Illustrative image. Source: VNA

Additional 2,161 Covid-19 cases reported on September 5

Vietnam recorded 2,161 new Covid-19 cases on September 5, according to the Ministry of Health.

The new infections brought the country’s total number of Covid-19 cases to 11,421,055, cited VNA.

Also on September 5, 20,718 patients were declared to be free from coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, lifting the total number of recoveries to 10,232,281.

Meanwhile, the death toll rose to 43,122 after two fatalities were logged on the day, accounting for 0.4% of the total infections.

More than 257.53 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been administered so far.

Localities attract three million visitors during National Day holiday

Localities across Vietnam welcomed roughly three million domestic and foreign holidaymakers during the National Day holiday from September 1 to September 4.

Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and the north-central province of Thanh Hoa were the three leading localities that served most visitors.

Ho Chi Minh topped the list with 920,000 tourists, including 32,484 foreign visitors. Its tourism revenue throughout the period is estimated to stand at over VND2.7 trillion, equivalent to over US$115 million.

Meanwhile, historical-cultural sites and entertainments centres of Hanoi attracted 422,700 tourist arrivals, including 22,700 foreigners. The capital’s tourism revenue was estimated at VND1.3 trillion, equal to US$55.3 million, according to VOV.

Vietnam has welcomed back foreign visitors since mid-March 2022 after months of combating Covid-19. Photo: VOV

Major tourist attractions with most visitors in Hanoi include Thu Le Zoo, Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam (also known as the Temple of Literature), Hoang Thanh Thang Long (also known as the Imperial Citadel), and Hoa Lo Prison relic site.

Elsewhere, other famous local tourist destinations also recorded a sharp increase in visitor numbers, including Khanh Hoa in the central region with 356,000 tourists, Sa Pa resort in the north 93,244 visitors, Lam Dong in the Central Highlands region with 85,000 travelers, and Quang Ninh the north with 52,000 arrivals.

According to travel agencies, the National Holiday break marked the end of the summer season for domestic visitors, and the coming months are the peak season for foreign arrivals. Travel firms are now preparing tourism products and implementing a number of travel promotional programs aimed at attracting foreigners.

Vietnam, Laos aiming for US$2 billion in bilateral trade

Trade ties between Vietnam and neighboring Laos have been growing since they established diplomatic relations 60 years ago (September 5, 1962-2022).

Laos is currently Vietnam’s seventh biggest trade partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the two countries are striving to raise two-way trade to US$2 billion.

Vietnam and Laos share a border of more than 2,300km which runs through 10 cities and provinces on each side. Notably, there are nine international border gates, six main gates, 18 auxiliary gates and many trails, along with nine border gate economic zones.

Vietnam is among the three biggest investors in Laos. Bilateral trade reached US$1.37 billion in 2021, a year-on-year rise of 33.32%, the highest over the past decade.

Photo: VNA

Vietnam’s exports to Laos reached US$594.7 million, up 4%,while imports hit US$778.2 million, up 69.8%.

In the first seven months of this year, trade revenue hit US$948.9 million, representing an increase of 24.2% from the corresponding time last year, of which Vietnam’s exports to Laos were valued at US$362.9 million, down 1.6% year-on-year, while its imports stood at US$586 million, up 48.2%, reported VNA.

According to Do Quang Hung, deputy head of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT)'s Asia-Africa Market Department, the two countries have utilized trade agreements to achieve growth of over 10% over the past nearly decade.

The target of US$2 billion will be achieved soon, Hung said, urging Vietnamese firms to invest more in building their brands and raising their competitiveness in the host market.

Enterprises should study the trade deals to facilitate customs clearance, and optimize trade promotions, he continued.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Do Thang Hai affirmed that Vietnam stands ready to share its experience and help Laos remove difficulties amid the complex development of the global economic and political situation.

The MoIT will coordinate with its Lao counterpart to roll out measures to boost bilateral trade ties, he pledged.

Hai noted that the two ministries have agreed to complete negotiations and sign a memorandum of understanding on border trade infrastructure development and connectivity between the two countries, and adjustments to the bilateral trade agreement to ensure the interests of Vietnamese and Lao businesses and facilitate their sustainable development.

More than 23 million students begin new school year in Vietnam

More than 23 million students of all grades across the country took part in the opening ceremony of the 2022-2023 new school year in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic brought under control.

All teachers and students were eager to welcome the start of the new school year this year in the joyful and exciting atmosphere because they no longer sang the national anthem, saluted the flag and listened to wishes through the computer screen, mobile phone or standing in front of the television as seen last year when the new Covid-19 outbreak spread across the country, cited VOV.

The 2022-2023 academic year has been defined by the education sector as ‘unity, creativity, striving to fulfill the designed tasks and goals, and improving the quality of education and training.’

In a message to the education sector on the eve of the new school year, State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc praised the education sector for its constant efforts in overcoming the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and obtaining certain results in the 2021-2022 school year.

Students of Ha Long High School for the Gifted in Ha Long City, Quang Ninh provinc, at the opening ceremony of the 2022-2023 school year. Photo: VOV

He spoke highly of the theme of the new school year and asked educators to promote innovation to successfully complete the tasks set for the 2022-2023 school year. He also hoped the students would uphold the tradition of studiousness and absorb the intellectual quintessence of mankind to contribute to building a more prosperous Vietnam.

He called on the whole society to join hands with the education sector to form a good culture and social standards for children to study and follow, and to build a learning society accessible to all, including disadvantaged children.

All teachers and students were eager to welcome the start of the new school year this year in the joyful and exciting atmosphere because they no longer sang the national anthem, saluted the flag and listened to wishes through the computer screen, mobile phone or standing in front of the television as seen last year when the new Covid-19 outbreak spread across the country.

The 2022-2023 academic year has been defined by the education sector as ‘unity, creativity, striving to fulfill the designed tasks and goals, and improving the quality of education and training.’

In a message to the education sector on the eve of the new school year, State President Nguyen Xuan Phuc praised the education sector for its constant efforts in overcoming the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and obtaining certain results in the 2021-2022 school year.

He spoke highly of the theme of the new school year and asked educators to promote innovation to successfully complete the tasks set for the 2022-2023 school year. He also hoped the students would uphold the tradition of studiousness and absorb the intellectual quintessence of mankind to contribute to building a more prosperous Vietnam.

He called on the whole society to join hands with the education sector to form a good culture and social standards for children to study and follow, and to build a learning society accessible to all, including disadvantaged children.

Petrol prices down slightly

Petrol prices were reduced in the latest adjustment made on September 5 by the Ministries of Industry and Trade, and Finance.

The retail price of E5RON92 bio-fuel slid by VND370 to a maximum of VND23,350 (US$0,99) per litre while that of RON95-III was cut by VND430 to VND24,230 per liter, NDO reported.

A petrol station in Hanoi. Photo: VNA

Meanwhile, the price of diesel oil was raised by VND1,430 to VND25,180 per liter, and that of kerosene was up by VND1,390 to VND24,440 per liter. Mazut oil 180CST 3.5S fetched VND16,540 per kg, a decline of VND470.

The two ministries also determined to extract VND451-493 per liter from petrol price and VND100-300 per liter from diesel and kerosene prices for the petrol price stabilization fund.

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