President meets representatives of Vietnamese community in US

President Nguyen Xuan Phuc had a meeting with overseas Vietnamese in the US on September 22 (New York time) to listen to their aspirations as well as their ideas on development issues in the home country.

Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Ha Kim Ngoc said that the Vietnamese community in the US has actively engaged in COVID-19 prevention and control efforts in the home country by providing medical supplies, contributing and raising funds for Vietnam's COVID-19 vaccine fund and calling on the US Government and organisations to donate COVID-19 vaccines to Vietnam.

Despite impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnamese representative agencies in the US have considered citizen protection as the top priority, he said.

President Phuc affirmed that amid difficulties caused by the pandemic, the Party and State highly valued contributions by overseas Vietnamese.

Briefing them on the conclusion of the Party Central Committee on overseas Vietnamese affairs, the President affirmed that the Party and State consider the Vietnamese community abroad is an indispensable part of the Vietnamese nation and an important resource for the cause of national construction, development and defence.

With 5.3 million people living and working in 130 countries and territories, the Vietnamese community abroad have had an increasingly stable legal status and lives, and made great contributions to the home country’s development in various fields, he stressed.

President Phuc noted that during his current visit, many projects worth dozens of billions of USD have been signed between Vietnamese and US firms, showing that the US continues to be among leading partners of Vietnam and Vietnam hopes to further lift bilateral cooperative ties to a new height.

The President stressed that the Vietnamese State and Government consider people’s health as a top priority and are working hard to push back the pandemic. He expressed his hope that the Vietnamese community abroad will continue to assisting their compatriots at home in overcoming the pandemic.

He also expected that each Vietnamese national abroad will act as a envoy of peace, strengthening the solidarity with their host countries, and helping maintain traditional culture among Vietnamese youths abroad.

The State leader hoped that more overseas Vietnamese young people will contribute to the construction of the homeland with their knowledge and enthusiasm.

He expressed his belief that the Vietnamese community in the US will help foster Vietnam-US ties, affirming that the Vietnamese State will create optimal conditions for them to settle down and integrate well into the host societies as well as maintain and develop the Vietnamese language and cultural identity, and look to the Fatherland.

Concluding the meeting, President Phuc witnessed the handing over of 1,000 ventilators donated by David Duong, a Vietnamese-American businessman, to support the home country's fight against COVID-19./.

President applauds establishment of global health security financial intermediary fund

Vietnamese President Nguyen Xuan Phuc hailed the decision to establish a global health security financial intermediary fund initially worth 10 billion USD this year to ensure resources for the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic while addressing the Global COVID-19 Summit hosted by US President Joe Biden in New York on September 22 (local time).

The "Global COVID-19 Summit: Ending the Pandemic and Building Back Better" was held on the sidelines of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

In his speech, President Phuc said in response to the pandemic, protecting people’s lives and health is the top priority so it is essential to take drastic actions to early detect and quickly trace infection cases; promptly quarantine and provide effective treatment; improve testing capacity; ensure oxygen, ventilators and medicines; and particularly conduct large-scale vaccinations.

He stressed the need to enhance global cooperation, improve the self-resilience of medical systems and develop the medical equipment production and pharmaceuticals industry, especially in developing countries.

President Phuc emphasised that expanding vaccinations in parallel with the effective use of treatment drugs is key to pushing back the epidemic, protecting people's lives, and promoting economic recovery and development. 

He suggested improving research and development capacity for vaccine production, adding that Vietnam was ready to participate in these efforts.

On this occasion, the President expressed thanks to and highly appreciated the role of the COVAX Facility, and thanked many countries for sharing and donating vaccines to Vietnam.

He called on the COVAX Facility and other capable countries to step up efforts to supply vaccines to developing countries so that at least 70 percent of their population are vaccinated as soon as possible and the target is expected to be achieved before the session of the United Nations General Assembly next year.

President Phuc said that Vietnam is implementing a COVID-19 vaccination rollout for all people above the age of 18. Vietnam and member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have established a COVID-19 Response Fund last year and recently decided to use 10.5 million USD from this fund to buy vaccines for the member states, he said. determination from the international community to conduct mass vaccinations for all people around the world.

The summit discussed and issued strong commitments by senior leaders, international organisations and the private sector about mass vaccinations across the globe, protecting people’s lives and building back global medical security better in the near future.

Participants pledged to ensure that at least 70 percent of the world population in all countries will be fully vaccinated before the session of the UN General Assembly in September 2022, all low or lower-middle income countries will have enough access to oxygen, personal protective suits and effective treatment methods this year and advanced treatment therapies in 2022.

They also committed to guarantee sustainable financial sources for health security by establishing the global health security financial intermediary fund with an initial sum of 10 billion USD in 2021 and agreed to set up the Global Health Threats Council./.

HCM City receives 4 million test kits worth 16.38 million USD

The Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City on September 22 received medical supplies worth 373 billion VND (16.38 million USD) from businesses in support of the city's fight against COVID-19.

The medical supplies include 2 million rapid test kits manufactured in Switzerland, valued at 250 billion VND, donated by T&T Group JSC and Saigon-Hanoi Commercial Joint Stock Bank and 2 million quick test kits worth 123 billion VND, which were produced in the Republic of Korea, granted by Vietnam Technological and Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Techcombank).

Chairwoman of the municipal Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee To Thi Bich Chau acknowledged and highly appreciated the firms' assistance to HCM City.

She pledged to work closely with the municipal Health Department to distribute the test kits to the right persons and to the right purpose, contributing to driving back the pandemic and bringing the city to new normal soon.

From July 1 to September 21, Ho Chi Minh City received over 2.1 trillion VND from 177 units, organisations and individuals at home and abroad for the fight against the pandemic./. 

Second session of Hanoi People’s Council kicked off

The Hà Nội People's Council discussed and approved 15 reports and 18 resolutions including a five-year socio-economic development plan, five-year medium-term public investment plan for 2021-25 and developing infrastructure in suburban areas during its meeting which kicked off yesterday.

The second session of the 15th-term municipal People's Council was held both online and in person, taking place on September 22 and 23.

