Vietnam News Today (October 21): Winter Monsoon to Hit Northern Vietnam

A medical staff holds a bottle of Covid-19 vaccine in HCMC's Thu Duc City, Oct. 16, 2021. Photo: VnExpress

Vietnam confirms 3,635 new local Covid-19 cases

The Ministry of Health reported 3,635 local Covid-19 patients in 50 cities and provinces Wednesday, up 608 from Tuesday.

The three localities with the highest numbers of cases are Ho Chi Minh City with 1,347, Binh Duong with 492 and Dong Nai with 305.

The new cases bring Vietnam's Covid-19 tally since the start of the pandemic to 873,901 including 869,193 in the fourth wave, which hit the nation in late April.

The ministry also announced 72 Covid deaths, including 43 in HCMC and 8 in Binh Duong, raising the nation's death toll to 21,416, cited VnExpress.

A total of 1,737 patients recovered on Wednesday, raising the number of recoveries to 796,583.

Over 48 million people have received at least one Covid-19 vaccine shot, in which 19.1 million people have been fully vaccinated.

Ministries asked to facilitate exit, entry by Vietnamese, foreigners

Several ministries have been asked to facilitate Vietnamese people and foreigners’ exit from and entry into the country.

In a document issued by the Government Office conveying the request made by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, the Ministry of Health was told to promptly overhaul the existing guidelines or issue new ones on testing, quarantine, and health monitoring to create favorable conditions for Vietnamese people to return to the homeland, and for foreign entrepreneurs, experts, and hi-tech workers to enter the country safely, reported VNA.

Passengers have health declarations checked at an airport. Photo: VNA

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was demanded to coordinate with the Ministry of Information and Communications and the Ministry of Health to quickly issue detailed instructions so that Vietnamese people and foreigners who have been vaccinated against Covid-19 in the country can easily go abroad.

The Deputy PM also requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to work with the Ministries of Public Security; Health; Culture, Sports and Tourism; Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs; and relevant ministries and sectors to soon reach consensus on regulations related to visa and epidemiological control for foreigners entering Vietnam in the new context.

Winter monsoon to hit northern Vietnam

The northeast monsoon would befall northern Vietnam before hitting north-central regions starting Thursday, bringing heavy rains and lowering temperatures.

Hanoi temperatures reached 31 degrees Celsius at around 1 p.m. Wednesday, while areas over 1,500 meters above sea level like Sa Pa in Lao Cai reached 20 degrees, about 5-10 degrees higher than the previous weekends.

But the incoming monsoon starting Thursday is expected to befall northern mountainous regions and continue down below, bringing heavy rains, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting. Temperatures would be lowered, with Hanoi potentially reaching 18 degrees on Thursday and Friday, before rising slowly towards Sunday, up to 23 degrees, according to U.S. weather forecast service AccuWeather.

In Sa Pa, temperatures on Thursday could reach 12-20 degrees, with temperatures during the day hovering around 13 degrees during the weekends.

People light up a fire for warmth on January 1, 2021. Photo: VnExpress

While rains and floods have receded in central Vietnam, the monsoon could bring the rain back to regions from Thanh Hoa to Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien-Hue, starting Friday.

Central Vietnam should expect persistent rains for all of October. Meanwhile, the Central Highlands and southern Vietnam would see more rains at dusk towards the weekends, according to VnExpress.

Previously from Oct. 15 to 19, impacts of the now-dissipated Kompasu storm and cold air triggered heavy rains and floods in central Vietnam from Ha Tinh to Quang Ngai, killing at least three people and rendered three others missing.

As many as 54 communes in Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien-Hue, Quang Ninh and Da Nang were flooded, and around 65 houses damaged. Thousands of hectares of paddy fields and other produces were also affected.

This year's winter is expected to be colder than previous years, and severe cold spells could appear even before Dec. 25, meteorologists warn.

Vietnam Airlines plans to operate nearly 40 domestic routes

Vietnam Airlines is anticipated to operate roughly 40 routes nationwide in a bid to meet the travel demand of passengers after several localities eased post-pandemic travel restrictions.

The national flag carrier is expected to officially open ticket sales on October 20 immediately after receiving permission from local authorities.

The group, comprising Vietnam Airlines, Pacific Airlines, and Vietnam Air Services Company (VASCO), plans to operate approximately 40 routes across the country from October 21 to November 30, nearly equal to the total number of pre-pandemic routes.

Photo: VOV

Compared to the pilot period, several domestic air routes have been resumed in a bid to connect with new destinations, including Con Dao, Dien Bien, Buon Ma Thuot, Pleiku, and Lam Dong.

The frequency of flight routes is set to be gradually increased in order to meet the market demand. As a result, Vietnam Airlines is expected to operate over 90 daily flights starting from October 21, and increase the figure to nearly 120 flights from the end of October to November.

On the major routes between Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang, Vietnam Airlines plans to operate two flights per day, while Pacific Airlines will operate one flight per day.

On other local routes, Vietnam Airlines will reopen five routes between Da Nang and Hai Phong, Buon Ma Thuot, Nha Trang, Da Lat, and Can Tho from mid-November, VOV reported.

The remaining routes will subsequently be operated by VASCO, including routes between Hanoi-Dien Bien, Ho Chi Minh City-Con Dao, Ca Mau-Rach Gia, and Can Tho-Con Dao.

Previously, during the 11-day pilot scheme from October 10 to October 20, Vietnam Airlines Group had operated a total of 16 routes, conducting 150 flights and transported nearly 12,000 passengers.

Vietnam vs Japan match likely to be played behind closed doors

The upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying match between hosts Vietnam and Japan on November 11 is likely to be held behind closed doors at the My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi.

The Hanoi municipal administration stated on October 20 that it has not granted approval to the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF)’s proposal to let vaccinated spectators enter the stadium to support the host team, reasoning Covid-19 fears remain a primary concern, cited VOV.

Vietnam vs Japan match is likely to be played behind closed doors at the My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi. Photo: VOV

Organizers put forward a proposal on October 11 to receive supporters for the game. The suggestion was that the stadium could operate at 50% capacity in line with the recommendations put forward by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) now the Covid-19 pandemic has been brought under control.

Fans will be required to have certificates showing negative test results against Covid-19 and be fully vaccinated against the virus.

A VFF representative later said the VFF has requested its management body, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, to submit the proposal to the Prime Minister for consideration.

Vietnam are scheduled to face Japan and Saudi Arabia on November 11 and November 16, respectively, as part of the third round of Asian qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, with both fixtures to get underway in Hanoi.

So far during the group stage, Vietnam have lost four games in a row after being outplayed by China, Saudi Arabia, Australia, and Oman. They are now at the bottom of Group B.

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