Vietnam News Today (Aug. 5): Northern Region to Suffer Heavy Rain Amid Tropical Depression

Most of severe Covid-19 cases are the elderly with underlying diseases. Photo: VNA

Vietnam logs 2,012 Covid-19 cases on August 4

Vietnam recorded 2,012 Covid-19 cases on August 4, while 7,712 patients were given the all clear the same day, according to the Ministry of Health.

The northern city of Hai Phong registered an additional 402,830 Covid-19 cases after verifying information. As a result, the national caseload so far came to 11,189,968.

The number of recoveries rose to 9,948,174. Meanwhile, there are 112 patients in serious conditions needing breathing support, cited VNA.

No death from Covid-19 was recorded in the past 24 hours. The total fatalities stood at 43,094.

On August 3, an additional 642,476 doses of vaccines were administered, raising the total number of doses of Covid-19 vaccines injected to 247,339,252.

Northern region to suffer heavy rain amid tropical depression

A low-pressure zone area over the Bien Dong Sea has developed into a tropical depression and is forecast to make landfall in China, bringing with it heavy rains to northern Vietnamese localities, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF).

At 7 a.m. on August 4, the eye of the tropical depression was located on the southeast coast of the Chinese province of Guangdong, with the strongest wind speeds near its centre reaching between 40km and 50km per hour.

Moving forward, the tropical depression is projected to move west-northwest at speeds of between 10km and 15km over the next 24 hours before making landfall in China’s Guangdong province and weakening into a low-pressure area, according to VOV.

Photo: VOV

The NCHMF has issued warning of strong winds, high waves, and rough seas hitting the north of the Bien Dong Sea, with all vessels operating in the danger zone being at high risk of being impacted by the weather event.

Furthermore, due to the impact of the southwest monsoon, there will be showers and thunderstorms hitting coastal localities such as Binh Dinh, Ca Mau, Kien Giang, and the Gulf of Thailand.

Meanwhile, the northern region and Thanh Hoa province are anticipated to experience heavy downpours over the coming days, with rainfall in many areas measuring as high as 200mm.

Vietnam to add three new types of tourism by 2030

There will be three new types of tourism in the nation added to the tourism industry during the 2021 to 2030 period, including health care and medical tourism, agricultural tourism, and sports tourism, according to details given by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.

This information was unveiled on August 4 during a workshop held on planning the Vietnamese tourism system for the 2021 to 2030 period, with a vision towards 2045.

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Doan Van Viet underscored the importance of the event in devising appropriate tourism plans and policies aimed at keeping up with development needs moving into the new period.

Overview of the workshop. Photo: VOV

Under the terms of the draft plan of the Vietnamese tourism system in the 2021 to 2030 period, the tourism industry will continue to develop four main product lines, including sea and island tourism, cultural tourism, ecotourism, and urban tourism, reported VOV.

Most notably, sea and island tourism continues to be the top priority in the development orientation of Vietnamese tourism, with a specific focus on a number of high-end resort in Ha Long, Lang Co, Vinh Hy, Nha Trang, and Cam Ranh, as well as islands such as Phu Quoc, Con Dao, Cat Ba, Cu Lao Cham, Ly Son, and Phu Quy.

Furthermore, priority will also be given to turning Ha Long Bay - Bai Tu Long, Van Phong Bay - Nha Trang - Cam Ranh, and Phu Quoc Island, as well as some beautiful beaches in Quy Nhon, Da Nang, and Binh Thuan into the world's leading beach resort tourism centres, with the aim of developing brands and enhancing the country’s position in the international tourism market.

Workers to have four National Day days off

Workers nationwide will have a total of four days off from September 1 to 4 on the occasion of National Day, according to the Office of the Government.

From 2021, Vietnam has a total of 11 public holidays, while the number of days off for National Day (September 2) increases from one to two, reported the Vietnam Government Portal (VGP).

If any holiday falls on the weekend, people will be entitled to an extra day off as compensation, cited VNA.

There will be four days off in this year's National Day holiday. Photo: VNA

As this year's National Day (September 2, 2022) is on Friday, so workers nationwide will have a total of four days off.

If employees work part-time, they will get at least 150% of the daily wages; 200% on their rest day; 300% on national holidays.

