A woman carrying her baby on a train carrying migrant workers in HCMC home in central Vietnam, October 8, 2021. Photo: VnExpress

Vietnam records 4,512 new local Covid cases

The Health Ministry confirmed 4,512 new Covid-19 cases in 40 localities Saturday, taking the total number of infections in the current wave to 831,524.

The epicenter HCMC recorded 1,662 cases, while its neighbors Binh Duong recorded 820 cases and Dong Nai 575 cases.

105 deaths were added to the national database on Saturday: 74 in Ho Chi Minh City, 18 in Binh Duong, five in An Giang, three in Dong Nai, two in Tay Ninh and one in Hanoi.

The total number of coronavirus deaths so far is 20,442, taking up around 2.4 percent of all infections.

1,319 Covid-19 patients were announced recovered, bringing the total number of recovered cases to 760,801, cited VnExpress.

Vietnam has vaccinated over 37.7 million with at least one Covid-19 vaccine shot. Over 14.2 million people have been fully vaccinated.

With coronavirus cases dropping in many localities including HCMC, the Ministry of Transport has decided to restart daily flights on 19 routes including the one between Hanoi and HCMC from Sunday.

Arrivals from HCMC to Hanoi will have to stay in centralized quarantine for a week.

Vietnam eyes vaccinating children against Covid-19 in October

The Ministry of Health plans to start vaccinating children aged between 12 and 17 years old against Covid-19 this month, before expanding the vaccination to smaller age groups, informed Deputy Minister Tran Van Thuan on October 9.

Thuan unveiled the plan when replying to voters' opinions on the issue at an online voter meeting held by the delegation of National Assembly deputies from Ho Chi Minh City.

Photo: VNA

A large amount of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine will come to Vietnam in the near future, the health official said, adding that following a request made by President Nguyen Xuan Phuc during his recent visit to Cuba, Vietnam is now waiting for Cuba's sending of a dossier on child vaccines for consideration.

Thuan said there will be no shortage of vaccine resources between now and the end of the year, with a minimum of 120 million doses expected to arrive. It is estimated that in 2021, Vietnam will see over 70 percent of its over-18-year-old population injected with one vaccine dose, reported VNA.

The nation has so far distributed 56 million doses of vaccines. As of October 8, some 51.4 doses had been administered, with the number of people aged 18 and older getting one shot reaching 52.3 percent.

Cold spell, downpours to hit northern Vietnam

Northern Vietnam will experience low temperature starting Saturday night, along with rain levels up to 300 millimeters per session.

Starting Sunday, temperatures across northern regions and Thanh Hoa will drop by up to five degrees Celsius from Saturday, down to around 19-21 degrees and even 18 degrees in mountainous areas, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.

Satellite image of storm Lionrock off the coast of northern Vietnam, October 9, 2021. Photo: National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting

The currents of the ongoing Lionrock storm, combined with low temperatures, will send downpours to northern Vietnam from Sunday to Tuesday. Rain levels in northeastern regions would be around 150-300 millimeters per session; 50-150 millimeters for northwestern regions. Localities like Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Ha Tinh will experience rain levels between 100-250 millimeters per session, according to the center.

In Hanoi, heavy rains will be observed from Saturday afternoon to Monday. Starting Sunday, temperatures in the capital will drop to around 20-21 degrees Celsius.

As of 1 p.m. Saturday, the Lionrock storm was above Hainan Island with a maximum wind speed of 75 kph. Within the next 24 hours, it is forecast to move west-northwest at around 10 kph and enter the Gulf of Tonkin.

Within the next 36 hours, the storm may switch direction to west-southwest, moving at 15-20 kph and devolve into a tropical depression, making landfall in northern-north central Vietnam, according to VnExpress.

Due to impacts of the storm and cold air, heavy rains would be observed from Saturday to Tuesday in northern and north central localities, up to 300 millimeters per session.

Vietnam Airlines resumes Hanoi – Ho Chi Minh City route

National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines announced on October 8 it will resume 14 round-trip flights on domestic routes, including those between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, during a pilot scheme starting on October 10.

Vietnam Airlines will again operate flights from and to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Vinh, Thanh Hoa, Quy Nhon, Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Dong Hoi, Nha Trang, Tuy Hoa, Phu Quoc, Thanh Hoa and Da Lat.

For the Hanoi-HCM City route, Boeing 787 or Airbus A350 aircraft will depart from Noi Bai International Airport at 1 p.m. and from Tan Son Nhat International Airport at 4 p.m. every day, cited VOV.

Vietnam Airlines will resume domestic routes from Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City and other destinations during the pilot scheme from October 10-20. Photo: VOV

The corporation will arrange a total of 152 flights during the pilot scheme lasting from October 10 to October 20.

Earlier the same day, the Government agreed with the Ministry of Transport’s proposal to resume domestic air routes on a trial basis from October 10 to 20, in an effort to get transport and tourism services back on track.

The Ministry of Transport has laid down guidelines for resuming domestic air routes. For the time being, passengers are public affairs servants, Covid-19 frontline forces, experts, business executives and several others.

Passengers must receive two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine, with the second dose given at least 14 days apart. Vaccination is evidenced by a green card on the E-health record book / PC-COVID app or a vaccination certificate. They must also have a negative Covid-19 test at least 72 hours before departure.

Those who show symptoms of a cough, a fever, shortness of breath, muscle pain or a sore throat are now allowed to board the plane.

Among other conditions, passengers are required to wear a face mask, disinfect their hands, and limit contact during the flight. From the arriving airport to their home, passengers are required to strictly follow Covid-19 guidelines, turn on the PC-COVID tracking app, limit stops, and not attend large gatherings.

Vietnam named among top 30 destinations in October

Vietnam has been listed among the top 30 destinations to visit on holiday in October, announced by popular travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler.

According to the website, October represents the beginning of the dry season in the country’s northern and southern regions, where monumental natural spectacles and buzzing city scenes can both be enjoyed.

Vietnam is listed among top 30 destinations in October by popular travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler. Photo: Bao Dan Toc

Condé Nast Traveler revealed that Sa Pa is renowned for being the gateway to misty treks, while Hanoi is famous for locals sipping condensed-milk coffees on low plastic stools. The capital city is also home to a range of outstanding local cuisine, VOV reported.

“Down at the bottom, the Mekong Delta is a whole world bobbing on canals and streams; and Ho Chi Minh City is where the bohos go – don’t miss The Café Apartment, a nine-storey block stuffed with fairy-lit mini-boutiques and craft coffee stores,” the article stated.

Rounding the list of top 30 list are destinations such as Málaga of Spain, the Ningaloo Reef of Australia, Darjeeling of India, Churchill of Canada, the Japanese Alps, Atacama Desert of Chile, and the Lake District of the UK.

Vietnam News Today (October 9): Vietnam Set to Fully Reopen to Foreign Visitors by June 2022 Vietnam News Today (October 9): Health Ministry, Facebook launch campaign on Covid-19 inoculation drive; North-central Vietnam braces for Lionrock storm; Vietnam set to fully reopen ...

Vietnam News Today (October 8): Vietnamese Carriers to Service Domestic Routes Starting Sunday Vietnam News Today (October 8): Vietnam records 4,147 more local Covid cases; Vietnamese carriers to service domestic routes starting Sunday; Numerous Japanese firms consider moving ...

Vietnam News Today (October 7): Central Vietnam Gears Up for Heavy Rain as Tropical Storm Likely to Turn into Storm Vietnam News Today (October 7): Vietnam confirms 4,356 new Covid-19 cases; Central Vietnam gears up for heavy rain as tropical storm likely to turn into ...