Vietnam tourism

Around 35 kilometers from the ancient town Hoi An, Tam Thanh has risen from a poor fishing village to a popular tourist destination after decorated with murals in 2016 thanks to a joint project between Vietnam and South Korea. The village lies between the sea and Truong Giang River.

Since this month, a group of local artists and volunteers have started a mural project conveying marine and daily fishing village life themes.

On Sunday, nearly 30 murals were finished, adding a fresh lick of paint to the village.

Painter Pham Dinh Hai works on a 15-meter-long mural depicting a fisherman setting out to sea.

The walls of many old houses, once covered in moss, now bear colorful works of art.

A girl sits by a painting of a dog and close-knit houses.

A sea turtle reminds visitors and residents of the importance of protecting marine life. Sea turtles are typically returned to the ocean if caught here.

This painting shows women in conical hats collecting fish to sell at the local market.

These murals are aimed to lure more tourists and raise awareness about protecting the environment.

Tran Khanh Binh, a villager, decorates his home.

In addition to murals, visitors can also admire dozens of basket boats decorated by artists.

The country’s economic growth in the second quarter of the year is expected to be lower than expected. However, the economy will also continue recovering strongly, with processing and manufacturing, and the service sector serving as key drivers of growth.

At a recent government cabinet meeting, the Ministry of Planning and Investment said that based on positive performance of the economy in the first five months of 2021, it is projected the nation’s economic growth rate will be about 5.8%. This will be lower than the target of 7.11% set in Government Resolution No.01/NQ-CP, released on January 1, on the key tasks for the implementation of the socioeconomic development plan and state budget estimates for 2021 (see box).

The driving force of Vietnam’s economic growth this year will be the industrial-construction sector and the service sector, especially processing and manufacturing, the MPI said.

According to the General Statistics Office (GSO), in May, the resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruptions in supply chains and trade, as well as transport activities in a number of localities who are home to big industrial production like Bac Giang, Bac Ninh, and Ho Chi Minh City.

However, in the first five months, trade and transport activities still increased as compared to the same period last year.

Specifically, the total retail and service consumption revenue of the entire economy expanded 7.6% to more than VND2 quadrillion US$86.96 billion, and total import turnover of goods went up by 33.5%, while passenger transportation rose 4.2%, and goods transportation climbed 10.5%.

Global analysts FocusEconomics (based in Spain) said that Vietnam’s economy recorded solid growth in the first quarter of 2021. GDP growth clocked in at 4.5% year-on-year in the first three months of this year, matching the growth rate from the last quarter of 2020.

As such, while the first quarter’s readings marked the joint-strongest expansion since the fourth quarter of 2019 and are likely to be well above those of other key ASEAN economies, it nevertheless undershot market analysts’ expectations of a near-6% growth rate.

“Looking at subsectors, growth in the industrial sector rose to 6.3% in the first quarter of the year (the fourth quarter of 2020: +5.6% year-on-year), with the manufacturing subsector continuing to play a driving force in overall economic activity,” FocusEconomics analysts said. “On the other hand, growth in the services sector slowed to 3.3% year-on-year in the first three months of 2021 (Q4: +4.3% year-on-year) and agricultural production growth ebbed to 3.2% (the last quarter of 2020: +4.7% yoy). Looking ahead, the economic recovery should gather pace later in 2021, with the second quarter’s outturn projected to be significantly higher than in the first quarter of the year.”

The GSO also said that Vietnam’s production activities strongly bounced back in general in the first five months. Specifically, the economy’s index for industrial production (IIP) expanded by nearly 10% as compared to 1% in the corresponding period last year.

Notably the manufacturing and processing industry increased 12.6% in comparison with only 2.2% in the corresponding period in 2020.

The IIP in May climbed 11.6% as compared to the corresponding period in 2020, when it decreased 3.1%.

Also according to the GSO, in the first five months of 2021, as many as 55,800 businesses were newly established, with total registered capital of VND778.3 trillion (US$33.84 billion), employing 412,400 new labourers, up 15.4% in the number of enterprises and 39.5% in registered capital.

If another VND975.1 trillion (US$42.4 billion) registered by 19,100 operational enterprises is included, total capital inserted into the economy in the period was VND1.753 quadrillion (US$76.2 billion), up 27.5% year-on-year. Furthermore, 22,600 businesses also resumed operations, up 3.9% year-on-year.

According to FocusEconomics, the economy is forecast to expand rapidly this year, with growth set to outstrip regional peers, strengthening domestic and foreign demand dynamics. However, further outbreaks of the virus and a relatively slow vaccine rollout are causes for concern, while the sti?ed state of the tourism sector poses an additional risk.

“Our panellists expect GDP to expand 7.1% in 2021, and 6.8% in 2022,” said FocusEconomics analysts.

The network of the German Chambers of Commerce Abroad (AHKs) said that German businesses are showing optimism about Vietnam’s economy in the medium term and look forward to a recovery year heading towards 2022.

Despite the pandemic, Vietnam is becoming a strategic investment destination in the process of restructuring the global and regional supply chain, a potential domestic market to attract international corporations, according to a AHK World Business Outlook Survey conducted in spring 2021 and released two weeks ago.

“Vietnam is still one of the countries with the fastest economic growth in Southeast Asia. Foreign-invested enterprises, especially German businesses, are also showing optimism about Vietnam’s economy in the medium and long term,” said the survey. “German business leaders in Vietnam maintain a positive view with the economic expectation as well as with their situation in Vietnam and they look forward to a recovered year of 2021 and 2022.”

Under the survey, 55% rate their current business situation in Vietnam as good, and 11% as poor, while in 2020 only 36% had a positive view of their situation in Vietnam. Negative ratings fell from 23 to 11%.

Furthermore, 47% of German companies in Vietnam intend to expand their activities in the country – up from 22.7% in spring last year, and 50% assume an increase in employment in 2021/2022 – up from 27.3% in the spring of 2020. About 65.8 and 73.7% expected the country’s economic and business situation will get better this year.

In the same vein, according to new data from the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam, when asked about the prospects of Vietnam’s business environment in the April-June period, 67% of its members predicted either ‘excellent’ or ‘good’, up 12% on-quarter.

Meanwhile, business leaders are also more optimistic about their own companies. More than two-thirds (68%) forecast that their orders and revenue will ‘maintain or increase’ during April-June, up 25% from the fourth quarter of 2020.

In 2020, Vietnam surprised the world with its impressive control of COVID-19 and its inspiring economic growth rate of 2.91% in 2020, an average annual rate of 6.8% in the 2016-2019 period, making the country one of the world’s top 10 nations in terms of growth, and also one of the 16 most successful emerging economies in the globe in 2020.

Last year, the economy’s GDP was estimated at about US$268.4 billion, up US$11.4 billion against 2019, fourth in Southeast Asia, with total export-import turnover of US$543.9 billion, up 5.2% year-on-year – a record trade surplus of US$19.1 billion, notably in the context of strong decline in global trade.

Vietnam a bright spot for foreign investors: experts

Vietnam has been chosen among leading destinations in Southeast Asia by Japanese investors, Nakajima Takeo, Chief Representative of the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) in Hanoi, has said.

Vice Chairman of the European Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (EuroCham) Torben Minko said that European firms are confident about Vietnam’s efforts in COVID-19 prevention and control, as industrial parks maintain operations, the number of laid-off workers is kept to a minimum and the supply chain is maintained.

A recent survey by EuroCham revealed that the Business Climate Index (BCI) hit 73.9 points in the first quarter of this year, the highest level since the Q3 2019, before the pandemic broke out.

When asked about the prospects of Vietnam’s business environment in the next quarter, 67% predicted either “excellent” or “good” – a 12% increase compared to the previous one.

EuroCham Chairman Alain Cany said that while COVID-19 wreaks havoc in countries around the world, Vietnam can be certain that companies can operate their business without interruptions.

For her part, Michele Wee, Chief Executive Officer at Standard Chartered Bank Vietnam, said that FDI influx to Vietnam will be maintained in the medium term.

The country posted a GDP growth rate of 2.91% in 2020, being among economies with the highest economic expansion in the year.

Foreign investors pumped nearly US$14 billion into the country as of May 20, a year-on-year increase of 0.8 percent, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

Disbursed FDI in Vietnam hit US$7.15 billion in the first five months, an increase of 6.7% compared to the same period last year.

Global credit rating agencies of Moody’s, S&P and Fitch recently revised Vietnam’s outlook to “positive”.

Hanoi’s tourism prepares recovery plan after COVID-19

Although the COVID-19 pandemic has seen continuous complicated developments and caused negative impacts on tourist activities in Hanoi, the capital city’s hospitality sector has prepared a recovery plan for as soon as the pandemic is under control.

Accordingly, in the second half of this year, the city’s Tourism Department has asked tourism businesses, organisations and agencies in the city to strictly observe COVID-19 prevention and control.

The Department will continue to advance the application of information technology in managing tourist activities and the supervision of travel agencies and tour operators who meet COVID-19 safety standards based on the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s set of evaluation indicators.

In addition, the department will take action to improve the quality of tourist products, increase the attractiveness of destinations, develop tours promoting the value of heritages, relic sites and craft villages in the city.

The department will also coordinate with the city’s authorities in planning festivals and cultural events when the COVID-19 pandemic is brought under control.

In the first five months of this year, the city received 2.89 million domestic visitors, down 6.7% over the same period in 2020, and earned VND 8.1 trillion in tourism revenue, down 50.7% due to the impact of COVID-19. In May alone, domestic holiday-makers coming to the capital numbered 115,000, a steep decrease of 55.3% year-on-year.

Vietnam’s protective equipment production rises six-fold

Vietnam’s production of personal protective equipment (PPE) rose six-fold last year, according to the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC).

The IFC said on June 9 that it is helping developing countries, including Vietnam, with PPE production, with an aim to provide front-line medical staff with quality and trustworthy products and curb COVID-19 spread.

Vietnam is emerging as one of the new PPE suppliers in the global market as a number of garment companies have shifted to producing PPE to cope with medical emergency status and mitigate losses caused by their cancelled orders, it said.

The corporation added that the global demand for PPE such as medical masks, gloves, glasses, protective shoes, protective suits and respirators soared 3-4 fold during 2019-2020, which is expected to keep rising by 6-9 percent annually till at least 2025./.

Conference links Vietnamese, Japanese firms in supporting industries

Twenty-one Vietnamese enterprises in supporting industries and 48 Japanese businesses took part in an online conference on June 10, where they exchanged information and sought partners.

Vu Ba Phu, Director of the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (Vietrade) at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, briefed the conference on Vietnam’s foreign trade activities, with export revenue in the first five months of this year estimated at 130.94 billion USD, up 30.7 percent year-on-year.

The export value of phones and spare parts increased 19.6 percent; computers, electronics and components 26 percent; and machinery, equipment, tools, and spare parts 74.8 percent, he continued.

Vietnamese enterprises in supporting industries are growing in terms of both number and quality, and integrating intensively into global production chains, Phu said.

They account for nearly 4.5 percent of enterprises operating in the processing and manufacturing sector, generate jobs for more than 600,000 workers, or nearly 8 percent of the workforce in the processing and manufacturing sector, and contribute 11 percent of total revenue in the sector.

In his remarks, Masataka Fujita, Secretary General of the ASEAN-Japan Centre (AJC), pledged that it will make greater efforts in promoting trade between Vietnam and Japan in the future.

Akutsu Michio, an expert from the Association of International Business Advisors, meanwhile, pointed out the challenges to Vietnamese supporting enterprises such as low productivity and a shortage of trained workers.

He suggested enterprises improve their production capacity and product quality and take measures to attract high-quality workers, saying that apart from providing products for Japanese enterprises in Vietnam, domestic businesses should also seek partners abroad.

To facilitate the supporting industries, the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade launched a database in June 2020 that provides information on more than 3,600 domestic firms operating in mechanics, auto, electronics, and garment-textiles./.

Binh Dinh proposes withdrawing two local ports from planning

The People’s Committee of the south central province of Binh Dinh has proposed the Ministry of Transport and the Vietnam Maritime Administration withdraw two local ports from master planning for seaport development in 2021-2030.

De Gi and Tam Quan ports were proposed to be removed from the planning and instead developed into fishing ports while the lagoon areas would be developed into storm shelters for fishing vessels.

The provincial People’s Committee said for many years, De Gi and Tam Quang estuaries have had low levels of water and narrow channels only suitable for fishing vessels. Currently, no cargo is transported via these ports.

Removing these two ports out of the planning would not cause any problems as no investment projects were being carried out at the ports, the People’s Committee said.

Dang Dinh Dao, former Director of the Institute for Economics and Development Studies, said the proposal had set an example for other localities in making planning in the context that every coastal locality wanted seaports without paying adequate attention to the natural, social, economic or environmental conditions.

A lot of planning had proven to be unrealistic, Dao said, adding that it would be a big problem if every locality had an international seaport and did not pay attention to regional links or master planning.

He said Vietnam had more than 20 international seaports but none of them had received the investment to reach international standards.

He pointed out that there were a number of lessons. The planning of the wholesale market was an example. Many wholesale markets within planning were built but had not been put into operation due to problems attracting sellers and buyers.

Planning must be innovated, not only for seaports but also for other infrastructure developments, he said.

“It’s time localities closely work with central agencies to develop realistic planning which ensures consistency with other socio-economic planning,” he said.

Vietnam is developing new master planning for seaports in 2021-2030 with a vision to 2050 to promote economic development.

There are 286 ports across the country with a total wharf length of 96km, more than 4.5 times longer than in 2000. The seaport system handled a total cargo volume of more than 692 million tonnes in 2020, 8.4 times higher than 2000./.

Can Tho shrugs off COVID, achieves impressive growth

In the first five months of the year, the Mekong city of Can Tho achieved impressive growth in industrial production, retail sales and tourism despite the effects of COVID-19.

Industrial production grew by more than 9 percent year-on-year, and total retail sales and services grew by nearly 15 percent to around 63.1 trillion VND (2.7 billion USD).

The tourism sector is recovering, with its revenues rising by 18 percent to 1.25 trillion VND. The number of visitors grew by nearly 58 percent.

Investment in the city tripled during the period to 1.3 billion USD as it ranked third in the country’s FDI list.

However, only a fraction of the proposed public spending has been disbursed, one of the city’s biggest problems for many years now.

Its exports too fell.

Tran Viet Truong, chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, said that the city has been focusing on both reviving its economy and staying safe from the pandemic.

He instructed official agencies to focus on disbursing public spending funds, acquiring and clearing lands for investment projects and approving project carefully to stop unnecessary changes later.

Can Tho aims to become a major industrial hub and the Mekong Delta’s leading one by 2025, and targets economic growth of 7.5-8 percent a year until 2025.

It is focusing on restructuring its four key sectors, foodstuff and beverage processing, chemicals; machinery and electronics, and electricity generation.

It is also seeking to create a favourable environment for investment through support policies and administrative reforms, and facilitating industrial start-ups./.

Auto sales down 15 pct. in May: VAMA

The Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (VAMA) has reported that its members posted a 15 percent month-on-month decline in automobile sales in May to 15,585 units, due to the impact of COVID-19 and a shortage of semi-conductor chips for the industry.

Its members sold 17,581 passenger cars in May, 7,482 commercial vehicles, and 522 special-use vehicles, falls of 14 percent, 16 percent, and 33 percent, respectively, against April.

Sales of domestically-assembled vehicles were down 20 percent month-on-month to 13,825 units, while those of completely-built-up (CBU) vehicles fell 7 percent to 11,760.

In the January-May period, VAMA members sold 126,894 vehicles, up 53 percent against the same period last year, with a 51 percent rise seen in the sales of passenger cars, 56 percent in commercial vehicles, and 59 percent in special-use vehicles.

These figures do not fully reflect the situation in Vietnam’s automobile market, however, as they do not include sales of brands such as Audi, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Subaru, Volkswagen, and Volvo.

A representative from TC Motor said the company sold 6,053 vehicles in May and 28,477 in the first five months of the year. It led all brands in May sales, followed by Toyota with 5.139, Kia 3,336, Mazda 2,426, Ford 1,666, and Honda 1,423.

Toyota Vios was the best-seller during the month, with sales of 1,789, followed by the Hyundai Accent with 1,620.

Industry analysts said that along with COVID-19, a shortage of semi-conductor chips in both the global and domestic market will continue to slow down production at automobile manufacturers over the remainder of 2021 and even into 2022./.

Vietnamese overseas investment triples

Vietnamese firms poured 546.7 million USD into overseas projects in the first five months of 2021, more than triple the figure of the same period last year.

Of the sum, 144 million USD was from 21 newly-licensed projects, down 11.3 percent year-on-year, according to the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

Meanwhile, 403.2 million USD was pumped into nine existing projects, surging 22-fold year-on-year, the ministry said.

A major part of the capital outflow – 271 million USD – was poured into the science-technology sector, accounting for 49.5 percent of the total. The wholesale and retail sector came next with $148.4 million or 27 percent, following by the agro-forestry-fisheries sector and auxiliary services.

Fifteen countries received investment from Vietnam from January to May with the US the top receiver with 303 million USD, holding the lion’s share of 55.4 percent. It was followed by Cambodia with 89.1 million USD or 16.3 percent. Next were Canada and France with 32.1 million USD and 32 million USD, respectively.

Vietnamese firms have increased their overseas investments in recent years to expand their global reach.

As of May 20, Vietnam had 1,420 valid overseas projects worth a total of nearly $22 billion, mainly in the sectors of mining, with 36.4 percent of total capital, while agro-forestry-fisheries had 15.3 percent.

Laos was the largest receiver for Vietnam’s overseas investment, making up 24 percent of the total capital, followed by Cambodia (13.1 percent) and Russia (13 percent)./.

China remains key market for Vietnamese garments and textiles

China is anticipated to become a major market for Vietnamese garments and textiles moving forward due to the country facing numerous challenges when exporting items to the United States, the EU, and Japan this year.

This information was unveiled in a document unveiled at the recent annual general meeting of shareholders by the Vietnam National Textile and Garment Group (Vinatex).

Moving forward, China will not focus on producing apparel and textiles in line with its five-year strategy, thereby turning the northern neighbour into a major consumer of Vietnamese textiles and garments.

During  the first quarter of the year, local garment and textile exports to China witnessed robust growth among the five major markets, achieving the same export turnover as that of EU in the process.

Furthermore, the US remains the largest Vietnamese export market with a growth rate of 5.9% in the first quarter. During the remainder of the year, the US market is expected to bounce back thanks to the implementation of a stimulus package of US$1.9 trillion coupled with the mass rollout COVID-19 vaccination scheme.

