The Vietnam Coast Guard hopes that the patrol will help to boost relations between the two countries. Photo: VNA

Vietnamese, Chinese coast guards conduct joint patrol in Tonkin Gulf

The Vietnam and China coast guard forces on October 22 finished their second joint patrol in the waters adjacent to the demarcation line in the Gulf of Tonkin between the two countries in 2021.

The Vietnamese fleet was led by Vice Commander of the Vietnam Coast Guard 1 Colonel Luong Cao Khai, while the Chinese side was headed by Liu Tianrong, Deputy Chief of the Nanhai Division of the China Coast Guard.

Apart from the four-day patrol, the two sides held talks to seek ways to raise fishermen's awareness of regulations on fishing in the waters adjacent to the demarcation line in the Gulf of Tonkin, along with Covid-19 pandemic prevention and control measures, cited VNA.

The results of the patrol have contributed to realizing international law, especially the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Vietnam-China agreement on the delimitation of the territorial seas, exclusive economic zones, and continental shelves in the Gulf of Tonkin signed by the two countries on December 25, 2000.

The Vietnam Coast Guard hoped that the patrol will help to boost relations between the two countries.

Health Ministry unveils Covid-19 alert levels in all 63 localities nationwide

The Ministry of Health on October 22 announced four color coded Covid-19 alert levels in all 63 cities and provinces across Vietnam.

Level 1 (green) applies to localities that have controlled the coronavirus and moved into a new normal.

There are 26 cities and provinces falling into this category, namely Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Bac Giang, Bac Kan, Binh Thuan, Cao Bang, Dien Bien, Dong Nai, Ha Giang, Hanoi, Hai Phong, Hoa Binh, Kon Tum, Lai Chau, Lang Son, Lao Cai, Ninh Binh, Phu Yen, Quang Ninh, Soc Trang, Son La, Tay Ninh, Thai Binh, Thai Nguyen, Tra Vinh, Tuyen Quang, and Yen Bai.

Level 2 (orange) applies to localities that are at a medium risk of virus transmission.

Public transport services are now allowed in localities moving into a new normal. Photo: VOV

As many as 37 cities and provinces falling into this category are An Giang, Bac Lieu, Bac Ninh, Ben Tre, Binh Dinh, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Ca Mau, Can Tho, Da Nang, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Dong Thap, Gia Lai, Ha Nam, Ha Tinh, Hai Duong, Hau Giang, Hung Yen, Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang, Lam Dong, Long An, Nam Dinh, Nghe An, Ninh Thuan, Phu Tho, Quang Binh, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Quang Tri, Thanh Hoa, Thua Thien Hue, Tien Giang, Ho Chi Minh City, Vinh Long, and Vinh Phuc.

Level 3 (yellow) applies to localities at a high risk of virus transmission, according to VOV.

And Level 4 (red) is applicable to localities at a very high risk of virus transmission.

Among the five centrally run cities, Hanoi and Hai Phong belong to the green zones, while Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and Can Tho belong to the orange zones.

According to the Ministry of Health, risks are measured on case numbers, vaccination coverage and medical capacity in localities.

Vietnam plans to resume international air routes in Q4

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has proposed that the Ministry of Transport consider the gradual reopening of regular international commercial flights in four stages starting in the fourth quarter of this year.

The first phase would see international commercial flights open to Vietnamese citizens with the approval of competent agencies. Simultaneously, the CAAV also proposed the reopening of pilot international flights for foreign tourists who can travel to some major tourist destinations such as Phu Quoc in southern Kien Giang province, Nha Trang and Cam Ranh in south-central Khanh Hoa province, and Ha Long Bay in northern Quang Ninh province.

Local airports are expected to receive flights from Japan, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan (China), Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, France, Germany, Russia, Australia, and others that are in need of labour transport.

For passengers, they must have received full doses of a Covid-19 vaccine and undergone a negative RT-PCR or rapid antigen test within 72 hours before their departure. Notably, they must have received their last vaccine dose at least 14 days, and no more than 12 months, prior to their departure, or have certificates of recovery from Covid-19 no more than six months prior to their departure.

Each airline will be allowed to operate one flight per day throughout the one month pilot scheme, and increase the flight frequency to two in the following month, reported VOV.

