be broadcast at 8am on Sundays on HTV9 and at 7.30pm on Wednesdays on HTV7 in May./.

NA leader inspects preparations for elections in Ha Giang

National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, who is also Chairman of the National Election Council (NEC), inspected preparations for the upcoming elections of deputies to the 15th legislature and members of all-level People’s Councils for 2021-2026 in Lung Cu commune, Dong Van district, in the northernmost province of Ha Giang, on May 5.

At a working session with leaders from Ha Giang and heads of the Election Committees of the province and Dong Van district, the top legislator lauded the efforts of the locality in preparing for the election, which have been conducted in line with regulations and made good progress.

He said he was impressed at the personnel work of Ha Giang, which meets requirements regarding the structure of candidates for election as deputies to the NA and People’s Councils at all levels.

Hue also hailed Ha Giang’s election communications and its organisation of election campaigns and training courses.

The NA Chairman also suggested that Ha Giang carefully review its list of voters, thus ensuring the rights of all local residents, while providing a proper response to all complaints related to election activities and candidates.

The locality should also strengthen the application of media efforts to increase communications on candidate information, while strengthening the application of information technology in organising meetings with voters.

He said from May 14, communications through mobile phones will be launched to remind voters to choose the best candidates to the NA and People’s Councils at all levels.

Along with preparing for the election, Ha Giang should also focus on boosting economic development and ensuring security-defence, especially along its shared border.

On the same day, Hue attended a flag hoisting ceremony at the Lung Cu flagpole.

He also visited the Lung Cu border post and witnessed the presentation of 5 billion VND from the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) to Dong Van district’s General Hospital.

Earlier, on May 4, the top legislator and his entourage offered incense to martyrs at the Vi Xuyen National Cemetery for Martyrs, where 1,800 martyrs are laid to rest. He also presented gifts to 20 policy beneficiary families in Thanh Thuy commune, Vi Xuyen district.

Meanwhile, NA Vice Chairman Do Ba Ty on May 5 examined preparations for the upcoming elections in the south-central province of Phu Yen./.

Border provinces step up efforts to stop spread of COVID-19

Provinces and cities across Vietnam, especially border areas, are stepping up their COVID-19 prevention and control efforts.

Dong Thap provincial border guards are making efforts to prevent people from entering the province illegally from Cambodia to stop the virus from entering the community.

At about 4.30am on May 3, during patrol duty on the So Thuong River in Thuong Thoi Hau A commune, Hong Ngu District, the border guard discovered 14 people, including 11 adults and three children, on seven wooden boats, preparing to illegally enter Vietnam.

Previously, on May 1 and 2, they discovered 55 people travelling in 23 vehicles to the border on the Tien River to prepare to illegally enter the country.

On Dong Thap southern province’s 50.5km long border with Cambodia, comprising 40km of the river border and 10.5km on the mainland, the border forces deployed 21 fixed posts and 18 mobile control teams on patrol duty.

Meanwhile, in the northern mountainous province of Ha Giang, hundreds of soldiers have been deployed on the Vietnam-China border for border management and protection and COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control.

Colonel Luu Duc Hung, Political Commissar of the Ha Giang Border Guard Command, said the provincial border guards have worked with other forces to maintain operations of all fixed control posts, mobile teams on the border, supplement the establishment of posts when necessary to ensure tight control at the border gates and trails.

“We are determined to fight the pandemic from the border and carry out the ‘dual task’ of managing and protecting the sovereignty and preventing and combating the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.

Ha Giang has more than 277km of border with China. Due to the complex terrain and long border, illegal entry and exit activities are very complicated to handle.

Major Ta Tan Hoang, Director of the Xin Cai Border Guard Station in Meo Vac District, said pandemic prevention has been activated at the highest warning level.

In all 69 medical posts across the province, in addition to measuring body temperature and sterilising surfaces, people from other provinces and cities entering Hà Giang are instructed to make a medical declaration.

On May 3, Chairman of the Lạng Son Provincial People’s Committee Ho Tien Thieu checked prevention and control activities in a number of key units and areas in the province.

At Huu Nghi International Border Gate, Thieu said the pandemic was developing in a complex manner with many cases of community infection in some provinces and cities. Therefore, the forces on duty at the border gate must uphold their sense of responsibility, promote vigilance and strictly comply with pandemic prevention measures.

At Tan Thanh Border Gate, many drivers still do not wear masks and many people gather at restaurants and yards with a potential risk of spreading the disease. Thieu asked the forces on duty here to take measures to prevent and control the pandemic under the Ministry of Health’s guidance.

