A person performs medical declarations at an airport. Photo: VnExpress

Vietnam records 12,637 new local Covid cases

Vietnam on Monday recorded 12,637 new local Covid-19 cases, bringing the infection tally in the fourth wave to 2,246,269 cases.

The three localities with the highest numbers of cases are Hanoi with 2,728 cases, Da Nang with 877 cases and Bac Ninh with 781 cases.

Vietnam has recorded 185 infections with the Omicron variant.

109 deaths were added to the national database on Monday, cited VnExpress.

The total number of deaths so far is 37,777 cases, or around 1.7 percent of all infections.

4,835 Covid-19 patients were announced recovered on Monday, bringing the total number of recovered cases to 2,022,450.

79 million people have received one Covid-19 vaccine shots, 74.1 million have received two and 28 million have received three.

FTAs - momentum for Vietnam’s economy in 2022

Bilateral and multilateral free trade agreements (FTAs), including the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) which took effect from January 1, are expected to become a new momentum promoting Vietnam's economic growth in 2022.

Experts, however, said that enterprises need to proactively improve their competitiveness and self-innovate in order to meet the process of international economic integration and fully tap opportunities in the new context, thus enabling them to go faster and further in the future.

Looking back at 2021, Vietnamese brands continued to gain a foothold on the world commodity map, enjoying a trade surplus of US$4 billion, despite difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

One of the catalysts for this spectacular achievement was FTAs, especially new generation ones.

Accordingly, the FTAs that Vietnam has signed with its partners have been opening the door for the Southeast Asian nation to integrate further into the global value chain and production network.

The new-generation FTAs, such as the CPTPP, the EU-Vietnam FTA (EVFTA) and the UK-Vietnam FTA (UKVFTA), are being implemented comprehensively and effectively, according to VNA.

Producing electronic components at 4P Co., Ltd in Hung Yen province. Photo: VNA

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) said the EVFTA, which came into effect on August 1, 2020, has created a huge boost for Vietnam’s exports, helping the country’s export turnover to the EU hit about US$40.07 billion, up 14 percent.

As many as 201,846 EUR.1 certificates of origin (C/O) were issued in 2021 for Vietnamese exports worth US$7.8 billion to 27 EU member countries, the ministry added.

Notably, enterprises exporting goods to the EU also perform self-certification of origin for 5,217 shipments valued at more than 16.5 million USD enjoying preferential tariffs under the EVFTA. This shows that many Vietnamese businesses have paid attention to taking advantage of opportunities from the EU's tariff reduction under the deal.

Besides, the UKVFTA, which was implemented from the beginning of 2021, also helped the two-way trade between Vietnam and the UK reach nearly US$6.6 billion. The import and export values both increased by double digits to 24.1 percent and 15.4 percent, respectively.

Regarding the CPTPP, Vietnam’s exports to Canada and Mexico where Vietnam has just had FTAs with, respectively expanded by 19.5 percent and 46.1 percent.

However, in order to increase competitiveness in the markets that Vietnam signed FTAs with, a representative of the MoIT’s Import-Export Department said that businesses need to pay special heed to quality, food safety and hygiene, technical barriers, rules of origin and brand development.

In 2022, the MoIT will focus on effectively implementing the FTAs that Vietnam has joined, especially a plan for implementing new-generation ones, towards a more balanced import-export, ensuring stable markets for Vietnam’s exports.

Vietnam will do their best to beat China: coach Park

Vietnam will do their best to beat China in Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier match at the My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi, says coach Park Hang-seo.

"The match takes place on Lunar New Year’s Day. I understand that fans are expecting a lot out of the team this time," Park said at a press meet Monday.

"My players and I have all prepared our best to win against China. However, we should remember that in Southeast Asia, before Vietnam, only Thailand have made it this far into the qualifiers in Asia, and even they have never won a match."

After seven Group B matches, Vietnam have yet to earn a point. They have managed to score four goals, but conceded 16. In their away match against China in the UAE, Vietnam lost 2-3.

Vietnam's coach Park Hang-seo at a press meet before the World Cup qualifier match against China at the My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi, January 31, 2022. Photo: Vietnam Football Federation

"China are a top-tier team in Asia, both strategy-wise and player-wise," Park said, adding that Chinese football clubs are also among the top in the continent.

