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However, other localities allowed to welcome international visitors are also facing great difficulties. It is said that when Vietnam starts welcoming foreign guests, it takes them a few months to find out before deciding to visit Vietnam. Businesses have not received many positive signals from large markets such as Korea and Japan.

"Made in Vietnam" liver transplant for HCM City child

Doctors at the Children's Hospital 2 in HCM City has performed a liver transplant operation for a 7-year-old girl. This is the hospital’s 15 liver transplant surgery and the first time it was conducted by all Vietnamese doctors. The liver donor is the girl’s father.

300 extra working hours/year for employees in all industries proposed

The Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs has proposed removing restrictions about overtime hours in a month and will raise the total number of overtime hours of employees in all occupations to no more than 300 hours per year.

Vietnam records trade deficit of $124.8 million with Laos

Two-way trade turnover between the nation and Laos reached more than US$1.2 billion from January to November this year, 33.8% up year on year. Specifically, exports posted more than US$541 million, an increase of 5.4%, while imports were valued at over US$666 million, up 71.3%.

Most notably, Vietnam continued to run a trade deficit of US$49.96 million in November, thus pushing up the 11-month trade deficit with the neighbor to US$124.8 million. The total trade turnover between the two countries is anticipated to reach US$1.3 billion by the end of the year.

Hanoi to have 8 more districts in next 9 years

It is expected that by 2030 Hanoi will have eight more urban districts, which are now rural districts, namely Hoai Duc, Gia Lam, Dong Anh, Thanh Tri, Dan Phuong, Thanh Oai, Thuong Tin and Me Linh. Specifically, five rural districts will become urban districts in 2021 – 2025, including Gia Lam, Dong Anh, Hoai Duc, Thanh Tri, and Dan Phuong, and the remaining three districts will be promoted to urban districts in 2026 – 2030 (Me Linh, Thanh Oai, Thuong Tin).

Dust concentration in 10 provinces and cities exceeds national standard

According to the report ‘The current situation of PM2.5 dust in Vietnam for the period 2019-2020 using multi-source data’ published on December 1, there are 10 provinces and cities with an average annual concentration of PM25 dust exceeding standards, including: Bac Ninh, Hung Yen, Hai Duong, Hanoi, Thai Binh, Nam Dinh, Hai Phong, Ha Nam, Ninh Binh, Vinh Phuc.

On a national scale, dust concentration in 2020 had a decreasing trend compared to 2019. In 2019, there are 13 out of 63 provinces and cities nationwide with an average annual PM2.5 concentration exceeding regulations.

Over 25.000 cases of drug activities intercepted in 11 months

On December 1, Major General Nguyen Van Vien - Director of the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department (C04, Ministry of Public Security) - reported that in the past 11 months, more than 25,000 cases of drug trafficking were detected and stopped nationwide, and over 37,000 subjects were arrested. Around 596kg of heroin, 2.6 tons and 2.4 million drug pills were seized.

Police also seized 67 military guns, seven grenades, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition related to drug activities.

20 types of harmful pesticides to be banned in Vietnam

Vietnam will ban 20 pesticides with high risks to human health and the environment within the next two years.

The Plant Protection Department has been collecting scientific evidence that say several pesticide ingredients have high risks of causing adverse effects on human health, domestic animals, ecosystems, and the environment.

It is proposing that the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development remove pesticides containing these ingredients from the list of pesticides permitted for use in Vietnam.

This agency is expected to ban 20 pesticides with high risks to human health and the environment within the next two years.

PV

VIETNAM NEWS HEADLINES DECEMBER 19

VIETNAM NEWS HEADLINES DECEMBER 19

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