The country’s garments and textiles to the EU and Japan will continue to face difficulties in the near future due to the EU facing the risk of a third wave of COVID-19, while the Japanese economy has not shown any signs of recovery, according to Vinatex.

McKinsey’s projection anticipate that the global apparel and textile industry will rebound by the third quarter of next year, or perhaps later in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Currently, Vietnamese garment enterprises have sufficient orders until the end of the second quarter, although prices remain low.

Vinatex predicts that the garment and textile sector will recover one year ahead of scheduled compared to the global forecast.

The industry is striving to achieve a revenue of VND17,365 billion this year, up 17% compared to 2020.

Belgium startup interested in Vietnam’s automation industry

Zorabots, a company specialized in robot and automation in Eastern Belgium, is looking towards Vietnam as a potential market.

Fabrice Goffin, co-founder and CEO of Zorabots said their robots can speak 53 languages including Vietnamese.

Explaining why he chose Vietnam for expansion, Goffin said he has read reports on the vibrant and potential Vietnamese automation market. Besides, before the global pandemic, Vietnam hosted multiple automation exhibitions and fairs with the participation of many prestigious technology and industrial automation companies.

“For a potential country like Vietnam, we will have many opportunities to expand,” the Zorabots CEO said.

Zorabots is currently working with its Vietnamese partners to quickly make its appearance in this market.

“We want to focus on education and health, which are two sectors requiring the support of robots and technology, especially education. Vietnam should prepare its younger generations well since they will master technology in all aspects of life”, Goffin emphasized.

Zorabots was founded by two tech enthusiasts, Fabrice Goffin and Tommy Deblieck, in 2011. The company now has branches in the US, Canada, Australia, Africa and serves customers all over the world. Zorabots computer engineers create software for robots according to customer needs.

Zarobots is installing robots at airports in the Netherlands and France to guide passengers in complying with COVID-19 prevention regulations. The company is pursuing the development of different robot models to serve more people in the coming time./.

Agency banking model develops in rural, remote locations

The State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV) is amending regulations related to the operation of agency banking to improve access to the banking system.

Agency banking is a type of branchless banking that allows traditional banks to extend their network of branches and services through authorised agents.

The model arrived in the country in recent years, especially since the Government issued the national comprehensive financial strategy in early 2020.

According to the SBV’s research, Brazil, Kenya, Mexico and India have all seen agency banking become an important tool to expand access to basic financial services and promote financial inclusion. Five years since Brazil launched the agents, the network has served 12.4 million new bank accounts.

The state bank said in Southeast Asia, Malaysia’s agency banking model uses the nationwide telecommunications network to expand the network of traditional banking services to customers in rural and remote areas at a low cost. The model also helps Malaysian banks save more than 80 per cent of costs for setting up service points and 60 per cent of transaction costs compared to the traditional bank branch network.

According to the latest Comprehensive Financial Report of World Bank released in 2018, 69 per cent of adults in Viet Nam were unbanked and relied on cash while the rate in the world was 31.5 per cent at the same time.

Meanwhile, the national strategy of financial services sets the goal to have at least 50 per cent of communes accessing financial service points and 80 per cent of adults having transaction accounts at banks or other institutions by 2025.

Experts reckon the low rate of bank accessing in Viet Nam is a big chance to develop banking agents across the country.

By the end of 2017, the SBV piloted agency banking in rural areas with three models.

MB Bank work with Viettel services, PGBank with Petrolimex sales points and Vietcombank with M_service Company, reaching 32,185 sales points.

More than 11 million transactions with a value of more than VND81 trillion (US$3.49 billion) were recorded among some 6 million customers.

Outside of the SBV pilot, LienVietPostBank took advantage of post office locations to develop savings services, while Jens Lottner, CEO of Techcombank, shared the bank’s plan to work with Masan Group to take advantage of convenience stores to bring the bank’s financial products and services to a wider population.

Between 2020 and 2025, Agribank plans to set up a network of banking agencies and work with postal organisations, public administrations and microfinance projects to deploy low-cost, convenient, safe products for individual payment transactions.

Seeing the potential of the model, a SBV representative said there must be a legal corridor.

The SBV said completing the legal framework on agents was proposed in the national comprehensive financial strategy) to improve the level of access to financial services for people.

The central bank said it was amending other regulations related to the operation of the model, especially those on anti-money laundering/terrorist financing, regulations on electronic money and know-your-customer (KYC) processes.

CEO of TPBank Nguyen Hung said such regulations would need to go into detail to guide the establishment of agencies to provide banking services, such as regulations on approved and prohibited services, criteria to become authorised agencies and the form of operation.

Hung mentioned two main forms of authorisation used in Brazil known as full authorisation and credit authorisation, adding a fully authorised agent will provide a full range of services from receiving and forwarding application documents for opening a payment account, savings account, deposit/withdrawal transaction, transfer, payment as well as loan applications and opening credit cards. Meanwhile, a credit agency will only provide services on payment, borrowing and credit.

Taking another example of Bangladesh, Hung said authorised dealers can provide cash withdrawal/deposit services, support for small loan disbursement and debt collection/instalment, bill payment assistance, fund transfer assistance, balance queries, collect and forward applications for opening accounts, opening savings, loans and credit cards. However, they are not allowed to approve the decision to open card/loan accounts, conduct financial appraisals and conduct foreign currency transactions.

According to another financial expert, it is necessary to clarify the quality and capacity of organisations authorised to act as banking agents.

The agents must ensure that they meet all the standards of financial capacity, reputation, ability to meet commitments under adverse conditions, ability to provide financial services based on technology and capacity of internal control, security assurance and anti-money laundering.

Binh Dinh proposes withdrawing two local ports from planning

The People’s Committee of the southern province of Binh Dinh has proposed the Ministry of Transport and the Viet Nam Maritime Administration withdraw two local ports from master planning for seaport development in 2021-30.

De Gi and Tam Quan ports were proposed to be removed from the planning and instead developed into fishing ports while the lagoon areas would be developed into storm shelters for fishing vessels.

The provincial People’s Committee said for many years, De Gi and Tam Quang estuaries have had low levels of water and narrow channels only suitable for fishing vessels. Currently, no cargo is transported via these ports.

Removing these two ports out of the planning would not cause any problems as no investment projects were being carried out at the ports, the province said.

Dang Dinh Dao, former Director of the Institute for Economics and Development Studies, said the proposal had set an example for other localities in making planning in the context that every coastal locality wanted seaports without paying adequate attention to the natural, social, economic or environmental conditions.

A lot of planning had proven to be unrealistic, Dao said, adding that it would be a big problem if every locality had an international seaport and did not pay attention to regional links or master planning.

He said Viet Nam had more than 20 international seaports but none of them had received the investment to reach international standards.

He pointed out that there were a number of lessons. The planning of the wholesale market was an example. Many wholesale markets within planning were built but had not been put into operation due to problems attracting sellers and buyers.

Planning must be innovated, not only for seaports but also for other infrastructure developments, he said.

“It’s time localities closely work with central agencies to develop realistic planning which ensures consistency with other socio-economic planning,” he said.

Viet Nam is developing new master planning for seaports in 2021-30 with a vision to 2050 to promote economic development.

There are 286 ports across the country with a total wharf length of 96km, more than 4.5 times longer than in 2000. The seaport system handled a total cargo volume of more than 692 million tonnes in 2020, 8.4 times higher than 2000.

Ben Tre’s shrimp sector targets production value of $1 billion by 2025

The production value of the shrimp industry in the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre aims to increase by an average of 41.1 per cent each year to 2025 and reach US$1 billion.

According to a plan to develop the sector, issued recently by the provincial People’s Committee, the locality will develop 4,000 ha of brackish water shrimp aquaculture areas applying high technology by 2025, to promote the sustainable development of the fisheries economy and the coastal province’s socio-economic development.

Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Tran Ngoc Tam said Ben Tre aims to modernise its industrialisation-oriented marine shrimp farming sector and turn it into a large commodity production sector with high levels of competitiveness, productivity, and quality, creating breakthroughs in the stable and sustainable development of the fisheries economy and, most importantly, contributing to the province’s GDP growth.

Local authorities have implemented solutions such as re-organising production, improving the quality of young marine shrimp, prompting the research and application of science and technology in production, developing infrastructure, managing the environment, and developing shrimp processing activities.

Attention will be paid to developing concentrated and large raw material production areas and expanding effective aquaculture models to help local farmers improve their earnings.

According to the Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Van Buoi, Ben Tre currently has nearly 1,700 ha of brackish water aquaculture areas applying high technology, with an annual average yield of 36 tonnes per ha and profit of VND2.1-VND2.4 billion ($91,400-$104,560) per ha per year.

Brackish water shrimp farming has been developing strongly in Ben Tre, especially intensive and semi-intensive shrimp cultivation.

According to the department, as of 2020, the locality had exploited 45,747 ha of aquaculture area out of 50,000 ha of potential aquaculture area, including 36,000 ha of intensive and semi-intensive marine shrimp farming areas, with total production reaching some 70,000 tonnes.

Infrastructure in the province’s aquaculture areas has been gradually improved, especially road and irrigation networks, basically meeting current demand.

Vegetable and fruit exports hit $1.77 billion during Jan-May

Viet Nam’s export turnover of fruits and vegetables hit US$1.77 billion in the first five months of this year, a year-on-year increase of 18 per cent, reported the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

In May alone, fruit and vegetable exports raked in $400 million, a surge of 48.3 per cent compared to the same period last year.

China remained the top importer of fruits and vegetables from Viet Nam. These products are also witnessing positive signs in other major markets such as the US, Japan, Russia, and Australia.

Notably, the fourth outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic amid the lychee harvest season has made export activities face many difficulties. However, with flexible solutions, ministries, localities and businesses are making efforts to export the fruit during the pandemic.

Particularly, Viet Nam’s lychee crop will have more advantages when exporting to the Japanese market this year.

When lychee was first exported to the Japanese market last year, many customers appreciated the quality of the shipments. Therefore, the Viet Nam Trade Office in Japan is continuing to co-ordinate with relevant domestic authorities as well as supermarket and distribution systems in Japan to promote the fruit in Japan.

The Viet Nam Trade Office in Australia will also make proposals to Australian agencies to promote favourable customs clearance when lychees arrive in Australia. It is expected that about 100 tonnes of Vietnamese lychee will be exported to South and Western Australia within this year.

To boost the export of fruits and vegetables, the ministry assigned the Director of the Plant Protection Department to negotiate to open 19 markets for 20 types of products, assist in handling, negotiating and removing technical difficulties arising in the export process, co-ordinate with localities to build codes for growing areas and export establishments to ensure traceability and meet requirements of major importers.

Vietnam Railway revenue slumps due to a drop in passengers

Vietnam Railway Corporation (VNR) reported its five-month revenue decreased by 51.4 per cent year-on-year due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The railway served about 1.147 million passengers, a reduction of 35.4 per cent compared to the same period last year, bringing in over VND400 billion (US$17.4 million) in revenue.

In May, which saw the peak of COVID-19 outbreaks in the latest wave, the number of passengers was only by 132,300, equal to 48.4 per cent of the corresponding figure last year. As a result, revenue from passenger transport stood at VND44.7 billion, equivalent to 55.4 per cent of the figure of the same period last year.

According to VNR, a decline in revenue and demand for transportation and travel is attributable to travel restrictions prompted by outbreaks of COVID-19 in many localities across the country.

The VNR curtailed most of its operations in May. It is currently operating only one train on the Ha Noi-HCM City route.

Also due to the COVID-19 resurgency, more than 11,300 tickets were returned on the occasion of the Reunification Day (April 30) and May Day (May 1) holidays, worth about VND4 billion.

Disease-free zones key to exporting animal products

Forming more disease-free farming zones is seen as critical to exporting livestock products as few such zones in Viet Nam meet the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) standards.

The country exported 2,150 tonnes of meat and related products worth US$6.95 million in April, up 27.1 per cent in volume and 3.7 per cent in value compared to March, with Hong Kong (China), mainland China, and Thailand among the main destinations, data from the General Department of Viet Nam Customs showed.

The Cong Thuong (Industry & Trade) newspaper cited Nguyen Van Long, Deputy Director of the Department of Animal Health at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, as saying Viet Nam must comply with international regulations to export animal products, including those set by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the OIE.

Exports of animals and related products can only come from countries and territories that have farming establishments and zones free of disease and ensure biological safety.

As of May, Viet Nam had 2,288 closed farming establishments and zones but these only satisfy Vietnamese standards, with none meeting OIE requirements, Long pointed out.

He added that as outbreaks of dangerous disease are spreading, many countries have set up strict requirements on imported fresh products. Meanwhile, Viet Nam faces difficulties in organising safe animal farming, especially in terms of disease control, monitoring of farming zones, and grassroots safety chains.

Recently, authorities have stepped up negotiations on animal product exports with some countries, Long said, noting that to secure smooth exports the most important issue is that such products hail from disease-free zones meeting OIE rules.

To do this, it is first necessary to exert sound control over disease outbreaks and minimise the risk from animal diseases nationwide. A national programme for monitoring and certifying animal products should also be carried out to pave the way for exporting qualified products, he said.

There are 15 disease-free zones around the country at present, and co-ordination with localities is needed to help such zones under Vietnamese standards meet OIE requirements.

Long recommended cities and provinces devise plans to form and maintain disease-free animal farming zones while paying attention to animal husbandry.

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

The anti-Covid-19 steering committee of Nghe An Province decided to lock down part of Ha Huy Tap Ward in Vinh City starting this morning, June 14, after the province’s capital city reported its first suspected Covid-19 case by community transmission, affecting 5,000 local residents.

Duong Dinh Chinh, director of the provincial Department of Health, said that the suspected case is a hairdresser living in the ward, who tested positive for the coronavirus yesterday, VnExpress reported.

The hairdresser could have caught the disease from another coronavirus patient in her hometown in Ha Tinh. She had a complicated travel history, but did not declare it honestly and was also in close contact with many people.

Therefore, the health department and the provincial government had to request the local competent forces specialized in information and technology to find the locations she had been to, according to VietnamPlus.

Earlier, on May 6, the north-central province of Nghe An reported one locally-infected case who was a local man in Hoang Mai Town. He was found to have caught the disease from the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi.

Two more employees of frontline hospital in HCMC infected with Covid-19

The HCMC Hospital for Tropical Diseases tested 924 employees from June 11 to 13 and detected 55 Covid-19 infections, up two over the figure reported yesterday, June 13, said director of the HCMC Department of Health Nguyen Tan Binh.

At a meeting of the municipal steering committee for Covid-19 infection prevention and control held today, June 14, Binh said the 55 cases were employees of 13 units of the hospital, such as IT, administrative, general planning, personnel organization and pharmacy, the local media reported.

Especially, all of them have got two shots of the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine. Worryingly, almost all of them are asymptomatic carriers of the active virus, so if anyone comes into close contact with these cases, Covid-19 will spread silently.

Among the cases, one is residing in a Covid-19 hotspot of the city—Ehome 3 apartment building in Binh Tan District, Binh said.

Binh added that the coronavirus volume in the 55 cases was extremely low, which was a positive signal, proving the effectiveness of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Therefore, the risk that they will get worse is lower than that of unvaccinated people and their transmission possibility is also lower than those linked to the Revival Ekklesia Mission in Go Vap District.

In addition, two employees of Gia Dinh Hospital’s Microbiology Department were also found to be infected with Covid-19, with one being the wife of an IT staff of the HCMC Hospital for Tropical Diseases.

Binh said the department had asked the Cu Chi District Hospital to get prepared to receive Covid-19 patients with a capacity of 500 beds and a recuperation area for critical patients. Medical workers from leading hospitals in the city will be mobilized to support the treatment of Covid-19 patients at this hospital.

The department will also establish emergency and recuperation units at the Cu Chi Field Hospital and the Can Gio Covid-19 Treatment Hospital and mobilize resources from general and specialized hospitals in the city.

Hospitals in the city should enhance their support for the Covid-19 treatment. General hospitals having the department of infection control were asked to receive patients from the HCMC Hospital for Tropical Diseases so that the hospital can focus on treating Covid-19 patients.

100 more Covid-19 patients announced in Monday noon report

An additional 100 more Covid-19 infections have been confirmed in Vietnam, raising the total number of patients in the country to 10,730, the Ministry of Health reported at noon on Monday.

According to the ministry’s report, all of the newly-confirmed patients are locally-transmitted cases most of whom were detected in quarantine sites or areas under lockdown in some localities including 69 in Bac Giang, 26 in Ho Chi Minh City, four in Hanoi and one in Ha Tinh.

The outbreak in Ho Chi Minh City has become more complicated, especially following detection of a chain of transmission at its Hospital for Tropical Diseases. Fifty-five employees of the hospital have tested positive for the virus. The HCM City Centre for Diseases Control is working closely with the hospital to carry out contact tracing, isolation, testing and disinfection.

The 69 cases in Bac Giang were recorded at some local industrial parks which have reported a large outbreak over the last few weeks.

As of Monday noon, 7,523 locally-transmitted cases have been reported since the new outbreak occurred in the country on April 27, including 4,137 in the virus epicentre of Bac Giang. The outbreak has so far spread to 40 cities and provinces nationwide.

With these new infection cases, the number of Covid-19 patients in Vietnam has increased to 10,730 including 9,093 locally-transmitted cases.

As of 6 pm on June 13, a total of 3,998 Covid-19 patients had recovered and been discharged from hospital.

So far there have been 59 deaths, most of them being the elderly with serious underlying diseases.

At present, over 196,000 people who had close contact with Covid-19 patients or returned from virus-hit areas are being monitored at hospitals, quarantine facilities, and at home.

On June 13, an additional 43,222 people were given Covid-19 vaccine in Vietnam, raising the total number of vaccine doses used in the country to 1,498,323. The number of people who have received two doses has risen to 55,265.

Airports face fake driver licenses

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has raised warnings after many people have been found to use fake driver licenses for flight check-ins.

Dinh Viet Son, deputy head of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, signed the official document asking related agencies to be alert and have measures to deal with the problem.

In 2020, 23 people were caught using fake driver licenses and 13 people were caught in the first six months of 2021.

“Using fake papers is a legal violation and an aviation risk,” Son said.

In the latest case, a male passenger was found to use a fake driver licence for a flight from Hanoi to HCM City. He said he had the fake license made at the price of VND1.5m. This is the first time he used a fake licence. The case was later transferred to the police.

According to airport employees, people were sometimes found using fake papers to board planes every day including fake IDs and fake driver licenses.

Vietnamese citizens over 14 years old can use various papers to board planes including ID, driver licenses, press cards and identity cards of Vietnamese airlines.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam also asked the Road Directorate to have measures to put an end to the easy availability of fake papers.

