Photo: VOV

Covid-19: Vietnam set to scrap healthcare declaration

Vietnam is considering scrapping healthcare declaration as it moves into the “new normal” and the number of Covid-19 cases gradually decreases, said Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long on April 26.

Long said he has assigned the General Department of Preventive Medicine to hold guidance with localities on this issue.

With regard to foreign tourists and Vietnamese people traveling from abroad, the Vietnamese Government only requires them to make medical declarations in line with international regulations.

Health declarations are part of the 5K message on Covid-19 prevention and control measures outlined by the Ministry of Health. In addition to medical declarations, people are required to wear face masks, wash hands with sanitizer, maintain safe distance and avoid large gatherings in public places, cited VOV.

Minister Long also confirmed that the Covid-19 vaccination campaign over recent times has been successful.

He urged localities to complete the third dose of Covid-19 vaccine for adults and ramp up the speed of vaccination coverage for children aged five to 12 in the second quarter of this year.

According to the Ministry of Health, as of April 25 the entire country has injected more than 212.6 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines. However, roughly 7.6 million shots have not been entered into the online data system, including members of the police and army, as well as ordinary citizens, due to wrong individual information.

Vietnam, the Cook Islands set up diplomatic ties

Vietnam and the Cook Islands on April 26 set up their diplomatic relations.

A Joint Communiqué announcing the establishment was signed in Wellington, New Zealand, by Vietnamese Ambassador to New Zealand Nguyen Van Trung, who is on behalf of the Government of Vietnam, and Elizabeth Wright-Koteka, Cook Islands High Commissioner to New Zealand, who is on behalf of the Government of the Cook Islands.

The two sides agreed to officially establish their diplomatic ties at the ambassadorial level from the date of signing the Joint Communiqué and apply the 1961 Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations in the two countries’ relationship.

Vietnamese Ambassador to New Zealand Nguyen Van Trung (R) and Elizabeth Wright-Koteka, Cook Islands High Commissioner to New Zealand. Photo: VNA

After the signing ceremony, Ambassador Trung discussed with High Commissioner Elizabeth about activities to enhance mutual understanding and develop solidarity and friendship between the two peoples, according to VNA.

Regarding bilateral cooperation, the two sides agreed to intensify collaboration in their advantageous fields such as tourism, agriculture and fisheries, and exchange experience in climate change response and Covid-19 prevention and control.

They were also unanimous to coordinate at Asia-Pacific forums as well as in United Nations (UN) organizations.

With this move, Vietnam has had diplomatic relations with 190 countries around the world. Vietnam is the 57th country in the world and the sixth in ASEAN that the Cook Islands has officially set up diplomatic relations with.

The Cook Islands is a nation in the South Pacific, with a population of 20,200 (2019’s data) and 15 main islands. It boasts rich marine and ocean resources, including fisheries and pearling.

Vietnamese localities among most searched destinations by foreigners

The Vietnamese cities of My Tho and Bac Ninh have been listed among the most searched destinations in Vietnam by foreigners, according to the latest report into the recovery of domestic travel demand in Southeast Asia conducted by Google Asia Pacific travel.

Alongside Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the two cities witnessed a drastic rise of 75% in terms of searches.

According to the report, people seeking tourism information in Vietnam mostly came from the United States, Australia, France, Singapore, and Japan.

Foreign travelers visit in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: msn.com

The country fully reopened to international tourism on March 15, a move which has paved the way for both inbound and outbound tourists to travel to and from by air, road, rail, and sea.

Most notably, the number of international visitors to Vietnam in March increased by 41.4% month on month and 220% year on year, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO), reported VOV.

In the first quarter of the year, Vietnam welcomed roughly 91,000 international visitors, an annual rise of 89.1%.

The report also highlights that outbound tourism has also been busy, with the demand among Vietnamese people to travel abroad rising by 50% in March.

The most-searched destinations among Vietnamese visitors include Singapore, Bangkok, Dubai, Paris, Osaka, and New Delhi.

Vietnam makes strides in poverty reduction: World Bank

Vietnam has made remarkable progress in poverty reduction in the 2010 – 2020 period, with the rate of poverty declining to only 5 percent from 16.8 percent, according to the World Bank (WB).

The WB said over 10 million people were supported to escape from poverty in the period.

The sudden outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic at the end of the decade has stalled progress on wage increase and improvement in job quality, and delayed the poverty reduction progress and effort.

The WB will release a report on poverty and equality in Vietnam in 2022 at a ceremony on April 28. The event aims to discuss poverty and inequality trends over the past decade, negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, and grinding poverty reduction challenges facing the Southeast Asian nation.

Participants to the event will focus on clarifying the path to middle and high income; related policies including the improvement of the quality of higher education, the modernization of social security system, and the development of public financial resources to meet the needs of an increasing middle class.

Vietnam has made remarkable progress in poverty reduction in the 2010 – 2020 period. Photo: VNA

According to the WB, Vietnam needs to have target poverty reduction policies and new strategies to help those who have escaped poverty achieve economic security, towards further accelerating poverty reduction and improving living standards in Vietnam for all people.

Currently, the rate of grinding poverty in Vietnam still remains marginally higher in certain groups and this is also a challenge at the last leg of the poverty reduction journey in the country.

Equity investment in human capital is a necessary condition for inclusively reducing poverty and breaking the trend of intergenerational poverty, cited VNA.

According to the WB’s Macro Poverty Outlook for Vietnam in 2022 released on April 22, the poverty rate in Vietnam is expected to decline in 2022, but at a slower pace than pre-Covid-19.

Poor households were less able to cope with the impact from income shocks and were more reliant on external sources such as borrowing.

Vietnam’s poverty reduction is expected to resume in 2022 assuming GDP growth recovery to pre-Covid rates, but the impact of the crisis may have longer term effects on rising inequality.

SEA Games 31: Quang Ninh works hard to promote tourism brand

The Party Committee of the northeastern province of Quang Ninh has directed agencies and units serving the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31) to consider organizing sightseeing programs for sports delegations in order to help athletes and coaches enjoy an interesting experience in the locality.

During the Games, Quang Ninh will host the events of beach handball, chess, women’s football, indoor volleyball, Chinese chess, beach volleyball, and triathlon, which are slated from May 6-22 with the participation of over 1,400 athletes.

Provincial authorities have been demanded to pay attention to well preparing facilities and equipment serving SEA Games 31 and other works to ensure social security and order and traffic safety.

A corner of Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh province. Photo: VNA

Relevant communication campaigns to promote local tourism have been also promoted.

According to Dinh Huu Chung, vice director of Tuan Chau Group – the host of beach volleyball and handball, and triathlon events, the preparation at the Tuan Chau international tourism site in Ha Long city has been basically completed, NDO reported.

This is an opportunity for Tuan Chau in particular and Quang Ninh in general to promote unique and impressive tourism products to international friends, he said.

SEA Games 31, themed “For a Stronger South East Asia”, will be held in the capital city of Hanoi and 11 neighboring provinces and cities from May 12 to 23.

Featuring 40 sports with 526 events, it is expected to attract around 10,000 participants. The biennial event was initially slated for late 2021 but delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic’s impact.

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