Medics review a list of residents living in a Covid-19 hotspot on Con Dao Island off Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province, November 20, 2021. Photo: VnExpress

Vietnam confirms another 39,126 local Covid patients

The Health Ministry announced 39,126 Covid-19 cases Tuesday, including 28,000 that had been detected earlier but yet to be added to the national database.

The additional 28,000 cases had been detected in quarantine zones in Binh Duong Province between July 10 and Nov. 3, making it the locality with the highest infection tally on Tuesday, with 28,698 cases.

The province is followed by its neighbor Ho Chi Minh City, with 1,204 cases.

Ba Ria - Vung Tau, another HCMC's neighboring province, had the third highest number of infections of the day, 709.

The ministry confirmed 167 Covid-19 fatalities on Tuesday, including 62 in HCMC and 28 in the Mekong Delta's An Giang Province, raising the nation's death toll since the start of the pandemic to 24,118, or 2.1 percent of the total infections.

In the fourth wave which hit Vietnam almost seven months ago, more than 1.11 million people have been infected. Of them, 908,493 have recovered, cited VnExpress.

Of the nation's 96-million population, 43.5 million have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

Hanoi started vaccinating children on Tuesday, becoming the 23rd place in the country to do so. More than 33,600 children aged 15-17 got their first Pfizer shot by the end of the day.

Vietnam produces antiviral Molnupiravir for Covid-19 treatment

Three Vietnamese pharmaceutical companies have drawn up plans are in the process of producing Molnupiravir, an antiviral drug for Covid-19 treatment, according to the Ministry of Health.

Molnupiravir has been used globally for mild and asymptomatic Covid-19 patients. The medication has proved to be safe and effective at reducing the risk of hospitalization and death in people with mild to moderate patients who are at increased risk of developing severe disease.

Photo: VOV

As Molnupiravir is yet to be grated a circulation registration number in Vietnam, the Ministry of Health is requesting the Government to approve the medication for emergency use in the country. If approved by the Government, three local pharmaceutical companies are expected to get the nod to produce Molnupiravir in Vietnam, according to VOV.

Since late August, the Ministry of Health has implemented a pilot scheme to use Molnupiravir for mild and asymptomatic cases at home. The scheme was first deployed in Ho Chi Minh City and has so far been replicated 34 cities and provinces.

Official proposes visa exemption for foreign tourists

Khanh Hoa's vice chairman proposed the government allow visa exemption for foreigners visiting Vietnam during the vaccine passport trial to stimulate international tourism.

The central province, home to popular beach towns Nha Trang and Cam Ranh, is one of five localities allowed to welcome back foreign tourists from this month, along with Da Nang, Kien Giang, Quang Nam and Quang Ninh.

Its vice chairman Le Huu Hoang said European and Russian tourists often want to travel longer and could stay in Vietnam for up to 20 days.

Russian tourists in Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa Province, February 2020. Photo: VnExpress

After completing their seven-day tour package in Khanh Hoa, they would want to visit other destinations allowed to receive foreign tourists, he told a meeting with the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Sports on Monday.

He said it is necessary to offer relaxed visa procedures to create the most favorable conditions for foreign tourists to Vietnam.

Over 9,000 foreign tourists from South Korea, Japan, Russia, the Philippines and Cambodia are expected to visit Khanh Hoa under the vaccine passport trial by the end of this year.

On Nov. 11, Khanh Hoa welcomed two flights from South Korea and Japan carrying 429 passengers.

Kien Giang and Quang Nam received their first groups of foreign tourists after nearly two years last week, VnExpress reported.

Vietnam closed its doors to foreigners and grounded international flights in March 2020, and has since allowed entry to only Vietnamese repatriates, foreign experts and highly-skilled workers.

Before the pandemic, the country offered visa waivers to visitors from only 24 countries and territories including ASEAN co-members. Since the pandemic broke out last year, Vietnam suspended visa-free entry for many countries.

Golf tourism – Vietnam’s new advantage

Golf tourism has emerged as a new advantage for Vietnam to attract international holiday-makers, especially after the Covid-19 is brought under control, heard a seminar in the northern province of Quang Ninh on November 23.

Deputy head of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Ha Van Sieu said Vietnam has favorable conditions to develop golf tourism, adding that after the pandemic, the country is focusing on the safest tourism products.

He noted that Vietnam has been named the World's and Asia's Best Golf Destination 2021 at the eighth annual World Golf Awards. It is the second year that Vietnam has been honored with the world title and the fifth consecutive year with the Asian title since 2017.

Photo: VNA

Quang Ninh province has been seen as a leading golf tourism destination in Vietnam with golf courses that meet international standards like FLC Golf Club Halong, Tuan Chau and Vinh Thuan-Mong Cai golf courses, according to VNA.

The locality has recently started the construction of the 27-hole Dong Trieu golf course that can serve up to 800 guests at a same time.

Director of the provincial Department of Tourism Pham Ngoc Thuy said Quang Ninh wishes to partner with travel companies and the media to promote golf tourism of Vietnam and the province in particular.

Quang Ninh is also one of the five localities, along with Kien Giang, Khanh Hoa, Quang Nam and Da Nang, selected for the pilot program to welcome foreign tourists after a long pandemic hiatus.

At the seminar, the participants looked into issues regarding golf tourism development, and shared the view that Vietnam should target golf tourists from East-North Asia in the immediate future.

Two Vietnamese players featured in AFF list of star footballers

The ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) has revealed a poster titled “Vietnam Stars of Their Times” which features several outstanding Vietnamese footballers from the past 20 years, including young stars such as Quang Hai and Hoang Duc.

As one of the country’s leading players, midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai is considered to be an integral part of head coach Park Hang-seo’s plans for the senior national squad.

AFF reveals a poster featuring outstanding Vietnamese footballers from the past 20 years. Photo: VOV

The Hanoi-born star has previous experience in leading the country’s national side, having captaining Vietnam’s U22 team during the qualifiers AFC U23 Championship 2020 in March.

Meanwhile, after some outstanding performances in recent 2022 World Cup qualifiers, national midfielder Nguyen Hoang Duc is being sought after by several international clubs, including Pathum United FC of Thailand.

Standing at 1.83 meters tall, Hoang Duc is capable of playing in both attack and defense and he performed well for the national team in the latest round of 2022 World Cup qualifiers, especially in the match against Australia, cited VOV.

Moreover, former Vietnamese football stars such as Le Huynh Duc, Nguyen Minh Phuong, and Le Cong Vinh, all of whom significantly contributed to the country’s footballing history, were also named in the AFF list.

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