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Vietnam’s business hub Ho Chi Minh City will first resume interprovincial tours from November 1 before re-launching international tourism activities in early 2022, according to its plan for tourism recovery from COVID-19. The plan has been launched as the southern city and the country in general are loosening strict COVID-19 restrictions to resume socio-economic activities under ‘new normal conditions,’ a phrase the Vietnamese government uses to describe its new strategy of living safely with the coronavirus. Accordingly, the tourism recovery will follow a three-phase roadmap that requires strict compliance with epidemic prevention measures. In the first phase, which lasts from now to October 31, the city will reopen local tourism activities in “green zones”, meaning areas without known COVID-19 infection cases. People can select tours organized by travel companies or go by themselves to destinations in districts where the pandemic has been put under control. Hotels and …

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Traffic turned heavy on roads leading to Ba Ria - Vung Tau on Saturday morning after the southern Vietnamese province’s administration had removed medical control measures, including COVID-19 testing certificate mandate, imposed on arrivals. Residents of Ho Chi Minh City started searching for the new COVID-19 prevention and control regulations in Ba Ria - Vung Tau on Friday evening, when the provincial authorities announced the relaxation of curbs on socio-economic activities and medical controls. Accordingly, arrivals to the province are no longer required to present a negative COVID-19 testing certificate while beach-going and outdoor sporting activities such as walking, golf and tennis are resumed with a limited number of participants starting Saturday. Many people thus drove their vehicles from Ho Chi Minh City to Vung Tau, the popular beach city of the southern province, on Saturday morning. Vehicles pass through a tollbooth on a section of National Highway 51 in …

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The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has imposed a VND45 million administrative fine on a rap band called "Nha Lam" for circulating a music product that offends beliefs and religions. According to Clause 4, Article 13 of Decree 38, besides the administrative fine of VND45 million (over US$2,000), this product must be removed from circulation.. "Nha Lam" rap band. Nearly two weeks ago, this troupe caused public outrage when it released the song “Thich Ca Mau Chi” with content blaspheming Buddhism, distorting the image of the Buddha. Not only Buddhist followers but also Vietnamese audiences and the media have harshly criticized this song. Facing the harsh reactions of Buddhist followers and the community, the rap band apologized twice on its Facebook page. After that, they went to Quan Su Pagoda (Hanoi) to repent. They promised to not repeat the mistake. The penitential ceremony was witnessed by Venerable Thich Duc Thien, Vice President, General Secretary …

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Greig Craft, president and founder of the Asia Injury Prevention Foundation and 32-year resident of Vietnam, has become president of the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile Asia-Pacific Region II. — Photo Courtesy of AIP Greig Craft, president and founder of the Asia Injury Prevention Foundation, which advocates road safety and helped bring about the national helmet wearing law in 2007, has been elected president of the FIA Asia-Pacific Region II, one of four global regions of the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile. The FIA runs Formula One racing and other international sporting events, and focuses on road safety, environmental issues and air quality. Craft has also been appointed to the FIA World Council in Geneva. In his new Asia-Pacific role, he will seek to bring more FIA attention to air quality and environmental impacts as a result of transport pollution. “Poor air quality is a contributory factor in the deaths of at least 3.1 million people annually, …

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