Illustrative image. Photo: VNA

Vietnam logs 366 new Covid-19 cases on December 13

The national Covid-19 caseload rose to 11,521,388 with 366 new cases recorded on December 13, according to the Ministry of Health.

With 106 patients given the all-clear during the day, the number of recoveries rose to 10,609,783.

Meanwhile, there are 47 patients needing breathing support, cited VNA.

One death from Covid-19 was recorded in the past 24 hours. The total fatalities rose to 43,179.

With 45,867doses administered on December 12, the total number of doses of Covid-19 vaccines injected rose to 264,971,272.

Vietnam a major bilateral partner and an important partner of EU in ASEAN

Vietnam is not only a major bilateral partner for the EU, but is also an important partner of the bloc’s co-operation with ASEAN.

Ambassador Igor Driesmans, head of the EU’s delegation to ASEAN, made the statement in a recent exchange with a VOV reporter held as part of the occasion of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's official visits to Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Belgium. In addition, the diplomat is preparing to attend the 45th ASEAN-EU Summit from January 9 to January 15.

According to Ambassador Driesmans, Vietnam is a Southeast Asian country which the EU has very close relations to, with the institutional framework for bilateral co-operation currently being "very strong".

Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to ASEAN Ambassador Igor Driesmans. Photo: VOV

Both sides signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA), with this agreement now in effect and the two sides having a political co-operation agreement. In addition, they also have a defence co-operation pact on establishing a framework for Vietnamese participation in other civilian or peacekeeping operations in Europe, the Ambassador went on to say.

The mutual relationship has made great strides in recent times. According to data compiled by the European Institute for Asian Studies (EIAS), the EU represents the top trading partner, the third largest export market, and the nation’s fifth largest import market.

The bloc was also the fifth largest foreign investor in Vietnam during the initial eight months of the year, with the total registered investment capital of the EU in the nation reaching US$2.2 billion.

At present, the country is also viewed as having the potential to become a bridge in terms of playing an important role in the relationship between the EU and ASEAN, according to VOV.

Ambassador Driesmans went on to highlight the significance of the first summit with the participation of EU and ASEAN leaders in Brussels, Belgium. The diplomat assessed that there are three key areas where the EU must ramp up co-operation, including promoting green transition, enhancing regional connectivity and security ties, as well as respecting and strongly supporting the rules-based international order.

The EU diplomat said that some major investments from the bloc in ASEAN are expected to be announced by EU leaders in the near future. These investments will therefore help to support ASEAN's sustainable development in clean energy, digital transformation, and sustainable infrastructure.

Vietnam Airlines Group adds over 1,500 flights for Lunar New Year festival

Vietnam Airlines Group, which comprises Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines, and Vietnam Air Services Company (VASCO), has announced that it will add more than 1,500 flights or 224,000 seats to meet increasing travel demand before, during and after the coming Lunar New Year festival - the biggest traditional one of Vietnamese.

The addition will be on busy domestic routes connecting localities like Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Vinh, Thanh Hoa, Hue, Quang Nam, Buon Ma Thuot, Nha Trang, and Phu Quoc.

Vietnam Airlines Group will add more than 1,500 flights or 224,000 seats to meet increasing travel demand before, during and after Tet. Photo: VNA

From August 15, the group started millions of air tickets on both domestic and international flights for the occasion between January 6 and February 5, 2023 (on the 15th day of the last lunar month – the 15th day of the first lunar month).

Vietnam Airlines recommends that passengers buy tickets on its website, mobile application, ticket offices, and official agents to avoid buying fake tickets and unconfirmed ones, reported VNA.

Officials, civil servants, public employees and workers of State administrative and socio-political organisations in Vietnam will have seven days off from January 20 (Friday) to January 26 (Thursday) for Tet celebrations.

Renowned British chef names Vietnam among top food destinations

Renowned celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay of the UK has named Vietnam and Laos as the world's leading food destinations in a recent interview with Korean YouTuber Cho Seung-yeon.

During the interview the Korean YouTuber asked Ramsay, “Where would you say is the number one foodie destination?”

The celebrity chef replied that Laos is his top pick, along with Vietnam and Madrid.

Renowned celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay in a recent interview with Korean YouTuber Cho Seung-yeon.

“Vietnam, extraordinary melting pot of food,” the Scottish Chef noted, adding, “I fell in love, there's just such a humble approach to eating food.”

This comes after the British visited Vietnam back in 2011 for an episode of Gordon's Great Escape and quickly became enamored with the Vietnamese dishes which boast a complex array of flavours.

In the TV show "Gordon's Great Escape" which was broadcast on Channel 4 in the UK from 2010 to 2011, Ramsay discovered the traditional cuisine of Southeast Asia, including one episode about Vietnam, cited VOV.

Gordon Ramsay, 49, is a Scottish-born chef, restaurateur, and television personality. His restaurants have been awarded a total of 16 Michelin stars and they currently hold nine. His signature restaurant, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in Chelsea, London, has held three Michelin stars since 2001.

Ramsay is best known for presenting TV programmes about competitive cookery and food, such as the British series Hell's Kitchen, The F Word, and Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares. As well as being popular in the UK, he has also produced shows in the United States, such as an American versions of Hell's Kitchen, Kitchen Nightmares, MasterChef, MasterChef Junior, and Hotel Hell.

In 2015, Forbes listed his earnings at US$60 million over the previous 12 months, thereby ranking him as the 21st highest earning celebrity in the world.

Vietnamese cuisine introduced in Israel

The Ca Phe Hanoi Restaurant in Tel Aviv, Israel held a function on December 12 to introduce its new menu including Vietnamese dishes to the restaurant goers.

The event was hosted by the Vietnamese Embassy in Israel to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the restaurant.

Ca Phe Hanoi Restaurant is French owned, and it didn’t offer many authentic Vietnamese dishes. Given the situation, the Vietnamese Embassy in Israel has supported procedures to bring Vietnamese chefs to the restaurant so that Vietnamese cuisine culture will be introduced to the wider Israeli people.

Chef Vu Thi Ha (first from right) and delegates at the event. Photo: VNA

Over the past few days, Vu Thi Ha, a Vietnamese chef who has 30 years of working experience and is now working at the Sofitel Metropole Hanoi, has shared recipes and instructed chefs from Ca Phe Hanoi Restaurant, on cooking four Vietnamese dishes, including pomelo salad, sauté diced beef, chicken rice, and braised eggplant with mushroom.

The ingredients and recipes of the four dishes have been adjusted according to Jewish dietary laws and regulations, NDO reported.

Vu Thi Ha has toured many countries around the world including Australia, Spain, Canada, Qatar, Thailand, and the Republic of Korea to advertise Vietnamese cuisine.

She shared with joy that Vietnamese dishes win much favour from people around the world, adding that many visitors to Vietnam have expressed their impressions of Vietnamese food.

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