Speaking at the meeting, secretary of the Hà Nội Party Committee Đinh Tiến Dũng said that this year was the first year to implement the 13th-term National Party Congress’s resolutions.

Up to now, the capital city has maintained production chains despite the pandemic, with some positive results such as the gross domestic product in the second quarter increased by 6.61 per cent, higher than the previous quarter, which had increased by 5.17 per cent. The overall growth of the first six months reached 5.91 per cent, higher than the national average of 5.64 per cent. In the first eight months of this year, budget revenue reached 69.8 per cent, up by 10.3 per cent compared with the same period last year.

However, the city still has limitations and shortcomings that need to be overcome. Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the implementation of socio-economic targets, budget revenue and expenditure and enterprises faced many difficulties, while people's lives are affected.

Dũng said that during the meeting, the municipal people's council would review and evaluate economic, social, financial, and security development in the first eight months of this year and orientations and key tasks for the last months.

They were very important policies and solutions to remove obstacles, create favourable conditions to promote socio-economic development, and ensure social security, he said.

He added that to complete the goals and tasks this year, creating a premise for the following years, especially when the COVID-19 pandemic was still complicated and unpredictable, the whole political system, including the People's Council and the People's Committee must bear an extremely heavy responsibility.

The real situation requires leaders and the people to focus on innovation, creativity, improving the sense of responsibility, strengthen close co-ordination among all levels and sectors to successfully accomplish the set goals, he said.

Also at the meeting, the chairman of the Hà Nội People’s Council Nguyễn Ngọc Tuấn said that the city would develop infrastructure in suburban areas including Highways 1A, 6 and 32. The city would also invest more on ring road No 4 to open more space, connecting traffic with neighbouring provinces and cities.

The city would pay more attention to building and upgrading hospitals, schools, cultural and historic sites.

Tuấn added that the people’s council had compiled 30 questions about people's daily life and pressing issues sent by people's council deputies and sent them to the municipal people’s committee for answers. 

Low depression to strengthen into storm, head towards central Vietnam

A tropical low depression is likely to strengthen into a storm and strike Vietnam’s central coastal localities in the next two days, according to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF).

At 06pm on September 22, the tropical low depression was about 180km north-east of Vietnam’s Song Tu Tay island, packing winds of 80kmph near its centre.

In the next 12 hours, the tropical low depression is forecast to gain strength into a storm, moving north and north-west at a speed of 15-20kph.

In the next 24-48 hours, the storm is anticipated to maintain its direction and speed and pound central coastal localities from Thua Thien-Hue to Binh Dinh before weakening into a low depression and dissipating in southern Laos.

The storm will cause rough seas and bring heavy rain to the central coastal region. Rainfall of 150-250 mm is possible over much of the region, but higher amounts of 300mm or more are likely for the Central Highlands and north-central regions.

Water can quickly pond in low-lying areas, while higher elevation areas are susceptible to mudslides during heavy rainfall.

Cuban Ambassador: Cuba, Vietnam preserve historical memories

Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Orlando Nicolás Hernández Guillén has appreciated President Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s official visit to Cuba from September 18-21, affirming that the outcomes of the visit will contribute to deepening the time-tested friendship and solidarity between the two countries.

Orlando Hernández stressed that this was the first visit to Cuba of a head of state since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, and also the first high-level visit between the two countries since the two countries’ Party congresses, and on the occasion of the 61st anniversary of establishment of diplomatic ties.

Cuba will cooperate with Vietnam in providing and transferring technology to produce COVID-19 vaccines - one of the important topics mentioned during this visit, he affirmed, adding that the two countries’ leaders also discussed potential for cooperation in the fields of tourism, renewable energy, biotechnology, pharmaceutical industry, bio-genetics, telecommunications and transport infrastructure.

Vietnam is the second largest foreign investor in the Mariel Special Development Zone and also Cuba's second largest trading partner in Asia, only after China.

He expressed his belief that Vietnam’s investments in Cuba will bring about practical benefits for both countries, contributing to strengthening solidarity and mutual understanding, and developing the bilateral economic, trade and investment cooperation on par with the fine political relationship.

Regarding the content of “preserving historical memories” mentioned in the Vietnam-Cuba Joint Statement, the diplomat said that the special bilateral relations have been nurtured by Presidents Ho Chi Minh and Fidel Castro, and generations of the two countries’ leaders.

The time-honoured relationship cannot be forgotten by young generations, he stressed, hoping that the next generations keep the important historical moments in mind.

The political and economic solidarity of the past has maintained and its value remain intact today, even in the most difficult times, added the ambassador./.

Vietnamese beauty selects national costume named 'Angel" at Miss Grand International contest

Vietnamese beauty Nguyen Thuc Thuy Tien said she decided to pick on “Angel” as the national costume at the Miss Grand International 2021.

On September 18, Tien officially received the Miss Grand Vietnam 2021 ribbon from her predecessor, runner-up Ngoc Thao, to attend the Miss Grand International 2021 to be held in Phuket, Thailand, in December.

Talking about the meaning of the newly-chosen national costume, she said the angel is soft but also very brave and persistent in the fight against COVID-19. 

“This design exploits the characteristics of the ao dai (long dress) and depicting the resilience and strength of Vietnam in the fight against the pandemic,” she said.

Stylist Louis, who supports Tien in preparing outfits for the contest, said he planned to prepare 40 sets of costume within 17 days of the competition for her with sexy image orientation, showing off the advantages of curves through body-hugging or cut-out dresses.

Designer Nguyen Minh Tuan revealed that the semi-final costume for Tien has an unprecedented colour in the costumes of Vietnamese representatives so far, although it still has the appearance of a fancy dress./. 

Vietnam always considers France an important partner in its foreign policy: PM

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has affirmed that Vietnam always considers France an important partner in its foreign policy.

During a reception in Hanoi on September 22 for French Ambassador to Vietnam Nicolas Warnery, PM Chinh once again thanked the French Government and people for their timely donation of COVID-19 vaccines and medical supplies to Vietnam.

