Doctors and medical staff at a Covid-19 Field Hospital in July, 2021. Photo: VnExpress

Vietnam records 4,028 new Covid-19 cases

Vietnam’s Covid-19 tally in the fourth wave starting late April rose to 884,177 after 4,028 new cases were added Sunday.

The three localities with the highest numbers of new infections were Ho Chi Minh City with 966, Binh Duong with 524, and Dong Nai with 429 cases.

Thirty of the 53 Covid deaths confirmed Sunday were in Ho Chi Minh City. The total Covid death toll so far rose to 21,673, accounting for around 2.5 percent of all infections.

Total recoveries rose to 803,161 after 1,314 were announced Sunday, cited VnExpress.

Around 51.8 million people have been vaccinated with at least one Covid-19 shot to date; and 21 million people have been fully vaccinated.

Vietnamese, Scotland firms jointly develop rooftop solar power

The Hoa Binh Construction Group (HBC) and Scotland’s Shire Oak International (SOI) have struck a strategic deal to develop rooftop solar power.

Accordingly, both sides will build rooftop solar power systems on industrial buildings or invest in existing ones. HBC will be an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor in their joint projects.

Photo: VNA

They will also pour capital in inshore and offshore wind power farms as well as wind power distribution systems.

Founded in Scotland in 2002, SOI has been present in Vietnam since 2009 with rooftop solar power projects, according to VNA.

On July 5, 2019, the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade issued the Decision No.2023/QD-BCT approving the rooftop solar power development program for the 2019-2025 period, targeting the installation of 100,000 rooftop solar power systems, or 1,000 MWp by the late 2025.

A new storm likely to form in Bien Dong Sea, hit southern Vietnam

A tropical depression has moved past the Philippines’ Palawan island into the Bien Dong Sea and is likely to gain strength into a storm in the coming days, according to the National Centre for Hydro Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF).

At 4 p.m. on October 24 the tropical depression was approximately 220km south-east of the Song Tu Tay island of Vietnam’s Truong Sa archipelago.

A tropical depression is likely to strengthen into a storm and threaten southern Vietnam in the coming days. Photo: NCHMF

In the next 24 to 48 hours, the depression is forecast to move west and north-west, strengthen into a storm and approach near the southern coast from Binh Dinh to Ninh Thuan provinces.

The National Steering Committee for Natural Disasters Prevention and Control and the National Committee for Disaster Response and Search and Rescue requested that coastal localities from Quang Binh to Ba Ria – Vung Tau and relevant ministries and agencies keep a close watch on the development of the depression and put their rescue forces on standby, reported VOV.

The localities were required to make regular contact with fishing vessels and guide them to come ashore, and at the same time reinforce fishing cages before the storm makes landfall.

Education Ministry issues set of safety criteria in Covid-19 prevention and control

The Ministry of Education has issued a set of safety criteria in Covid-19 prevention and control for all educational systems nationwide as a basis for deciding whether schools are allowed to open.

Educational systems include kindergartens, primary, secondary and high schools, vocational training schools, colleges, universities, academy institutes and dormitories.

Before receiving students back, schools must develop learning programs and solutions to be ready to respond to possible pandemic situations; ensure environmental sanitation and medical equipment at the school, cited VNA.

Spraying disinfectants in a classroom. Photo: VNA

Students, staff and teachers are requested to strictly follow pandemic prevention measures.

Kindergartens and primary, secondary schools must ensure that students are delivered at the school gate; promptly upgrade pandemic prevention equipment such as disinfectant, soap, and assign health staff to supervise pandemic prevention and control activities.

The distance between students and teachers must be at least one meter in classrooms, examination rooms or working rooms and at least two meters outside of those areas.

In addition, teachers and students are asked to wash their hands frequently and wear face masks.

University dormitories must be equipped with disinfectant, cleaning tools, and staff are to regularly supervise pandemic prevention and control activities.

Previously, the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee issued a set of safety criteria in Covid-19 prevention and control for all educational institutions in the city, that replaced the one issued in April 2020.

Accordingly, the set of criteria includes 10 components. An educational institution which meets at least six criteria will be allowed to resume operations.

Those meeting 6-7 criteria are required to fulfill at least eight criteria within 48 hours to maintain operations.

Staff of educational institutions are requested to have green QR codes which show their vaccination history. If they do not have green QR codes, they must present one of the following documents: a certificate showing they have been cured from Covid-19 in the last six months or have been vaccinated at least 14 days ago.

Vietnam honored as Asia’s Leading Destination in 2021

World Travel Awards (WTA) has unveiled major awards in the global travel and hospitality industry this year, honoring Vietnam as Asia’s Leading Destination.

Vietnam outperformed other nominees such as China, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, India, the Republic of Korea and Sri Lanka to secure the title.

Vietnam has emerged from a tough field to take ‘Asia’s Leading Destination,’ the WTA said in its announcement.

The WTA also honored Vietnam as Asia’s Leading Sustainable Tourism Destination, and the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism as Asia’s Leading Tourist Board 2021.

It also named Hoi An as Asia’s Leading Cultural City Destination, Ha Long Bay as Asia’s Leading Tourist Attraction, and Cuc Phuong National Park as Asia’s Leading National Park.

A cruise ship makes a tour of Ha Long Bay, a World Heritage site in northern Vietnam. Photo: VOV

Notably, Vietnam Airlines won the award Asia’s Leading Airline for Economic Class, while Vietravel was awarded Asia’s Leading Tour Operator 2021.

Sun World Ba Na Hills in Da Nang, Avana Retreat in Hoa Binh, JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay in Phu Quoc, Muong Thanh Luxury Hotel in Nha Trang, and Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery in Lao Cai all won awards in the hotel and resort category.

The results follow a year-long search for the world's top travel, tourism and hospitality brands. Votes were cast by travel industry and the public, with the nominee professionals gaining the most votes in a category named as the winner, VOV reported.

“Our winners represent the very best of Asia and Oceania’s travel and hospitality sectors and my congratulations to each of them. They are all playing starring roles in spearheading the travel and tourism recovery,” says Graham Cooke, World Travel Awards founder.

World Travel Awards was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all key sectors of the travel, tourism and hospitality industries. The World Travel Awards brand is recognized globally as the ultimate hallmark of industry excellence.

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