"They have good foundations. Their investment for football is among the top in the world. The strength and physicality of Chinese players are very good. They have speed, are dangerous at the rear and are quick to counter-attack," Park said.

However, coach Park declined to comment on what he thought were China's weaknesses, reported VnExpress.

In Vietnam's most recent match in Australia on January 27, Vietnam lost 0-4 against the host. It was the first time Vietnam let their opponents score four goals in a match under Park's tutelage since 2017.

"As the head coach, I apologize for having let down our fans," Park said, adding that Vietnam were having a tough time at the World Cup qualifiers, where the best teams in Asia gather.

However, instead of focusing on losses and failures, Vietnamese football should look forward at the future, he said.

"After losing seven matches, we have received much criticism. My players and I are willing to receive them, but criticism should be adequate and constructive," he said, adding that Vietnam should discuss planning its next football generation to build a better future.

Park said he was not fond of the term "Golden Generation" used to refer to current crop of players. He said Vietnam had entered this stage of the World Cup qualifier in Asia as a result of efforts by the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) and clubs.

"If the current generation is called the 'Golden Generation,' and the next generation have better results, how would we call them? The 'Diamond Generation'? The more important thing is to do our best so Vietnamese football can have a better future."

A maximum of 20,000 spectators will be allowed to enter the My Dinh Stadium to watch Tuesday’s match. All spectators will have to be fully vaccinated or recovered from Covid-19, and must have tested negative for the novel coronavirus within the last 72 hours.

Vietnam among top 10 travel trends for 2022: US magazine

Travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler of the United States has voted Vietnam as one of the top 10 travel trends for 2022.

Though the reopening of international tourism remains challenging, many parts of the world have begun to relax their entry requirements placed on foreign visitors, with the primary goal of reviving their tourism industry and the national economy, according to Condé Nast Traveler.

The magazine outlines that Vietnam has also begun allowing foreign travelers to enter the country through the resumption of flights to the US at the end of last year.

Photo: VOV

Since November, Vietnam has implemented a pilot scheme aimed at welcoming back international arrivals with "vaccination passports" in the form of package tours.

The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) has also launched a campaign called "Live fully in Vietnam", which is closely linked with the national tourism brand identity “Vietnam-Timeless Charm” hoping to attract international visitors back to the country in the near future, cited VOV.

In addition, it is also promoting Vietnamese tourism through the website https://vietnam.travel/ and via the VNAT’s various social media platforms.

Apart from the numerous destinations that are starting to reopen to tourists, Condé Nast Traveler also introduced its top travel trends for 2022, including long-haul reboots, personal development retreats, extreme expeditions, in-inclusive luxury travel packages, and adventure hiking.

Moreover, Condé Nast Traveler reveals that with the gradual reopening of regular international flights, there are positive signs ahead that the aviation industry can successfully bounce back in the near future.

Vietnamese traditional offering trays prepared for Lunar New Year's Eve

According to ancient traditions, on the last day of a lunar year, a typical Vietnamese family puts aside everything to prepare a feast to worship their grandparents and ancestors, praying for a brighter year ahead.

The Lunar New Year’s Eve meal is an opportunity for Vietnamese to invite ancestors and deceased family members to celebrate Tet and reunite with their children and grandchildren. It also connects generations in the family to see off the old year and welcome a new year full of happiness and good things.

A five-fruit tray. Photo: VNA

According to Tran Huu Son, deputy head of the Vietnam folk arts association, each family normally prepares two offering trays of food on the occasion. The oldest man in the house will burn incense and read prayers inviting gods and ancestors to come to celebrate Tet with his family.

In the past, an offering tray, particularly in the north, often had six bows and eight plates of different traditional culinary delights for Tet. As time flies, the feast now sees less of traditional food and includes more modern specialties, VNA reported.

The trays also present different dishes according to regions. Northern people hardly forget to place banh chung (square glutinous rice cake), gio lua (sausage made of pork and traditionally wrapped in banana leaves), and nem ran (spring rolls) on their strays; residents of the central region prefer banh tet (round glutinous rice cake) and boiled pock; while braised meat and shrimp and meat salad are the must-have traditional food for people in the South.

In addition to these food trays, there are a five-fruit tray, incense, flower vases, candles, tea, and votive offerings, among others placed on the alters of Vietnamese families on the special eve.

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