Amid the current complicated developments of the pandemic, the PM suggested France continue donating, lending and ceding COVID-19 vaccines and transfer COVID-19 vaccine and treatment medicine production technologies to Vietnam, helping the country improve the capacity of its healthcare system and develop its pharmaceutical industry.

Toward the 50th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties and the 10th anniversary of strategic partnership in 2030, PM Chinh expressed his wish that the two countries would work closely together to deepen and develop the strategic partnership more effectively, especially in the exchange of delegations at all levels, improving the efficiency of existing cooperation mechanisms and accelerating important projects and projects that see the participation of major groups such as Airbus, Total and EDF.

Describing Vietnam as an important partner of France in Southeast Asian and a bridge to promote the France-ASEAN development partnership as well as the European Union-ASEAN ties, Warnery hoped that France's relations with Vietnam will be strengthened more practically and effectively. France will coordinate closely with Vietnam in regional and global issues of shared concern, he said.
The ambassador affirmed that a number of French major enterprises and groups such as Airbus, Thales, EDF, Total and Air Liquide want to invest in Vietnam, especially in aerospace, infrastructure, renewable energy, climate change response and high technology.

He promised to work closely with French agencies to speed up the ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), seek ways to donate more COVID-19 vaccines to Vietnam in the near future, and urge the European Commission to soon remove its “yellow card” warning against Vietnam’s seafood.

Both sides shared a view that the Vietnam-France relationship within multilateral frameworks has been increasingly tightened and agreed to enhance coordination in the United Nations peacekeeping missions in French-speaking countries.

On the East Sea issue, Warnery affirmed that France wants to maintain peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation, settle disputes via peaceful measures  in line with international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

On the occasion, PM Chinh asked the diplomat to convey his invitation to French PM Jean Castex to visit Vietnam./.

Vietnam active at ASEAN Joint Consultative Meeting

Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung, head of SOM ASEAN Vietnam, led a delegation to attend the ASEAN Joint Consultative Meeting on September 22. 

The event aimed at reviewing preparations for the 38th and 39th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits slated for October 26-28, and discussing cooperation in building the ASEAN Community, particularly the bloc’s priorities in 2021 and external relations.

Participants agreed with the agendas of these summits proposed by Brunei, Chair of ASEAN this year. Accordingly, 11 summits will be held, consisting of the 38th and 39th ASEAN Summits and nine summits between the bloc and its partners – the Republic of Korea, China, the US, Japan, Australia, India, Russia, ASEAN Plus Three, and East Asia.

Member nations welcomed ASEAN’s admission of the UK as a dialogue partner and the recognisation of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a sectoral dialogue partner (SDP) at the 54th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting last August.

They agreed to continue to actively consider Brazil's proposal to become an SDP.

Speaking at the meeting, Dung reiterated Vietnam’s support for Brunei as ASEAN Chair in promoting initiatives and priorities.

In his position as Chair of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI), the Vietnamese official informed participants about the outcomes of the IAI’s 65th meeting held on September 8.

He also highlighted the importance of narrowing the development gap in sub-regions when the region is facing the negative impacts of the COVID-19 epidemic.

Participating member nations said they back Vietnam’s plan to host the ASEAN high-level forum on sub-regional cooperation towards sustainable development and inclusive growth on November 30./.

 NA Standing Committee wraps up third session

The National Assembly Standing Committee wrapped up its third session in Hanoi on September 22 under the chair of NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue.

Speaking at the event, Hue said after eight days of sitting, the committee completed the agenda, including adjusting and adding several important and urgent contents to submit to the legislature’s second session scheduled to begin on October 20. This was also the committee’s longest session this year, he said.

Full-time lawmakers gave opinions on six draft laws, five of them will be fine-tuned and submitted to the NA’s second session for consideration.

They also discussed the enforcement of the Constitution, laws, resolutions of the NA, the task performance of the Supreme People’s Court, the Supreme People’s Procuracy and the State Audit Office of Vietnam this year, as well as the implementation of the national target programme on socio-economic development in ethnic minority-inhabited and mountainous regions for the 2021-2030 period in line with Resolution 88 adopted by the 14th legislature.

Hue said sectors and agencies must perform major tasks this year, including pooling resources for the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to the high determination and creative working spirit, agencies have basically fulfilled assigned tasks, some of them even achieved better results.

During the third session, the National Assembly Standing Committee also looked into other important issues./. 

Phu Quoc faces first challenge ahead of pilot scheme to welcome tourists

The southern province of Kien Giang is taking immediate measures to contain a new COVID-19 outbreak in An Thoi ward of Phu Quoc island, to ensure it is safe before welcoming back vaccinated tourists.

Relevant forces quickly located the source, zoned off virus hit areas, conducted contract tracing and tested people of high risk groups, said Nguyen Luu Trung, vice chairman of Kien Giang province’s administration, during a press conference held on September 21.

“We are working hard to ensure the fresh outbreak will be soon brought under control and will not impact a pilot scheme to welcome back foreign travelers to Phu Quoc,” Trung told media workers.

A cluster of 17 F0 cases detected in An Thoi ward was traced back to a group of carriers at a port, with a total of 50 F1 cases being isolated at the local healthcare station.

Competent authorities placed a lockdown on the risk areas and took hundreds of samples, with the test results coming back negative.

Local authorities will now continue to trace F1 cases within the local community in order to separate all F0 cases and request that F2 cases undergo self-quarantine at home.

Phu Quoc island, regarded as a paradise resort in southern Vietnam, has been permitted by the Prime Minister to receive back foreign visitors with a vaccine passport. The local administration is speeding up vaccination to ensure all islanders are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. 

Vietnam's engagement in peacekeeping operations receives UN's high evaluation

Deputy Defence Minister Hoang Xuan Chien said the United Nations highly valued Vietnam's high sense of responsibility and the professionalism of Vietnamese officers in peacekeeping operations, and wished that Vietnam will continue to maintain and increase its forces in UN peacekeeping missions.

Speaking to a Vietnam News Agency correspondent in New York right after his meetings with UN officials on the sidelines of the opening of the General Assembly’s 76th session on September 21, Deputy Defence Minister Hoang Xuan Chien said that over the past more than seven years, Vietnam has deployed three units and more than 50 officers to UN peacekeeping operations at its headquarters and missions.

