Vietnam News Today (November 18): First International Tourists Arrive in Vietnam After Months of Sky Closure

A medical staff prepares to inject Covid-19 vaccine into a person in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, October 27, 2021. Photo: VnExpress

Vietnam confirms 9,838 new Covid-19 cases

Health authorities reported another 9,839 local Covid-19 cases Wednesday, down 411 from Tuesday.

HCMC led with 1,337 new cases, followed by the neighboring provinces of Dong Nai (664 cases) and Binh Duong (601 cases).

Another 67 deaths were confirmed, including 25 in HCMC and 12 in Binh Duong, raising the national death toll to 23,337, or 2.2 percent of total infections, cited VnExpress.

The fourth wave that hit Vietnam in late April has until now been responsible for over one million cases. Of them, 872,053 have recovered.

About 36.8 million people of the nation’s 96-million population have been fully vaccinated.

Hanoi, Vientiane promote ties in new period

The Party Committee, authorities and people of Hanoi always treasure and strive to develop the special, loyal and pure relations with the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, as well as Party committees, authorities and people of Lao localities, especially Vientiane, said Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Dinh Tien Dung.

During an online talks with Secretary of the Party Committee of Vientiane and Chairman of the Vientiane People’s Council Anouphap Tounalom on November 17, Dung suggested both sides work closely together to enhance exchanges at all levels, focus on stepping up ties in agriculture, education-training, justice, labor-invalids and social affairs.

He proposed renewing methods of cooperation in fields of shared interest such as building the Party and political system, legal documents at local level, overseeing and inspecting administrative units, building e-government and urban planning and management.

Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Dinh Tien Dung at the talks. Photo: VNA

The two capital cities should adopt measures to boost trade and investment, people-to-people exchange to raise mutual understanding, and consider signing a memorandum of understanding on bilateral cooperation for the new period in the near future, he said.

The Lao official, for his part, expressed his hope that via the talks, the two cities will outline future cooperation orientations, especially those regarding signed agreements, as well as facilitate high-level exchanges to share Party building experience, improve State management and create favorable conditions for ties between their two People’s Councils, reported VNA.

He proposed the two sides continue to encourage their economic sectors to reinforce ties across economy, culture, education and science to make breakthrough progress, especially in signed projects.

Anouphap Tounalom also wished the two cities would work together to study the building of shopping and tourism centres. He hoped leaders of Hanoi would continue supporting effective agriculture projects and joint work between the two labour departments.

Basically agreeing with the Lao side’s proposals, Dung suggested adding them into minutes of cooperation for 2021-2025 for signing this year.

During the 2017-2020 period, Hanoi and Vientiane strengthened their cooperative ties via all channels and in all sectors, with many effective joint projects in economics, health care, education, agriculture, military and people-to-people exchange.

Under the signed MoU, the two sides exchanged many delegations at both high and grassroots levels, expanded cooperation in agriculture development, and shared experience in building a research institute of socio-economic development of Vientiane. Hanoi helped Vientiane in building the traditional house of the municipal Military Command and provided scholarships for Vientiane’s students and officials.

Hanoi also presented medical supplies to Vientiane in support of its fight against Covid-19, including 30,000 medical masks, 10,000 rapid test kits and US$40,000. The Lao capital city also sent aid worth US$15,000 to Hanoi to help with the fight against the pandemic.

First international tourists arrive in Vietnam after months of sky closure

A Vietnam Airlines flight departing from the Republic of Korea (RoK) landed at Da Nang International Airport on November 17, bringing nearly 30 foreign tourists to local destinations under a pilot program to welcome back foreign travelers after a hiatus caused by Covid-19.

Upon their arrival, the tourists were transferred to New Word Hoiana Hotel in Duy Hai commune where they plan to make a tour of local destinations in the coming days.

This is the first group of foreign travelers who have booked package tours to Vietnam under a pilot program for vaccinated visitors.

Photo: VOV

Quang Nam is scheduled to receive another two groups of tourists flying from the RoK via flights put on by Vietjet Air and Bamboo Airways on November 18 and November 25, respectively.

The three flights will therefore bring a total of over 300 foreign visitors to Quang Nam province, according to VOV.

They will join an eight-day-seven-night package tour of Hoi An ancient city, My Son relic site, and several entertainment areas, according to Nguyen Nhu Nam, general director of Vietnam TravelMART travel company.

Vietnam has closed its skies to air travel to combat Covid-19 since late April 2020. The Government recently allowed five localities, including Quang Nam, to welcome back vaccinated visitors from abroad under a pilot program.

Many other localities such as Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Thuan have longed to receive back foreign travelers who bring a large amount of hard currency to local coffers. However, the move depends on the actual situation of the Covid-19 outbreak in their areas.

Vietnam’s first sapper unit joining UN peacekeeping operations makes debut

Vietnam’s sapper unit No. 1 and level-2 field hospital No. 4 joining UN peacekeeping operations made their debut at a ceremony held by the Ministry of National Defense in Hanoi on November 17.

The sapper unit was established in 2014 to be deployed to a suitable peacekeeping mission when requested by the United Nations (UN).

With 203 members, including 21 female sappers, the unit is expected to be sent to the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA), according to Major General Hoang Kim Phung, Director of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations.

Along with the field hospital, the unit will play a role in providing humanitarian aid, helping UN peacekeeping missions complete their tasks, contributing to peacekeeping, national reconstruction and bringing about a peaceful, stable life to host countries.

The 71-member field hospital has mainly focused on English and professional training this year. Its staff members will continue to join training courses on health care, peacekeeping and other military aspects in the time ahead.

At the ceremony. Photo: VNA

Deputy Minister of National Defense Senior Lieutenant General Hoang Xuan Chien, head of the ministry’s steering committee for participation in UN’s peacekeeping operations, urged relevant units to make all-round preparations and organise more training courses before deployment, VNA reported.

The field hospital needs to pay attention to Covid-19 prevention and control and follow professional procedures in treating international patients in South Sudan, he said.

Chien urged speeding up legal preparedness and the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the UN on the deployment of the sapper unit in Abyei.

On this occasion, a building whose construction was funded by the US was handed over to the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations.

Vietnam drop out of top 100 in FIFA world rankings

For the first time in three years, Vietnam have dropped out of the top 100 of the FIFA world rankings following their 0-1 FIFA World Cup qualifying loss to Saudi Arabia in Hanoi on November 16 evening.

This was Vietnam’s sixth losing game since they cruised to the third and last qualifying round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. They now stay at the bottom of the Group B without a single point after six matches.

Vietnam drop out of top 100 in FIFA world rankings for the first time in three years. Photo: VOV

With the latest result, Park Hang-seo’s team were deducted 7.6 points, falling to 101st place in the rankings.

The drop down the rankings marks the first time in three years that the Vietnamese side have been knocked out of the world’s top 100. Previously, the team had managed to climb into the top 100 from 130th place, cited VOV.

Vietnam have four remaining matches as part of the third round of World Cup qualifiers taking place next year. They will take on Australia on January 27, 2022, China on February 1, 2022, Oman on March 24, 2022, and Japan on March 29.

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