A medical worker practices steps to take care of a Covid-19 patient isolated at home in Ba Dinh District of Hanoi, November 2021. Photo: VnExpress

Vietnam records highest daily Covid case count since reopening

The Health Ministry confirmed 13,966 domestic Covid-19 patients in 62 cities and provinces Tuesday, the highest daily tally since the country ended months of lockdown on Oct. 1.

Ho Chi Minh City recorded the most cases, 1,497, followed by Can Tho in the Mekong Delta with 981, and HCMC's neighbor Ba Ria-Vung Tau with 860.

In the past 24 hours, 197 Covid-19 patients have died. Among them, 76 were in HCMC, including 17 patients transferred to the city from other localities.

The additional fatalities raise Vietnam's Covid-19 death toll since the beginning of the pandemic to 25,252, or 2 percent of the total infections, cited VnExpress.

In the latest wave that hit the nation seven months ago, more than 1.23 million have been infected and 986,531 have recovered.

Nearly 51 million people have been fully vaccinated.

Government chief orders drastic measures to deal with Omicron variant

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has requested that relevant ministries swiftly tighten control over people who have come from or transited in countries which have detected the Omicron variant in order to prevent the potential transmission of the new variant.

The move comes following the Government Office issuing a document aimed at unveiling the PM’s directions on proactively controlling the latest strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus known as Omicron, while the Ministry of Health (MoH) are required to keep a close watch on the pandemic situation caused by Omicron.

Photo: VOV

The PM has also assigned the MoH with the task of frequently contacting the World Health Organisation (WHO) to get timely and precise updates about the latest variant, whilst also proposing effective anti-pandemic measures aimed at coping with the pandemic developments.

The MoH has directed relevant units to strengthen surveillance over the Covid-19 pandemic to prevent the risk of spreading the new strain locally.

Simultaneously, the MoH has enforced a score of measures to ensure that the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology and the Pasteur Institute carry out genetic sequencing of suspected new mutant infections, especially those with epidemiological history from countries in Southern Africa, according to VOV.

Moreover, the Ministry also proposed considering suspending international flights both to and South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, Lesotho, and Mozambique, where the new strain has been detected, with those who wish to travel to or come from these countries not being granted permission.

The MoH will also continue to closely co-ordinate alongside the WHO and national focal agencies to implement the International Health Regulations to promptly provide information on the latest strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and devise timely pandemic prevention measures.

Vietnam increases domestic flights from December to meet year-end travel demand

The Ministry of Transport on Tuesday agreed to increase daily flights between Hanoi, HCMC and Da Nang from the current six to 16 from December 1-14.

In the remaining half of next month, the number of daily flights on each of the Hanoi-HCMC, Hanoi-Da Nang and Da Nang-HCMC routes will increase further to 20.

The ministry also agreed to increase flight frequency on other domestic routes to nine a day from the current four.

The government allowed airlines to resume all domestic routes on Oct. 21, but with reduced frequency.

Between Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang, they currently operate a maximum of six flights a day either way.

Last week, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam sought approval from the ministry to increase flight frequency among major cities to cater to higher travel demand during the year-end peak season.

A man checks in at Hanoi's Noi Bai Airport, October 10, 2021. Photo: VnExpress

Currently, passengers need to satisfy one of three conditions: a negative test within 72 hours prior, a certificate showing they are fully vaccinated with the second shot taken between 14 days and 12 months or a certificate proving they recovered from Covid-19 not within six months before.

But those from high-risk or locked-down areas, along with HCMC and Can Tho need to furnish a negative coronavirus test before boarding, even if they have been fully vaccinated or have recovered from Covid-19, reported VnExpress.

Passengers are required to make a medical declaration before boarding, using the PC-COVID application. Passengers will not be allowed to board the flight if they show symptoms of a cough, fever, shortness of breath, muscle ache, sore throat and loss of taste.

Between Oct. 21 and Nov. 18, domestic carriers operated 44 domestic routes with 2,207 round-trip flights, transporting 446,805 passengers. The average seat occupancy rate was 54 percent.

The government also plans to resume international flights to 15 countries and territories with high vaccination rates from December.

Hoi An to host diverse activities to mark festive period

A wide range of activities are set to be held to celebrate Christmas and welcome in the New Year in the ancient town of Hoi An, with a focus on stimulating tourism demand after a prolonged period of being negatively impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Nguyen Van Son, chairman of the Hoi An City People's Committee, revealed that the locality plans to deploy a broad range of activities, including street art performances, documentary screenings, and a trade fair in Tan Thanh fishing village, in order to welcome the Christmas period.

Photo: VOV

Furthermore, other events will also be held to celebrate the New Year, including the opening of Hoi An Market and the launch of the second Hoi An Heritage Culinary Market, while New Year's Eve is scheduled to take place from 22:30 p.m. on December 31 to 1 a.m. on January 1, 2022.

Moreover, a program aimed at welcoming the first group of tourists to the ancient town of Hoi An will begin at 9:00 am on January 1, 2022, at Chua Cau, also known as Japanese Bridge.

Son emphasized that residents and visitors participating in these events will be required to abide by the 5K message set by the Ministry of Health, while international visitors to the central city via charter flights will not be permitted to get involved in these activities, cited VOV.

Local restaurants, hotels, and other business establishment will decorate the old quarter with an array of lanterns as part of the occasion, according to the local authorities.

Other street food and beverage establishments located on Nguyen Phuc Chu road will reopen on the roadside from 4pm to 1am from December 24 to December 31.

Vietnam’s export turnover projected to hit US$535 billion by 2030

Vietnam’s export turnover is projected to record an annual average growth of 7 percent per year, hitting US$535 billion by 2030, according to a new research by Standard Chartered issued on November 30.

The "Future of Trade 2030: Trends and markets to watch" also forecasts that the global exports will almost double from US$17.4 trillion to US$29.7 trillion over the next decade.

Vietnam is considered an important market contributing to the growth of the global trade, it said.

Photo: baodautu.vn

It also found that 41 percent of global businesses currently operate or plan to invest in Vietnam within the next five to 10 years. This shows that Vietnam will be one of the important motivations of global trade growth in the next 10 years.

The US and China will continue to be Vietnam's largest export markets, respectively accounting for 26 percent and 19 percent of the Southeast Asian country’s total export turnover by 2030.

According to the study, Vietnam is an emerging manufacturing powerhouse with expanding international trading relationships, VNA reported.

According to Michele Wee, CEO of Standard Chartered Bank Vietnam, Vietnam’s increasing integration into the world economy through various free trade agreements (FTAs) such as the EU – Vietnam FTA and the UK – Vietnam brings Vietnam many advantages and allows it to expand its exports, move up value chains across sectors as well as create skilled jobs.

The report, commissioned by Standard Chartered and prepared by PwC Singapore, is based on an analysis of historical trade data and projections until 2030, as well as insights from a survey of more than 500 senior leaders in global companies.

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