Vietnam News Today (November 6): Vietnam to Resume Air Routes to 15 Countries, Territories Globally

A Covid-19 test point in Hanoi. Photo: VnExpress

Vietnam records 7,487 Covid-19 local cases

Vietnam’s Covid-19 tally in the fourth wave starting late April rose to 947,733 after the Health Ministry confirmed 7,487 new cases Friday.

The three places with the highest numbers of new infections were Dong Nai with 953 cases and Binh Duong with 917, and Ho Chi Minh City with 912.

On Friday, the ministry announced another 70 Covid-19 deaths, including 33 in HCMC. The total Covid-19 death toll so far rose to 22,412, accounting for around 2.4 percent of all infections, cited VnExpress.

Another 1,941 patients recovered, raising the number of recoveries since the start of the pandemic to 837,347.

So far, over 59.4 million people have been vaccinated. Of which, 26.9 million have been fully vaccinated.

Vietnam attaches importance to relations with Francophone community: PM

Vietnam attaches importance to its cooperative relations with the Francophone community and actively contributes to its common activities, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has said.

The PM made the statement at a meeting on November 5 with Louise Mushikiwabo, Secretary-General of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), during his official visit to France.

PM Chinh applauded the efforts and contributions of the Francophone community to keeping peace and stability, promoting development in, and strengthening cooperation and solidarity among its member countries, according to VNA.

While taking on the role of a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021 term, Vietnam has always promoted dialogue and cooperation, and contributed to efforts in a bid to prevent and resolve instability and conflicts that occurred in some African countries which are members of the OIF, he said.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (left) meets Louise Mushikiwabo, Secretary-General of the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF), during his official visit to France. Photo: VNA

The PM said that Vietnam has joined 17 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) covering up to 60 economies, including some Francophone economies. This is a favorable condition and legal basis for the country to promote economic cooperation with Francophone countries, he said, expressing his willingness to promote cooperation with Francophone nations in agriculture and telecommunications.

The OIF General-Secretary highly appreciated Vietnam's role and its responsible and effective contributions to the Francophone community, as well as enhancing the image of the Francophone community in the Asia-Pacific region, including its hosting of the 7th Francophone Summit in 1997.

She also praised Vietnam's role as the coordinator to successfully build the Francophone Economic Cooperation Strategy for the 2020-2025 period and welcomed Vietnam's participation in UN peacekeeping operations, especially in Francophone countries.

The two leaders witnessed the signing of a letter of intent on collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam and the Ministry of Agriculture of Gabon on coffee production and export cooperation; a letter of intent on cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam and the OIF on the establishment of a South-South Cooperation Centre and tripartite cooperation.

Vietnam to resume air routes to 15 countries, territories globally

Vietnam will restore international commercial flights to 15 countries and territories worldwide under a four phase scheme proposed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV).

Phase I:

Time: Starting in Quarter IV 2021

Passengers: Vietnamese returnees and foreigners booking package tours

Markets: Japan, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan (China), Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, France, Germany, Russia and Australia

Requirements: 7-day quarantine for fully vaccinated passengers and 14-day quarantine for unvaccinated passengers, plus a negative Covid-19 test

Photo: VOV

Phase II:

Time: Starting in January 2022

Passengers: Vietnamese returnees and foreigners

Frequency: 4 flights/week/each airline

Markets: China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, France, Germany, Russia, Australia, Laos, Cambodia, and the United Kingdom.

Requirements: 7-day quarantine for fully vaccinated passengers and 14-day quarantine for unvaccinated passengers, plus a negative Covid-19 test, reported VOV.

Phase III:

Time: Starting in April 2022

Passengers: Vietnamese returnees and foreigners

Frequency: 7 flights/week/each airline

Markets: to be expanded

Requirements: No quarantine is needed if a vaccine passport model is in use; 14-day quarantine for unvaccinated passengers.

