Strict control is required at border gates to closely monitor people entering from pandemic-affected countries.

PM calls for drastic actions to cope with COVID-19 Omicron XBB variant

With ongoing unpredictable developments relating to XBB, a sub-variant of the Omicron virus, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has called for drastic preventive measures aimed at dealing with the pandemic during the Lunar New Year, known locally as Tet, and the festive season.

In the latest urgent telegram detailing COVID-19 prevention efforts, the PM has asked residents to actively respond to the pandemic by wearing face masks in public places, frequently washing hands, and enhancing surveillance at points of entry to the country.

According to details in the official dispatch, despite the COVID-19 pandemic largely being brought under control locally, the pandemic continues to remain complicated due to the continuous evolution of sub-variants of the Omicron virus, particularly its ability to evade prior immunity and spread at a faster rate.

This comes as, the sub-variant XBB.1.5 has led to fresh COVID-19 outbreaks to occur in several countries around the world, cited VOV.

PM Chinh has therefore asked relevant ministries and localities to continue strictly monitoring pandemic developments and issue prompt responses in a timely manner with effective solutions as a means of coping with COVID-19 and other infectious diseases during the winter-spring season.

Furthermore, localities nationwide have been advised to swiftly detect and timely handle outbreaks in order to prevent the spread of the pandemic and limit severe cases, as well as further strengthening COVID-19 vaccination efforts to ensure the population get the recommended number of booster doses.

Localities have been requested to tighten control at border gates to closely monitor people entering from pandemic-affected countries whilst simultaneously enhancing surveillance in the community and medical facilities to early detect variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus as they emerge.

Moreover, health facilities have been asked to make thorough preparations in terms of drugs and medical equipment to cope with any potential scenarios which may emerge.

Top legislator suggests Vietnam, Australia expand cooperation in energy transition

Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue expressed his hope that Vietnam and Australia will expand cooperation in energy transition during his reception for Treasurer of Australia’s Victoria state, Tim Pallas, in Hanoi on January 9.

Briefing the guest on Vietnam’s economic growth in 2022, which exceeded 8%, the top legislator stressed that the country is working to consolidate traditional markets, while seeking new ones.

He used this occasion to thank Australia for its support to Vietnam in ensuring energy security, and affirmed that Vietnam persistently maintains its macro-economic stability, according to VNA.

Hue suggested Victoria enhance its cooperation with Ho Chi Minh City in finance and digital transformation, explaining that typical policies are expected to be adopted to turn the Vietnamese southern metropolis into an international financial centre.

He also called on the Australian state to help HCM City in devising the policies and implementing them once they sail through the legislature.

Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue (R) and Treasurer of Australia’s Victoria state, Tim Pallas. Photo: VNA

The two sides should exchange delegations more regularly, especially in 2023 that marks the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Australia diplomatic ties, the host leader continued.

For his part, Pallas, who is also Victoria’s Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Trade and Investment, noted his admiration for Vietnam’s economic size which has increased 10 folds since 2000 despite a range of difficulties.

The minister said he hoped that his visit will help to boost cooperation between Victoria and Vietnam and HCM City in particular in the fields of energy and agriculture, suggesting the two sides expand their collaboration in education-training, and digital transformation.

Pallas told Hue that the proposal on the resumption of the agriculture visa programme that targets Vietnamese farmers, made during the Vietnamese leader’s official visit to Australia in late 2022, is being implemented.

Victoria authorities always support the federal government to restore the programme, he affirmed.

High hopes for Vietnamese sports at international tournaments in 2023

2023 will be a busy year ahead for Vietnamese national football teams tasked with defending their title at the upcoming 32nd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games, winning a gold at the 20th Asian Games, and recording good results at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup will mark the first time that Vietnam has progressed to the finals of the prestigious female international tournament.

In Group E, Vietnam will take on defending champions the United States on July 22, the winners of an intercontinental play-off on July 26, and runners-up Netherlands on August 1.

The Vietnamese national football team. Photo: thethao247.vn

Before heading to the tournament, the Vietnamese women’s football team will participate in training camps in Japan and Europe, during which they play friendlies against the Japanese and German national teams in preparation for the Women’s World Cup 2023.

Elsewhere, the senior men’s national football team will take part in the 2023 Asian Cup in Qatar, although fixtures have yet to be scheduled for the competition.

The tournament was originally planned to take place in China this summer, although the hosts subsequently withdrawing from holding the tournament due to the development of the COVID-19 pandemic there, reported VOV.