Foreign workers in Vietnam are entitled to 11 days off for these public holidays, as well as two more for the traditional New Year's Day and National Day of their countries.

Efforts accelerate the implementation of COP26 commitments

In recent time, the Government and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, along with other ministries, branches, localities and businesses, have actively implemented solutions to fulfil Vietnam's commitment to net zero emissions by 2050 at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26).

According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, right after COP26, a national steering committee for implementing Vietnam's commitments at the COP26 was established, headed by the Prime Minister. Relevant ministries and agencies shall focus on developing projects, strategies, programs and action plans to implement commitments.

So far, ministries and branches have submitted plans to the Prime Minister for consideration and approval such as theNational Power Development Plan for the 2021 - 2030 period, with a vision towards 2045; the project on tasks and solutions to implement outcomes of the COP26; the national climate change strategy to 2050; the action plan for green energy transition and reducing carbon and methane emissions in transportation to 2050; the National Plan of action for green growth in the 2021 – 2030 period; and an action plan to reduce methane emissions by 2030. In addition, several ministries and sectors are also developing action plans to implement Vietnam's commitments at the COP26.

Wind and solar power plant in Thuan Bac District, Ninh Thuan Province. Photo: Hong Quang

The localities are urging and guiding the establishments in their localities subject to the greenhouse gas inventory to develop plans and roadmaps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions suitable to production and business conditions; implementing solutions to climate change adaptation in agriculture, sustainable agricultural development; focusing on exploiting the potential of renewable energy development, calling for investment in the development of renewable energy projects (solar power, wind power).

For the business sector, in implementing Vietnam's commitments at the COP26, state-owned corporations and corporations have conducted initial research and gradually reduced the use of fossil energy sources. Meanwhile, a number of multinational corporations such as Nestle, Equinor, and Grabare willing to cooperate with government agencies to achieve the goal of achieving "zero" net emissions in business activities, NDO reported.

Notably, a number of large domestic corporations are taking immediate action with the Government such as Vin Group to expand the scale and scope of production and supply of electric vehicles, build a battery factory to supply the domestic and international electric vehicles market; T&T Group invests in offshore wind power projects; TGS Group invests in building the first green hydrogen plant projects in Tra Vinh, Ben Tre and Ca Mau (expected to be put into operation in early 2025).

After the COP26, Vietnam became an attractive destination for investors and large energy corporations in the world, who wish to develop offshore wind power projects. To date, there are 41 dossiers from domestic and foreign enterprises applying for permission to measure, survey and evaluate wind energy resources at sea under the authority of the central agency. The coastal localities are reviewing the dossiers of the dozens of organisations and individuals who have proposed to survey the area and request to be assigned to implement wind power projects in the sea area.

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha said that in order to accelerate the implementation of Vietnam's commitments at the COP26, the Minister proposed the Prime Minister to consider and approve the project on tasks and solutions to implement outcomes of the COP26; the national strategy on climate change until 2050; the National Power Development Plan for the 2021 - 2030 period, with a vision towards 2045; the Action Programme for Green Energy Conversion and Carbon and Methane Emission Reduction of the Transport Industry; and the national action plan on green growth for 2021 - 2030 period.

The Prime Minister assigned ministries and branches to continue reviewing and proposing amendments and supplements to regulations in order to create favourable conditions for enterprises to develop offshore wind power projects. At the same time, it is also necessary to soon submit detailed planning for offshore wind power development and the bidding mechanism for offshore wind power projects to the competent authorities for promulgation.

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment suggested that relevant ministries and branches should focus on completing synchronously mechanisms, policies and legal documents to remove difficulties and obstacles in the implementation of commitments of Vietnam at the COP26 Conference, attracting green finance flows into the implementation of projects to respond to climate change and energy transition; promulgate a mechanism to encourage domestic and foreign organisations and individuals to participate in responding to climate change and energy transition; and encourage enterprises to reduce emissions, save energy, develop environmentally friendly production models.

At the third meeting of the national steering committee for implementing the commitments at COP26, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasised that in order to implement the commitments from COP26, it is necessary to define adaptation with climate change and achieving net zero emission by 2050 as an opportunity for sustainable development, and a priority in development decisions, ethical standards of all levels, sectors and businesses industry and people”.

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