Vietnam News Today (September 29): Hanoi Prepares for Reviving Tourism Activities

A health worker handles samples for COVID-19 testing at the Hanoi Centre for Disease Control. Photo: VNA

New Covid-19 cases drop strongly on September 28

Vietnam confirmed 4,589 Covid-19 infections, including 6 imported cases, in the past 24 hours to 5pm on September 28, according to the Ministry of Health.

The figure showed a sharp reduction of 4,759 cases from the previous day.

Ho Chi Minh City, the country’s current largest pandemic hotspot, confirmed just 787 cases, but its mass testing using rapid antigen tests found 3,417 positive cases, cited VNA.

Binh Duong province, another hot spot also saw the number of cases down 1,218 to 2,575.

The national caseload rose to 770,640.

A total of 21,487 patients were given the all-clear on September 28, raising the number of recoveries to 559,941.

As many as 178 deaths related to the pandemic were announced on the day, raising the tally to 18,936.

On September 27, 879,618 doses of Covid-19 vaccines were injected, bringing the total so far to 40,095,031, with 8,597,064 people getting full two shots.

Hanoi prepares for reviving tourism activities

As Vietnam has not yet opened its doors to international tourists, tourism enterprises in Hanoi are devising plans to welcome back domestic tourists. Unique and attractive products are being developed and many stimulus programs will be launched to ensure safety for tourists and those working in the industry.

Phung Quang Thang, Director of Hanoitourist Company, said the unit is conducting a survey on tourism products in Hanoi and some localities that are doing well in pandemic prevention and control as well as studying their tourism policies to organize tours to safe destinations with a view to better serving domestic holiday makers.

Many businesses are also tapping the city's tourism advantages to build unique and attractive products, with a focus on cultural ones. Trinh My Nghe, Director of ITC International Travel Company, said ITC cooperates with a number of travel companies to develop such tours as "One day discovering Hanoi" and "Discovering Autumn in Hanoi".

It is difficult to attract visitors without good products, Nghe said, stressing the need to improve the quality of tourism services to creating synchronization and professionalism, reported VNA.

Temple of Literature in Hanoi. Photo: VNA

The Hanoi tourism sector also concentrates on prioritizing improving the quality of cultural and heritage destinations, craft and ancient villages to enhance their competitiveness. The industry plans to expand the development of agricultural, community-based and health care tourism as well as promote MICE (Meeting Incentive Conference Event) tourism associated with hosting major events.

The Hanoi Department of Tourism also asked relevant agencies to form attractive and specialized tourism products and services to create new experiences, meeting the needs and tastes of holiday makers in the new normal situation.

Given the high risk of possible Covid-19 outbreaks, meeting the pandemic prevention and control requirements and ensuring safety for visitors and the community remain a priority.

Le Xuan Kieu, director of the Temple of Literature’s Centre for Scientific and Cultural Activities, said the centre has always paid attention to Covid-19 control rules. Hand sanitizers are placed at ticketing points, entrances and other locations for visitors to use once the tourism activities are resuming. The centre’s staff will remind visitors to wear masks and they are told to seriously implement pandemic prevention and control for their safety, he said.

Bamboo Airways and SFO sign agreement to promote nonstop Vietnam-US flights

Bamboo Airways has signed an MoU with San Francisco International Airport (SFO), aiming to bridge the gap between the two aviation markets and countries through nonstop commercial flights.

On Sept. 24 (local time), a welcome ceremony for Bamboo Airways's first nonstop flight connecting Vietnam and the United States was held at San Francisco International Airport, California, U.S.

Within the framework of the event, Bamboo Airways and SFO signed a Memorandum of Understanding. On the basis of the MoU, Bamboo Airways and SFO would deploy regular nonstop flights from Tan Son Nhat International Airport, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam to SFO subject to U.S. government approval.