A total of 24 teams will compete at the 2023 Asian Cup, with teams divided into six groups. The two best teams of each group and four third-placed teams will therefore progress through to the next round.

Head coach Park Hang-seo will bid farewell to the Vietnamese national men’s football team after the 2022 AFF Cup, meaning that the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) is seeking a new manager to lead the senior team. The team aim to qualify for the quarter-final stage as they did at the 2019 Asian Cup.

Furthermore, Vietnamese athletes are going to compete in the 20th Asian Games (ASIAD 20) which will run from September 23 to October 8 in Hangzhou, China, which involves 40 sports and a total of 482 sets of medals on offer.

The Vietnamese sporting delegation will vie for medals at SEA Games 32 taking place in Cambodia between May 5 and May 17. The regional games consists of 49 sports, including 608 events, although many sports which Vietnamese athletes are strong at are not listed in the games.

It will be a big challenge for the Vietnamese delegation as they seek to maintain their top position in the medal tally. At SEA Games 31 held in May 2022, Vietnam topped the medal tally with 205 gold, 125 silver and 116 bronze medals.

Tourism-aviation cooperation needed for new tourism products

To quickly recover the international tourist market, the tourism and aviation sectors must offer new products, particularly reasonably priced travel combos.

At a recent seminar on aviation - tourism cooperation held in Da Nang, Director General of the Vietnam National Administration (VNAT) of Tourism Nguyen Trung Khanh said that after opening on March 15, Vietnam's tourism gradually recovered, especially domestic tourism, with 101.3 million visitors in 2022.

However, the number of international tourists to Vietnam is still limited, with about 3.5 million arrivals, reaching over 70% of the set target.

The reason, according to Khanh, is that the opening time is not the peak season, which lasts from October to March. In addition, pandemic prevention and open-door policies of countries differ. After the pandemic, Vietnam's tourism has had to compete fiercely with other countries.

He said that Vietnam's tourism is in need of breakthrough mechanisms and policies related to entry and visa procedures, air-road transport connections, and tourism promotion.

Bui Minh Dang, Deputy Head of the Air Transport Department, and Civil Aviation Administration of Vietnam (Ministry of Transport), said that more than 63 foreign and four Vietnamese airlines have operated on 154 international air routes connecting 26 countries and territories to five places in Vietnam.

Vietnam has restored most international air routes compared to the time before the pandemic (2019). Only the Russian market is frozen and the Chinese market is still limited in operating frequency (16 flights per week for each side), cited VNN.

The necessary 'handshake'

Bui Minh Dang said that in the coming time, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam, with aviation authorities of China and India, will discuss the legal conditions for the operation of Vietnamese airlines to these countries.

In addition, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam will strengthen coordination with the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism in expanding markets, and promoting aviation - tourism cooperation and Vietnam as a safe and attractive destination after the pandemic.

Photo: VNA

Nguyen Trung Khanh said that airfares usually account for one-third of the cost of a tour. Therefore, the aviation and tourism sectors need to work closely to create tourism products with suitable prices for customers, he emphasized.

He suggested that the two industries "join hands" to develop tourism product packages based on renewing mainstream tourism product lines, including sea and island tourism, cultural tourism (food and heritage), ecotourism (community tourism) and urban tourism (MICE). In addition, resort tourism, medical tourism, wellness tourism also needs attention, investment and development to meet the new demands of the market.

"Now is the time for the tourism and aviation industries to quickly seize the opportunity to recover in the new context, making Vietnam a prestigious destination with a competitive position," Khanh said.

AFF Cup 2022: Vietnam, Indonesia vie for berth in finals

Vietnam and Indonesia will meet again tonight in the second leg of the AFF Cup 2022’s semi-finals, following a goalless draw in the first leg just three days earlier.

At the upcoming match set to take place at Hanoi's My Dinh stadium, Vietnam, which have yet to concede a single goal in the tournament so far, must win to advance.

Up to this point, the two squads are equal in terms of points. However, Indonesia is in an advantageous position thanks tthe away goals rule, VNA reported.

Vietnamese players practice for the match against Indonesia tonight. Photo: VNA

Coach Park Hang-seo of Vietnam said this is a very important match and Vietnamese players have tried their best preparing for it. If Vietnam lose, this will be Park’s last match as the head coach of the national team. The strongest squad is likely to be deployed this time.

On the FIFA rankings, Vietnam is ranked 96th and Indonesia 151st.

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