Vietnam News Today (Feb. 17): All Hanoi Students, Except Kindergartners, Return to School Next Week

A medical staff holds a container of Covid-19 vaccine in Ho Chi Minh City, October 2021. Photo: VnExpress

Vietnam confirms 34,723 new local Covid-19 cases

The Health Ministry announced 34,723 new domestic Covid-19 patients Wednesday in 63 cities and provinces.

Most of the new cases were detected in Hanoi at 3,888. It was followed by the northern provinces of Thai Nguyen (2,497 cases) and Hai Duong (1,598 cases).

Since the pandemic started last year, the death toll in Vietnam has climbed to 39,188 or 1.5 percent of all infections, cited VnExpress.

In the latest wave that hit the country in late April, more than 2.57 million cases have been confirmed and 2.25 million of them have recovered.

So far, 77.5 percent of the population have received two vaccine doses.

Vietnam, South Africa prepare for their Partnership Forum in 2022

Vietnam and South Africa have discussed preparations for the upcoming fifth meeting of the Inter-Governmental Partnership Forum of the two countries scheduled to take place in 2022.

The preparations were examined by Vietnamese Ambassador to South Africa Hoang Van Loi and Deputy Minister of the South Africa Department of International Relations and Cooperation Candith Mashego-Dlamini, during a working session recently held in Cape Town.

Ambassador Loi proposed a number of measures to further develop bilateral economic-trade relations in the context that the two countries are implementing policies to cushion the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and step up economic recovery.

Candith Mashego-Dlamini acknowledged Vietnam’s growing role and prestige in the international arena. She thanked the Southeast Asian nation for its close coordination and support in international forums, especially in 2020, when both Vietnam and South Africa served as non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, according to VOV.

Vietnamese Ambassador to South Africa Hoang Van Loi and Deputy Minister of the South Africa Department of International Relations and Cooperation Candith Mashego-Dlamini during their recent working session in Cape Town. Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

They suggested that the two sides focus on discussing and agreeing on specific measures and initiatives to further deepen bilateral relations. Priority will be given to expanding economic-trade cooperation in the fields of their strength such as agriculture, mining, aquatic farming, supporting industries for auto manufacturing, tourism and education.

During his working visit to Cape Town, Ambassador Hoang Van Loi also had a meeting with John Lawson, newly appointed CEO of Cape Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and met with representatives of a number of major businesses that have developed trade relations with Vietnam.

Despite the negative impact caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the trade turnover between the two countries last year fetched nearly US$1.3 billion, of which Vietnam’s export turnover rose 24.3% year on year to US$847 million, while its import value fell nearly 40% to US$426.5 million.

Some items attaining high export value included mobile phones, electronic equipment, computers, shoes, pepper, and textiles.

All Hanoi students, except kindergartners, return to school next week

All primary school students and sixth graders in Hanoi will return to school next week after studying online for over nine months.

The Covid-19 safety protocols allow schools in areas designated low or medium risk to function normally, and since all 12 Hanoi downtown districts fall under one of the two categories and currently no area is deemed high or very high risk, all schools in the city will reopen on Monday.

Students at a primary school in Hanoi's Thanh Tri District prepare for class, February 10, 2022. Photo by VnExpress/Pham Chieu

Hanoi has already allowed 9th graders to return to school since November last year, followed two weeks later with 12th graders. Students from 7th to 11th grades returned to school on Feb. 8, while primary school students and 6th graders in outskirts districts did so on Feb. 10, reported VnExpress.

There are 1.6 million primary school students in the city in all.

However, 600,000 kindergartners have yet to return to school, and authorities have announced no date for it yet.

Vietnam to host AFC Champions League 2022’s group matches

Vietnam, together with Thailand and Malaysia, will host the AFC Champions League 2022’s group matches for clubs in the eastern zone, which will be held from April 15 to May 1.

As announced by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) on February 16, teams in Group H are scheduled to compete in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Group stage draw results for the eastern zone. Photo: AFC

The centralized matches of three groups - F, G and J - will be played in Thailand, while those within Group I will take place in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, cited VNA.

The AFC added that the centralized host nations for matches in the western zone have yet to be selected.

Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal are the defending champions of the tournament after they defeated the Republic of Korea's Pohang Steelers in the final of the 2021 edition.

HCM City-Kuala Lumpur air route to re-open on February 17

Vietnam Airlines said it will resume Ho Chi Minh City - Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) air route from February 17.

This is the first regular international route to be re-opened by the national flag carrier after the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) announced that Vietnam lifted restrictions on the number of international flights from/to Vietnam starting February 15.

Accordingly, the HCM City - Kuala Lumpur flights and vice versa will depart on February 17, 22 and 27, and every Wednesday from March 1, VNA reported.

Vietnam Airlines will resume Ho Chi Minh City - Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) air route from February 17. Photo: VNA

Since January 1, Vietnam Airlines has resumed 24 air routes to 15 countries and territories worldwide, namely the US, the UK, France, Germany, Russia, Australia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan (China), Hong Kong (China), Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Laos and Cambodia.

The airline is scheduled to increase the total number of international flights to at least 95 flights per week from April, and at least 164 flights a week from July this year.

With this plan, all the international air routes of the airline will be re-opened as before the Covid-19 pandemic.

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