He called for pandemic checkpoints on both access roads to the Tan Thanh bus station to ensure strict control of people and vehicles entering and leaving, and require all people entering and leaving the area to be medically examined, wear masks and keep a safe distance./.

Eighty journalists take up jab offers amid Covid-19

The Ministry of Health coordinated with the Pasteur Institute to organize the Covid-19 vaccination camp for reporters and editors. As per the Ministry of Health’s plan, 80 journalists in Ho Chi Minh City will take up Covid-19 jabs.

A journalist is one of the first groups to be offered the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine jab against Covid-19 according to Resolution 21 of the Government.

Journalists wore facemasks and declared their health status at the vaccination locations. All of them were safe after immunization.

Journalist Hoang Loc from Tuoi tre newspaper, one of those who arrived at the vaccination location early, said that journalists are at higher risk of contracting the disease because they have to contact many people and enter hotspots of Covid-19 to write articles on the development of the pandemic.

Journalist Hoang Lan  of Ho Chi Minh City Law newspaper said that she was a little concerned and worried before the injection yet she felt comfortable after receiving the jab. She said she has no side effects after vaccination.

Currently, Ho Chi Minh City is organizing the second injection of Covid-19 vaccine for medical workers who were more likely to have been on the “frontline” of Covid-19 care namely emergency medicine, critical care specialists, and anesthesiologists , the steering committees for epidemic prevention at all levels, police forces, and soldiers.

So far, more than 45,000 people have received Covid-19 shots. Those suffering post-injection reactions have been treated and all are stable.

Vietnam tightening cyber security on national citizen database

The Ministry of Public Security yesterday held a meeting in Hanoi with the Steering Committees of the ‘National Population Database’ project and the ‘Chip-based Citizen ID Card Issuance’ project.

Statistics reveal that until now, the ‘National Population Database’ project has been able to synchronize necessary information of over 98 million citizens of Vietnam.

Meanwhile, until April 27, the local police departments in 63 provinces and cities nationwide finished recording personal information of more than 33 million people for chip-based ID card issuance.

Minister of Public Security To Lam suggested that in the upcoming time, related state officers need to pour more effort in organizing information in the national population database to ensure concise, precision, and sufficiency before July 1.

The task of cyber security maintenance must be of the highest priority at all time, while the inner-link and inter-link between this database and other national ones should be enhanced simultaneously.

Universities turn to online learning as pandemic continues

In light of rising concerns about the spread of Covid-19 and calls to contain the virus, a growing number of public and private universities in Vietnam have shut down in-person classes after April 30 and May Day holidays.

Specifically, Hanoi University of Science and Technology asked lecturers and students to use Microsoft Teams for online teaching and learning from May 4 to 9 while experimental sessions and practice are paused until further notice.

Similarly, Foreign Trade University required students in campuses in Hanoi and the Northern Province of Quang Ninh to take online classes from May 4 to 16. The school must ask for permission from the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control if it opens in-person classes.

The management board of the Academy of Journalism and Propaganda also decided to switch to online learning from May 4 until there is a new announcement. Students at the Transportation University also made the switch to online classes instead of face-to-face classes from May 3.

The University of Transport Technology, the Faculty of Law of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Natural Sciences, University of Thuyloi, Hanoi University of Education 2, Banking Academy, University of Commerce, University of Business and Technology followed suit.

Prior, the Hanoi University of Natural Resources and Environment, Hanoi University of Finance and Banking, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education had announced teaching and learning via the internet to prevent and fight against Covid-19.

Cai Chanh military base recognised as national special relic site

A ceremony recognising Cai Chanh military base as national special relic site has been recently organised in Ninh Thanh Loi commune, Hong Dan district, Bac Lieu province.

Pham Van Thieu, chairman of Bac Lieu People’s Committee asked the local Department of Culture, Information, Sports and Tourism to preserve and promote the relic site in line with legal regulations on cultural heritage and develop distinctive tourism products to attract visitors.

During the celebration, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism transferred the certificate recognising Cai Chanh Military Base as the national special historical site to Bac Lieu province.

Cai Chanh Military Base is located in Cay Cui Hamlet, Hong Dan District. From 1949 to 1952, high-ranking officials of the Central Directorate for the South worked at the military base to lead revolutions in the southern region.

On January 26, 2011, Cai Chanh Base was already recognised as a national historical site./.