Chien said Vietnamese peacekeeping officers received good assessment for their performance, with more than 31 percent rated as excellent, especially women officers.

He said that in the time to come, Vietnam will continue to maintain its presence in peacekeeping missions, including the Level-2 Field Hospitals No.3, while preparing Level-2 Field Hospitals No.4 to replace the No.3 when its term ends.

Meanwhile, Vietnam is also making preparations in personnel, organisation and equipment for an engineering force for a suitable UN peacekeeping mission following the UN requests, he said, adding that Vietnam is ready to receive examination teams from the UN for pre-launch check./. 

Cultural ministry acts to cushion COVID-19 impact

Despite being heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the culture, sports, and tourism sector has shown great resilience to overcome difficulties and held a diverse range of activities to contribute to the country’s struggle against the virus.

The prolonged COVID-19 outbreak has taken its heavy toll on all sectors, including the culture, sports, and tourism sector, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung told a forum virtually held in Hanoi on September 22.

It is a great challenge for the sector as it has staged no big art programmes, organized no big sporting events and received no foreign travelers, he said.

However, several art programmes have been virtually, not only arousing the artists’ passion but also giving people strength to overcome the pandemic.

A range of creative solutions and technology applications have been used in order to promote the value of cultural heritage sites and were implemented at museums and relic sites, such as a 3D virtual reality tour programme at Vietnam Fine Arts Museum.

As the international tourism market was frozen, the sector has shifted to the domestic market, with two outstanding programmes, “Vietnamese people travel Vietnam” and “Safe Vietnam travel”, recording encouraging results.

According to Minister Hung, the sector will find it hard to operate normally in the coming months unless people are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

During the time, he said relevant agencies will give recommendations to perfect institutions, including laws on cinematography, heritage, and advertisements in order to adapt to the new situation both domestically and globally.

A plan of action on tourism development in the new normal, a a 10-year sport development strategy and a cultural development strategy will also be drafted for submission to the government for consideration, he said. 

Google Doodle celebrates Vietnamese Mid-Autumn Festival

Google Doodle celebrated Vietnam’s Mid-Autumn Festival, or Children’s Festival, on September 21, an annual holiday observed on the date of the harvest moon–the first full moon following the autumnal equinox.

The latest doodle features a carp and three star-shaped lanterns that represent the symbol of the festival.

The Mid-Autumn festival is considered an important event in the country, second only behind the Lunar New Year. The day is the perfect time for family gatherings, joining lantern parades with cheerful drumming sounds, and watching lion dances.

“In years past, dancers would bring joy to their neighborhoods while performing in symbolic garb and children would carry festive lanterns shaped like carps or stars to light the streets,” says Google.

“Mooncakes (the holiday’s signature dish) filled the bellies of celebrants. While festivities are quieter this year as families celebrate at home, the joys of the day will not be forgotten!” it wrote.

HCMC to establish Community-based Covid-19 Patient Care teams

The Department of Health of HCMC has issued an urgent dispatch on establishing the Community-based Covid-19 Patient Care teams in districts and Thu Duc City.

The group will help the local medical facilities and mobile healthcare stations manage and care for F0 cases at home, implement Covid-19 antigen rapid test, give support in vaccination and distribution of medicines.

Every team has at least three members who will be responsible for monitoring 10-20 Covid-19 patients, including heads of the quarter or apartment building, medical staff of the local medical stations of ward, commune or town, and retired healthcare workers and volunteers.

Each unit will be equipped with thermometer, blood pressure monitor, oxygen saturation (SpO2), oxygen cylinders, mask oxygen with bag, Covid-19 rapid antigen test kits, personal protective equipment , a phone number that is available 24 hours a day.

Mid-Autumn Festival celebrated in South Africa, Russia

The Embassy of Vietnam in South Africa recently held a Mid-Autumn festival celebration for children of the Vietnamese community in the country.

In South Africa, the event at the embassy attracted children from Pretoria and neighbouring areas amid a decline in COVID-19 caseload and social distancing measures have been eased.

Spouse of the Vietnamese Ambassador to South Africa Luong Thi Thu Ha said the annual celebration arranged by the embassy aims to maintain a traditional cultural trait of the Vietnamese people, as well as bolster the bonds amongst the children in the Vietnamese community.

Folk dances and games were held at the event, along with a contest for children to decorate face masks.

Annie Le, a nine-year-old participant, said that the annual Mid-Autumn Festival celebration offers her a chance to explore culture and traditional traits of the motherland.

Meanwhile, the Vietnamese community in Bratislavsk street, Moscow, Russia on September 20 organised a similar event which saw the participation of more than 100 families and 80 children.

At the event, participants joined traditional games of Vietnam and Russia, along with a film screening on the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Khanh Hoa province prepares to welcome visitors

 

The central coastal province of Khanh Hoa has issued a plan to welcome visitors in October with priority given to leisure and closed tourism services.

Visitors must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or have received one shot of COVID-19 vaccine but test negative for the virus.

As for international tourists, they should be given their second shots at least 14 days and no more than 12 months before their entry.

For those who have recovered from COVID-19, the time from hospital discharge to their entry date must not exceed 12 months.

Travelers will be requested for a RT-PCR test within 72 hours prior to their departure, and be certified negative for COVID-19 in English by authorities of the country that conducts the test.

The plan will be applied for visitors who have registered to join package tours of travel agencies./. 

Vice President encourages frontliners in COVID-19 fight in Tay Ninh

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan on September 22 visited and offered encouragement to frontliners in the fight against COVID-19 in Trang Bang township, Moc Bai international border gate in Ben Cau district, and businesses in Phuoc Dong industrial park in the southern province of Tay Ninh.

The province has so far basically expanded pandemic-free areas, accounting for 86 percent. Seven out of the province's nine districts, townships and cities have returned to new normal.

Xuan asked provincial authorities to come up with specific anti-pandemic plans for each area, unit and locality while mitigating the emergence of hotspots in the community, ensuring social welfare for residents, especially the poor in border areas, towards gradually recovering the economy.

Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Vo Duc Trong said Tay Ninh has so far recorded 8,275 infection cases, 6,489 of them had recovered and 119 died from the disease.

The province is now home to 185 enterprises with 56,000 workers who are working under “three-on-site” model, or 40 percent of the total./. 

COVID-19: Vietnam records 11,525 new cases over 24 hours

Vietnam has recorded 11,525 coronavirus cases during the past 24 hours till 06.00pm on September 22, the Ministry of Health (MoH) said in its coronavirus update.

Of the new infections, 5,870 cases were detected in the community through test screening or random testing, two tested positive upon returning to Vietnam from overseas, and the rest were documented in quarantine or lockdown areas.  

Ho Chi Minh City, the country’s largest coronavirus hotspot, registered 5,435, down by 1,086 cases compared to the previous day.

It was followed by Binh Duong, another coronavirus hotspot in the south that recorded 4,179 new cases, up by 570 cases.  

Dong Nai province in the south saw an additional 930 cases detected during the day, up by 340 cases.  

Hanoi and Son La were the only two northern localities that documented 7 and one infections respectively. 

As of 06.00pm on September 22, Vietnam has recorded 718,963 coronavirus cases since the start of the outbreak in January 2020, and 714,497 locally acquired infections following the resurgence of the virus nearly five months ago.

Of the total, 487,262 patients have been discharged from hospital after making a full recovery from the disease, including 11,919 recoveries announced on September 22. 

The MoH has also confirmed 236 COVID-19 deaths during the past 24 hours, with HCM City and Binh Duong reporting 181 and 37 fatalities respectively.

The September 22 figure has raised the COVID-19 death toll in Vietnam to 17,781, making up 2.5% of the total number of infections and 0.4% higher than the average death rate globally. 

Nearly 35.7 million vaccine doses have been administered nationwide, with 6.9 million people getting full jabs. 

HCM City speeds up COVID-19 vaccination for pregnant women

Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Health has allotted 100,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses to local hospitals to inoculate women over-13 weeks pregnant after the Ministry of Health (MoH) granted permission to vaccinate this group against the pandemic.

Pregnant women are known to be among the groups of people that must be cautious while receiving COVID-19 vaccines. They are required to strictly follow the MoH’s guidelines to avoid issues related to vaccination.

This group were previously not permitted to get injected against the virus, but the MoH recently approved the scheme after weighing the pros and cons of the vaccination for pregnant women, according to Nguyen Thi Huynh Mai, representative of Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Health.

Regarding the number of intensive care unit (ICU) beds in the southern city, Mai noted that the locality currently has 90 facilities offering intensive care and treatment to severe and critically ill patients.

The number of ICU beds is able to provide emergency and timely treatment for severely-ill COVID-19 patients in the locality, she said.

Thanks to these ICUs, the number of death toll caused by COVID-19 has fallen considerably in the city, she added. 

Hanoi's former leader prosecuted for illegal interference into bidding activities

The Supreme People’s Procuracy issued an indictment and launched criminal proceedings against former Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung on charge of “abusing position and power while performing duties”.

The case, related to the municipal Department of Planning and Investment and relevant units, is under the supervision and direction of the Central Steering Committee for Anti-corruption.

Other defendants in the case were also prosecuted, including former Chief of the Office of the municipal Party Committee and former Director of the municipal Department of Planning and Investment Nguyen Van Tu; former Director of the municipal Department of Planning and Investment Nguyen Tien Hoc; former head of the business registration office under the municipal Department of Planning and Investment Pham Thi Kim Tuyen; and former Chief of the Office of the municipal Department of Planning and Investment Pham Thi Thu Huong.

Director of the Dong Kinh Development and Investment Co. Ltd. Vo Viet Hung, and Business Director of the Dong Kinh Development and Investment Co. Ltd. Le Duy Tuan were prosecuted for violating bidding regulations, causing serious consequences.

General Director of the Nhat Cuong Technic Co., Ltd. Bui Quang Huy, who was the mastermind in the case related to the Nhat Cuong – Dong Kinh joint venture, has fled and been on the wanted list.

According to the indictment, Chung abused his position and power to illegally interfere in bidding activities for the package deal on digitization of business registration documents in 2016 at the municipal Department of Planning and Investment.

Later, he asked the department to allow the Nhat Cuong company to pilot digitalisation of the bidding package for the personal purpose of making the company win the bid and enjoy benefits, causing the loss of over VND26.5 billion (US$1.16 million) to the State budget.

Notably, Minh Hoa company led by Nguyen Thi Truc Chi Hoa, Chung’s spouse, signed a contract with the Nhat Cuong company to enable the Nhat Cuong – Dong Kinh joint venture to validate its bidding dossier and win the bid.

In December 2020, Chung was sentenced to five years in prison for “appropriating State secret documents” in the case related to the Nhat Cuong company. 

State-owned firms donate close to VND36 billion for COVID-19 fight

President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee Do Van Chien, on September 22, received nearly VND36 billion (over US$1.58 million) worth of donations for COVID-19 prevention and control from 24 state-owned enterprises.

At the reception ceremony, Chien vowed to use the funding for the right purposes in an effective, open, and transparent manner in accordance with the regulations of the State.

The donations will be spent on programmes in support of disadvantaged people. Part of them will be transferred to the COVID-19 vaccine fund and used to encourage frontline forces.

Since 2020, units under the Central Enterprises Bloc have donated more than VND8.68 trillion for the COVID-19 vaccine fund, for the purchase of medical supplies and equipment, and for assisting a number of localities seriously hit by the pandemic. Banks, meanwhile, have implemented many assistance programmes worth dozens of trillion Vietnam Dong targeting firms and people.

Secretary of the Party Committee of the Central Enterprises Bloc Nguyen Long Hai requested member party committees to continue conducting measures to sustain and develop business and production.

He recommended they promote state-owned firms’ role and responsibility and launch activities in aid of enterprises and people given the COVID-19 negative impact. 

