After a two-year hiatus caused by COVID-19, Vietnamese airlines are allowed to operate regular routes to China, starting January 8. Illustrative photo

Airlines to resume regular flights to China as of January 8

Starting from January 8, Vietnamese airlines will operate regular routes to China as they had done in the pre-pandemic period in 2019, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV).

This decision comes after the Civil Aviation Administration of China decided to lift restrictions placed on regular international flights to the mainland.

According to information offered by the CAAV, the decision means that airlines are permitted to resume regular flights with the frequency specified in bilateral aviation agreements signed between the two countries. The limit placed on the number of passengers on flights will also be removed.

Airlines seeking to run international passenger flights can apply to resume operations for the winter schedule, with applications for increasing flights or opening new routes for the summer flight schedule to be considered after January 8.

At present, Vietnam Airlines is operating routes between Hanoi and Nanjing/Shanghai, as well as between Ho Chi Minh City and Shenzhen/Hangzhou/Shanghai/Sichuan/Guangzhou, with a total of six flights a week. As of March, the airline will gradually increase the operating frequency from three flights per week to five flights per week to Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangzhou, with priority given to regular routes.

Vietjet Air is currently operating routes between Ho Chi Minh City and Shenzhen/Hangzhou/Shanghai/Sichuan/Wuhan with a total of six flights per week. As of January 23, the airline will start exploiting more routes from Cam Ranh to Chengdu and Han Fei. Starting from the summer, Vietjet Air plans to operate 85 routes, with 60 routes already being given slots.

For Pacific Airlines, the airline is currently operating routes from Hanoi to Hangzhou/Nanning with a frequency of two flights per week, whilst the airline plans to exploit routes from Hanoi to Guangzhou and Fuzhou starting from the summer.

Furthermore, airlines Bamboo Airways and Vietravel Airlines currently conduct a limited number of flights to China. Bamboo Airways is operating the Hanoi-Tian Tan route with a frequency of a flight per week with no specific plans in place for the next phase.

Meanwhile, Vietravel Airlines currently does not operate any routes to China, and the airline is expected to run charter flights from Cam Ranh and Da Nang to Hangzhou in the initial phase, cited VOV.

To be permitted to enter China, the CAAV noted that passengers are required a PCR test within 48 hours before departure. If the results of the test are negative, they will be allowed to enter China without asking for a health code from the Chinese Embassy, but instead must fill in the test result and the card applying for a health code from the customs service. If the result shows positive, the passenger must wait for a negative result to be allowed entry.

China has since moved to abolish the PCR testing requirement placed on all passengers upon entry. Those with a valid health declaration according to the quarantine regulations of the border-gate customs office will therefore be allowed to enter without isolation.

Those possessing invalid health declarations or symptoms of fever will be tested for antigens by the customs office. Those who record positive test results, show mild symptoms, or have no symptoms, can be isolated for treatment at home, put into isolation centres, or given self-treatment, whilst other cases must go to medical facilities for treatment.

For international passenger flights, China has cancelled regulations regarding seat restrictions, with passengers encouraged to fulfill requirements on related quarantine tests and wear a mask on board flights at all times.

Vietnam gains broadcast rights for 32nd SEA Games

The Vietnam Cable Television Corporation (VTVcab) has become the first in the country to hold the broadcast rights for the 32nd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 32) in Cambodia.

Speaking in Hanoi on January 7, Chairman of VTVcab Hoang Ngoc Huan said his company pledges that viewers nationwide can watch the biggest regional sporting event. It will also take part in producing programmes reflecting sideline events of the Games.

The logos and mascots of the SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games in Cambodia in 2023. Source: VNA

The firm is also ready to assist the Cambodian side in producing shows on the 32nd SEA Games, he added.

Meanwhile, a representative of On Media thanked the SEA Games 32 organizing committee for choosing the company as the distributor of the Games broadcast rights on different media platforms in the territory of Vietnam, according to VNA.

On Media will popularise not only the Games but also the land and people of Cambodia to Vietnamese viewers, the company said.