Hue Traditional Craft Festival to run for a month

The Hue Traditional Craft Festival will be held for one month for the first time, from May 29 to June 26 in Hue city in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue.

More than 40 art performances will be organised, gathering together a large number of artists, actors, and artisans.

The biennial festival is expected to dazzle participants with several new activities compared to previous editions.

It will feature a wide range of events, such as a craft design contest, the Hue Culinary Festival, a sculpting camp, an “ao dai” (Vietnam’s traditional dress) week, and a book exhibition.

The month-long festival will hold special activities on weekends to attract more visitors to the city.

The 2019 edition attracted around 400,000 visitors.

Steering committee talks review of implementation of Party resolution on agriculture

The Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission on May 4 held a meeting of the steering committee for reviewing the 15-year implementation of a Party Central Committee resolution on agriculture, farmers, and rural areas.

The steering committee for reviewing the realisation of Resolution No.26-NQ/TW on agriculture, farmers, and rural areas, issued at the seventh plenum of the 10th-tenure Party Central Committee in August 2008, was established under Decision No.02-QD/TW, dated March 26, 2021, by the Party Central Committee Secretariat.

Chairman of the Economic Commission Tran Tuan Anh said agriculture, farmers, and rural areas always hold a particular importance to socio-economic stability and development, and they are also a strategic issue in the national industrialisation and modernisation process, as well as the Party’s revolutionary cause.

Given their significant role, the Party’s consistent viewpoint is to develop agriculture and rural areas and to unceasingly improve farmers’ living conditions, he said, adding that many important resolutions and documents on this issue have been promulgated by the Party, including Resolution No.26-NQ/TW and the Politburo’s conclusions in 2014 and 2019 on the continued implementation of this resolution.

The documents of the 13th National Party Congress earlier this year once again emphasised the issue of agriculture, farmers, and rural areas, mentioning such critical aspects as promoting agricultural restructuring, developing rural economy in tandem with building new-style rural areas, and developing large-scale and modern agriculture.

They also underlined the need to encourage ecological, organic, smart, high-tech and digital agriculture adaptive to climate change, along with the continuation of the new-style countryside building programme in an effective and sustainable manner.

Anh noted that the 13th-tenure Party Central Committee is considering the review of the resolution execution and the building of another replacing Resolution No.26-NQ/TW to submit it to the Party Central Committee at the fifth plenum in early 2022, showing the necessity and significance of this issue to national development in the time ahead.

He asked the steering committee and relevant agencies and individuals to thoroughly look back on the achievements, failures, and lessons during the resolution implementation so as to seek ways to optimise human, natural, and social resources for agricultural, rural, and socio-economic development.

The new resolution must open up a new era in caring for the people, especially farmers, and agricultural and rural development, the official added./.

Remains of Vietnamese martyrs repatriated from Laos

A memorial and burial ceremony was held by the authorities of Quang Tri province on May 5 for the remains of 24 volunteer Vietnamese soldiers and specialists who sacrificed their lives in numerous battles in Laos during their international missions.

Speaking at the event, Hoang Nam, vice chairman of the provincial administration, praised the contributions made by the fallen Vietnamese soldiers to the revolutionary cause.

Their contributions served to help tighten the solidarity and special friendship that exists to this day between the Parties, States, and people of both Vietnam and Laos, Nam added.

The remains of the martyrs were returned to the nation from Laos during the 2020-2021 dry season. They were laid to rest at the Road 9 National Martyrs Cemetery in Quang Tri province.

This marks the 35th time since 1993 that Quang Tri has received and reburied the remains of volunteer Vietnamese soldiers and experts who laid down their lives in Laos.

Vietnamese students in Laos get support amid COVID-19

The Vietnamese Embassy in Laos on May 4 handed over gifts to Vietnamese students at the National University of Laos (NUOL) who are facing difficulties from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Presented by Vietnamese Counsellor of Culture and Education Tran Dai Thang and the officer in charge of community work, Vu Tu Oanh, the gifts include 1,000 medical masks and foodstuff.

Amid the complex developments of the pandemic, Lao medical staff in cooperation with the Vietnamese Association in Vientiane conducted COVID-19 testing on Vietnamese living and working in Thatluang, Naxay and Sisangvone wards and the area around the NUOL.

Those showing symptoms will be placed in quarantine and receive timely treatment.

Risk of COVID-19 outbreak due to illegal immigration

In recent days, further new COVID-19 infections have been reported in the country. Notably, through epidemiological investigation as well as the tracking and contact of health agencies, the police defined that they were all foreigners or those had contact with foreigners.