WURI honours two Vietnamese universities in top global 100 rankings

The World’s Universities with Real Impact (WURI), a new university ranking system run by the Hanseatic League of Universities, has honoured two Vietnamese in its global top 100 Innovative Universities.

Tra Vinh University and Lac Hong University are among best performing education institutions that WURI has highlighted in its global top 100 Innovative Universities.

In its 2021 WURI rankings, Tra Vinh was placed 71sr, up 15 notches compared to the 2020 rankings, while Lac Hong was positioned 93rd.

Notably, Lac Hong came in 27th in the Ethical Value category, up six notches compared to the 2020 listing.

Tra Vinh University finished 17th for start-up innovation and 48th for student mobility and openness.

WURI highlights creative and innovative approaches to university research and education that focus on industrial applications, value-creating startups and entrepreneurship, social responsiblilty, ethics and integrity, and student mobility and openness for exchange and collaboration.

Vietnamese expats in Japan launch fundraising campaign to help Vietnam’s COVID-19 fight

The Vietnamese embassy in Japan on June 13 launched a fundraising campaign to collect money for Vietnam’s COVID-19 vaccine fund in response to the call of the Vietnam Fatherland Front’s Central Committee on “National unity to fight COVID-19.”

“Keep the world beating” chosen as slogan for World Blood Donor Day 2021

The slogan “Give blood and keep the world beating” has been chosen for World Blood Donor Day 2021 (June 14), said the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion.

The day aims to honour blood donors and encourage more people to voluntarily give blood, as well as raise public awareness of the necessity of safe blood products.

It is also meant to commemorate World Health Organisation for his discovery of major blood groups A,B,O.

On the occasion, the World Health Organisation (WHO) called on countries’ governments, medical sectors and blood transfusion services to ensure resources and infrastructure to receive quality blood.

According to the WHO, one in every 10 patients needs blood transfusion. In Vietnam, it is estimated that 5,200 units of blood are needed everyday for emergency and treatment. The shortage of blood remains prevalent in developing countries, especially during disasters and epidemics.

With the slogan, WHO wants to convey a message that blood is the life of every person, healthy or ill. For a patient, blood is not only the help from the community but also a source of life for them to survive.

Besides, blood donors also have a chance to have their health checked.

Last year, Vietnam received over 1.4 million units of blood, 99 percent of them came from voluntary blood donors, who accounted for about 1.5 percent of the total population./.

Psycho-horror movie earns millions of views on YouTube

Điên Tối (Darkness), a new psychological horror movie by young director Jack Carry On, has become a hit on social media since it premiered on YouTube on June 10.

The Viettel Media production earned more than 1.84 million views 15 hours after its premiere.

The 90-minute movie features Thạch, a young director from an orphanage who to make a movie adaptation of a novel by famous author Mạn Châu.

After meeting with Châu at her bookstore, Thạch and Châu begin a mysterious adventure.

Award-winning actor Lương Bỉnh Phát and actress Yu Dương play roles in the film.

Phát rose to fame after performing in Song Lang (The Tap Box), a film about the 100-year history of cải lương (reformed opera), a genre of traditional theatre in southern  Việt Nam.

The film was directed by Vietnamese-American Leon Lê in 2018. Phát played a cải lương performer who falls in love with his male colleague and makes sacrifices to pursue his dream.

Phát won Best Actor at the Golden Kite Awards 2019 organised by the Việt Nam Cinematography Association. He also won the Tokyo Gemstone Award in the Best Newcomer category at the Tokyo International Film Festival 2018.

Yu Dương, whose real name is Nguyễn Thùy Dương, is known for playing the leading role in the 2014 horror movie Lời Nguyền Huyết Ngãi (Blood Curse) directed by Bùi Thạc Chuyên, when she was only 16 years old.

She later took part in movies and TV series such as Cô Dâu Đại Chiến 2 (Bride War 2) and Tốc Độ và Đường Cong (Speed and Curve).

In 2020, she impressed audiences with two thrilling movies Bí Mật Của Gió (Secrets of the Wind) and Thang Máy (Elevator).

Võ Ngọc Anh from Đồng Nai Province said that when she heard of the film and the cast with Phát and Dương, she knew it would be a good production.

“The film is awesome and meaningful. I cried at the ending,” Anh said.

The director said: “Although Điên Tối is covered with darkness, it finally exposes the evil and opens a bright and better world.”

Jack, whose real name is Trịnh Tài Việt, began making movies when he was 14 years old.

The 26-year-old self-taught director is known for his online short films such as Câu Chuyện Pháp Sư (Story of a Shaman) and Bí Mật Phòng Kế (Secret of the Next Room).

In 2020, he introduced his first web series Ảo Tưởng Tuổi 18 (Illusion at 18) consisting of 18 episodes, featuring struggles and challenges that young people face in modern society. The film received a warm welcome from young audiences.

Điên Tối is available on YouTube channel FIM360, with English subtitles.

Nguyễn Du film to shine at national film festival

A documentary movie about celebrated 18th century poet Nguyễn Du will compete at the Việt Nam National Film Festival in Thừa Thiên Huế Province in September.

Called Đại Thi Hào Nguyễn Du (Great Poet Nguyễn Du), it was produced by Việt Media over three years.

Producer Phạm Xuân Mừng, who has 20 years of experience in film and literature, said that it will honour the poet and highlight the value and longevity of Nguyễn Du’s masterpiece Truyện Kiều (The Tale of Kiều) as well as his significant role in promoting Vietnamese language.

“For Vietnamese people, Truyện Kiều and poet Nguyễn Du is familiar,” said Mừng.

“However, not everyone knows nor profoundly understands the life and career of the poet and the context of the writing and creations of characters.”

Key parts of the series used writings and studies from famous authors and cultural researchers.

The film script was penned by a group of writers including Mừng. It was directed by Nguyễn Văn Đức and features 50 actors from leading film studios and art schools and 1,000 extras.

The crew travelled to capture beautiful scenes of traditional culture and rural life in Hà Tĩnh, Hà Nội, Bắc Ninh, Thái Bình, and Huế.

Great Poet Nguyễn Du focuses on his life and career from his birth in Thăng Long citadel in 1765, his military service during the Gia Long dynasty through to his death in Huế in 1820.

His father, Nguyễn Nghiễm, a mandarin under the Lê dynasty, is also highlighted.

The 180-minute documentary film has three episodes: Gia Thế và Tuổi Thơ (Family and Childhood), Mười Năm Gió Bụi (Ten Years of Vicissitude), and Nghiệp Văn và Quan Trường (Literary Career and Mandarinate).

The first episode made its debut in Hà Nội and central province of Hà Tĩnh last year in celebration of Nguyễn Du’s 255 birth anniversary and his 200th death anniversary. It made a deep impression on audiences.

“Our film aims to introduce and promote celebrated poet Nguyễn Du’s masterpiece and other works to both Vietnamese people and foreigners,” Mừng said.

“We hope it will inspire younger generations’ patriotism and national literary pride.”

The film also features poetic love between Nguyễn Du and female poet Hồ Xuân Hương — a beloved poet known for her sharp wit and sterling command of chữ Nôm (Nôm script).

Great Poet Nguyễn Du will be released next month and participate at the Việt Nam Film Festival, 22nd edition, from September 12 to 16.

Trà Vinh embraces science, technology in agriculture

The Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Trà Vinh has earmarked VNĐ150 – 200 billion (US$6.6 – 8.7 million) for research into and adoption of processing technologies, especially for its key agricultural products, in 2021 – 25.

It will focus on creating hybrid plant and animal strains that can adapt to climate change, expanding production models that use high technology, bio-technology and organic methods to improve yield and quality, according to Lê Thành Ôi, director of the province Department of Science and Technology.

The research and use of technology would be linked with guaranteed sales of produce, he said.

The department has implemented three projects that used modern agricultural technologies in the first five months of the year.

They include growing a high-yield peanut variety on sand dunes in Trà Cú, Cầu Ngang and Duyên Hải districts, producing bio-products EMTV1 and EMTV2 and using them for breeding shrimp in Duyên Hải District and Duyên Hải Town, and growing honeydew melon in polyhouses equipped with drip irrigation system in Châu Thành District.

It has also worked with localities like Cầu Ngang District and Trà Vinh City for intercropping grapefruit and guava using efficient irrigation systems and growing clean watermelon in Cầu Ngang District and a fresh eating grape variety in combination with offering tourism services on a pilot basis in Trà Vinh City.

It also plans a project to compare the efficiency of models to grow honeydew melon on the ground and on substrates in polyhouses.

Phạm Minh Truyền, director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the province has more than 17,000ha of hi-tech farming areas, including 10,400ha of aquaculture and 7,000ha of rice, vegetables and fruits.

In hi-tech cultivation, farmers use advanced technologies such as automatic irrigation, nano fertilisers, net houses, hydroponic methods, net houses, tissue culture, and good agricultural practices (GAP) standards.

In aquaculture, farmers use modern facilities for breeding shrimp under intensive and super intensive farming models.

Truyền said the province planned to use 1,500ha of unproductive rice fields and 500ha of sugarcane fields to grow high-value crops or perennial trees or rotate between rice and aquatic species on the same fields this year.

In the first five months of the year more than 1,200ha of rice fields and more than 125ha of sugarcane farms have been converted, with farmers growing vegetables, coconut and fruits and breeding aquatic species.

Sugarcane farmers have struggled in recent years because of low prices, and the province encourages them to switch to other crops.

Trà Vinh is one of the delta’s coastal provinces and has been severely affected by saltwater intrusion in the dry season.

So local authorities have dissuaded farmers from growing rice in coastal areas and those without irrigation, and encouraged them to switch to other crops.

Farmers who grow vegetables, corn and watermelon have earned an average of VNĐ80 – 90 million ($3,500 – 3,900) per hectare per crop this year, according to the province Plant Protection and Cultivation Sub-department.

It has instructed farmers to adopt GAP standards to increase the competitiveness of their produce and incomes.

Bình Dương IPs tighten COVID prevention measures

Companies in industrial parks in Bình Dương Province are applying stricter COVID-19 prevention measures while maintaining production activities.

Chutex International Co., Ltd. in Dĩ An City’s Sóng Thần Industrial Park, for example, which has over 6,000 workers, has required staff to wear face masks and disinfect themselves as they enter the premises, as well as take temperature checks at their work stations.

Businesses in the Việt Nam Singapore Industrial Park in Thuận An City have set up pandemic prevention teams at their gates, and have had staff disinfect themselves, make health declarations, and have their temperature checked.

Lê Văn Phức, a guard at Maruei Việt Nam Precision Co., Ltd in the industrial park, said that his company began applying prevention measures when the pandemic first appeared in the country, but has been stricter since May 25 as serious outbreaks have occurred in industrial parks in the north.

Staff are required to make health declarations via paper forms or smartphones, and smartphone users must install the Bluezone tracing application.

Meanwhile, Liwayway Joint Stock Company in the same park has put up large, hard-to-miss information boards about the pandemic at their gate, and has increased the number of staff stationed at the gate to monitor the health of more than 1,000 workers.

Staff with high fever are sent to a separate clinic room to be monitored.

Banners and posters on how to protect against COVID-19 can also be found throughout the industrial parks in the province.

For more than a month, Bình Dương People’s Committee and local authorities have been instructing regions, businesses and industrial parks to carry out strict pandemic prevention measures.

The Bình Dương Industrial Parks Management Board has instructed local IPs to regularly update their status on the COVID-19 safety map to keep the public informed, closely monitor workers, and form pandemic inspection teams.

The province is also working with health authorities and the management board to hold drill sessions and draw up plans to requisition factories and offices to quarantine up to 4,000 people if necessary.

According to Trần Văn Nam, secretary of the provincial party committee, Bình Dương has thousands of workers, many of whom are living within the industrial parks.

Local authorities have been asked to refer to preventive measures taken by other industrial parks and regions, and come up with their own solutions for Bình Dương.

Bình Dương Province is one of the top regions in Việt Nam in terms of FDI attraction, exports and economic growth.

Cà Mau ramps up production of processed agricultural products for export

The southernmost province of Cà Mau is increasing its output of processed agricultural products and promoting trade activities to expand markets for its key products like shrimp, crab, rice and banana.

Châu Công Bằng, deputy director of the province’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the aim was to increase value and attract investors.

Cà Mau, the country’s largest shrimp producer, produces fresh, frozen and dried shrimp as well as shrimp chips. It exported US$163 million of shrimp products in the first quarter of the year, up 6 per cent year-on- year. The province’s People’s Committee plans to reach more than $1 billion in shrimp export value this year.

OCOP products

The province’s products certified under the country’s one commune – one product (OCOP) programme have improved the quality of its speciality products and increased income for OCOP producers.

Lê Văn Sử, deputy chairman of the People’s Committee, said that 33 products were certified as OCOP in the 2018 – 20 period, including three four-star and 30 three-star products, out of a five-star system.

Last year, farmer Trương Ngọc Giàu, from Đầm Dơi District’s Tân Tiến Commune, received certificates for two OCOP products: three-star instant shrimp flakes and Vietnamese caramelised shrimp. This year she plans to apply for OCOP certificates for her dried greasyback shrimp and fried shrimp cakes.

Her clean shrimp products with their good brand name have increased her income. “They have contributed to improving the general quality of the province’s OCOP products,” she said.

Other areas have high potential for export as well. In Thới Bình District, concentrated farming areas use the shrimp – rice farming model. The district, the largest shrimp – rice area in the province, has been granted a collective brand name for its clean rice under the name “Thới Bình clean rice” from the National Office of Intellectual Property.

The district plans to produce 10,000 – 20,000ha of clean rice each year. The rice, which sells at a high price, is guaranteed outlets by companies.

Lý Minh Vững, chairman of the Thới Bình People’s Committee, said the district was developing its speciality products and encouraging local residents to produce them to improve their income.

It was also prioritising the development of co-operatives and small-size companies in order to turn speciality products into OCOP products, he said.

Bằng, deputy director of the province’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said the OCOP programme had gradually changed production by establishing linkages among stakeholders, developing large-scale production, and establishing key product systems.

The province planned to develop more of these products as part of its strategy to promote OCOP sales, he said.

Many producers and trading businesses involved in specialty products are selling more of their products online to maintain revenue amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Tân Phát Lợi Co-operative in Ngọc Hiển District, for instance, is selling dried shrimp, shrimp salt, shrimp chips and shrimp flakes on its website.

Bùi Văn Chương, director of Tân Phát Lợi, said: “The co-operative has improved our website and increased our sales online.”

The co-operative can sell 100 – 200kg of products a day, equal to the amount sold before the pandemic.

The Ngọc Hiển District Farmers Association said that two companies, two co-operatives, five establishments and 10 households in the district were now selling local speciality products.

Lê Ngọc Lâm, chairman of the association, said most of them had begun selling products online after COVID-19 broke out last year.

Lê Quân, chairman of the province’s People’s Committee, said that producers and trading businesses individually had begun selling their products online.

But the province wants to promote its key products on an electronic commerce exchange so that producers and trading businesses can have their own virtual shops to show products on the exchange, according to Quân.

To attract customers, producers and trading businesses must provide efficient and convenient delivery services and suitable selling prices for OCOP and speciality products.

HCM City restricts use of groundwater, provides more clean water for residents

The People’s Committee of HCM City has issued a plan to provide clean water to all residents and stop the exploitation of groundwater.

The city Department of Natural Resources and Environment has approved a plan to restrict groundwater exploitation in 2021, while the city People’s Committee has set a roadmap to 2023 with a maximum of 150,000cu.m of groundwater exploited each day.

The plan aims to reduce groundwater exploitation by 16,650cu.m per day this year. This includes 8,000cu.m per day for households, 4,650cu.m per day for industrial production, and 4,000cu.m per day for the State-run Sài Gòn Water Supply Corporation (Sawaco).

To achieve the goal, the department will stop licensing 74 groundwater exploitation works that belong to companies, industrial parks and export processing zones, and will encourage households to fill up wells in areas where clean tap water is accessible. Costs for filling up wells will be covered by the city’s water sector.

Groundwater can be harmful to health because of dangerous chemicals and wastewater.

To protect residents’ health, city authorities said that clean, safe water would continue to be supplied to all households in every district.

According to Sawaco, under its plan for 2020-2025, the city aims to increase the average supply of clean water per capita per day by 165 litres and reduce the tap water leakage rate to 15 per cent.

The overexploitation of groundwater has changed underground water levels and the geological structure.

The city has an average subsidence rate of 4cm a year, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. Land subsidence of 5-10mm has occurred in districts Bình Chánh, Bình Tân, Thủ Đức and Nhà Bè and districts 2, 7, 8 and 12.

HCM City vows to speed up COVID vaccination

HCM City will speed up COVID-19 vaccination, Nguyễn Thành Phong, chairman of its People’s Committee, told an online meeting on Friday.

A team led by People’s Committee vice chairman Dương Anh Đức and health experts will be set up to carry out procedures related to negotiations for vaccine supplies, consultations and organisation of inoculations, he said.

The city aims to vaccinate two thirds of its population this year, has a roadmap with a priority list of people because of limited supply yet, but would also ensure a sufficient number of people get vaccinated, he said.

District 12 authorities sought permission from the People’s Committee to continue district-wide social distancing under the Government’s Directive No. 15 after 15 days of social distancing under the more stringent Directive No. 16 in its Thạnh Lộc Ward.

Lê Trương Hải Hiếu, its chairman, said Thạnh Lộc has not recorded more new COVID-19 cases since social distancing began.

Tân Thới Nhất Ward has the largest number of COVID-19 cases in the district, 51, he said.

The district has set up a quarantine with 100 beds at the Trần Phú Secondary School.

Nguyễn Trí Dũng, chairman of the Gò Vấp People’s Committee, said the district has had 106 COVID patients, including five whose status would be announced by the Ministry of Health.

According to the city Department of Health, the city’s largest cluster, which began in Gò Vấp on May 26, has seen 441 cases.

They include one each from four industrial parks. But thanks to early detection, there has been no spread from them to other workers, it said.

The city has so far controlled Gò Vấp cluster well, it said.

Dũng said 15 days of social distancing is enough for the district.

He said locals have complied strictly with regulations on social distancing under the Directive No.16. Non-essential services enterprises have closed.

The district has seven markets, seven supermarkets, and 200 convenience stores open to keep prices steady he said.

The district also identified facilities for use as quarantine.

Tân Bình District People’s Committee sought permission from the city for social distancing under the Directive No. 15 for one more week.

Head of the department, Nguyễn Tấn Bỉnh, said many small COVID clusters have been found this week in the city, but due to social distancing, the risk has been low.

