Illustrative image. Photo: VNA

Vietnam logs 389 new Covid-19 cases on December 15

The national Covid-19 caseload rose to 11,522,097 with 389 new cases recorded on December 15, according to the Ministry of Health.

With 123 patients given the all-clear during the day, the number of recoveries rose to 10,610,035.

Meanwhile, there are 54 patients needing breathing support, cited VNA.

No death from Covid-19 was recorded in the past 24 hours. The total fatalities stands at 43,179.

With 33,946 doses administered on December 14, the total number of doses of Covid-19 vaccines injected rose to 265,077,045.

Foreign ministry actively considering new visa policies to facilitate tourist entry

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it is actively considering new visa policies to serve tourists’ demand and meeting Việt Nam’s development needs.

Deputy spokesperson for the foreign ministry Pham Thu Hang made the statement on Thursday during the press conference held in Hanoi, in response to questions over Vietnam’s falling number of international arrivals. The country has only received three million foreign tourists so far this year, against the original target of five million for the whole of 2022, taking into account the fact that the international tourism peak season is in the latter months of the year, according to VNS

“From March 15, 2022, the Government of Vietnam has decided to restore pre-pandemic immigration policies, including the procedures and processes of granting visas in accordance with the 2014 Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, and its amendments in 2019 along with other relevant guiding documents. This has created favourable conditions for tourists as well as experts and foreign investors to enter Vietnam, contributing to economic recovery and development after the Covid-19 pandemic," Hang noted.

Foreign tourists on cyclo rides in the historic downtown district of Hoan Kiem, Hanoi. Photo: VNS

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has recently been very active in proposing the Government policies and measures to open the country and instructing Vietnamese representative missions abroad to thoroughly follow the policy of the Prime Minister on facilitating foreigners' entry into the country, according to the deputy spokesperson.

And all of the procedures are in accordance with the aforementioned rules on entry, exit, transit, and residence of foreigners, said Hang.

“And we also take note of the challenges faced by foreign tourists during entry into our country,” the deputy spokesperson noted, in response to questions over reports of complicated, overly long and expensive visa procedures that citizens of Chinese Taipei have faced when entering Vietnam for tourism purposes.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will coordinate with domestic authorities to research and report to the government on ways to further facilitate the entry of international tourists to Vietnam, thus meeting the needs of foreign tourists and the requirements of socio-economic development of Vietnam in the new period,” Hang said.

Vietnam applauds EU’s pledge of 10 bln EUR to support ASEAN

Vietnam welcomes the European Union (EU)’s commitment to mobilize 10 billion EUR (10.6 billion USD) by 2027 for investment in infrastructure projects in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Foreign Ministry deputy spokeswoman Pham Thu Hang stated at the ministry’s regular press conference on December 15.

The decision is intended to support the Global Gateway strategy through cooperation projects, and kick start the Sustainable Connectivity Team Europe Initiative in the ASEAN region, VNA reported.

At the ASEAN-EU Business Summit. Photo: VNA

Hang said the EU’s decision will contribute to promoting economic and trade cooperation and stabilising the supply chain towards reaching the ASEAN-EU Free Trade Agreement, and strengthening connectivity through the implementation of the joint statement on connectivity in 2020 and the ASEAN-EU Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement, while narrowing the economic development gap in the region.

It will also help with ASEAN’s response to climate change, promote digital and energy transformation, manage disasters, protect the environment and biodiversity, and fight illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, she added.

Hanoi adds nearly 2,500 coach trips for the New Year holidays

People will have a three-day holiday for the New Year, and another seven-day for the traditional Lunar New Year celebrations.

Hanoi Transport Station JSC. announced it will schedule an additional 2,500 coach trips for the New Year holidays at the end of December and January.

The managing agency of the capital city’s coach stations said the number of passengers is expected to increase by 50 per cent during the New Year weekend.

For the Lunar New Year holiday in mid-January, this figure could increase by 200 per cent, and even up to 300 per cent during the peak period, compared to the usual traffic.

Pham Manh Hung, the company director, said: “Since the number of passengers usually only reaches about 30 to 40 per cent of the total capacity, the current number of coaches can meet the transport demands during the New Year.

“However, certain times during the peak period will witness an increase in the number of passengers, and therefore more vehicles are required.”

In Giap Bat, My Dinh and Gia Lam stations, the number of passengers is expected to increase by 200 per cent. These figures are equivalent to approximately 12,000 passengers per day for Giap Bat and My Dinh, and 5,000 for Gia Lam.

The company estimates that these three stations will see 2,486 additional coach trips for the Lunar New Year.

People will have a three-day holiday for the New Year, and another seven days for the traditional Lunar New Year celebrations.

Hung added that in recent years, due to the rise in the number of personal cars, many families would use their own vehicles for travelling, which also leads to a decrease in the demand for inter-provincial transport services. Coach stations would also see little overcrowding.

My Dinh Station is one of the busiest in the capital city. Photo: VNA

Hanoi Transport Station JSC. has ordered stations to work with transport services providers to sell e-tickets, in compliance with the regulations on ticket pricing.

Any increase in ticket prices must be reported for approval before January 11, 2023.

Overcharging tickets and overcrowding coaches are also not allowed., cited VNN.

Stations also required transport services providers to sign a document of commitment to ensure security, order and fire prevention, and only operate with registered vehicles according to regulations.

These stations will also work with the police forces to prevent the transportation of explosives, flammable items and counterfeit or banned goods.

Hanoi Transport Station JSC. also requested the capital city’s transport department 500 badges for additional vehicles for this season.

Hanoi transport department and the city police also have plans to organise traffic around the stations, especially at the southern locations where the Ring Road 2.5 Kim Dong - Giai Phong is under construction.

Hanoi Transportation Corporation (Transerco) will be in charge of coach services and plan for back-up vehicles during peak days.

Ticket prices for national team’s first AFF Cup match in Laos announced

The Laos Football Federation has started selling tickets ahead of the first match of the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Cup 2022 between Vietnam and hosts Laos on December 21.

Ticket prices for the upcoming fixture range between LAK30,000 to LAK50,000, equal to between VND41,000 and VND68,000, respectively.

Photo: VOV

Fans can purchase tickets at the headquarters of the Laos Football Federation and at the New Laos National Stadium.

From Tiger Cup 1996 to AFF Cup 2021, Vietnam has recorded a stellar 10 wins and one draw against Laos.

The AFF Cup 2022 is scheduled to run between December 23 and January 16.

Vietnam have been placed into Group B, with games against Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, and Laos on the horizon, cited VOV.

In the first match of the tournament Vietnam will face Laos at the New Laos National Stadium at 7:30 p.m. on December 21. The stadium was built in 2009 and has a capacity of 24,000 seats.

Following this, the Vietnam national team will then play another away match against Singapore on December 30 before playing at home against Malaysia on December 27 and Myanmar on January 3, 2023.

The 2022 AFF Cup is coach Park’s final tournament in his capacity as head coach. The Vietnam Football Federation have already announced that the Korean footballing expert will no longer coach the national team following the AFF Cup 2022, with his contract set to expire in January, 2023.

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