This has really become a serious and worrying issue, especially with the series of illegal immigration cases that have just been discovered. On May 2, the police from the districts of Cau Giay and Nam Tu Liem, in collaboration with the professional departments of the Hanoi Police, detected 46 Chinese illegal entries who were renting nine rooms in the Florence apartment at 28 Tran Huu Duc Street, Cau Dien Ward, Nam Tu Liem District. The police are fighting to clarify the “hole” that let Chinese people enter the country illegally. The Security and Investigation Agency of the City Police has just prosecuted two women who rented an apartment and then brought dozens of Chinese people in. Their motive was the benefit of hundreds of millions of Vietnamese dong from these Chinese subjects’ illegal acts.

More seriously, a member of the Covid-19 anti-epidemic control group of Ban Lau Commune, Muong Khuong District, in the northern mountainous province of Lao Cai, acted as an “inside-hand” for a team that brought 200 people to immigrate illegally for 91 times. Most recently, the Vinh Phuc Provincial Police’s Security and Investigation Department has coordinated with Vinh Yen City’s Police to detect and detain 52 Chinese people who illegally entered and have been residing in the province. The case was discovered in the context of the complicated development of COVID-19 epidemic in the locality.

According to statistics of the Ministry of Public Security, around 100-150 people have been trying to enter illegally Vietnam per day. Although the functional forces have been working hard to prevent illegal entry, many cases have been worked out. This shows that there is still a “gap” in the control of the borders. If the illegal entries continue, the country will not be able to prevent the epidemic from the root, but through localising and detecting infections.

The loss of control over COVID-19 is entirely possible in Vietnam if we do not promptly prevent all risks, including illegal entry, and not strict manage people entering Vietnam, especially those coming from countries affected by the pandemic. Looking at the above cases and statistics, it can be seen that people who enter illegally are a threat that can cause a “breakdown” in the anti-epidemic efforts of the country that has been preventing and controlling COVID-19 effectively. Despite the dangers, several local people have been still irresponsible when they are ready to assist people entering illegally cross the borders. Therefore, it is necessary to soon prosecute these subjects with a strict penalty in accordance with the law to create deterrence.

In addition, it is crucial to develop a solid “defence” system with the border protection as the front line. The Border Guard needs to coordinate with other forces to continue strengthening measures to prevent and combat illegal entry and exit as well as enhancing the COVID-19 prevention and control in the current period. In the border areas, the inspection and control should be tightened at the border gates, trails and open paths, focusing on key directions and areas. The functional forces should firmly grasp the epidemic status, make prompt forecasts and advise local committees and authorities to develop plans to direct the appropriate response to each epidemic level in line with the actual situation.

For the domestic “defence” line, the police force needs to continue to open a rush to attack criminals related to illegal immigration. The Immigration Department under the Ministry of Public Security should directly coordinate and guide the local Police to grasp the situation and closely coordinate with the Border Guard force to strengthen the inspection and control at the border gates, trails and opening paths on border routes towards the prompt detection and prevention of any illegal entry or exit. The department should instruct the local police to strengthen the management of foreigners staying in the locality promptly detect and propose handling illegal entries and stay at the localities in accordance with the law and regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control.

It is also essential to enhance the state management of security and order, especially in residential management, foreigner management, and the management of investment and business sectors in terms of security and security. The relevant agencies should pay great attention to grasping the situation of households and people and solving security situation in the local area, while conducting the coordination of patrol forces, notably with the locals, such that each citizen becomes a “scout” in the fight against the epidemic.

Dong Nai Province ceases some non-essential activities

The People’s Committee of Dong Nai Province asked to suspend non-essential activities like festivals, night markets, spa, beauty salons, game rooms, cultural entertainment shows, etc from May 5 until further notice amidst the current Covid-19 surge.

As for the goods services, Dong Nai Province required all business owners have to comply with the Covid-19 pandemic prevention and control regulations, especially wearing facial masks and washing hands with antibacterial gels.

Food and beverage businesses are recommended to limit the number of customers in areas of food and beverage service like coffee and milk tea shops, keep a safe distance between customers, change their business model to food delivery and takeaway during this time.

Regarding religious activities and meetings, it is necessary to balance the number of participants not exceed 50 percent of normal seating capacity. The organizers must strictly perform checking temperature, wearing facial masks and spraying disinfectant.

Heads of the People’s Committee at all levels propagate, mobilize and guide families about the Covid-19 pandemic prevention and control measures to apply to weddings, celebrations and funerals in the locality.