In the clusters found in a warehouse in Hóc Môn District, Ehome apartment building in Bình Tân District and a family in Thủ Đức city, only people in the infected people’s family were found infected, he said.

The city is monitoring the clusters, he said.

According to a Ministry of Health report, the city has 838 COVID patients, including 270 recovered and two dead ones.

Bỉnh said the city would continue to tighten preventive measures, especially at industrial parks and export processing zones, to detect, localise and stamping out outbreaks in a timely manner.

Dương Hồng Thắng, chairman of the Hóc Môn People’s Committee, said manual workers and street vendors should be tested since they make up 70 per cent of the district’s patients so far.  VNS

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The People’s Committee of the Mekong Delta province of Tiền Giang has ordered social distancing under the Government’s Directive 15 for COVID-19 prevention and control starting on June 12 until further announcement after three new cases were found recently.

Cần Thơ to build embankment on Trà Nóc River to prevent erosion

Cần Thơ plans to build an embankment to prevent erosion along the Trà Nóc River at the Trà Nóc Bridge – Xẻo Mây Bridge section at an estimated cost of VNĐ531 billion (US$53.2 million).

After inspecting erosion that occurred recently along the river in Bình Thuỷ District’s Trà An Ward on Wednesday, Nguyễn Ngọc Hè, deputy chairman of the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta city People’s Committee, said the embankment should be built soon to safeguard local people and their property and infrastructure.

The work will comprise building a 1.1km embankment and pavements, planting trees and erecting lights.

The 122 families living along that stretch of the river will be relocated.

The place has suffered erosion five times since 2020, affecting 40 houses.

The city is undertaking a number of erosion prevention projects, including an embankment along the Cái Sơn Canal in Ninh Kiều and Bình Thuỷ districts and another at the junction of the Ô Môn River and Rạch Tra Canal in Thới Lai District.

They will be 2.8km and 430m and cost VNĐ290 billion ($12.7 million) and VNĐ49 billion ($2.1 million).

Last month the city began building a 950m embankment on the right bank of the Ô Môn River in Ô Môn District at a cost of VNĐ114.5 billion ($4.96 million).

Airports face fake driver licenses

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam has raised warnings after many people have been found to use fake driver licenses for flight check-ins.

Dinh Viet Son, deputy head of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, signed the official document asking related agencies to be alert and have measures to deal with the problem.

In 2020, 23 people were caught using fake driver licenses and 13 people were caught in the first six months of 2021.

“Using fake papers is a legal violation and an aviation risk,” Son said.

In the latest case, a male passenger was found to use a fake driver licence for a flight from Hanoi to HCM City. He said he had the fake license made at the price of VND1.5m. This is the first time he used a fake licence. The case was later transferred to the police.

According to airport employees, people were sometimes found using fake papers to board planes every day including fake IDs and fake driver licenses.

Vietnamese citizens over 14 years old can use various papers to board planes including ID, driver licenses, press cards and identity cards of Vietnamese airlines.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam also asked the Road Directorate to have measures to put an end to the easy availability of fake papers.

Ha Long tourist boats lie idle despite end to social distancing

Tourists boats in Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh Province are still lying idle despite being allowed to resume operation.

The Management Board of Ha Long Bay said tourist boats were still lying idle although local tourist sites and services have reopened since June 8. According to a boat owner, the residents are already familiar with all the sightseeing spots and will not use their services while there were no visitors from other cities and provinces yet. Moreover, the operation cost is high and the crew are reluctant to return to work for fear of another outbreak.

On June 11, several restaurants also reopened. Nguyen Hai, the owner of Hai Quan Restaurant in Bai Chay Ward, said they took a risky move and bought some seafood, hoping that there will be customers during the weekends.

“During the previous outbreak, I also bought seafood but there were no customers. I still decided to invest some tens of millions of VND this time though. I hope to recoup some money,” he said.

Statistics from Quang Ninh Department of Tourism show that by the end of May, the province had received 2.3 million visitors, accounting for 56.5% of the number of visitors in 2020. The revenue from the tourism industry was VND5trn (USD217m), accounting for 61% of 2020’s firgure.

Tourism activities were resumed only for a short time between two Covid-19 outbreaks in Vietnam.

Ca Mau tourism works to adapt to “new normal” situation

The tourism sector of the southernmost province of Ca Mau is taking measures to adapt to the “new normal” situation amid complicated development of the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the fact that it had remained free of COVID-19 so far.

Tourist destinations pay great attention to following the “5K message” of khau trang (facemasks), khu khuan (disinfectant), khoang cach (distancing), khong tu tap (no gatherings), and khai bao y te (health declarations).

Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Tieu Minh Tien said the province has issued a set of criteria to assess safety in COVID-19 prevention and control in the tourism sector, including specific regulations in each category and destination.

The local tourism sector is ready with measures to record new development progress in the near future, he said.

Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Tran Hong Quan said the province has set tourism as one of its economic pillars and identified measures for sustainable development.

The Prime Minister has approved the master plan for Ca Mau Cape national tourism site and the province already has planning for tourist areas such as Khai Long and Hon Da Bac and ecological tourism sites in Tran Van Thoi and U Minh districts.

It has upgraded infrastructure, diversified products at destinations, and actively sought investment in various fields, including tourism.

According to Tien, Ca Mau will step up tourism marketing at home and abroad to promote its land, culture, and people.

It is due to link up with cities and provinces to form tourism product chains in the Mekong Delta and on an inter-regional scale.

Website mobilises online donations for Covid-19 vaccine fund

The management agency of the COVID-19 vaccine fund has built an online donation system through the fund’s website, with a friendly and intuitive interface, in order to help benefactors easily access and support the vaccine fund.

On June 5, the Government held a ceremony to launch a vaccine fund against the COVID-19. This fund is managed by the Ministry of Finance to mobilisecontributions from domestic and foreign enterprises, organisations and individuals.

In addition, the official website www.quyvacxincovid19.gov.vn was also introduced with the aim to create an online donation channel for the vaccine fund.

The website is designed to be easy to use, with the function of directly supporting the Government’s Vaccine Fund through international credit cards, ATM cards, e-wallets, internet banking, mobile banking, and traditional bank transactions. Users can also register their support byleaving information to receive instructions to support the Vaccine Fund.

Through the website, all contributions from organisations and individuals will be directly transferred to the Government’s COVID-19 vaccine fund account.

The Fund’s official website also affirms its public and transparent commitment, as well as its commitment to not create any benefits for businesses or any other organisation or individual other than for the purpose of mobilising contributions from businesses and organisations both at home and abroad to finance the purchase, transportation, preservation and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.

Moc Chau plateau enters plum season

In June, many young people want to get a hide-way from the sweltering heat of summer. When Hai Lam, a Nhan Dan (People) journalist, saw his friend’s photos on Facebook, capturing a bunch of ripen plums in a garden in Moc Chau plateau, Son La province, he knew it as a call to visit the plateau.

No matter whether traveling by motorbike, car or bus, the road to Moc Chau is very beautiful for passengers. Having a passion for the nature of the Northwest region, Lam has been to Moc Chau quite a few times in different seasons.

The weather is cool all year round and the plateau wins the hearts of visitors thanks to its assorted green shades from both the mountains and forests.

During spring, the plateau is adorned with pink peach blossoms and white plum flowers while in autumn it is sprinkled with bright wild sunflowers. Winter comes with mustard and buckwheat flowers.

Nature lovers who were once enchanted with the pure white of the plum forest in February, come back here in summer and are often surprised to see that the tiny plum flowers have now become ripe fruit.

Taking a tour around Moc Chau town this season, one can see plum gardens and hills everywhere, which stand out against the blue sky with their clusters of dark purple and red fruit. With nearly 1,000 hectares of plum cultivation, Moc Chau is considered the largest plum grower in the country.

In recent years, tours to plum gardens have become an attractive tourist product of Moc Chau. While wandering in the plum gardens, visitors can enjoy the natural atmosphere and pick juicy and fresh fruit. The ripe plums turn dark red and has a sweet and fragrant taste while medium-ripe fruit is slightly sour, thus often served with chili salt or pounded salt with ‘mac khen’ pepper.

Visitors to the garden can also buy products made from plum including plum jam, plum wine, and plum syrup as souvenirs for their families and friends. Therefore, a trip to Moc Chau leaves impressions not only on the fruit pickers but also on the recipients of the delicious and aromatic dishes made from the plums.

This year, as the Plum Festival was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, ripe plums are being harvested and distributed to many places for consumption.

National Highway 50 linking HCMC, Long An needs expanding: Transport Dept

The HCMC Department of Transport has written to the HCMC People’s Council proposing expanding National Highway 50 that connects the city’s outlying district of Binh Chanh with Long An Province, at a cost of VND1.5 trillion.

The national highway is an important traffic route connecting the city with some Mekong Delta provinces, including Long An and Tien Giang and an approach road to the Da Phuoc solid waste treatment complex, leading to high traffic density, according to the municipal department.

The current national highway has only two lanes, while container trucks and garbage trucks share the road with motorbikes, cars and rudimentary vehicles, resulting in frequent traffic congestion, mainly at the National Highway 50-Nguyen Van Linh intersection, posing a high risk of traffic accidents.

Besides, once in place, the Ben Luc-Long Thanh expressway, which is underway, will attract many vehicles, increasing the burden on National Highway 50 as the former is set to directly connect to the national highway.

As such, the upgrade and expansion of the national highway in Binh Chanh District is necessary to facilitate traffic, strengthen the connection between HCMC and the Mekong Delta provinces, ease traffic jams and reduce traffic accidents.

The project to expand National Highway 50 will be developed by the HCMC Management Board of Investment and Construction of Traffic Projects under the public investment mode. Over VND680.3 billion of the total cost will be sourced from the central State budget and VND812.2 billion from the HCMC budget.

In the first phase of the project, a parallel road to the highway will be built at a length of 4.36 kilometers. The current national highway will be expanded in the second phase, while two bridges and tree, lighting and drainage systems will also be developed.

The project is set to be executed from 2021 to 2024, the local media reported.

HCMC needs over VND137.6 trillion for traffic infrastructure projects in 2021

The HCMC government has come up with a plan to develop the traffic infrastructure system in the city from 2020-2030, in which more than VND137.6 will be needed for traffic infrastructure projects in the city this year.

Of the total, nearly VND64 trillion will be sourced from the city’s budget and the remaining from the State budget, official development assistance loans and private resources, the local media reported.

Many projects were expected to be completed this year, such as four main roads in the Thu Thiem New Urban Area, the Thu Thiem 2 Bridge, the Dong Van Cong Street expansion and an overpass in front of the New Mien Dong Coach Station in Thu Duc City and the Hang Ngoai Bridge in Go Vap District.

In addition, many key and urgent projects will be approved, including the HCMC-Moc Bai Expressway, the Ring Road No. 2, the An Phu intersection and the Thu Thiem 4 and Can Gio bridges and projects to expand national highways 50, 22 and 13.

Elevated roads Nos. 1 and 5, the new Mien Tay Coach Station and a project linking bus routes to metro line No. 1 are also expected to be approved this year.

According to the municipal government, more than VND970 trillion is needed to develop the traffic infrastructure in the city in the 2020-2030 period. The first projects to be executed in the period are the HCMC-Long Thanh-Dau Giay expressway expansion, the HCMC-Thu Dau Mot-Chon Thanh expressway, the Ring Road Nos. 2 and 3 and a road connecting Tran Quoc Hoan and Cong Hoa streets.

Moreover, the city will complete and put into operation the first metro line and start work on the second metro line, the first phase of the fifth metro line, a light railway linking the Thu Thiem Urban Area and the Long Thanh International Airport and inland clearance depots in Thu Duc City and Cu Chi District.

According to the municipal Department of Transport, it will coordinate with the relevant agencies and the authorities of Thu Duc City and districts to build a list of priority projects.

As of 2020, the total length of roads and bridges in HCMC reached over 4,500 kilometers. The city currently manages more than 8.3 million vehicles, including nearly 7.5 million motorbikes and over 785,000 autos. Its traffic infrastructure projects have failed to the meet the demand.

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

The Health Ministry on June 12 granted conditional approval of Comirnaty vaccine manufactured by Pfizer Manufacturing Belgium NV and Germany’s BioNTech Manufacturing GmbH for domestic emergency use in the fight against COVID-19.

This is the fourth vaccine to receive such authorisation, following Oxford/AstraZeneca, Sputnik V, and Sinopharm’s Vero Cell.

According to the approval decision, the vaccine comes in doses of 0.3ml of mRNA molecules protected by lipid nanoparticles.

The packaging is described as trays of 195 vials, with each vial holding six doses of vaccine.

The ministry asked the Drug Administration of Vietnam to license the import of Comirnaty vaccine as well as oversee its quality in line with the regulations.

The Administration of Science Technology and Training was directed to choose qualified units to assess the safety and efficiency of Comirnaty vaccine based on feedback from the ministry’s advisory board on the use of vaccines and medical biologicals during the use.

The General Department of Preventive Medicine was responsible for Cormirnaty vaccination while the National Institute for Vaccines and Biologicals must test and grant a certificate for the vaccine before it is put into use.

Previously, the health ministry said it had negotiated for a deal of 31 million doses of Pfizer and the first shipment could likely arrive between now and July.

Last week, during a meeting with UNICEF Representative in Vietnam Rana Flowers, Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long has also expressed his request for COVAX Facility – the global vaccine sharing initiative – to supply Pfizer vaccine to be used for Vietnamese children aged 12-18.

As of 4pm on June 12, 1,454,221 doses of vaccines – mostly AstraZeneca – have been administered in Vietnam since the inoculation drive started in March 8, 2021. 54,385 people have received the full two doses./.

Award-winning writer and translator passes away

Award-winning writer Nguyễn Xuân Khánh passed away due to natural causes at his home on Saturday in Hà Nội. He was 88 years old.

Khánh was popular for a series of novels on Vietnamese culture and history including Hồ Quý Ly; Mẫu Thượng Ngàn (Mountain Goddess) and Đội Gạo Lên Chùa (Bring Rice to the Pagoda).

His work on the founder of the Hồ dynasty Hồ Quý Ly (1336-1407), published in 2000, and Mẫu Thượng Ngàn published in 2006 have been reprinted many times due to their historical and cultural insights.

Đội Gạo Lên Chùa was published in 2011 by the Women’s Publishing House and created a stir in the local literary scene. The novel was highly acclaimed by not only literary critics but also the wider reading public.

The novel, which sold out its initial print run and was reprinted two more times over three months, also won acclaim for explaining the origins of Buddhism in Việt Nam.

His works earned him the Việt Nam Writers’ Association Award in 2000 and in 2011 and the Hà Nội Writers Association in 2011.

Born in Hà Nội, Khánh studied medicine at Hà Nội Medical University. He joined the military in 1952. He began to write in 1957. He worked at the Văn Nghệ Quân Đội (Military Literature and Arts) magazine and Tiền Phong (Avant-garde) newspaper before retirement in 1983.

He wrote his latest novel Chuyện Ngõ Nghèo (Poor Alley’s Tale) in 2016.

He also translated many works including Nathalie Sarraute’s The Golden Fruits and Jules Verne’s Five Weeks in a Balloon.

National COVID-19 vaccine fund raises over 4.8 trillion VND

The national COVID-19 vaccine fund received more than 4.84 trillion VND (210.2 million USD) worth of donations from 283,169 organisations and individuals as of 5pm on June 12, according to the fund’s management board.

Minister of Finance Ho Duc Phoc said that his ministry commits to transparently publicising the fund’s daily and periodical amounts of donations obtained as well as the spending of the Ministry of Health after each round of the domestic vaccination against COVID-19.

The ministry, which is in charge of the vaccine fund, has established a management board for it at the State Treasury and opened a bank account to receive support from individuals and organisations inside and outside the country.

Vietnam needs 150 million doses of vaccines to administer about 75 percent of its population this year, with total cost amounting to 25.2 trillion VND./.

Phu Quoc fish sauce making becomes national intangible cultural heritage

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism recognised the making of fish sauce on Phu Quoc island city in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang as a national intangible cultural heritage in late May, creating a driving force for local residents to maintain and uphold the essence of the traditional craft.

Chairwoman of the Phu Quoc Fish Sauce Association Ho Kim Lien said Phu Quoc’s waters are home to a variety of seaweed and plankton that are major feed sources for anchovies – a key ingredient in its fish sauce.

The craft has existed in Phu Quoc for over 200 years ago. Local residents catch fresh anchovies and salt them before fermenting them in giant wooden barrels.

Fermenting them in wooden barrels is a feature of the traditional craft. The older the barrel is, the more durable it becomes and the better the quality of the fish sauce is.

The barrel has a wide mouth and is made from 55 planks of equal size: 2.2 metres long, 20cm wide, and 6cm thick. The diameter of the barrel mouth is about 3.2 metres and that of the bottom is some 2.6 metres. It is also strapped with green rattan.

Lien said the fish sauce is produced based on traditional methods, with the recipe being three parts anchovy and one salt, and the fermentation period lasts from 10 to 15 months. From the first to final layers, the fish sauce is divided into different types based on their protein levels. The final product has an amber colour and a slight aroma.

With support from the French Embassy in Hanoi in 1998, the Ministry of Fisheries along with Kien Giang province prepared an application for geographical indication. On June 1, 2001, Phu Quoc fish sauce was the first product in Vietnam to secure such status.

In July 2013, the EU granted the “Phu Quoc” origin certificate to the Vietnamese fish sauce.

A month later, the Ministry of Industry and Trade handed over the certificate to representatives of the Phu Quoc island district People’s Committee and the Phu Quoc Fish Sauce Association and it has now become an attractive local tourism product.

Phu Quoc city is now home to around 100 fish sauce makers, mostly in Duong Dong and An Thoi wards. Between now and 2025, it will strive to produce 12 million litres of fish sauce each year on average.

According to Lien, a major difficulty for the industry is that some consumers cannot identify genuine Phu Quoc traditional fish sauce, leading to unstable prices. There is currently no planning for a Phu Quoc fish sauce craft village, so it has not yet become a tourist destination.

The Phu Quoc Fish Sauce Association, founded in October 2000 and with 53 members, will pay attention to developing fish sauce quality to continue promoting its trademark, she said.

The craft is also expected to seek UNESCO world intangible cultural heritage status, contributing to improving its brand value and promoting the image of Phu Quoc island city./.

NA Chairman urges stepping up vaccine strategy

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue has asked for stepping up the vaccine strategy with a specific roadmap and measures to achieve herd immunity, thus laying an important foundation to catch up with the global economy.