Phase IV:

Time: Starting in July 2022

Passengers: Vietnamese citizens and foreigners

Flight frequency: Unlimited

Markets: open

Requirements: Aviation and health requirements

HCMC wants to allow foreign tourists without quarantine from December

Ho Chi Minh City, a major tourist destination, wants to allow international tourists in without a mandatory quarantine requirement from December if they possess Covid-19 vaccine passports.

The city Department of Tourism has drafted a plan for a three-phase vaccine passport program for tourists from Europe, Southeast Asia, Northeast Asia, Australia, North America, and the Middle East from later this year instead of early next year as previously planned.

In the first phase starting December, tourists who are required to book a tour package with approved travel agencies will arrive by flight or cruise ships and stay at designated hotels and resorts.

Foreigners walk on Bui Vien pedestrian street in HCMC, 2019. Photo: VnExpress

In the second phase from January, tourists can visit Kien Giang, Nha Trang, Da Nang, Quang Nam, and Quang Ninh after completing a seven-day itinerary in HCMC.

In the third phase, the schedule for which has not been disclosed, the city will fully reopen to international tourism.

Earlier tourism authorities had said this year the focus would be on reviving domestic tourism and the city would only consider receiving foreign tourists from next year, cited VnExpress.

The city received over 8.6 million foreign visitors in 2019.

In the first nine months of this year it received 7.7 million domestic tourists.

Quang Nam, Kien Giang, Khanh Hoa, and Quang Ninh provinces and Da Nang City have got approval from the government to allow in foreign tourists from November as part of a roadmap to gradually resume international tourism.

Vietnamese exporters advised to grasp opportunities in EU market

The recovering European economy together with higher demand is providing Vietnamese enterprises with opportunities to promote exports and optimize advantages from the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), speeding up the recovery of production and business activities after a long period of suffering from Covid-19 impacts, according to experts.

The experts gathered at an online conference on November 5 in Ho Chi Minh City to discuss prospects and solutions to promote exports to the EU market in the new context.

They held that the EU is facing a first-ever shortage of goods, as many suppliers are struggling with Covid-19, while logistics costs are rising and demand is increasing in the rest of the year.

Photo: VNA

Therefore, they advised Vietnamese exporters to grasp this chance to conquer the EU market.

Nguyen Thao Hien, Vice Director of the Department of Europe-America Markets under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said that the biggest advantage in the EU is preferential tariffs from the EVFTA, reported VNA.

However, the advantage will not last for a long time as the recovery process of the EU will take place in a short time. Moreover, many other countries in the region have been negotiating free trade agreements with the EU, increasing pressure of competition, they said.

They asserted that despite difficulties after a social distancing period, Vietnamese businesses should focus their resources to recover production and make full use of the current opportunities.

Vu Chien Thang from the Vietnam Trade Office in Spain held that after the pandemic, European consumers have prioritized smart products, food safety and products of clear origin that are traded through e-commerce platforms.

Lawyer Dinh Thi Anh Tuyet from the Vietnam International Arbitration Centre asserted that as businesses have to grasp all opportunities to seek orders, the signing of trade contracts should be carefully considered to avoid legal risks.

Vietnam News Today (November 5): Made-in-Vietnam Satellite Launched on November 7 Vietnam News Today (November 5): Covid-19: New cases on November 4 top 6,580; Vietnam, Russia to ink protocol on automobile production cooperation; Made-in-Vietnam satellite to ...

Vietnam News Today (November 4): Foreign Tourists Can Visit Vietnam From This Month Vietnam News Today (November 4): Vietnam confirms 6,175 new local Covid-19 cases; Vietnam, Australia announce enhanced economic engagement strategy; Six Vietnamese universities among Asia's top ...

Vietnam News Today (November 3): Vietnam Beat Myanmar to Qualify for U23 Asian Cup Vietnam News Today (November 3): 5,637 fresh Covid-19 cases detected across 52 localities; Vietnam, UK boost cooperation in digital economy and digital transformation; Vietnam beat ...