SEA Games 32, slated for May 2023, is the first of its kind to take place in Cambodia.

Vietnam targets $7,500 GDP per capita by 2030

Vietnam has set a goal to obtain a gross domestic product (GDP) of USD7,500 per capita by 2030, and the figure should be even higher by 2050.

This is part of the government’s national master plan for 2021–2030, with a vision towards 2050, submitted to the National Assembly on its second extraordinary session held in Hanoi on January 5..

Under the plan, the country's annual GDP growth is expected to be maintained at 7% during the 2021–2030 period and 6.5–7.5% in the 2031–2050 period.

Photo: VNN

By 2030, Vietnam’s average GDP per capita should reach USD7,500. The southeastern region should see the highest GDP per capita at USD14,500, and it should be followed by the Red Delta region at USD10,500.

The country’s average GDP per capita should climb to USD27,000–32,000 by 2050, reported Dtinews.

In 2022, the country’s GDP per capita was estimated at USD4,100, which is up around USD400 compared to 2021.

According to the master plan, Hanoi-Haiphong and Quang Ninh will comprise the northern locomotive zone, meanwhile, Thua Thien-Hue, Danang-Quang Nam-Quang Ngai, and HCM City-Binh Duong-Dong Nai-Ba Ria-Vung Tau will comprise the central and southern locomotive zones, respectively.

Vietnam will also focus on developing the Lao Cai-Hanoi-Haiphong-Quang Ninh and Moc Bai-HCM City-Vung Tau economic corridors by 2050.

The country will prioritize key infrastructure projects, such as the North-South express railway, to connect large economic centers.

Hanoi to launch firework displays in 30 locations

Fireworks will light up the skies over 30 locations in all 30 districts and towns of Hanoi during the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet) festival, Vietnam’s largest national holiday, the municipal People’s Committee announced on January 6.

The 15-minute firework shows, to be funded by businesses and organizations, will start at 0:00 on January 22 (Lunar New Year’s Eve).

Fireworks to light up the skies over 30 Hanoi locations. Photo: VNA

Prior to COVID-19, firework displays were also held across all 30 districts and town on the Lunar New Year’s Eve, cited VNA.

However, last year, the city decided to cancel fireworks and countdown events, in an attempt to control the pandemic outbreak.

Nearly 3,500 runners compete at Vietnam Trail Marathon

Roughly 3,500 Vietnamese and foreign runners gathered together on January 7 in Moc Chau district in the northern mountainous province of Son La for the Vietnam Trail Marathon 2023.

As the biggest trail marathon event held throughout Asia, runners competed in a wide array of distances ranging from 10km to 70km.

Those who competed in the 70km distance started at 4 a.m. in Moc Chau, running through flower valleys in full bloom and remote villages, before reaching the Trai Tim (heart) tea hill, cited VOV.

As planned, over VND550 million, equivalent to roughly US$23,400, will be allocated to projects in Moc Chau, with the aim of reducing the infant mortality rate as well as providing cleft lip and cleft palate surgeries for children.

Topas has been operating in Vietnam since the 1990s in the field of adventure tourism, with a specific focus on organising sporting and outdoor events.

Vietnam News Today (Jan. 5): Vietnam Emerges as 'Jewel' in Attracting Global Investment Vietnam News Today (Jan. 5): Omicron subvariant XBB detected in HCM City; Vietnam emerges as 'jewel' in attracting global investment; Vietnam earns over 400 mln ...

Vietnam News Today (Jan. 6): Vietnam, Cambodia Strengthen Anti-drug Cooperation Vietnam News Today (Jan. 6): Vietnam, Cambodia strengthen anti-drug cooperation; Fulcrum for Vietnamese economy to see robust growth ahead in 2023; Hanoi offers Thang Long ...

Vietnam News Today (Jan. 7): Vietnam Attaches Importance to Strengthening Relations with Cambodia Vietnam News Today (Jan. 7): Vietnam attaches importance to strengthening relations with Cambodia; Son Doong among world's 10 most incredible caves; Vietnam’s largest airport expects ...