Chairing a working session with permanent members of the NA Committee on Social Affairs and several NA organs in Hanoi on June 13, Hue urged the Government to review the efficiency of support packages for laid-off workers and those hit by COVID-19 pandemic to report to the NA in the next meeting.

He reiterated the Politburo’s stance on continuing to realise the dual goals of fighting the pandemic and ensuring macro-economic stability and the safety of finance-banking and public debts.

The leader suggested continuing with the 5K technology message, considering vaccination a strategy; and enhancing international cooperation in seeking vaccine supplies.

In order to effectively perform socio-economic development policies and provide support for those hit by the pandemic, Hue asked the Government to soon issue a growth scenario, accelerate the disbursement of public investment, continue improving business environment, developing private and digital economy, and stimulating domestic demand  while boosting collaboration to effectively direct fiscal-monetary policy, and soon bring the Resolution adopted by the 13th National Party Congress into life.

Lawmakers reported that the NA and its Standing Committee issued nine resolutions and documents to ease difficulties amid the pandemic.

As a result, payment of 99.2 trillion VND (4.3 billion USD) worth of added value tax, corporate and individual income tax, land lease for 57,000 business households and 128,600 firms has been extended, along with 19.3 trillion VND in special consumption tax for automobiles last year./.

Vietnam Young Initiatives forum held virtually

The Vietnam Young Initiatives forum was held virtually on June 12, with Vietnamese students across Europe taking part.

The event also marked the beginning of the Innocity 2021 competition for Vietnamese youths at home and abroad, which was a joint effort between the Vietnamese students’ associations in Europe and the Global Network of Young Vietnamese Intellectuals under the auspices of the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations, the Vietnam Software and IT Services Association, and the Association of the Vietnamese in Europe.

The competition aimed to seek solutions to developing smart cities and urban areas in Vietnam.

Discussions at the event focused on the role of young Vietnamese on innovation and ecological system in Vietnam, and support for Vietnamese at home and abroad in the country’s innovation.

Nguyen Thi Dieu Linh, member of the Vietnam Youth Federation and President of the Vietnamese Students’ Association in the Czech Republic, expressed her hope that new factors will be discovered at the event to contribute to the homeland./.

Nearly 160 wild animals saved in May

The Education for Nature Vietnam (ENV) said as many as 157 wild animals were saved thanks to notice from residents via its hotline in May.

The ENV also reported that there were 299 crime cases related to wildlife were dealt with during the month, adding that it also recorded the 20,000th case since its wildlife protection office and hotline 1800-1522 was launched in 2005.

After receiving notice from the ENV, the Binh Duong provincial forest ranger department received 44 rare and precious turtles, which have already been sent to the Dau Tieng wildlife conservation station in the locality.

EVN Deputy Director Nguyen Thi Phuong Dung expressed her hope that the organisation will continue serving as a bridge to contribute to preventing wildlife trade in the country./.

VGCL delegation presents gifts to pandemic-hit workers in Thanh Hoa

A delegation led by Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) Ngo Duy Hieu visited and presented gifts to workers hit by COVID-19 pandemic at Sakurai Vietnam Co. Ltd in the Le Mon Industrial Park in the central province of Thanh Hoa on June 12.

President of the Thanh Hoa provincial Labour Federation Vo Manh Son said the province has yet to discover any official or worker infected with the coronavirus. Several F1 and F2 cases who finished quarantine have returned to work.

Trade unions distributed 36,300 leaflets to its members and workers to raise their awareness of prevention and control measures as recommended by the Health Ministry. They also directed the establishment of over 2,300 safety teams to fight the pandemic in businesses, particularly in industrial parks.

Son suggested the VGCL soon add workers and trade union employees into the list of those being given priority to vaccination.

Hieu, for his part, asked the provincial trade unions at all levels to continue staying vigilant in the fight against the pandemic.

Firms were also required to adjust distance and work shifts in factories to mitigate possible transmissions.

On the occasion, the delegation presented 100 million VND (4,300 USD) to support trade union members and workers hit by the pandemic./.

Vietnamese-Cambodians obey notice on relocating floating houses

Close to 1,000 households of Cambodians of Vietnamese-origin have followed the Phnom Penh authorities’ June 2 notice on relocating floating houses and fish farming rafts along the Tonle Sap river in seven days.

Accordingly, the group – mostly eking out a living from fishing and cage fish farming – in Chbar Ampov and Prek Pnov districts, among other locations, on June 11 and 12, dismantled their raft houses while waiting for a place to resettle.

Earlier, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Vu Quang Minh directly visited and encouraged the people of Vietnamese origin in displaced areas across six districts in Phnom Penh. He also met with leaders of neighbouring Kandal province, saying the embassy is seeking a plan to support the group.

Regarding the matter, the Foreign Ministry’s State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, meanwhile, discussed with the Cambodian side, proposing Cambodia create favourable conditions and take practical support measures for the group to resettle and ensure their legitimate interests./.

Lao provinces join hands with Vietnam to fight COVID-19

Many Lao provinces have joined hands with the Vietnamese Government and people in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.

On June 12, representatives from Phongsaly province’s authorities arrived at the Vietnamese Consulate General in Luang Prabang to present about 15,900 USD in support of Vietnam’s northern provinces of Lai Chau, Son La, Phu Tho, Vinh Phuc, Tuyen Giang and Thai Nguyen.

Earlier on June 11, representatives from Luang Namtha provincial authorities granted nearly 31,900 USD to the Consulate General to assist the northern provinces of Dien Bien, Son La, Phu Tho and Vinh Phuc.

Speaking at the event, the Lao side affirmed great friendship with Vietnam and wished that the Vietnamese localities would soon curb the virus spread and overcome difficulties to restore production and trade for socio-economic development.

Vietnamese Consul General in Luang Prabang Nguyen Dang Hung hailed the deed as a vivid manifestation of the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive partnership between the two countries.

He also vowed to soon send the sum to his homeland to help with pandemic prevention and control./.

Vietnam seeks COVID-19 vaccine technology transfer

Since the COVID-19 outbreak, the Health Ministry has directed units to study and clinically test made-in-Vietnam vaccines while seeking technology transfer from abroad to proactively fight the pandemic in the country.

The ministry’s Administration of Science Technology and Training (ASTT) said on June 12 that two domestic manufacturers are working on COVID-19 vaccines. In particular, Nanocovax by the Nanogen Pharmaceutical Biotechnology JSC has been approved for the third stage of clinical trials, which will be carried out by the Military Medical University and the Ho Chi Minh City Pasteur Institute right there and in Hung Yen, Long An and Tien Giang provinces and several qualified units.

About 13,000 people will be chosen for the phase.

Another candidate is COVIVAC by the Nha Trang Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC) which is under the first stage of clinical testing. The second stage is scheduled to take place in Thai Binh province.

The IVAC plans to produce about 6 million doses each year while Nanogen expects to manufacture around 20-30 million doses annually.

According to the ASTT, the Health Minister on May 7 issued Decision No.2301/QD-BYT on the establishment of a steering committee for a research programme on COVID-19 vaccine technology transfer and production.

Vingroup negotiated with a US manufacturer to transfer the technology of producing vaccine from mRNA which requires only one shot of 5mg. Its plant will be capable of producing 100-200 million doses each year, starting from the fourth quarter of this year or the first quarter of next year.

At present, the Company for Vaccine and Biological Production No.1 is stepping up negotiations with a Japanese partner to transfer technology to Vietnam.

It also signed a deal with a Russian investment fund for the sale of 5 million doses of Sputnik-V vaccine each month, towards transferring technology with an annual capacity of 100 million doses./.

President Ho Chi Minh’s thought, morality, lifestyle – precious assets: Party chief

President Ho Chi Minh’s thought, morality, and lifestyle are precious spiritual assets of the Vietnamese Party and people, illuminating the revolutionary cause, leading to the victory of the Vietnamese revolution.

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong made the remarks at the national teleconference reviewing the five-year implementation of the 12-tenure Politburo’s Directive 05-CT-TW on enhancing the studying and following of President Ho Chi Minh’s thought, morality and lifestyle on June 12.

Learning and following the late leader’s thought, morality and lifestyle is a necessary, regular and indispensable task for the entire Party and people, particularly Party organisations, State agencies and officials and Party members.

On behalf of the Party Central Committee, the Party chief welcomed and praised collectives and individuals that stand out in performing this task.

The nation’s revolutionary cause is still facing many difficulties and challenges, he noted, given rapid, complex and unpredictable developments of the national and global situations.

He stressed the importance of continue learning and following the President’s ideology, morality and style, and highlighted the need for officials and Party members to set themselves as good examples for others.

The leader showed his hope that this task will continue to be enhanced in a more substantive and effective manner so as to contribute to the implementation of the 13th National Party Congress’s Resolution as well as the nation building, safeguarding and renewal cause.

The national teleconference also saw the presence of Politburo members: State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, and permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Scretariat Vo Van Thuong./.

Ca Mau tourism works to adapt to “new normal” situation

The tourism sector of the southernmost province of Ca Mau is taking measures to adapt to the “new normal” situation amid complicated development of the COVID-19 pandemic, despite the fact that it had remained free of COVID-19 so far.

Tourist destinations pay great attention to following the “5K message” of khau trang (facemasks), khu khuan (disinfectant), khoang cach (distancing), khong tu tap (no gatherings), and khai bao y te (health declarations).

Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Tieu Minh Tien said the province has issued a set of criteria to assess safety in COVID-19 prevention and control in the tourism sector, including specific regulations in each category and destination.

The local tourism sector is ready with measures to record new development progress in the near future, he said.

Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Tran Hong Quan said the province has set tourism as one of its economic pillars and identified measures for sustainable development.

The Prime Minister has approved the master plan for Ca Mau Cape national tourism site and the province already has planning for tourist areas such as Khai Long and Hon Da Bac and ecological tourism sites in Tran Van Thoi and U Minh districts.

It has upgraded infrastructure, diversified products at destinations, and actively sought investment in various fields, including tourism.

According to Tien, Ca Mau will step up tourism marketing at home and abroad to promote its land, culture, and people.

It is due to link up with cities and provinces to form tourism product chains in the Mekong Delta and on an inter-regional scale./.

Contributing to strengthening people’s trust in Party, State, regime

The Secretariat of the Party Central Committee on June 12 held a nationwide online conference reviewing the five-year implementation of the 12-tenure Politburo’s Directive 05-CT-TW on enhancing the studying and following of Ho Chi Minh’s thought, morality and style.

General Secretary of the Party Central Committee Nguyen Phu Trong attended and chaired the conference, which was also to carry out the 13th-tenure Politburo’s Conclusion 01-KL/TW on continuing the implementation of Directive 05.

The report delivered at the conference stated that this work over the past five years has been seriously and effectively implemented throughout the political system, creating a positive change in awareness and action.

During the implementation process, ministries, departments, sectors and localities have identified breakthroughs to focus on leading, directing and organising effective implementation, thereby promoting socio-economic development, strengthening the people’s confidence in the Party and State; contributing to preventing the deterioration in political ideology, morality, lifestyle as well as “self-evolution” and “self-transformation” manifestations; and actively protecting the ideological foundation of the Party, and refuting wrongful and hostile views.

Over the past five years, educating political theory and the contents of Ho Chi Minh’s thought, morality and style for officials, Party members, members of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and students has been seriously carried out, contributing to improving political level and mettle of officials, Party members and people, especially the young generation.

In addition to the obtainments, the report pointed out shortcomings and limitations that need to be overcome during implementing Directive 05 such as creativity, efficiency, drastic measures, and forms in leadership, direction, organisation of implementation in some areas. The deterioration in political ideology, morality and lifestyle still exists among some officials and Party members, leading to violations of the Party’s regulations with some being disciplined and penalised./.

Joint efforts for a healthy Vietnam

The establishment of the national COVID-19 vaccine fund is a vivid illustration of the nation’s solidarity, enabling each citizen to make a contribution to the formidable fight against the pandemic. All of the funding is being used to win the fight and ensure no one is left behind.

After a long hospital stay for treatment of ameloblastoma (a benign tumour), actor Tran Hoang Long, who goes by the stage name Long Chun and is “TikToker”, thoroughly understands the hardships that doctors and medical staff have endured. He has called for support for Covid-19 hotspot Bac Giang province over the past days, while making a small contribution to the vaccination fund and spreading the message behind the fund.

Meanwhile, for scientists like Dr Dang Minh Tuan, support for the fund is not just about material contributions. He said he wanted to spread the fund’s message in an effective fashion, with many number “9s” in his donation.

At the epicentre of the latest COVID-19 outbreak and facing formidable challenges, many local people in Bac Giang province are taking up the COVID-19 fight and stand ready to make a contribution to the fund.

The vaccination fund is a vivid illustration of national solidarity in the fight against the pandemic. Information about the fund and its significance should be distributed to call on the national strength.

During tough times, Vietnamese people have shown their resilience and solidarity. Everyone believes that no one will be left behind in this fight, and each citizen will receive COVID-19 vaccine shots./.

Firms violating COVID-19 prevention rules must be suspended: Deputy PM

Businesses that have failed to meet COVID-19 prevention and control requirements must be suspended, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said at a meeting in Hanoi on June 11.

Dam, who is also head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, asked enterprises to arrange work shifts to make it easier for quarantine in case of infections.

Once COVID-19 cases are found at industrial parks, testing results must be produced within a day to accelerate contact tracing and quarantine, the official requested.

He asked localities to use different testing methods for different groups of people, and implement the quarantine and lock-down work flexibly and creatively.

According to the Deputy PM, all of the workers who are at the high risk of infection would be vaccinated against the coronavirus in July, while the inoculation for employees at industrial parks nationwide is expected to be completed in August.

At the meeting, leaders of localities with industrial parks like Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Long An, Tay Ninh and Ba Ria-Vung Tau said they have drawn up scenarios for COVID-19 infections in the industrial parks.

Nguyen Huong Giang, Chairwoman of the People’s Committee of northern Bac Ninh province, which has been hit hard by the pandemic, said relevant forces should quickly take actions in contact tracing and sealing off pandemic clusters, while focusing on testing.

She also stressed the significance of screen testing to detecting COVID-19 cases at industrial parks.

Le Anh Duong, Chairwoman of the neighbouring province of Bac Giang, also stricken by the pandemic, pointed out major causes of transmission at industrial parks, and suggested other localities prepare on-the-spot plans, especially improving testing capacity./.

Storm Koguma weakens into tropical depression, no damage reported

Storm Koguma, the second storm to hit Việt Nam this year, weakened into a tropical depression on Sunday after reaching the central province of Nghệ An.

The storm caused heavy rainfall and thunderstorms in the northern region, including Hà Nội, and in the central provinces from Thanh Hóa to Quảng Trị.

No casualties or property damage were reported.

High school entrance exam sitters in Hà Nội had a difficult commute to their test venues on Sunday because of the rain.

Risks of flash floods and landslides were forecast in the northern provinces of Hòa Bình, Sơn La, Lào Cai, Yên Bái, Phú Thọ, Tuyên Quang, Thái Nguyên, Quảng Ninh, Lạng Sơn, Lai Châu and Điện Biên, as well as the central provinces from Thanh Hóa to Hà Tĩnh.

Moderate and heavy rainfall was forecast to continue in the northwest region Monday morning.

The Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control has been collaborating with the Directorate of Fisheries and the Border Guard Command to keep track of fishing vessels at seas, as well as maintaining communication with fishermen to help them avoid the storm.

Local authorities were tasked with ensuring safety at dyke constructions and keep track of water levels in paddy fields at low-lying, urban areas and industrial parks to avoid sudden floods.

Singer presents music video dedicated to LGBT community

Two years after leaving Vietnamese showbiz to head to the US to study, singer Hương Tràm has surprised her fans by releasing a music video Đong Tình (Flirting) touching on LGBT issues.

A project with songwriter Tú Dưa, a former member of the once-famous boyband Quả Dưa Hấu (The Watermelon), the video is about a love triangle between a woman and two men.

On the conception of the video, the singer said that since she was a child, she felt she was more sensitive than her peers.

“I could recognise some friends who had different and extremely sensitive hearts. To this day, they are still my best friends and my loyal audience, who are always by my side,” she said.

“My video depicts the pain and sacrifice of people who still haven’t been accepted widely by the whole of society,” Tràm said.

Aiming to present a message that “love is among any of us and regardless of gender and social class”, the video is for music lovers as well as anyone who supports equality, she said.

“The music video has premiered in Pride Month, after two years without any music product, I hope it would not make my audience disappointed,” Hương Tràm said.

In the video, the singer plays the role of a wife who learns her husband is in love with a male colleague. The video features her pain and the experience of the two men and the pain they feel at having to keep their love hidden.

The video took the singer and her English-speaking team three days to film.

“The biggest challenge for me during the filming process was probably the language barrier. I’ve been in the US for two years. Everything is new for me, including the language. I couldn’t have done the shooting without the help of young friends I met here in the US,” the singer said.

According to songwriter Tú Dưa, the recording process faced several obstacles due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the geographical distance between Việt Nam and the US.

“The pop ballad song was recorded when Hương Tràm flew back to Việt Nam. The recording was given to four different musicians for arrangement. The singer then selected the best version to bring to the US for mastering,” Tú Dưa revealed.

Before working on this project, in 2018, the songwriter also composed the hit Duyên Mình Lỡ (Hopeless Love) for Hương Tràm.

His ballads presenting delicate and romantic lyrics have helped his former Quả Dưa Hấu bandmate Tuấn Hưng have a solid reputation in Việt Nam’s contemporary music scene.

He also composed the song Giữ Lại Hạnh Phúc (Hold Back the Happiness) for singer Thu Phương.

Born in 1995 in Vinh City in the central province of Nghệ An, Hương Tràm won the first season of The Voice Vietnam in 2012. A year later, in 2013, she bagged the Việt Nam’s Devotion Music Award for ‘The New Artist of the Year’.

Her video Em Gái Mưa (The Rainy Girl) brought the singer the second Devotion Award for ‘The MV of the Year’ in 2018. In the same year, she was given the Best Asian Artist Vietnam title at the Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) 2018 in Hong Kong.

New songs honour frontline forces battling pandemic

As Việt Nam is facing the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, new music productions have been released to honour frontline forces.

Tỏa Sáng Việt Nam (Việt Nam Shines Bright) is a new song by young singer and songwriter Bùi Công Nam to show his love and gratitude to health workers and frontline workers who are working day and night to take care of and protect the community.

The song has meaningful lyrics combined with a joyful melody that bring faith and joy to people.

Nam said: “The song reflects my pride as a Vietnamese. I expect Vietnamese people to keep strong together to overcome the challenging time and make Việt Nam shine.”

The song features the voices of Nam, singer Miu Lê and rapper GDucky.

