Illustrative image. Photo: VNA

359 new Covid-19 cases recorded on November 5

The national Covid-19 caseload rose to 11,505,608 with 359 new cases recorded on November 5, according to the Ministry of Health.

With 210 patients given the all clear during the day, the number of recoveries rose to 10,604,591.

Meanwhile, there are 66 patients needing breathing support, cited VNA.

No death from Covid-19 was recorded in the past 24 hours. The total fatalities stood at 43,165.

As of the end of November 4, the total number of doses of Covid-19 vaccines injected was 262,251,993 with 63,430 doses administered on November 4.

International tourism market to become bustling during winter months

Along with tourists arriving from traditional markets, holidaymakers from India, Central Asia, South America, and Northern Europe have begun booking tours to Vietnam, and Ho Chi Minh City is prepared to welcome back these travelers from the emerging markets.

Ho Chi Minh City – the largest locality and a major tourist destination in Vietnam - has recently chosen the event ITB Asia 2022 in Singapore to promote inbound tourism following a two-year hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The city has set a goal of attracting back a high influx of visitors from key markets both around the region and throughout the world,

Nguyen Ngoc Toan, general director of Images Travel & Events Company, said that in early November, the company welcomed a group of nearly 200 students from Uruguay who were keen to gain greater insights into the city’s historical and cultural landmarks.

Photo: VOV

He also revealed that groups of visitors comprising between 20 and 40 each from France are scheduled to arrive in the city in November as part of their trans-Vietnam tour, according to VOV.

The international tourism market has witnessed a boom in recent times due to changes in travel habits and an increasing number of independent travelers who have conducted online bookings, said Toan.

According to details given by the Department of Tourism of Ho Chi Minh City, in October alone the southern metropolis welcomed more than 546,000 foreign visitors, bringing the number of international arrivals to the city in the 10-month period to more than 2.65 million, up 100% year on year.

Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa, director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, said that the department has worked out a plan to develop tourism products alongside the night economy in an effort to welcome international visitors back.

The department has also proposed a number of tours aimed at developing night tourism products to cater to visitor’s various tastes, said Hoa.

At present, relevant agencies are continuing to work alongside tourism experts and travel firms in order to conduct surveys and assessment of destinations nationwide, all of which are expected to be completed this November, Hoa added.

Meanwhile, Nguyen Ngoc Toan, general director of Images Travel & Events Company, noted that the international tourism market in the city still faces a number of obstacles, including high airfare, few flights, and unfavourable visa procedures.

He revealed that he attended the IFTM Top Resa in Paris in September and met some international partners who said they lack information about Vietnam's tourism market.

“They were still concerned about post-pandemic service quality at destinations, as well as new tours and products. In other words, tourism promotion remains inefficient that needs to be given a boost,” said Toan.

Though localities have received groups of foreign tourists during the winter months or peak season, experts said the international tourism market is expected to fully recover in the middle of 2023.

Vietnam targets becoming an upper middle-income country by 2030

Vietnam aims to become an upper middle-income country with a modern industrial base by 2030.

This is part of the national master plan for 2021-2030, with a vision towards 2050, which has just been approved by the Government and will be submitted to the National Assembly for approval.

The country's GDP growth is expected to reach 7% per year in the 2021-2030 period and 6.5-7.5% annually in the 2031-2050 phase.

The GDP per capita is projected to increase to US$7,500 by 2030 and US$27,000-32,000 by 2050.

By 2030, the service sector will contribute 50% of the GDP while industry-construction and agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector account for 40% and 10%, respectively.

There will be northern and southern locomotive zones, with Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City as the growth poles, along with the North-South, Lao Cai-Hanoi-Hai Phong-Quang Ninh, and Moc Bai-HCM City-Vung Tau economic corridors. The urbanization rate will exceed 50%.

The plan targets national digital transformation, digital government, digital economy and a digital society, with the digital economy to account for around 30% of GDP, reported VNA.

Vietnam will have a population of around 105 million and its human development index (HDI) will be maintained at 0.7 and the country expects to be among the top 10 countries with the best education services in Asia.

The country is also striving to catch up with other countries in the region with advanced medical services, with an average 35 hospital beds and 19 doctors for every 10,000 people.

By 2050, Vietnam is aiming to become a developed country with upper income status, an equal, democratic and civilized society, and harmonious, modern infrastructure. It is working hard to move towards the circular, green and low-carbon economy.

To achieve these goals, the Government has chalked out key tasks.

