Photo: Zing News

8,497 new Covid-19 cases detected over 24 hours

The nation recorded 8,497 Covid-19 infections, including 16 imported cases, over the past 24 hours marking a fall of 495 cases compared to the previous day, the Ministry of Health reported on November 13.

Ho Chi Minh City reported the highest number of infections with 1,240, trailed by neighboring Dong Nai province with 743, and Binh Duong province with 631. A total of 1,843 recoveries were also reported on November 13 to take the total number of patients given the all-clear to 858,054.

According to the Ministry of Health’s report, 3,824 patients nationwide are currently in serious conditions, with 319 requiring invasive ventilation and 15 on life support (ECMO). Furthermore, the country also saw 88 deaths caused by the virus on November 13.

Photo: Zing News

Over 400 American tourists to arrive in Hoi An next week

Quang Nam Province, home to tourist hotspot Hoi An, will welcome two charter flights carrying over 400 American tourists under a vaccine passport program next week. The first flight with 203 passengers onboard is scheduled to land at Chu Lai Airport on Wednesday, followed by the second flight with 226 passengers the next day, said Nguyen Thanh Hong, director of the province’s Department of Tourism, as cited by the province's news portal.

They would stay at Hoiana Major Integrated Resort in Duy Xuyen District for seven days and can visit UNESCO heritage sites Hoi An and My Son Sanctuary, along with some other tourist attractions. They would be among the first foreign tourists visiting Vietnam after nearly two years since the country closed its border and canceled all international flights in March last year due to the pandemic. All tourists need to furnish certificates showing they are fully vaccinated or have recovered from Covid, and test negative for the novel coronavirus within 72 hours before departure from the U.S.

They are also required to book a package tour with a designated travel agency and furnish medical or travel insurance including coverage for Covid-19 treatment worth at least US$50,000. Visitors have to install the IGOVN and PC-Covid health declaration applications on their smartphones while in Vietnam.

Photo: Zing News

Vietnam’s economy sees positive changes despite pandemic: World Bank

Amid a protracted Covid-19 outbreak, socio-economic data in October showed the contraction has bottomed out and Vietnam's economy has made positive changes, the World Bank (WB) in Vietnam said in its Vietnam macroeconomic update for November released on November 12.

The country's industrial production and total retail sales of consumer goods and services rebounded as economic activities gradually resumed but have yet to recover to the levels recorded before the outbreak, which began in April. The goods trade balance registered a surplus for the second month in a row as import growth continued to slow down. For the first ten months of this year, Vietnam enjoyed a trade surplus of 160 million USD. Meanwhile, the number of registered FDI decreased after three months of increase.

Despite rising fuel prices, inflation remained subdued due to falling food prices and weak domestic demand for other consumer products. Credit growth was stable in October. State budget revenue and expenditure balance returned to surplus in October mainly driven by a sharp fall in budget expenditures although revenues continued to decrease for the third month. In general, for the ten-month period, the budget surplus was a sign that tight fiscal policy would continue to be implemented.

According to WB experts, Vietnam is facing many obstacles in restarting the economy after a prolonged period of social isolation, but the positive developments observed in October showed that the situation will continue to improve, and growth will accelerate in the months to come.

Photo: VN Express

Vietnamese carriers prepare 30 flights in November to fetch foreign tourists

Vietnamese carriers will operate nearly 30 flights this month to carry foreign tourists to Kien Giang, Da Nang, and Khanh Hoa, a senior aviation official said Friday. Vo Huy Cuong, deputy head of the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, shared this information at a seminar on reopening international tourism.

Without mentioning specific embarkation points, he said national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines would operate one flight to Da Nang City on November 17, and budget carrier Vietjet Air will operate one to Phu Quoc Island in Kien Giang Province on November 20. Another 24 additional flights will carry foreign tourists to the three localities, mainly from South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand, he said.

On Thursday, Khanh Hoa Province, home to famous tourist hotspots Nha Trang and Cam Ranh, welcomed two flights from South Korea and Japan with a total of 429 passengers. The passengers would stay at the Vinpearl Resort & Spa Long Beach on the Cam Ranh Peninsula. Bui Quoc Thai, deputy director of the Kien Giang’s Department of Tourism, said Phu Quoc was scheduled to welcome the first flight from South Korea's Incheon airport at noon on November 20.

Vietnam Covid-19 Updates (Nov. 13): 8,982 New Cases, Over 10,000 Recoveries Reported The new Covid cases brought the national tally to 1,009,879. More than 96.5 million vaccine doses have now been administered to date, with over 32.8 ...

Vietnam Covid-19 Updates (Nov. 12): Cumulative Tally Surpasses One Million Case Mark As of 6 pm on November 11 Vietnam has confirmed 1,000,897 Covid-19 cases since the start of the first outbreak in January 2020, ranking 37th ...

Vietnam Covid-19 Updates (Nov. 11): Ministry of Health Approves Indian Covaxin Vaccine The nationwide tally reaches 992,735. A total of 1,254 recoveries were reported on November 10, taking the total number of patients given the all-clear to ...