Da Nang proposes suspending repatriation flights from foreign countries

Amidst a high risk of the Covid-19 pandemic infection, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Da Nang City Mr. Le Trung Chinh yesterday submitted a report and proposed the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to allow the city to suspend repatriation flights carrying overseas Vietnamese citizens.

According to the report, from the beginning of the year to May 2, Da Nang City welcomed around 11,800 entries. Particularly, from April to now, the beach city in Central Vietnam has received and carried out centralized quarantine for over 8,000 overseas entries.

From March to now, the city has continuously recorded 61 cases who are people on entry with positive testing for the coronavirus.

On the other hand, the Da Nang Lung Hospital has received and treated Covid-19 cases causing high pressure on medical staff. Especially when the city has seen Covid-19 cases in the community. In addition, functional forces performing the task of monitoring medical isolation are also overloaded.

To create conditions for Da Nang City to implement Covid-19 pandemic prevention and control and effective treatment of Covid-19 cases in the coming time, the People’s Committee of Da Nang City asked for permission not to receive the flights carrying Vietnamese citizens from foreign countries into the city.

The municipal People’s Committee also petitioned the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Health to provide more specific guidance to support localities to well implement following regulations and effectively perform the hand-over, reception, management and supervision of people after centralized isolation period.

Authorities in HCMC detect Covid-19 rule violators

Yesterday evening, inspectors in Ho Chi Minh City paid an unscheduled visit to KTV restaurant detecting a Chinese man who broke Vietnam’s Covid-19 prevention guidelines.

The inspection team led by Deputy Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Duong Anh Duc visited some karaoke parlors and restaurants in District 1.

Inspectors discovered four Japanese, four Chinese and tens of Vietnamese people didn’t wear facemasks as per the Ministry of Health’s regulation. Worse, amongst four Chinese men, expert LuoRongFan of Uong Sam Company at 59/2 Binh Thanh village in the Mekong Delta Province of Long An’s Thuan My District violated the law as he has been in self-isolation period but he was going to a restaurant.

Deputy Chairman Duc asked health workers to take samples of all employees of the restaurants and visitors. Police officers were requested to keep track of Japanese and Chinese visitors.

The inspectors also paid visits to restaurants and karaoke parlors in streets Suong Nguyet Anh, Bui Thi Xuan, Hai Ba Trung and Tran Nhat Duat in District 1 ; however, all of the venues closed the doors.

At the meeting with the Steering Committee for Covid-19 epidemic prevention in the city on May 5, leaders of Ho Chi Minh City will work with the People’s Committee of District 1 upon punishment for violations in KTV restaurant.

Authorities asked people to strictly follow the Ministry of Health’s instructions on Covid-19 epidemic prevention as well as coordinate with local authorities and functional agencies to monitor people coming from epidemic areas for effective preventative measures.

Two Chinese escaping from quarantine facility arrested

The Police of Cu Chi District in coordination with Ho Chi Minh City Police last night arrested two Chinese escaping from the concentrated quarantine facility in Cu Chi District.

Accordingly, the police forces detected and arrested these people who tried to evade capture by the police in Long An Province. After the arrest, the two Chinese were sent to a concentrated quarantine center in HCMC’s Cu Chi District.

Accordingly, two escapees are among 11 Chinese illegal immigrants into Vietnam being found on April 30 and May 1. Through the investigation process, the police arrested additional two instigators involved in a ring bringing Chinese nationals into Vietnam illegally.

Hai Duong extends mandatory quarantine period to 21 days

Leaders of the northern province of Hai Duong has decided to extend mandatory quarantine period from current 14 days to 21 days for F1 individuals who come in direct contact with COVID-19 patients.

The decision was made on May 4 after the locality recorded two suspected cases of COVID-19.

One of the suspected cases was on the fight with two Chinese nationals from Da Nang to Ha Noi on April 29. The Chinese nationals tested positive after undergoing 14-day mandatory quarantine in Viet Nam.

Earlier the same day, the Ministry of Health asked localities to not to discharge those who completed 14-day quarantine from quarantine sites following confirmation of several positive cases with incubation period longer than 14 days.

Quarantine protocols will be renewed and announced later, the ministry added.

Hai Duong was Viet Nam’s epicenter of the third wave of community transmissions with 720 cases./.

Sustaining economic gains amid COVID-19 of first importance: Official

Keeping the coronavirus at bay and sustaining economic achievements are now of the first importance to the government and the political system, from central to local levels, due to the complexity of the latest COVID-19 outbreak, Minister-Chairman of Government Office Tran Van Son told the monthly Government press conference on May 5.