GDucky, runner-up of TV reality show Rap Việt 2020, wrote rap lyrics for the song, calling on people to fight against the pandemic, donate to the national COVID-19 vaccine fund, and praise the solidarity and bravery of frontline forces and Vietnamese people.

The MV contains beautiful images of healthcare workers across the country working to protect people, as well as charity activities such as Việt Nam Red Cross Society’s campaign to help farmers in pandemic-hit localities sell agricultural products, and “rice ATMs” to support the poor across the country.

MV Tỏa Sáng Việt Nam was released on YouTube on June 4, and has earned more than 517,000 views and hundreds of compliments for its emotional lyrics.

Singer and songwriter Nam was born in 1994 in the Tây Nguyên (Central Highlands) province of Đắk Lắk.

He became popular after competing in Bài Hát Hay Nhất (Sing My Song), a TV reality show about original songs, launched by the Việt Nam Television in 2016. His music is pop, ballad and country.

He won Song of the Year at the 2019 Cống Hiến (Devotion) Awards given by Thể Thao & Văn Hóa (Sports & Culture) with his song Có Ai Thương Em Như Anh (Nobody Loves You As I Do).

This year, he became a hit on social media in Việt Nam after joining  Xuân Hạ Thu Đông Rồi Lại Xuân (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter, and Spring), a TV reality show showcasing street performances of favourite Vietnamese singers.

Its videos, which screen live performances on HCM City streets, have earned tens of millions of views on YouTube.

Lieutenant Colonel Vũ Thị Huyền Ngọc of the cultural house of the Việt Nam Border Guard’s Political Department has released a song Lời Ru Nơi Tuyến Đầu (Lullabies at Frontline) as a gift to the country’s heroes who are sacrificing to protect the people.

Ngọc said she wrote the song to honour motherhood after seeing a baby girl cry when she saw on TV her mother, a doctor sent to Bắc Giang Province, a hotspot of the latest COVID-19 outbreak.

“As a mother, I cried at this beautiful image,” Ngọc said.

The song also expressed her gratitude to her women colleagues and frontline forces who left their families and children to fulfil their duties.

Lời Ru Nơi Tuyến Đầu is Ngọc’s third motivational song during the pandemic, along with songs Vì Nơi Ấy Có Anh (Because You’re Here) and Nếu Anh Không Về (If You Don’t Return).

As recognition for her contribution to the fight against the pandemic, the General Department of Politics under the Việt Nam People’s Army last year granted Ngọc a certificate of merit for studying and following President Hồ Chí Minh’s thought, morality and lifestyle.

Experts call on community to keep donating blood

Health experts have called on the community to maintain blood donation activities to ensure blood sources for emergency aid and treatment at hospitals on the occasion of World Blood Donor Day (June 14).

President of the Việt Nam Red Cross Society and Permanent Deputy Head of the National Steering Committee for Voluntarily Blood Donation Mobilisation, Nguyễn Thị Xuân Thu, said that COVID-19 seriously impacted blood donation mobilisation and collection activities.

“On this occasion, we call on those who are healthy enough to donate blood, which is the responsibility and sacred duty of every citizen. I also request the Steering Committees at all levels and relevant authorities to honour and praise typical examples of blood donation and mobilise relatives and friends to participate in blood donation, especially amid the COVID-19 outbreak in the community,” said Thu.

The appeal was made as blood shortages have occurred across the country due to a decline in blood donors amid the COVID-19 pandemic spreading in many provinces and cities nationwide.

“Each unit of blood is valuable as a lifebuoy for the patient. I want each person to stay healthy so that they can keep a regular blood donation rhythm and to give patients the safest blood source,” said the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion director Bạch Quốc Khánh.

Khánh said the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected blood donation activities and blood transfusion safety globally as well as in Việt Nam. Despite challenges of organising blood donations during the pandemic, millions of people around the world still continue to make efforts to donate blood, including blood for treating COVID-19 patients.

“Over one million blood donations in our country in 2020 and tens of thousands of people who came to donate blood during the COVID-19 outbreak have shown the community’s responsibility in helping the health sector overcome the blood shortage,” said Khánh.

“I’m very happy to say that all blood donors are safe and none tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Ensuring the safety of blood donors, medical staff and blood recipients is always the number one priority of blood transfusion facilities,” added Khánh.

On the occasion, 100 outstanding blood donors across the country will be honoured for their contribution to the country’s blood donation mobilisation movement, 14 of them have donated blood 50 times or more. Huỳnh Thanh Hùng from HCM City has donated blood 74 times, followed by Nguyễn Hoàng Nhơn also from HCM City with 70 blood donations, Phan Vũ Quốc Chinh from HCM City donated blood 64 times, Nguyễn Văn Lâm from Trà Vinh Province 63 times and Nguyễn Văn Nguyên from Hà Nội 60 times. They have donated a total 3,220 units.

With the theme “Give blood and keep the world beating”, World Blood Donor Day aims to raise global awareness of the need for safe blood and blood products for transfusion and of the critical contribution voluntary, unpaid blood donors make to national health systems.

The day also provides an opportunity to call governments and national health authorities to provide adequate resources and put into place systems and infrastructure to increase the collection of blood from voluntary, non-remunerated blood donors.

On this occasion, the World Health Organisation also called on the Government, health sector and blood transfusion services of countries to ensure sufficient resources and facilities to ensure the quality and effectiveness of blood collection.

In Việt Nam, the health sector has received more than 1.4 million blood units, equivalent to nearly 1.5 per cent of the population participating in blood donation; in which, 99 per cent of blood came from voluntary blood donors. In the first five months of 2021, blood donation campaigns such as the Red Spring Festival and the All People’s Voluntary Blood Donor Day (April 7), the whole country collected nearly 425,000 blood units.

HCM City sets up working group to buy COVID-19 vaccines

HCM City authorities have set up a working team responsible for buying COVID-19 vaccines for at least two-thirds of its population by year-end, said Nguyễn Thành Phong, chairman of the People’s Committee, during an online meeting on June 11.

Speaking about the city’s economic development in the first five months of the year, Phong said the city would speed up the vaccination drive by encouraging the business community to connect with suppliers.

The city had achieved “remarkable results” in its implementation of its “dual goal” of maintaining the economy while applying strict COVID preventive measures in the first five months, he said.

“The city will continue its flexible economic management and pandemic prevention measures.”

Since the fourth wave that began in late April, the city has detected more than 630 locally transmitted cases, ranking third in the country. The cases have been mostly related to the Gò Vấp District cluster.

Phong said the outbreak was basically under control, but warned that the situation remained unpredictable because infection chains without known sources of infection continue to occur.

The city will continue to take serious measures to contain the spread. It has banned religious and group activities, suspended citizen-identification granting procedures, and postponed the entrance exam for 10th grade until further notice, among other social-distancing measures.

The city plans to offer another support package for companies and workers affected by the outbreak, according to Phong.

Since the beginning of 2021, some 1,365 firms in the city have been affected, with more than 42,500 workers losing their jobs, according to the Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs.

More than 400 companies are in urgent need of preferential loans for wage payments to workers to maintain their business operations.

More than 2,270 enterprises completed dissolution procedures in the first five months of the year (up 4.99 per cent year-on-year), and 9,308 enterprises temporarily suspended operations (up 22.99 per cent year-on-year).

Phong said the city would also set up a working group to speed up the progress of major traffic projects.

The city had asked the Department of Transport to report on seaport toll collection to the People’s Committee, and would continue to accelerate implementation of digital transformation and smart city projects. It would also strengthen fire and explosion prevention measures.

Lê Thị Huỳnh Mai, director of the Department of Planning and Investment, said the city’s total retail sales of consumer goods and services in the first five months were up 8.9 per cent year-on-year. Accommodation and catering service sales increased in the period by 30.8 per cent year-on-year.

Exports reached $19.63 billion in the first five months, up 15.1 per cent year-on-year. Total state budget revenue was estimated at more than VNĐ174 trillion, up 22.8 per cent year-on-year.

Of the figure, exports of hi-tech products at the Saigon Hi-Tech Park reached $8.37 billion in the first five months, up 26.5 per cent year-on-year.

The industrial production index (IIP) increased by 7.4 per cent over the same period. As many as 6,461 enterprises resumed operation in the period.

HCM City opens two more COVID-19 treatment health facilities

The 500-bed Củ Chi COVID-19 Treatment Hospital in HCM City’s Củ Chi District on June 12 was officially put into use, and the COVID-19 Treatment Unit at Phạm Ngọc Thạch Hospital in District 5 will open on the 13th.

Human resources for these facilities are health officials from departments of contagious diseases, resuscitation, and emergency services at the city’s major hospitals.

The facilities will help the city adapt to the ongoing COVID outbreak. The Hospital for Tropical Diseases said three of its staff were suspected of having contracted COVID-19. This will be confirmed later by the Ministry of Health.

The Hospital for Tropical Diseases is temporarily locked down for tracing contacts and stamping out the spread. However, the hospital continues providing reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests for diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 patients who are staying there.

On the same day, the city Department of Health sent an urgent dispatch about health staff compliance with regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control after working hours.

To minimize the risk of cross-infection in hospitals and from outside hospitals, the department has instructed the directors of hospitals to urgently ask their employees to improve their self-discipline in COVID-19 prevention and control.

Health staff should always comply with the Ministry of Health’s 5k message:  masks – disinfection – distance – no mass gathering – health declarations. They should also wear masks during working hours.

Moreover, after working hours at hospitals, health staff should stay at home and limit contact with their neighbours and friends.

The city has recorded small COVID-19 clusters in its districts. Besides the transmission risk from COVID-19 patients who visit hospitals, health staff face other transmission risks from outside and could transmit the virus to their colleagues.

Two of the three staff at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases who may have contracted COVID-19 live in Hóc Môn District and the other resides in Bình Tân District.

Cancer patient dies of COVID-related complications

A woman being treated for lung cancer has died of COVID-related complications. She is the 58th fatality in Việt Nam.

The 64-year-old who lives in Hà Nội’s Ứng Hòa District was undergoing chemotherapy at the capital’s K Hospital when she tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on May 14.

She received treatment for the virus but because of her pre-existing illness, her immune system was weak and she failed to respond to medication.

The woman died on June 11 and her cause of death has been recorded as septic shock and pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2 in lung cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy.

Researchers propose measures for a successful vaccination strategy

Independent Vietnamese researchers from the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, Australia, have proposed four measures for a successful vaccination strategy in the face of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak in Việt Nam.

Nguyễn Thu Anh, the country director of the institute, said vaccination is the key solution for the country to escape from the pandemic, get back to normal and be able to open its borders.

“A successful vaccination campaign is one that will be conducted widely, quickly, safely and effectively,” she said.

Anh, together with her colleague, Ngô Hoàng Anh, recommended four key measures to launch a successful campaign.

Better capacity

First, they called for decentralisation, digitisation and improvement of capacity in handling vaccine-related side effects to speed up inoculation.

Vaccination speed is an important factor affecting the vaccine allocation decision of the COVAX Facility. In addition, the shelf life of vaccine batches provided through this programme is usually about half to two-thirds shorter than the shelf life specified by the company. Therefore, rapid vaccination not only protects people but also determines the number of vaccines the country receives.

The nation’s biggest advantage in COVID-19 prevention and control is the grassroots health system, which includes about 11,000 ward/commune-level health stations.

To rapidly increase vaccination capacity, it is necessary to take full advantage of this by decentralisation of the inoculation programme to the grassroots level, training health workers on anaphylaxis management with the support of mobile ambulance from district or provincial hospitals, and digitising the vaccination workflow, Thu Anh said.

Digitisation is not only convenient for the future deployment of vaccine passports but also helps optimise resources.

People could access a vaccination registration website to declare personal information and make a medical declaration before vaccination. Healthy people with a low risk of side effects can be classified into the safe group and register for vaccination at the commune health station where they are residing. As a result, the commune/ward health station can prepare for vaccination sessions by contacting registered people via text message.

“People at risk of side effects of the vaccine such as a history of anaphylaxis, a history of blood clotting disorders, etc. could be classified into groups that need careful monitoring, and registered for vaccination according to the list of hospitals,” said Thu Anh.

After vaccination, people could be provided with a certificate with full information such as the type of vaccine injected, number of shots, batch number, date of vaccination along with a QR code to access the electronic history. Vaccination information could also be linked to Government-issued anti-COVID applications such as Bluezone, VHD and the National TMCR system to issue vaccine passports.

“Looking at the data of developed countries, we find that after the first 2-3 months of the survey, these countries will vaccinate at an average rate of about 0.5-1 per cent of the population/day. Thus, with 11,000 primary health stations, eight working hours/day, five to six patients/hour and one injection course at a time, if there is no disruption to the supply chain, we have the capacity and facilities to inject about 0.5 per cent of the population or 500,000 doses/day. At this time, to get herd immunity, it will take us a full year, that is, until the third or fourth quarter of 2022,” Thu Anh said.

Effective vaccines

The second recommendation is to use highly effective vaccines.

“The selection of the right vaccine directly affects the effectiveness of the vaccination campaign in controlling of the pandemic in the community. Early or late opening of the border depends on our choice,” Thu Anh said.

Researchers suggested vaccines be divided into two groups.

Group 1 would feature vaccines that have been widely used, have clear clinical trial data, are deployed in many countries on a large scale, and have a full side effect record system such as Pfizer – BioNTech, Moderna, Vaxzevria (AstraZeneca), Novavax and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson).

Group 2 would have vaccines proven to be effective but need more evidence as well as testing with new variants such as Sputnik V, Sinopharm BBIBP – CorV and Sinovac.

“Priority should be given to vaccines that have been shown to be highly effective against the virus variants that have been reported as well as the variant of concern that have been reported elsewhere,” she said.

This table shows the final model inputs for vaccine efficacy at preventing disease and infection, by vaccine and variant type. Source: The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), University of Washington.

Adjusting the plan

The third recommendation is changing the domestic COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan due to current inconsistencies.

According to Decision 1210/2021, issued on February 9, people over 65 years of age and people with chronic diseases are among 11 priority groups for vaccination against COVID-19 in Việt Nam.

However, in Decision 1624/2021 issued more than a month later, on provisional guidelines for pre-vaccination screening, these two groups were listed as subject to delay or caution in vaccination.

According to WHO recommendations, priority populations for vaccination include those at high risk of dying from the disease, such as the elderly and those with underlying/chronic medical conditions.

Therefore, in any country in the first phase of vaccination, in addition to staff involved in pandemic prevention, the old, the sick and pregnant women should be next.

Trials

The last recommendation is to conduct clinical trials in high-risk areas.

Locally produced vaccines are entering different stages of clinical trials, including Nanocovax in phase 3 in early June, and IVAC in phase 1/2.

While the current outbreak posing a significant challenge to the health system, this is also a “golden” opportunity for Việt Nam to see the effectiveness of vaccines researched in the country, Hoàng Anh said.

Testing at the epicentre of the outbreak also creates a real test for large-scale, mass-production capabilities before being approved for emergency use on a scale of up to tens of millions of doses.

“Conducting a vaccination campaign that can be said to be the largest in history can be very difficult. Just we take one wrong step, such as the selection of an ineffective vaccine, slow, unsafe vaccination, etc., the pandemic can completely return and erupt more violently. Therefore, we must at the same time be quick, but decisive and precise,” Hoàng Anh said.

Việt Nam’s preparation

Minister of Health Nguyễn Thanh Long said Việt Nam is promoting the purchase of technology, receiving technology transfer for vaccine production to be able to produce vaccines to serve domestic demand.

The clinical trials of Vietnamese COVID-19 vaccine candidate Nano Covax are set to enter Phase 3 this month, aiming to further test the safety and efficacy of the vaccine in humans before mass production.

Another domestic vaccine contender, Covivac from the Institute of Vaccines and Biological Medical (IVAC), is preparing for Phase 1 trial data to be reviewed by the Ministry of Health and could start Phase 2 around late June or early July.

Another locally-developed COVID-19 vaccine, from Vabiotech, is in pre-clinical trials on animals, and another from Polyvac (the Centre for Research and Production of Vaccines and Biologicals, under the Ministry of Health) is still under laboratory research.

Regarding plans for vaccine rollout when more doses are available, Phạm Quang Thái, head of the northern regional office of the National Expanded Programme on Immunisation, said the current system will be used.

“We have everything ready with the current national expanded programme on immunisation, so once the vaccines are here, we’ll just apply the same model,” he said.

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

The War Remnants Museum is expected to offer free entrance from August until the end of this year. — File photo courtesy of the museum

The loans will help tourism companies pay at least 50 per cent of their employees’ salaries for three months. The loans are expected to cover about 31,500 employees working in 5,002 tourism businesses in the city.

The city-funded loan package will be handled by the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP) – HCM City branch.

Vietravel chairman Nguyen Quoc Ky told Tuổi Trẻ (Youth) newspaper that tourism businesses were currently making very little or no profit.

He estimated that tens of thousands of tourism employees have lost or quit their jobs due to the serious impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, Vietravel had nearly 1,500 employees, but now has only 50 people to maintain the company’s operation.

Apart from the loan package, the department has proposed that the People’s Committee support training expenses for tourism personnel this year. The training expense of VND1.2 billion ($52,295) includes VND1 billion from the city budget and VND200 million from other sources.

The money will be used for 20 training courses for tour guides, and managers and staff working for tourism-service providers, food and beverage businesses, and hotels.

The department also suggested free entrance fees at the city’s main attractions from August until the end of 2021. The attractions include the War Remnants Museum, the Vietnam History Museum in HCM City, the HCM City Museum, the HCM City Fine Arts Museum, and the Cu Chi Tunnels Relic Site.

In order to offset losses in ticket sales, the city was also asked to provide VND21 billion ($915,168) to pay for salaries and expenses at these five attractions.

According to the Tourism Department, the total number of domestic travelers to the city in the first five months of this year was 7.1 million, up 11.4 per cent year on year. The city, however, has had no international tourists this year because of COVID-related travel restrictions.

Total tourism revenue during the period was estimated at VND35.58 trillion (US$1.55 billion), an increase of 23.3 per cent compared to the same period in 2020.

The number of tourism businesses operating in the city dropped by 50 per cent in the first five months, while 171 businesses had their licenses revoked.

Source: Vietnam News

Investors are looking forward to the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange (HSX) adopting new infrastructure in July to resolve congestions and lagging.

“The Ministry of Finance (MoF) is implementing drastic solutions to thoroughly handle the technical outages on HSX. The MoF, the State Securities Commission, HSX, and related units have been making great efforts to address this problem,” emphasised the minister.