Vietnam is expected to resume international commercial flights in Q4 2021. Photo: VOV

For the second phase that starts in January 2022, the CAAV has proposed that regular international flights can only carry passengers who have a certificate of full vaccination or recovery from Covid-19, without requiring written consent from the authorities to enter the country. This is except for immigration and medical control requirements.

These flights will apply for air routes between Vietnam and China, Hong Kong (China), Japan, the Republic of Korea, Taiwan (China), Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, France, Germany, Russia, Australia, and other safe markets not in the immigration restriction recommendations set out by the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control.

Airlines of each side will operate these flights with a frequency of four flights each week per turn.

Moving into the third phase, international commercial flights will resume regularly and passengers will no longer be subject to quarantine upon arrival, following the acceptance of vaccine passports in Vietnam.

These flights are anticipated to be operated in April 2022, depending on the progress of Covid-19 vaccination and the level of herd immunity locally.

Passengers will be both Vietnamese and foreign citizens who have been fully vaccinated or have certificates showing they have recovered from Covid-19.

As part of the last phase, airlines will be granted a permit to sell tickets on demand and confirmed slots.

Passengers will be accepted to check-in at departure destinations as they have full certificates in accordance with the requirements set out by the Vietnamese health authorities at the time of application.

In the fourth phase, these international commercial flights are expected to be fully operated in July 2022, depending on the level of herd immunity in the country.

HCMC plans on-site dining service for low-risk areas

The city is expected to let restaurants and eateries in areas with low Covid-19 risks serve customers on the spot from next week.

"Ho Chi Minh City will gradually resume on-site dining and other services so people could regain their livelihoods," city chairman Phan Van Mai told the press Friday.

From next week, the city would start allowing eateries in low-risk areas to serve customers on their premises, he said.

Mai added it "will not have a general formula that applies for all districts and wards."

Areas with low risks would be allowed to resume more services than those posing medium or high risks.

The city will announce the level of risk for each district later.

Shippers and customers wait in front of a noodle restaurant in HCMC's District 1 for their take-away orders, September 2021. Photo: VnExpress

After its outbreak was basically put under control, the city announced to ease Covid-19 restrictions and resumed a series of socio-economic activities on Oct. 1.

However, restaurants and eateries can still only serve takeaways, VnExpress reported.

Activities and businesses that continue to be suspended include bars, spas, karaoke and massage parlors, beauty care, on-site catering, cinemas, disco, video game, cultural, and artistic services, along with launch ceremonies (unless permitted by competent agencies), and street vending, including lottery ticket sales.

In a proposal sent to the city administration Tuesday, the Industry and Trade Department urged to have all restaurants and eateries resume on-site services, except for those offering alcoholic drinks.

The department said the city should allow more activities to resume, given its high vaccination rate. Around 5.5 million people in HCMC, or more than 75 percent of its adult population, have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, it noted.

Hanoi plans to give Covid-19 booster shots to adults next year

Hanoi's Center for Disease Control (CDC Hanoi) has announced plans to complete the vaccination process and give adults their second doses of Covid-19 vaccines, as well as preparing booster shots for next year.

Khong Minh Tuan, deputy director of CDC Hanoi, said on October 21 the remaining two months of the year will see the vaccination campaign for local residents aged 18 and above completed.

Hanoi is also reviewing the number of children who must be vaccinated against Covid-19 in three age groups, including from three to 11, 12 to 15, and 16 to 17.

The capital city plans to give Covid-19 booster shots to adults aged 18 and above next year. Photo: Lao Dong

Simultaneously, the capital plans to immunize children aged 12 to 17 and is ready to devise a plan to give Covid-19 vaccines to kids aged three and above in 2022.

In addition, the vaccination plan for the third and fourth doses for adults aged 18 and above is anticipated to be launched next year.

So far, Hanoi has injected 7.8 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines to local residents, VOV reported.

The capital city has brought the latest coronavirus outbreak under control, with several positive cases detected daily in quarantine areas.

Since the start of the fourth outbreak of Covid-19 that began on April 27, the capital has logged a total 4,137 infections, including 1,606 cases found within the community.

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