Vietnam always pay attention to gender equality issues: senior official

Vietnam always focuses on gender equality issues, increasing the percentage of female soldiers involving in missions in different branches and other important issues to gradually promote the participation of women in this field, Major General Vu Cuong Quyet, Director of the Institute for Defence Strategy under the Ministry of National Defence said on September 22.

He made the statement at an exchange on gender, peace and security which was jointly organised by the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations under the Ministry of National Defence and the Australian Embassy in Vietnam in both virtual and in-person forms.

Senior Lieut. Colonel Pham Tan Phong, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Peacekeeping Department, emphasised that the country’s sending of female soldiers to UN peacekeeping operations is a pragmatic activity in line with the gender equality strategy and capacity building for them in the process of participating in peacekeeping operations.

There have been many practical activities between Vietnam and Australia in the peacekeeping field in general and in the field of gender, peace and security in particular, he said.

Lieutenant General Cheryl Pearce, former Commander of the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyrus and Senior Advisor on Gender, Peace and Security of the Australian Defence Force, said his country acknowledged Vietnam's progress in ensuring gender equality, as well as in integrating gender equality into peacekeeping training activities.

He said Vietnam and Australia have effectively realised cooperation contents in the implementation agreement under a Memorandum of Understanding signed on March 18, 2015 between the two defence ministries on defence cooperation in the field of peacekeeping.

Participants at the event gave an overview of the importance and role of women in UN peacekeeping operations as well as in global peace and security, developing a roadmap to facilitate women's greater engagement in the issues in the future while building capacity and improving conditions for women to join peace and security activities.

They also exchanged experience and useful knowledge for Vietnamese soldiers in general and female ones in particular when participating in UN peacekeeping operations, thereby contributing to enhancing the role and position of Vietnam in the region and the world in this field.

Vietnam officially participated in UN peacekeeping operations in 2014. In January 2018, it sent its first female officer to the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan, as a tactical staff officer. In October 2018, it successfully deployed the first level-2 field hospital to the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) in Bentiu, with 10 female officers out of the 63 officers, medical staff and doctors.

In November 2019 and April 2021, Vietnam deployed the level-2 field hospitals No. 2 and No.3, continuing to maintain security and increase the percentage of participating female soldiers with the ratios of 10/63 and 13/63, respectively./. 

82-year-old man in Nghe An died of stroke, not COVID-19 vaccine: Health official

The cause of death of an 82-year-old man in the central province of Nghệ An after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine was not due to vaccine quality or inoculation procedures, local health authorities have announced.

On Tuesday afternoon, the professional council for serious complications during COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Nghệ An Province, led by the provincial health department’s director Dương Đình Chính, held a meeting on the death of the elderly man on September 19 in Long Xá Commune, Hưng Nguyên District.

On the day, L.H.Y., underwent body temperature checks and medical screening, and he was deemed fit to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

However, just 30 minutes after the shot, he developed symptoms of a stroke. The health workers performed first aid and transported him to Nghệ An Friendship General Hospital in Vinh City, but he didn’t survive.

At the meeting, after deliberating on reports from the vaccination site at Long Xá Commune and the emergency unit in charge of treating the man, as well as opinions from the council’s experts and the province’s epidemiologists, the council determined that the cause of death was a massive intraventricular haemorrhage – considered the most fatal form of stroke – due to hypertension, after receiving the first shot of AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.

It also noted that the quality of the vaccine or the administration procedures had nothing to do with this incident.

Dương Đình Chính said it's coincidental and the man's death was not vaccine-related. Knowing his own conditions, Y. had taken medicines before vaccination to keep his blood pressure in check, according to Chính. 

Supervision work essential to enhance quality of planning work: NA Chairman

Supervision is considered an essential task to improve the quality of National Assembly’s activities and it must be linked to the accountability of individuals and organisations, NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue said on September 22.

He made the remarks at the third session of the 15th NA Standing Committee on September 22 which focused on reviewing a detailed plan on thematic supervision of planning work since the Law on Planning took effect.

Supervisory delegations should make suggestions on how to handle wrongdoings by organisations and individuals or problems that delay or obstruct law enforcement, Hue said.

Presenting the report on the plan by the NA’s Economic Committee, the committee's chairman Vu Hong Thanh said that the purpose of thematic supervision is to comprehensively and objectively evaluate the execution of the Law on Planning, resolutions of the National Assembly and the NA Standing Committee, laws and ordinances amending and supplementing a number of articles related to the planning of the Government, ministries, localities and agencies.

The delegates at the meeting agreed with the committee’s report, saying the draft supervision plan was carefully prepared, closely following the requirements in NA’s Resolution No 19/2021/QH15, as well as those on the content and implementation roadmap.

Concluding the session, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Tran Quang Phuong said that through discussion, the NA Standing Committee basically agreed with the content of the report. 

The supervisory delegation should choose an appropriate time to carry out the supervision, avoiding overlapping with major conferences and events of the Government and of localities, ministries, and branches, he said, adding that it is essential for the delegation to carefully set forth a detailed plan for supervision activities as well as inform the subjects of the supervision in line with their functions and tasks./. 

Prime Minister requests defence academy to enhance training quality

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on September 22 attended a ceremony to open the 2021-2022 academic year held by the National Defence Academy (NDA) under the Ministry of National Defence.

Senior Lieutenant General Tran Viet Khoa, Director of the NDA said that the academy will focus on improving the comprehensive quality of training and scientific research.

The Prime Minister emphasised the importance of training senior cadres of the Party, State and army to the development of the country.

He called attention of the academy's staff, lecturers and students to the key tasks in the 2021-2022 academic year and the future, including seriously following the leadership of the Party and State, the Government, the Central Military Commission, the Ministry of National Defence on COVID-19 prevention and control, and constantly renewing teaching and learning methods.

PM Chinh urged the academy to continue to expand and improve the effectiveness of collaboration with other academies, universities and defence research institutes of countries in the world. 

He suggested the academy focus on building a contingent of cadres and lecturers who are politically strong, have good professional skills, strategic thinking and working capacity to meet the requirements of the training mission.  The academy should enhance scientific research to improve training and education quality, Chinh said.

The Prime Minister said the Party, State and Government want to build the National Defence Academy into the country’s leading defence and military training and research centre./. 