The most important tasks are radically curbing the spread of COVID-19, protecting people’s safety and well-being, striving to sustaining economic gains and boosting economic recovery, he said.

He also reported on Vietnam’s economy in April and the first four months of 2021 which saw positive signs.

April CPI inched up 0.89 percent, the lowest level since 2016. Four-month State budget revenue made up 40.5 percent of the yearly plan and was 7.9 percent higher than the same period last year.

Four-month foreign trade grew by 29.5 percent year-on-year, with trade surplus reaching 1.29 billion USD. The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) spurred 24.1 percent in April and 10 percent from January – April.

The country has so far disbursed 18 percent of public investment, relatively higher than a year earlier, Son noted.

He urged relevant authorities to swiftly come up with measures to remove barriers in terms of legal institutions, mechanisms and policies so as to release resources for development; and at the same time, accelerate the progress of disbursement of public investment, particularly ODA, and speed up major projects.

More attention should be paid to helping farmers distribute their products, he said, adding that ministries and local administrations must also maintain a close watch on the development of prices of fuel and material products and make timely reports to the government in order to keep the inflation under control./.

HCM City supports OVs, Cambodian and Lao people affected by COVID-19

Ho Chi Minh City will spend 2.5 billion VND (over 108,000 USD) from its COVID-19 prevention and control fund to support Vietnamese expatriates and people in difficult circumstances in Cambodia and Laos who are affected by COVID-19, a representative from the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of HCM City announced on May 5.

A total of 1.5 billion VND will be offered to Vietnamese Cambodians and disadvantaged people in Cambodia and 1 billion VND to Vietnamese expats and Lao people.

HCM City previously presented 1.6 billion VND to Cambodia to support the country in its fight against the pandemic.

Meanwhile, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of HCM City said it will provide aid of 1.5 billion VND to the city’s Border Guard High Command to carry out COVID-19 prevention work.

On the same day, the committee organised two missions to visit and present gifts to frontline forces in the fight against COVID-19 in the border provinces of Long An and Binh Phuoc. Each province received 1 billion VND for prevention efforts and 200 million VND for solar-powered lighting projects./.

Memorial services held for fallen soldiers repatriated from Laos

Memorial and burial services for the remains of 24 Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who laid down their lives in Laos during wartime were held at the Road 9 National Martyr Cemetery in the central province of Quang Tri on May 5.

The martyrs rested in peace at the Road 9 National Martyr Cemetery.

Their remains were found and repatriated by search team 584 under the provincial Military Command during the 2020-2021 dry season.

At the event, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Hoang Nam commended the soldiers’ contributions to the Vietnam – Laos special friendship as well as the revolution in each nation.

Quang Tri province has held memorial and burial services for Vietnamese soldiers who died in Laos since 1993./.

Schools in Quảng Nam to reopen, Hội An and Đà Nẵng keep testing

All schools in Quảng Nam Province (except for those in Hội An) will reopen from Thursday (May 6) as 46 out of 47 close contact cases (F1) of two COVID-19 patients (No 2899 and No 2982) were isolated and tested negative for SARS-COV-2 as of Wednesday.

The provincial COVID-19 steering committee said only schools in Hội An will remain closed. All entertainment and tour services, as well as crowded events, are halted from Wednesday.

The committee said the wife of the COVID-19 patient (No 2982) in Hội An tested positive for SARS-COV-2 following a test result released on Tuesday (May 4).

The pregnant woman and her 11-month-old son have been isolated at a health centre in Hội An.

A section of Nguyễn Phan Vinh street in An Bàng Beach in Hội An was locked down from May 3 after a COVID-19 patient (No 2982) visited his home previously.

Meanwhile, Đà Nẵng began testing 400 people who worked at Phước Mỹ market in Sơn Trà district on Wednesday. The market was one of a number of places visited by a COVID-19 patient (No 2889, a spa therapist) between April 29 and May 2.

At least 100 residents in Hội An and Đà Nẵng went to Thiện Nhân medical centre for tests.

The city’s education and training department asked for students to provide online health declarations.

At least 10 people in Đà Nẵng have been fined VNĐ1 million (US$43.5) each for not wearing face masks in public.

All bars, restaurants and shops in Đà Nẵng and Hội An – where the two COVID-19 patients visited – were disinfected on May 3.

Source: VNA/VNS/VOV/VIR/SGT/Nhan Dan/Hanoitimes