The country needs to form a basic framework of national infrastructure, focusing on transport infrastructure, energy, urban areas, digital infrastructure, environmental protection, irrigation, disaster prevention, adaptation to climate change and cultural and social infrastructure.

It should accelerate the restructuring of the economy and development spaces, ensuring productivity, quality and efficiency improvement; and prioritize the development of a number of industries and fields that have the potential and advantages, so that they can serve as a driving force for growth and enhance the national economy's self-reliance.

It is necessary for the country to develop locomotive zones and important growth poles, and select a number of regions and urban areas with special advantages to build economic and financial centres, and special administrative-economic units with special mechanisms and policies to improve international competitiveness.

The country will also form and develop economic corridors connecting seaports, airports, international border gates, major trading hubs, urban centers and economic centers.

Vietnam, Bulgaria ink judicial cooperation program

The Ministry of Justice of Vietnam and the Ministry of Justice of Bulgaria have recently signed a program on judicial cooperation for the 2023-2024 period.

Signatories to the document were Justice Minister Le Thanh Long of Vietnam and his Bulgarian counterpart Krum Zarkov.

The signing ceremony was virtually held in the presence of Vietnamese Ambassador to Bulgaria Do Hoang Long and Bulgarian Ambassador to Vietnam Marinela Petkova.

An overview of the signing ceremony. Photo: VOV

The newly signed cooperation program is to implement the agreement on legal and judicial cooperation inked in 2009 between the Ministry of Justice of Vietnam and the Ministry of Justice of Bulgaria, cited VOV.

The signing of the new program is expected to open a new period of in-depth and practical cooperation between the two ministries that focuses on a number of areas of mutual interest and priority in the coming time. They include reviewing the agreement on mutual legal assistance in civil matters, sharing practical experience in civil judgment enforcement and asset recovery in corruption cases and assets obtained from illegal activities, and applying information technology in legal affairs.

At the signing ceremony, the two sides expressed their belief that the cooperation program for the 2023 - 2024 period will meet the expectations of both sides, especially in the context of post-pandemic socio-economic recovery.

Vietnam sees sharp increase in agricultural products exported to China

Vietnamese agricultural products exported to China through border gates in the Guangxi region have increased sharply in both volume and value in the first three quarters of 2022, after the effectiveness of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) (January 1, 2022).

Chinese media quoted information from Nanning Customs as saying that, China imported about 477,000 tonnes of Vietnamese agricultural products through the border gates of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, with a total import value of 3.7 billion yuan in the first nine months of this year, up 77.3% over the same period last year.

The first shipment of Vietnamese durians exported to China through Huu Nghi Quan border gate, Guangxi. Photo: Guangxi Daily

Meanwhile, China exported 694,000 tonnes of agricultural products to Vietnam through the border gates of Guangxi, with a total value of 9.28 billion yuan in the first nine months of this year, up 33.7% over the same period last year.

Thus, the total volume and value of agricultural products shipped through the border gates of Guangxi reached 1.171 million tonnes and 12.98 billion yuan respectively, up 51.5% in volume and 43.8% in value over the same period last year.

China mainly imports Vietnamese agricultural products such as jackfruit, mango, and durian and exports to Vietnam vegetables and mushrooms, including canned mushrooms, onions, and potatoes, NDO reported.

After the first shipment of Vietnamese fresh durian through the Huu Nghi Quan border gate in September, over 1,277 tonnes of Vietnamese fresh durian were exported to China in just one month, accounting for over 90% of the total volume and value of durian exports to China.

Since the RCEP agreement officially took effect, agricultural products of Vietnam and ASEAN have gradually been approved to enter the Chinese market. In particular, Vietnamese agricultural products have a great advantage due to the distance, short transportation time, and lower cost.

Vietnam News Today (Nov. 3): US, Vietnam Boost Healthcare Cooperation Vietnam News Today (Nov. 3): US, Vietnam boost healthcare cooperation; Additional 756 Covid-19 infections logged on Nov. 2; Vietnamese, Hungarian NA Offices promote cooperation; International ...

Vietnam News Today (Nov. 4): PM to Visit to Cambodia, Attend ASEAN Summits Vietnam News Today (Nov. 4): 819 new Covid-19 cases recorded on November 3; PM to visit to Cambodia, attend ASEAN Summits; Vietnam commits to ASEAN ...

Vietnam News Today (Nov. 5): Vietnam Attends Council of ASEAN Chief Justices Meeting in Malaysia Vietnam News Today (Nov. 5): Additional 339 Covid-19 cases confirmed on November 4; Vietnam attends Council of ASEAN Chief Justices meeting in Malaysia; Vietnam likely ...