Video clip launched on YouTube to promote Phu Quoc’s tourism

 

 

 

A video clip titled “Viet Nam: Di de yeu! Roam Phu Quoc” was officially launched on YouTube on September 22, aiming to give viewers a taste of the “Pearl Island” - Phu Quoc.

The clip is part of a programme promoting Vietnamese tourism on YouTube organised by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), with support from Vinpearl and Google.

It made debut at a time the tourism sector is preparing to welcome international visitors back to Phu Quoc.

The over-60-second video offers viewers a brief tour of renowned places in the island district such as Mong Tay and Gam Ghi islets, the Truc Lam Ho Quoc Zen Monastery, Phu Quoc United Centre - the largest entertainment and resort complex in Vietnam, and Hon Thom Cable Car - the world’s longest sea cable car system.

Beautiful beaches, crystal clear seawater, and fresh seafood are also highlights of the clip, promising an ideal destination for tourists to enjoy.

With vivid images, it helps popularise the beauty of this island and encourage travel lovers to explore this place when possible, according the VNAT.

The VNAT said Phu Quoc is scheduled to welcome foreign tourists back on a trial basis in October. The pilot programme is only applied to those involved in package tours organised by travel companies and coming from markets that have high COVID-19 safety.

International visitors need to have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or recovered from the disease, and test negative for the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

The pilot move is expected to be an impulse for the tourism sector and popularise Vietnam as a safe and attractive tourist destination./. 

Efforts needed to conserve rare primates in Ha Giang

Local authorities and forest rangers in the northern province of Ha Giang have worked together with the Fauna & Flora International (FFI) to conserve the Tonkin snub-nosed monkey since they were spotted in the province.

Ha Giang is the sole province in Vietnam which is home to a population of the monkeys, one of the rarest primate species in the world. In 2002, a population of 60 individuals was spotted in the Khau Ca special-use forest in Vi Xuyen and Bac Me districts of Ha Giang province. Another population, estimated at 30-60, was found six years later in the Tung Vai area in Quan Ba district.

In 2015, the Prime Minister issued a decision on the establishment of the Du Gia National Park by merging the Du Gia nature reserve and the Khau Ca Tonkin Snub-nosed Monkey Species and Habitat Conservation Area in the Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark. The park covers an area of 15,006 ha, with 11,224 ha under strict protection. 
 
Meanwhile, the population of the monkeys in Quan Ba district’s three communes of Cao Ma Po, Ta Van and Tung Vai, has decreased to 10 from about 35 in 2007, the FFI reported, adding that their living environment has been negatively affected by human activities, particularly illegal hunting.

At present, only 5,000 ha of forests are suitable for snub-nosed monkeys’ life in this area.

According to the FFI, there are only about 250 such monkeys in the world, with most of them being in Ha Giang.

The FFI said preservation of the primate is of special significance, and stressed the need to create different populations of the primate as well as diverse gene sources./.

People urged to not put off medical visits despite COVID-19
Update: September, 23/2021 - 09:00 |
 

A newborn baby with dengue fever is treated at HCM City Children's Hospital. — Photo suckhoedoisong.vn
HÀ NỘI — Children who have a fever for two straight days and other early symptoms of dengue fever should visit doctors as soon as possible to prevent complicated development of the disease, especially when the rainy season is coming, which can worsen dengue fever outbreaks.

Doctors also raised concerns that due to fears of COVID-19 infections, many people have been delaying visits to doctors. 

According to the Centre for Children’s Tropical Diseases under the Hà Nội-based National Children’s Hospital, in the last two months, the centre received more than 60 children with dengue fever. Among them, the youngest was only six days old.

A mother named Trang whose son was treated at the hospital for ten days said that he had a high temperature of up to 41 degrees Celsius and vomited a few times a day.

Trang said that she gave her son pain relief tablets for a few days but they did not work and he continued to have a fever.

“I took my son to a local hospital – Chương Mỹ District’s Hospital – and then he was transferred to the National Children’s Hospital after a diagnosis of dengue fever,” she said, adding that her daughter and father also had the fever.

From the beginning of this year, Hà Nội reported more than 540 dengue fever cases in 27 out of its 30 districts and towns.

In HCM City, the city’s Children Hospital received a two-year-old boy with complications of dengue fever. 

The two-year-old boy from the southern province of Tây Ninh had breathing difficulties and a bloated stomach.

Doctors determined the leakage of water in the blood vessels caused his abdomen to swell, putting pressure on the lungs. The lungs, which were already filled with effusion, lacked more space for gas exchange.

After four days of intensive treatment, the child partly recovered but still needed intensive care and blood transfusion.

Tâm Anh General Hospital in HCM City also received an increasing number of child patients with dengue, aged mostly from three to seven years old.

According to the hospital’s Department of Pediatrics, many of the children were taken to the hospital after having a high temperature for several days.

Some even suffered serious complications due to their late visits to doctors.

Head of the hospital’s Department of Pediatrics Lê Phan Kim Hoa said that the number of dengue fever cases could increase as the southern region entered the rainy season which lasts until early next year.

The peak time for dengue fever outbreaks might fall in the last few months of this year, she said.

“Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many are hesitating to go to the hospital for medical examination and treatment,” she said.

“Delaying medical visits could worsen the patients' conditions, even raising the risk of death,” Thoa said.

If children suffer a continuous fever for at least two days, parents should take them to a doctor, Thoa said.

It was necessary to take the children to the hospital at once when they had symptoms like irritability, lethargy, poor appetite, vomiting, abdominal pain, nosebleeds, blood in the teeth or vomiting blood and black stools, Thoa said.

In the early stages of illness, children often have symptoms that are easily confused with other viral infections like typhus or hand–foot–mouth disease. However, dengue fever is different from other viral diseases as after four or six days, children’s fever can get better or disappear, but their illness is still severe.

Thoa said that children need to be diagnosed early to have a suitable monitoring and treatment regimen. 

“The fever ending does not mean the children have recovered from the disease. When dengue is severe, bleeding or plasma leakage can cause shock. Without adequate rehydration or uncontrolled bleeding and anaemia, the disease can seriously affect internal organs,” the doctor said.