The prolonged technical issues and overload have been cause for widespread concern over the past few months and have prompted relevant authorities to implement many urgent solutions such as increasing the board lot size from 10 to 100, stopping the trading of newly-listed shares on HSX, technical improvements from FPT. The latest solution will be the forthcoming adoption of technical infrastructure from the Korea Exchange (KRX).

Restrictions to preserve system stability have not gone down altogether too well among investors, who have been criticising securities companies for restricting them from editing and cancelling orders on HSX since June 2.

The implementation of KRX infrastructure will take place between June 14 and August 6, with the official launch expected in the third or fourth quarter of this year.

In the latest initiative, the MoF signed Decision No.81/QD-TTr on June 10 on administrative inspection at the HSX over the bourse’s trading congestion.

“Based on the current situation of the COVID-19 outbreak in Ho Chi Minh City, the inspection team will draw up a specific work plan in line with regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control,” the MoF said in an official announcement.

Vietnam emerges as one of new PPE suppliers globally: IFC

Vietnam has emerged as one of the new personal protective equipment (PPE) suppliers globally and its PPE manufacturing capacity surged six-fold last year, according to the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group.

This ramped-up supply was initially driven by textile manufacturers shifting production in response to the health emergency during the Covid-19 pandemic and to mitigate losses caused by canceled orders for garments.

“Some textile manufacturers who started producing PPE products as an immediate response to the pandemic, are now considering the medium to longer-term business opportunity in this area,” said Vu Duc Giang, chairman of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association.

“However, local manufacturers have struggled with insufficient input materials, technical skills and sector knowledge and the disparity between local and international standards to access the global market,” he added.

In response, as part of the global PPE advisory program supported by the UK Government, IFC is working with local garment manufacturers through the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association and national labs through the Directorate for Standards, Metrology and Quality of Vietnam, IFC announced on June 9.

The aim is to improve PPE producers’ operations and reduce costs by removing unnecessary burdens related to PPE standards and conformity assessments.

“The Covid-19 pandemic has tested the resilience of supply chains to the limit, especially in terms of medical supplies, including PPE. The UK believes that the diversification of PPE manufacturing will make the global supply chain more adaptable and prevent future disruption,” said Gareth Ward, British Ambassador to Vietnam.

“I am very pleased that Vietnam has been chosen as a priority country for this UK government-funded program. Vietnamese companies have a lot of potential to succeed globally with a skilled labor force,” he added.

Over the next 18 months, the program will support select manufacturers to scale quality PPE production, access the reliable supply of materials and equipment and achieve PPE international standards and certification to expand exports.

According to Kyle Kelhofer, IFC country manager for Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos, access to cost-effective and quality PPE products is vital to the national Covid-19 response, helping to contain and manage the spread of the coronavirus.

“Promoting the production of PPE products in compliance with international standards not only helps increase Vietnam’s resilience to the pandemic, but also presents a business case as the PPE global supply chain is diversifying with opportunities for new manufacturers from emerging markets including Vietnam,” he said.

CAAV asks Transport Ministry for consultancy over cargo airline project

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has written to the Ministry of Transport asking for consultancy over IPP Air Cargo JSC’s proposal to establish an airline specializing in cargo transport.

CAAV said that in accordance with the Investment Law, the IPP Air Cargo airline project is not included in the list of projects whose investment plans need to be approved by relevant agencies.

Besides, according to the Government’s Decree No. 89, IPP Air Cargo has to complete procedures for the issuance of a business certificate on air cargo transport.

In 2020, the prime minister agreed with the Ministry of Transport’s proposal that the establishment of new airlines will only be considered after 2022, when the aviation market recovers.

Therefore, to respond to IPP Air Cargo’s proposal, CAAV needs the Ministry of Transport’s directive on instructing IPP Air Cargo to prepare the necessary documents to request a business certificate on air cargo transport.

IPP Air Cargo JSC, whose chairman is well-known businessman Johnathan Hanh Nguyen, is an arm of Imex Pan Pacific—a retailer that makes up nearly 70% of Vietnam’s luxury items market and a large shareholder of Southern Airports Services JSC and the Cam Ranh International Terminal Company.

IPP Air Cargo airline has a total investment of VND2.4 trillion, including 30% of IPP Air Cargo JSC’s equity and 70% mobilized. The airline will operate both in Vietnam and abroad.

IPP Air Cargo expects to transport some 115,000 tons of cargo and generate revenue of US$71 million in the first year of operation.

According to the plan, IPP Air Cargo will operate five planes in the first year of operation, seven plans in the second year and 10 planes in the third year. It hopes to earn profits from the fourth year.

Vietnam has yet to have a cargo transport airline. Meanwhile, more than 80% of Vietnam’s imports and exports transported by air are done by foreign airlines.

In 2008, Trai Thien Air Cargo was granted a certificate to operate air cargo transport. However, the airline was nonoperational after that and the certificate was retrieved in 2011.

Since the Covid-19 outbreak, many Vietnamese air carriers have used aircraft transporting passengers to transport cargo to earn more revenue.

In 2020, Vietnam Airlines used 12 Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 planes to transport cargo. The national flag carrier transported 196,000 tons of cargo last year, surging 54.3% compared with 2019.

Low-cost carrier Vietjet transported 60,000 tons of cargo in 2020 and its revenue from air cargo transport soared 75% year-on-year.

2021 economic outlook remains positive despite COVID-19 resurgence

Despite the complexity of the fourth COVID-19 wave, Vietnam’s GDP growth is forecast to exceed 6.5 percent this year on the back of surging industrial production and global economic recovery, according to Assoc. Prof. and PhD Dinh Trong Thinh, a senior economist from the Academy of Finance.

Given the economy is growing well in the first half of 2021, it is likely to expand over 7 percent in the remaining months, setting the scene for the country to achieve an overall GDP growth of at least 6.5 percent this year, Thinh told the Lao Dong (Labour) newspaper.

The coronavirus is gradually brought under control, he said, plus domestic production has been experiencing positive growth, with manufacturing and processing picking up at a current rate of 10 percent. The sector may rise by 17 – 18 percent during the final months of 2021, he added.

Data shows that industrial production index in the first five months of the year advanced 9.9 percent year-on-year, with manufacturing and processing up 12.6 percent. Total retail sales of goods and services hiked 7.6 percent year-on-year.

Thinh went on to say that the US, Chinese and EU economies are bouncing back, and increases in global credit demand will provide a good opportunity for Vietnam’s exports. The US’s economic growth remains positive at present and Vietnam’s shipments to the US is growing strong, he added.

A recent report by RongViet Securities Corporation (VDSC) forecast that the country’s GDP will grow by 7.2 percent in the second quarter of 2021 and 6.5 percent for the year as a whole.

Asian Development Bank (ADB) Country Director for Vietnam Andrew Jeffries said Vietnam is capable of achieving the twin goals of curbing the pandemic and sustaining economic growth this year. The country’s success in containing the virus has strengthened foreign investors’ confidence in its economy, he added.

It is important for Vietnam to boost growth and easy ways for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to grow at the same time, thereby creating a solid foundation for a future private sector-led economy, Jeffries remarked.

According to the latest economic outlook report from Oxford Economics (OE), commissioned by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), despite the recent resurgence in COVID-19, Vietnam’s growth outlook remains optimistic and the economy is expected to return to pre-pandemic levels by the second half of 2021.

The country’s GDP is forecast to grow at 7.6 percent in 2021, among the highest rates in the region, the report said, noting that Vietnam was one of the few economies in the world to grow in 2020 due to its success in containing the pandemic.

“This early success enabled the economy to benefit from the surge in global trade activity and enjoy strong foreign direct investment flows that boosted export-oriented and manufacturing industries,” according to the report.

It said together with Singapore, Vietnam is expected to continue leading the region in recovery. “Despite a resurgence of COVID-19 cases in Vietnam, which has affected its manufacturing sector and export industries, its economy is predicted to rebound swiftly once restrictions are lifted,” the report read.

Economist Thinh emphasized that the most important thing at present is that Vietnam must give priority to giving COVID-19 vaccine to workers and preventing the virus from spreading inside companies and industrial parks.

Accelerating COVID-19 vaccine inoculation and keeping the coronavirus at bay remain key factors to sustain growth because with the COVID-19 resurging, declining incomes and economic conditions will have long-term impact on consumers’ spending behaviour and lifestyle, he said./.

Many nations in the world currently have to cut down on their greenhouse gas emissions.

Budget collection up over 15 percent in five months

State budget collection was estimated to reach 98.6 trillion VND in May, pushing total revenue in the first five months of 2021 to 667.9 trillion VND (nearly 29 billion USD), equivalent to 49.7 percent of the yearly estimate, up 15.2 percent year on year, the Ministry of Finance has reported.

Of the amount, contributions to the central budget totalled 347 trillion VND, fulfilling 46.9 percent of the yearly target, while local budget revenue was 320.9 trillion VND, equivalent to 53.1 percent of the estimate.

Meanwhile, State budget spending was 125.8 trillion VND in May and 581.6 trillion VND in the first five months, equivalent to 34.5 percent of yearly estimate, similar to that in the same period last year, according to the ministry.

Spending on development and investment was at 102 trillion VND, representing 21.4 percent of the estimate, including 47.8 trillion VND for debt payment and 430.8 trillion VND for regular expenditure./.

Vietnam has 620 industrial aquatic processing facilities

Vietnam has 620 industrial aquatic processing facilities, according to the Directorate of Fisheries at the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Of them, 415 have met standards for exports to Japan, the US, Europe and other markets.

In addition, there are some 3,000 small-scale establishments at traditional trade villages.

Aqua product processing has become a spearhead sector which boasts a large production volume and takes the lead in international integration, said the Directorate.

Vietnamese aqua products have made their appearance in 176 markets across the globe.

Furthermore, local processors are striving to boost domestic production and consumption as exports are hindered by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Vietnam earned 790 million USD from exporting aquatic products in May, lifting the total figure in the first five months of this year to nearly 3.3 billion USD, a year-on-year rise of 14 percent./.

Ho Chi Minh City aims to promote hi-tech use in agriculture cooperatives

Ho Chi Minh City aims to have at least 30 percent of its agriculture cooperatives apply advanced technologies in production, including bio technology, information technology, and automation.

The project is designed to with the aim of raising the proportion of high-tech agriculture production to 75-80 percent of the city’s total agricultural production value by 2030. By that time, 70 percent of local households and over 80 percent of businesses in agriculture will have applied high tech cultivation and harvest techniques, mechanization and automation in farming, livestock breeding and waste processing, particularly in the production of key agricultural products, namely vegetable and fruit, pig, milch cow, shrimp and ornamental fish./.

Vietnam working to stabilise economy amid challenges from pandemic

Despite the complex developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam’s overall macro-economy remains stable, with encouraging growth seen in industries and a low rise of average consumer price index (CPI).

According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Vietnam’s industrial production index (IIP) is estimated to have increased 9.9 percent in the first five months of this year compared to the same period of 2020. Agricultural production growth was recorded, with rice production increasing over the same period of 2020. Inflation was under control, while the average CPI in the first five months increased just 1.29 percent year-on-year, the lowest rate since 2016.

Accumulated State budget collections met 49.7 percent of the annual estimate in the period and were up 15.2 percent year-on-year. Export turnover, meanwhile, was estimated to have increased 30.7 percent compared to the same period last year.

The lending interest rate was low, creating favourable conditions for enterprises to borrow capital for production and business. The number of newly-established enterprises during January-May neared 55,800, the most for five years. FDI inflows in the period hit 14 billion USD, an annual increase of 0.8 percent.

Apart from these encouraging outcomes, the ministry also pointed out a series of challenges in the upcoming months. These include the increasing number of enterprises withdrawing from the market, unstable growth in foreign investment attraction, a pandemic-hit labour market, and difficult social welfare issues.

At a regular Government meeting in May, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung proposed a host of solutions. He said the Ministry of Health should cooperate with localities to build pandemic prevention options at industrial parks to avoid interruptions in supply chains, while studying the extension of the prioritised groups for COVID-19 vaccinations.

He projected inflationary pressure to rise over the remaining months of the year, recommending that the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) closely monitor global price fluctuations and trends in certain costly materials such as steel and cement, so that suitable forecasts can be made and solutions adopted.

Regarding foreign trade, MoIT and the Ministry of Finance were advised to research and prepare plans for adjustments to import taxes as well as for temporarily suspending or adjusting trade remedies for a number of commodities and raw materials with strong price increases, in a bid to meet market demand and promptly support businesses.

As for the disbursement of public investment capital, the Ministry of Planning and Investment proposed that ministries, branches, and localities proactively update, adjust, and announce unit prices of building materials and construction price indexes in line with market developments, to help enterprises and ensure their projects are on schedule.

Dung also forecast that the pandemic would remain complex for the time being, saying it is necessary to maintain and replicate effective agricultural production models and methods./.

Major transport projects in Mekong Delta to be prioritised: MoT

The Ministry of Transport (MoT) has suggested prioritising investment in expressway projects in the Mekong Delta over the next ten years to ensure socio-economic development and national security and defence.

This is part of the specialised master plans for road, railway, maritime, inland waterway, and aviation transport in the 2021-2030 period with a vision to 2050, which have been submitted to the Prime Minister for approval.

Priority will be given to a number of expressway projects, including Chau Doc-Can Tho-Soc Trang (Tran De), Can Tho-Ca Mau, My An-Cao Lanh, Cao Lanh-Lo Te-Rach Soi, Ha Tien-Rach Gia, and Hong Ngu-Tra Vinh.

The ministry also suggested the arrangement of capital for the HCM City-Can Tho railway line and Tran De Wharf (in Soc Trang province), and the upgrading of the Cho Gao canal in the second phase.

The development of maritime corridors and logistics networks in the southern region and the upgrading of the three mainland waterways routes of Muong Khai-Doc Phu Hien, Ham Luong River, and Ha Tien-Rach Gia-Ca Mau are also included.

Nearly 252.7 trillion VND (11 billion USD) in the mid-term investment plan for the 2021-2025 period will be allocated to the ministry. Of this, the ministry plans to allocate 50.6 trillion VND (2.2 billion USD), or 20 percent of the sector’s total investment, for the Mekong Delta to carry out expressway projects under public-private-partnerships and other key projects./.

Vietnam wishes to learn from others’ experience in building circular economy

Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai highlighted Vietnam’s wish to learn from developed countries’ experience in operating a circular economy and developing sustainably while addressing a recent virtual meeting of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

The teleconference on circular economy, economic diversification, and aid for trade took place as part of the aid-for-trade work programme for 2020 – 2022 of the WTO Committee on Trade and Development.

Speakers included representatives of some international organisations like the WTO, the UN Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the Royal Institute of International Affairs of the UK (Chatham House).

Presenting Vietnam’s viewpoint and experience, Ambassador Mai, Permanent Representative of the country to the United Nations, the WTO, and other international organisations in Geneva, said in its socio-economic development strategy for 2021 – 2030, Vietnam identified building a circular economy model as one of the orientations and solutions for fast and sustainable development.

Some policies and mechanisms promoting factors of a circular economy have been included in the country’s guidelines, policies, and laws about environmental protection and the national action plan to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

In particular, they have been institutionalised in the Law on Environmental Protection, the national green growth strategy, and the national action plan on sustainable production and consumption, she went on.

She emphasised that since the Doi moi (Renewal) period began in 1986, Vietnam has continually paid attention to the combination of economic development with environmental protection, sustainable use of natural resources and production materials, and realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

These policies have proved effective, as seen in many enterprises succeeding in applying clean production models, she said.

Mai also pointed out major challenges to Vietnam during the transition from the traditional economy to a circular one, adding that the country wishes to learn from developed countries’ experience in how to operate a circular economy and develop sustainably.

Stepping up international economic integration via commitments under the WTO and recently inked trade agreements will help Vietnam promote the building of a circular economy, achieve the SDGs, and bring about benefits to its people, the ambassador said./.

HCM City to auction thousands of apartments in Thu Thiem New Urban Area

The HCM City People’s Committee has instructed the Department of Natural Resources and Environment to complete procedures required to auction 3,790 resettlement apartments in the Thu Thiem New Urban Area in Binh Khanh Ward, Thu Duc City.

They are part of 12,500 completed in 2015 on an area of 38.4ha in the centre of the old District 2, with convenient transportation to central districts.

There were attempts to auction them in 2017 with a reserve price of VND8.8 trillion (US$384.66 million) and in 2018 at VND 9.1 trillion ($397.46 million), but there were no buyers.

The department now proposes to divide them into two auction packages, one with 1,570 apartments in 11 blocks, the other with 2,220 in 14 apartment blocks.

The department has sought the city property valuation council’s approval of the reserve price for publishing on its website and for the City Land Fund Development Centre to invite eligible bidders.

The prices are expected to be higher than the previous ones.

Winners of the bids can convert the apartments into commercial housing for sale, but must get approval from the People’s Committee if they want to start new projects on the land.

The HCM City Real Estate Association has told its member businesses to attend the auction.

The apartments are in a prime location, and winning the bid would enhance the prestige of their brands, it said.

However, companies with experience in developing housing projects said attracting interest in the auction is not easy despite the prime location because of the likely starting price of more than VND10 trillion (nearly $437 million).

The previous auctions failed for similar reasons: bidders had to deposit 20 per cent of the reserve price, and the winner had to pay 50 per cent within a month and the rest within 90 days, not sums most companies could raise within that short time frame.

Dr Su Ngoc Khuong, senior director, Savills Vietnam, said it would be convenient for bidders if the city divides the bidding packages into smaller ones, each with a few hundred apartments.

Besides, it could hold several auctions to gradually increase the reserve price, like commercial housing developers do, he said.

Le Hoang Chau, chairman of HoREA, said if the auction is not successful this time, the city should consider reducing the price by 10 per cent and create smaller bidding packages.

Central ports propose upgrades

Many ports in the central region are improving their capacity or proposing upgrades to meet the rising demand for foreign trade.

Several businesses are investing in upgrading ports in Quang Ngai Province’s Dung Quat Port Cluster, a network of eight ports, including three general and five specialised ones meant for private businesses.

Among the ports, one specialised facility is capable of berthing ships of 150,000 – 200,000 tonnes ships, while the remaining seven can only receive vessels of 50,000 – 70,000 tonnes.

The province has over 20 businesses exporting and importing goods using container ships and around 6,500 containers annually, and they currently have to use ports in Da Nang and elsewhere in the central region.

Dang Van Minh, chairman of the Quang Ngai Province People’s Committee, said the Dung Quat Port Cluster has reached full capacity, and so fresh investment is crucial for the province’s export-import needs.

In Binh Dinh Province, Quy Nhon Port is handling 2,500 tonnes of goods per berth metre, more than five times its capacity.