Dang Tat Thang, CEO of Bamboo Airways, speaks at the event. Photo: Bamboo Airways

Dang Tat Thang, CEO of Bamboo Airways said: "Active cooperation between BAV and SFO in promoting regular nonstop flights between Vietnam and the United States marks a turning point in the airline's history, proving a successful partnership between both sides. We expect this movement would bring direct benefits to both aviation markets, making a substantial contribution to the development of bilateral and multilateral trade, tourism, and economics, especially in the post-epidemic period."

"We are truly proud to be the first airport in the United States to offer nonstop flights to Vietnam," said SFO Airport Director Ivar C. Satero. "This decision reinforces SFO as the premier U.S. gateway of choice, offering a world-class airport experience with seamless access throughout San Francisco Bay Area. We thank BAV for choosing San Francisco for their U.S. expansion, and we are committed to making this new service a success for both BAV and the customers they serve."

Bamboo Airways' wide-body Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner flight QH9149 landed at San Francisco International Airport on the evening of Sept. 23. The flight took approximately 13 hours and 30 minutes, significantly shorter compared to current connecting flights between Vietnam and the U.S. The Quy Nhon Town aircraft has surpassed seven countries and territories, covering one of the longest routes in the world at nearly 12,500 kilometers, according to VnExpress.

Flight QH9149 is among a series of special authorization flights between Vietnam and the U.S. operated by Bamboo Airways starting from September 2021.

The regular nonstop flight between Vietnam and the U.S. is expected to not only be a milestone in the aviation history of both countries but also directly foster travel connection between two hemispheres for the first time in nearly 20 years, after the Vietnam-U.S. Air Transport Agreement was officially signed in 2003.

This will also once again affirm the operation capacity and facilities of Vietnamese carriers when maintaining to fulfill the highest aviation standards in the world and fortify the Vietnamese aviation market in the post-pandemic period.

Vietnamese films to be shown at World Expo 2020 Dubai

A Vietnamese Film Week will be held at the World Expo 2020 Dubai in the United Arab Emirates from December 30, 2021 to January 5, 2022, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The event aims to introduce the unique works of Vietnamese cinema to international audiences, and promote the modern Vietnamese film industry. It will also provide an ideal venue for both artists and filmmakers to explore co-operation opportunities with potential international partners.

Photo: VOV

In addition, international audiences will have the chance to learn about beautiful Vietnamese landscapes, particularly as the country represents a safe, friendly, and attractive destination for foreign investors, VOV reported.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism says the selection criteria for screening films are that each movie must showcase Vietnamese cinema’s unique and humane side, whilst they must also have been produced within the past five years.

The selected films are also required to have content in line with the general theme of World Expo 2020 Dubai, primarily focusing on sustainable solutions for global problems, seeking to boost cross-cultural co-operation, and devise innovative solutions among various countries and regions.

Hue reopens tourist destinations, historical sites with Covid restrictions

Authorities in Thua Thien-Hue Province, home to popular tourist town Hue, allowed tourist destinations and historical relics to resume operation from Tuesday after over a month of closure.

Tourist attractions and historical sites are allowed to only organize outdoor activities. Provincial authorities are yet to allow visitors from other localities amid the complicated development of the pandemic.

The tomb of King Tu Duc of Nguyen Dynasty is seen from above in Vong Canh Mountain, Hue Town. Photo: VnExpress

Restaurants, street eateries and coffee shops are allowed to serve customers, but not exceed half their covers. People could participate in indoor and outdoor sports activities but must ensure pandemic prevention measures.

Residents and businesses across the province must abide by coronavirus control measures like wearing masks, keeping a safe distance and scanning QR codes for health declarations.

Festivals, cultural and arts performances are still banned while bars, karaoke parlors, dance clubs, pubs and beer clubs remain closed until further notice, cited VnExpress.

Hue, capital of Thua Thien-Hue Province, famous for its Imperial Citadel and royal tombs, shut down tourist attractions and historical sites on Aug. 12 after detecting new Covid clusters.

So far, the pandemic situation in the province has basically been brought under control.

In the ongoing fourth Covid wave that hit April 27, Thua Thien-Hue has reported 821 infections, out of the nation's over 761,000 cases.

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