Associate Professor Đỗ Duy Cường, Director of the Center for Tropical Diseases under Bạch Mai Hospital, said that dengue fever and COVID-19 both had some similar initial symptoms including high fever, headache and tiredness. However, COVID-19 is spread through inhalation, contact with droplets/surfaces containing virus droplets, and dengue is transmitted through blood by mosquitoes.

"As they are worried about the spread of COVID-19, many people with dengue symptoms did not dare to go to the hospital for examination and treatment. This is one of the common mistakes,” he said.

“Most dengue fever patients recover within seven days. However, about 5 per cent of dengue fever patients will have severe manifestations such as bleeding or plasma leakage. Without timely treatment, the patient will face fatal risks," Cường said.

According to the Ministry of Health, nearly 44,000 dengue fever cases and 13 deaths relating to the disease were reported in Việt Nam in the first eight months of this year.

The number of dengue fever cases decreased 9.35 per cent compared to that of the same period last year, however, the number of deaths rose by ten. 

Round the clock responsibilities for dedicated medical staff

Dr. Đoàn Thị Hoàng Anh will never forget the days in her career when she carried oxygen cylinders on her shoulders at the dead of night to the homes of COVID-19 patients in HCM City.

Negotiating a maze of tight alleys in an area completely unfamiliar, knowing time is of the essence when delivering the gift of life.

But Hoàng Anh, a doctor of Hà Nội’s National Burns Hospital, has no regrets about opting to travel to HCM City to help fight the pandemic.

She was put in charge of mobile medical station No. 33 in District 7’s Tân Hưng Ward with two medical students from the Military Medical Academy.

They are responsible for supporting and monitoring the health of 33 residential groups with more than 1,000 people in neighbourhood number five.

They take care of about 300 F0 patients in the area during the city’s social distancing period.

The team’s daily tasks are to monitor the health conditions of the F0 patients at home, provide medicine and oxygen cylinders, and carry out community epidemiological control including taking samples for testing and tracing.

In the very first days of her new assignment in a strange place, Dr. Hoàng Anh and the two students were overwhelmed by the dense population in a large area with so many small, zig-zagging alleys that cannot be accessed by cars or even motorbikes.

Getting to the homes was tough enough before they even managed to reach the patients.

“Many times, we had to carry oxygen cylinders on our shoulders and run as fast as possible to approach and save the patients whose houses are at the end of small alley because motorbikes could get to them,” said Hoàng Anh.

But despite being in a strange place, the doctors had to memorise the area and get used to the locality as quickly as possible.

“We had had to memorise almost every street, alley and corner of the neighbourhood,” Hoàng Anh said.

The team have to visit each household to update the health status of those living there. However, with a large population and many COVID positive patients, the medical workers are always overloading with work.

Every day, if there are no emergency calls, Dr. Hoàng Anh and her teammates went to F0 patients to hand over medicine and check their health conditions.

If there are emergency calls, they have to bring oxygen cylinders to provide emergency care for people with severe ailments and consult with specialist doctors for medical advice as well as prepare to transfer patients to hospitals as soon as possible.

“In the peak time, there were dozens of patients needing examinations, first aid, and transfer to hospitals in a day,” the doctor said.

“We always worked from morning until midnight.”

Every day, Dr. Hoàng Anh and the students receive hundreds of emergency calls.

Their personal phones became the hotline number of mobile medical station No.33.

“Our personal numbers became the station’s hotline number receiving hundreds of calls regardless day and night,” Hoàng Anh said.

“Consulting through the night or at dawn was also a familiar thing.”

At these times, Dr. Hoàng Anh and her team not only support physical healthcare but also work as psychologists.

"We received many calls from people informing us they had tested positive by quick tests or concerns of their loved ones in quarantine facilities or just expressing their anxiety, imbalance or insomnia and even anorexia,” she said

“We had to listen, comfort and give them advice.”

After calls throughout the day and night, the health workers at the mobile medical station fell exhausted and longed for familiar surroundings.

But in order to fulfil the mission of saving people, they had to put aside their personal lives.

Hoàng Anh had to send her two little children to her parents’ home in Hà Tĩnh Province to take care of them while she did her duties.

Spending all day and all night wearing protective clothing is also uncomfortable, especially in hot weather.

Despite feeling proud to serve their country in times of need, all the medical staff are longing for the day the pandemic is finally controlled, so they can return home to their families.

“I want the pandemic soon to be controlled so that I could pick up my children and reunite with my husband in Hà Nội,” said the doctor.  

Drive-thru Covid-19 testing service launched in HCMC

The drive-thru Covid-19 testing service offering quick, safe and convenient test for people to help limit the spread of Covid-19 has been launched by the FV Hospital in HCMC’s Thu Duc City.

The drive-thru coronavirus testing station is placed at the Mega Market in Thu Duc City’s An Phu Ward and available from 8 am to 7 pm everyday.

People just need to stay in car or sit on mortobike for the test. Results using RT-PCR may take within 24 hours.

The drive-thru Covid-19 testing stations are widely seen in Europe. Testing is universally available to anyone who requests it. The service help residents to get tested for coronavirus quickly, safely and conveniently when they have symptoms, said marketing director of the FV Hospital.

People can contact for the service via phone number 033 332 00 33. 

Ministry asks to follow interval instruction between first, second vaccine doses

The Ministry of Health yesterday sent its document to departments nationwide asking to follow its instruction of interval between two shots of Covid-19 vaccine.

According to AstraZeneca manufacturers’ instruction, a person should receive their second dose of AstraZeneca from four to eight weeks after the first, said the Ministry.

As per the World Health Organization’s recommended dosage, two doses given intramuscularly (0.5ml each) with an interval of 8 to 12 weeks.

Therefore, Vietnamese Ministry of Health has decided the interval of eight to 12 weeks between two doses of AstraZeneca or Pfizer vaccine for people who have received the first doses of AstraZeneca vaccine.

Source: VNA/VNS/VOV/VIR/SGT/SGGP/Nhan Dan/Hanoitimes