The Quy Nhon Port Joint Stock Company will begin upgrading one of its piers in August to expand its capacity.

Phu Yen Province is planning to build a deep-water port.

The Cam Ranh Port Joint Stock Company in Khanh Hoa Province is planning on building a new berth in its Cam Ranh Port.

Dr Tran Du Lich, a member of the Government Advisory Group, said coastal provinces in central Viet Nam had been soliciting investment in ports.

Now the region typically transports goods to ports in Hai Phong or HCM City for exporting, and investment is spread too thin for many ports to berth large vessels, according to Lich.

Quang Tri inks MoU with Singapore Manufacturing Federation

The People’s Committee in the central province of Quang Tri signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Singapore Manufacturing Federation (SMF) via a video conference late last week.

The two sides have agreed that this year the Singaporean not-for-profit organisation will introduce experts to assist the province with its planning and propose ideas, solutions, and adjustments to a master plan for the South East Quang Tri coastal economic zone.

Quang Tri authorities have allowed enterprises introduced by SMF to conduct feasibility studies and submit investment proposals for certain infrastructure projects, including those on the construction of airports, seaports, and industrial parks.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Le Quang Tung said the agreement marked a milestone in Quang Tri’s socio-economic development strategy and would present opportunities for the comprehensive and sustainable development of the two sides’ operations in the future.

He also voiced his hope that SMF would promptly carry out cooperation plans and propose ideas that capitalise on the potential and advantages the province holds.

SMF had studied opportunities for Singaporean firms to invest in Quang Tri since 2016, SMF President Douglas Foo said.

Regulations on temporary suspension of payment to the retirement and survivorship fund needed amendment

The Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs has proposed the Government amend the regulations on temporary suspension of contributions to the retirement and survivorship fund for enterprises affected by the pandemic.

The ministry said due to the complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, many businesses have suspended operations or reduced production. The suspension of contributions to the retirement and survivorship fund would help enterprises ease financial difficulties and maintain their operations during the pandemic.

Under the current regulations, enterprises who have been forced to reduce at least 20 per cent of their employees since the COVID-19 outbreak in April would be allowed to suspend their payment for the retirement and survivorship fund.

Enterprises would be allowed to suspend payments for no longer than three months.

A recent survey by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry revealed that 12,000 businesses have difficulty accessing this policy.

The ministry said the regulations needed to be amended so that more enterprises would be eligible .

According to the ministry, enterprises who have had to reduce 10 per cent of their employees can suspend the payment for the retirement and survivorship fund, and the time of suspension should be six months instead of the current three months.

The Vietnam Social Security, the unit in charge of managing the two funds, agreed. But deputy director Trần Đình Liệu proposed adding some conditions to the beneficiary group.

The policy would only apply to businesses operating in the areas of transport, hotels, restaurants, tourism, education, culture, sports or businesses in isolated industrial zones, clusters or export processing zones.

In addition, enterprises must fully pay social insurance, health insurance and unemployment insurance until the end of this April.

The ministry estimates that about 39,000 businesses with 1.15 million employees will be temporarily suspended from paying the retirement and survivorship fund with a total amount of VNĐ8.45 trillion (US$365 million) if the amendment of the policy is applied.

According to the Vietnam Social Insurance, after a year of implementing the Government’s Resolution 42, more than 1,800 enterprises have temporarily suspended their payments to the retirement and survivorship fund with the amount of VNĐ786 billion ($34 million).

Effective control of COVID-19 vital to ensure industrial production growth

Implementing effective COVID-19 prevention measures at industrial parks and export processing zones should be a top priority for the country from now until year-end to ensure stable industrial production growth, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT).

The management boards of industrial parks and export processing zones should require enterprises operating in these zones to self-review and then revise measures to both prevent and control the spread of COVID-19 and ensure their production activities, the MoIT said.

The ministry also requested localities to strictly handle violations made by civil servants in COVID-19 prevention and control that might negatively affect local production and business activities.

The index of industrial production (IIP) grew by 9.9 per cent in the first five months of this year over the same period last year.

By sector, the processing and manufacturing industry increased by 12.6 per cent; the electricity production and distribution industry increased by 8.3 per cent; water supply, drainage and waste treatment 7.5 per cent; while the mining industry fell by 7 per cent.

Among the secondary industries, a number of key industries had a high production index in the first five months compared to the same period last year.

Metal production grew by 38 per cent; motor vehicle production 35 per cent; production of beds, wardrobes, tables and chairs 18.3 per cent; and production of electronic products, computers and optical products 15.5 per cent.

The positive IIP in the period was attributable to effective COVID-19 prevention measures and the State’s accurate and timely policies to support businesses, stimulate the domestic market and boost exports, the ministry said.

However, the complicated development of the COVID-19 pandemic from the end of April, which directly affected a number of industrial zones in the two provinces of Bac Giang and Bac Ninh still caused concerns for many enterprises.

Chairman of the Ha Noi-based TOMECO An Khang JSC Le Quy Kha told Ha Noi Moi (New Ha Noi) newspaper that the increasing prices of steel and the fourth COVID-19 wave would impact business and production activities.

Thus, besides tax payment extension, businesses also hoped to soon access the source of vaccines so that all of their workers could be vaccinated, Kha said.

Spain-based FocusEconomics, which provides in-depth economic analysis globally, said in its May report that after last year’s slowdown, industrial production is projected to gain momentum on the back of returning demand from key international partners.

“Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the underlying strength of Viet Nam’s industrial sector remains intact: Viet Nam is an attractive low-cost base for manufacturing firms, including those looking to relocate from China due to US-China trade tensions,” it said.

“That said, a sluggish rollout of the vaccine, coupled with an uncertain development of the pandemic, pose a risk to the positive outlook.”

FocusEconomics also estimates that Viet Nam’s industrial output will grow 9.2 per cent in 2021, down 0.2 percentage points from last month’s forecast.

For 2022, FocusEconomics expects the country’s industrial production to expand by 8.4 per cent.

Management of off-plan property to be enhanced

The Ministry of Construction has asked localities to enhance the management of sales of off-plan property before June 15.

The ministry made the request due to recent reports of legal violations in the development and transactions of off-plan property, causing disputes, creating risks for buyers and harming the real estate market.

The construction ministry requested localities to publicise information about off-plan property projects. Such projects eligible for transactions would be integrated into the national public service portal.

Provinces and cities must check to ensure compliance with laws about procedures and conditions for transactions of off-plan properties, especially payments and mortgages.

The rules for buying and selling off-plan property were included in the Law on Real Estate Business in 2006.

Despite this, transactions of off-plan property remain complex, forcing several provinces to urge buyers to be cautious and send warnings about law violations from developers.

The Department of Construction of Quang Nam Province in mid-May issued a document to better manage the real estate market in the central province. The provincial construction department asked developers of real estate projects to put their developments for sale only when meeting requirements in the Law on Real Estate Business and other legal documents.

The northern province of Bac Giang’s Department of Construction recently announced a list of urban and residential projects which were not eligible for transactions, urging citizens to study projects carefully before purchasing.

Early this year, Son La Province’s construction department announced 11 commercial housing projects not eligible for capital raising or transactions as of March.

A lawyer said the transactions of off-plan properties had not been put under property management, resulting in violations from developers such as using buyers’ advance payment for the wrong purposes, especially developers with weak financial capacity, and not following commitments about project quality or progress.

Ministry to inspect stagnant, abandoned projects

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment said it could work with provincial People’s Committees to inspect real estate projects suffering stagnant progress or sitting unfinished and abandoned for years.

Real estate projects which were left deserted were causing significant waste of land resources. The ministry pointed out several reasons for the stagnation, including slow construction progress of contractors, failure to complete legal documents, facing disputes, shortage of infrastructure system and inconsistencies in overall planning.

In Ha Noi, there were a number of stagnant projects, mainly in Hoai Duc, Me Linh, Nam Tu Liem and Bac Tu Liem districts.

Some have been deserted for years, such as Song Hong City which was approved in 1994 and AIC new urban area, approved 13 years ago.

A report by the municipal People’s Committee showed 383 projects in the capital city had signs of violations of the land law, 379 of which were inspected from July 2018.

Among them, 35 projects with a total area of 57ha were given 24 months of extension for the deadline to put the land into use. If the developers still failed to put the land into use after the extension, the land would be confiscated without any compensation.

Twenty-nine projects with a total area of 1,840ha were proposed to be revoked land and the investment projects cancelled.

Vaccination important factor in Southeast Asia growth: Oxford Economics report

Progress in vaccination will continue to be an important barometer for growth in the second half of 2021 in Southeast Asia including Viet Nam, experts have said.

In the latest economic outlook report from Oxford Economics (OE), commissioned by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), Mark Billington, managing director international, ICAEW, said: “We expect that countries which are able to contain new COVID-19 cases and reach high levels of vaccinations will outperform the rest of the region and be better placed for recovery.

“While most Southeast Asian economies have experienced a surge in COVID-19 cases since the start of 2021, leading to the reinstatement of social distancing measures, this has dimmed but not derailed economic recovery.”

According to the report, despite the recent resurgence in COVID, Viet Nam’s growth outlook remains optimistic and the economy is expected to return to pre-Covid levels by the second half of 2021.

The country’s GDP is forecast to grow at 7.6 per cent in 2021, among the highest rates in the region.

Viet Nam was one of the few economies in the world to grow in 2020 due to its success in containing the pandemic, the report said.

“This early success enabled the economy to benefit from the surge in global trade activity and enjoy strong foreign direct investment flows that boosted export-oriented and manufacturing industries.

“Singapore and Viet Nam are expected to continue leading the region in recovery. Despite a resurgence of COVID-19 cases in Viet Nam, which has affected its manufacturing sector and export industries, its economy is predicted to rebound swiftly once restrictions are lifted.”

Southeast Asia’s GDP would rebound strongly to grow at 4.8 per cent this year, after contracting 4.1 per cent last year, it said.

ICAEW and Oxford attributed the rebound to an improvement in global trade activities, accommodative policies, continued government fiscal support and low interest rates across the region, adding growth is forecast to improve to 6.5 per cent in 2022 as countries move closer to herd immunity and the recovery becomes more synchronised across sectors.

The report said Southeast Asian economies would continue experiencing varying speeds of recovery in 2021 driven by their ability to contain fresh waves of COVID infections and procure and distribute vaccines.

Uncertainties remain as rates of recovery depend on the progress of vaccine rollouts and whether the possibility of further lockdowns remains high in the near-term, it said.

However, the economic outlook is optimistic in the medium to long terms, it said.

Recent lockdowns in Singapore, Viet Nam and Malaysia mean household spending reduced in the second quarter of 2021, but it is unlikely to dip significantly since households and businesses are better equipped with digitisation to enable them to work and shop remotely, it said, adding Governments have also used more targeted measures than nation-wide lockdowns, which have minimised disruption.

Vietnam Railway revenue slumps due to a drop in passengers

Vietnam Railway Corporation (VNR) reported its five-month revenue decreased by 51.4 per cent year-on-year due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The railway served about 1.147 million passengers, a reduction of 35.4 per cent compared to the same period last year, bringing in over VND400 billion (US$17.4 million) in revenue.

In May, which saw the peak of COVID-19 outbreaks in the latest wave, the number of passengers was only by 132,300, equal to 48.4 per cent of the corresponding figure last year. As a result, revenue from passenger transport stood at VND44.7 billion, equivalent to 55.4 per cent of the figure of the same period last year.

According to VNR, a decline in revenue and demand for transportation and travel is attributable to travel restrictions prompted by outbreaks of COVID-19 in many localities across the country.

The VNR curtailed most of its operations in May. It is currently operating only one train on the Ha Noi-HCM City route.

Also due to the COVID-19 resurgency, more than 11,300 tickets were returned on the occasion of the Reunification Day (April 30) and May Day (May 1) holidays, worth about VND4 billion.

First-half GDP growth for Vietnam projected at 5.8%

The figure is 0.42% less than the target the Government set in its resolution 01/NQ-CP and 0.12% less than the Government target revised after quarter 1.

The MPI forecast agro, forestry and fishery sector would develop steadily in the first six months, but meet difficulties in consumption. The sector is projected to grow approximately 3% in the first half, 0.35% lower than expected.

Similarly, the industrial and construction sector is anticipated to increase 7.85%, 0.71% lower than the set target. The emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has slowed its growth despite its recovery efforts in recent times.

Similarly, the services sector is likely to grow approximately 5%, or 0.33% lower than estimated.

The MPI also forecast consumption would continue to bounce back, with total retail sales of goods and services expected to increase about 7.1%. However, a number of services such as tourism and transportation would continue to experience difficulties due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It’s worth remembering that the General Statistics Office, in an earlier issued report, announced Vietnam’s GDP grew 4.48% in the first quarter of the year, or 0.8% higher than the figure recorded in the first quarter of 2020.

The high rate demonstrated the adaptation, resilience and recovery of the national economy despite the impact of the coronavirus outbreak in late January.

However, the latest COVID-19 outbreak, which started in late April and has since spread to 39 cities and provinces, seems to negatively impact the economy.

The MPI’s calculations show the economy is yet to completely get back on track and are putting mounting pressure on ministries, sectors and localities in the second half of the year, aiming to meet the 6.5% GDP growth target which has been set by the Government and later approved by the National Assembly.

Vietnamese lychees with origin tracing stamp hit shelves in France

The first batch of fresh lychees originating from the northern province of Hai Duong have hit the shelves of a supermarket chain in France, thereby marking the first time that the local fruit has been imported to the European country via official channels.

The shipment of approximately a tonne of lychees arrived at the Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport in France on June 12 and can be purchased at Thanh Binh Jeune, a supermarket chain specialising in selling goods of Asian origin, especially those from Vietnam.

Ngo Minh Duong, chairman of Thanh Binh Jeune Company, said overseas Vietnamese in France are highly appreciative of the quality of fresh lychees which originate from the Vietnamese market. Moving forward it is expected that the company will continue to import roughly five tonnes of lychees from now until the end of the season.

Duong went on to state that the official import of lychees the EVFTA implementation along with the appllication of quality standards and the rule of origin have clearly reflected the company’s professionalism and help the products to become more reliable among foreign consumers.

At present, Thanh Ha lychees are sold at the supermarket for €18 per one kilo box, equivalent to more than VND500,000 per kilo.

Vu Anh Son, head of Vietnam’s Trade Office in France, said the successful export of a lychee batch labeled with the Vietnamese itrace247 origin tracing stamp clearly demonstrates the Vietnamese Government’s determination to support firms amid the complicated nature of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Son noted that in order to penetrate the most demanding market in Europe, the European – American Market Department under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) has continuously urged Vietnamese trade offices abroad to seek new outlets specifically for Vietnamese agricultural products.

In order to adapt to France’s continuous lockdowns and social distancing measures, Vietnam’s Trade Office and the Vietnamese Embassy in France have co-ordinated efforts with local and French agencies to deploy online trade promotion activities to introduce the potential of Vietnamese agricultural products to French businesses.

The Vietnamese trade office has initiated plans to support local firms as they export nearly one tonne of lychees every week, along with over 10 tonnes via air and marine routes, this year.

The office therefore revealed that negotiations are also underway to bring more shipments of lychees and other Vietnamese agricultural products to the Rungis market system, or Tang Frères, the largest Asian supermarket chain in France.

After the conclusion of events aimed at promoting Vietnamese lychees at Asian supermarkets, the Vietnam Trade Office and the Vietnamese Embassy in France will co-ordinate alongside other units to introduce the product within the framework of the Vietnam Food Festival 2021 in Paris.

Vietnam’s agro-products: Strategies for safeguarding intellectual property rights needed

Safeguarding intellectual property rights in agriculture is not a new issue in Vietnam. However, Vietnamese agricultural producers and exporters still do not have a good grasp of the necessity of ensuring these rights in the long run and how they can formulate a strategy for doing so.

Inadequate attention to intellectual property rights in agriculture leads to many drawbacks such as loss of trademark rights (consider, for example, Trung Nguyen Coffee in the United States; Phu Quoc fish sauce in China, Australia and the U.S.; and ST25 rice, which a foreign enterprise registers as a trademark for rice) or registration rights for intellectual property protection (applicable to, say, plant variety or innovations). Market share may be eroded and the financial cost incurred by brand development or research and development (R&D) can be squandered.

In the long run, specific strategies for intellectual property rights are beneficial. They fuel innovations across big, medium and small enterprises, which will thrive in a knowledge-based economy. The risks of instability triggered by natural disasters or dwindling demand can be lowered, opportunities (new markets and better funding prospects by virtue of better products) may arise and the firms’ reputation will be polished. Enterprises can also recoup investment in R&D (via licensing, transfer of intellectual property rights and so on).

To flesh out appropriate strategies for safeguarding intellectual property rights that stoke production and boost consumption in both domestic and overseas markets, enterprises should focus on the following factors.

First, these strategies should identify intellectual properties that a firm has or will have.

In agriculture, these intellectual properties of enterprises are mainly industrial property rights (trademarks, patents, geographical indications, trade secrets and plant variety protection). Two attributes are worth highlighting. First, the intellectual property rights are country-specific (registration in a country is effective only in that country). Second, the early bird catches the worm (first come, first served). Understanding both attributes will enable firms to actively safeguard their intellectual property rights, especially in overseas markets. Once a market has been identified, firms should apply for intellectual property protection there. There are some systems under which protection applies across several countries (such as trademark and plant variety protection in Europe) to reduce registration fees and simplify registration procedures.

It is crucial to have a clear understanding of a country’s laws. For example, plant variety protection differs from country to country. In most countries, it applies to new varieties that meet other criteria such as uniqueness, consistency and stability (Article 158 of Vietnam’s Intellectual Properties Law). New varieties are not eligible for patents in these countries. However, in some countries such as the U.S., apart from plant variety protection, patents, including utility patents, can be issued for such cases as methods that generate new varieties. Consequently, many new plant varieties are patented in the U.S. Aware of these differences, enterprises will not lose opportunities to get new patents and acquire fresh intellectual property rights.

Consumers in cities have helped “rescue” excessive agroproducts of farmers in the provinces

To ensure that the protection is in force in the long run, big firms often appoint representatives that look into administrative matters such as fee payments to ensure that the rights will remain. Enterprises should be ready to intervene when offenses arise, as in the case of ST25 paddy. Firms need to make good use of intellectual property rights and capitalize on such activities as licensing and transfer of rights.

Complex regulations on intellectual property rights mean that firms should seek help from experts on marketing and market survey, so that the strategies formulated will be efficacious. Creative collaboration among enterprises, farmers, research institutes and the Government will help to develop and safeguard intellectual property rights. The damage inflicted by the lack of strategies may far surpass the costs of developing them.

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