People staying in Vietnam less than 14 days for work purposes are not required to undergo quarantine, but need to fully adhere to COVID-19 preventive measures, according to a guideline by the Ministry of Health.

Those eligible include people entering for diplomatic, official, or business purposes; investors; experts; skilled workers and their families; people cited in agreements with respective nations; and people having contact with those staying in Vietnam for a short time.

In case they are expected to join activities in various localities, detailed travel plans are required, with approval by local authorities.

If those on entry want to extend their stay in Vietnam, they must follow current immigration and COVID-19 control regulations, the ministry added.

Thua Thien-Hue delays opening of Imperial Citadel night street zone

The opening of Imperial Citadel night street zone has been postponed due to the city focusing on COVID-19 prevention and control efforts.

The night street zone around Hue Imperial Citadel, a UNESCO-recognised World Cultural Heritage, is set to be launched on January 1, 2022, in order to boost the city’s nighttime economy.

The zone, which will open from 7pm to 11pm every Friday and Saturday, is due to span a total of four streets, namely August 23, Dang Thai Than, Le Huan, and Doan Thi Diem.

Moving forward, the night street zone is anticipated to provide visitors with a chance to watch various types of art performances, experience folk games, traditional crafts, and sample delicious Hue cuisine, whilst the site will also be a unique highlight for Hue’s nightlife.

Deputy Minister requests efforts to remove IUU fishing warning

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien has asked the Directorate of Fisheries to pool all possible resources and take synchronous measures to soon remove “yellow card” warning on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

As of the late November, 98 fishing vessels and 775 fishermen in 60 cases were arrested in overseas waters, down 32 percent year-on-year.

Deputy General Director of the directorate Nguyen Quang Hung said in the near future, the directorate will direct growing aquatic products with economic value, develop linkage chains, ensure food safety and hygiene.

It will also work closely with localities to instruct farmers how to catch seafood at sea by chain to save cost and improve efficiency, he said.

2021 National Archery Championship opens

As many as 136 archers has competed in the 2021 National Archery Championship that is held in Vinh Phuc.

The three-day event (Dec. 24-16) drew archers from the cities and provinces of An Giang, Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Dak Lak, Dong Thap, Hanoi, Hai Duong, Hai Phong, Kien Giang, Ninh Binh, Phu Tho, Quang Ninh, Thanh Hoa, Thua Thien-Hue, Vinh Long and Vinh Phuc.

They are competing in single and team events for both men and women.

Winners of contest on compiling Vietnamese language learning materials for OVs honoured

An award ceremony was held on December 24 to honour winners of a contest on the compilation of Vietnamese language learning materials for overseas Vietnamese.

The contest aimed to foster the teaching and learning of Vietnamese language for OVs, in an effort to conserve, strengthen and develop the country’s tongue and cultural identity, as well as uphold patriotism and promote Vietnamese language and culture to international friends.

It was held from September 2020 until this December. As many as eligible 28 entries comprising a total of 62 books and documents were sent to the organising board.

Contestants included those from Ukraine and Poland. A second prize was presented to a group of Pham Thi Huong Quynh, Nguyen The Duong and Tran Huong Thuc. The Vietlearning language centre and Hanaspeak education company earned the third prizes. The award-winning works will be digitalised and widely introduced to serve teaching and learning of Vietnamese language free of charge for OVs.

HUST wins big at Canon Student Chie-Tech 2021

The CIM Light team from the Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST) won the first prize worth 30 million VND (1,300 USD) at the final round of 2021 Canon Student Chie-Tech competition, an automation contest for technology students.

In particular, BK JP and NF404 teams from HUST also grabbed second prizes, each worth 20 million VND.

The EPU TMT team from the Electric Power University, MEET 1-TNUT team from the Thai Nguyen University of Technology and the CDDT3-PKA from Phenikaa University earned third prizes, each valued at 10 million VND.

Thirteen teams in the final round received certificates of merit from the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union.

Launched for the first time in 2019, the event drew 97 teams and universities and colleges across the north this year.

Health Ministry staff honoured for contributions in COVID-19 fight

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh has signed a decision to present the Prime Minister’s certificates of merit to six collectives and 36 individuals at the Ministry of Health.

They have been honoured for their outstanding contributions to COVID-19 prevention and control so as to protect and take care of people’s health.

The collectives include offices of the MoH’s Health Environment Management Agency and Department of Medical Service Administration, and the hospital of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Ho Chi Minh City.

Party Central Committee's Inspection Commission convenes 10th meeting

The Party Central Committee’s Inspection Commission convened its 10th meeting in Hanoi on December 22-24.

The commission decided to give warning as a disciplinary measure to former Secretary of the Party Delegation and former Chairwoman of the Vietnam Red Cross Society (VRCS) Central Committee Nguyen Thi Xuan Thu, member of the Party Delegation and Vice Chairman of the VRCS Central Committee Tran Quoc Hung, and other officials.

They reprimanded member of the Party Delegation, Vice Chairman and Secretary General of the VRCS Central Committee Nguyen Hai Anh.

The commission suggested the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat impose a disciplinary measure on the Party Delegation at the VRCS for the 2017-2022 tenure.

Warning was also given to the standing board of the Quang Ninh Coal Party Committee for the 2015-2020 and 2020-2025 tenures and the standing board of the Party Committee of the General Department of Geology and Minerals of Vietnam for the 2015-2020 tenure, leaders of the Quang Ninh Coal Party Committee and Party Committees of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the General Department of Geology and Minerals of Vietnam.

The commission considered violations committed by several individuals and Party organisations of the Ministry of Education and Training, and the provinces of Ha Giang and Lam Dong.

Daredevil Giang brothers break world record in Spain

Vietnamese acrobat duo Giang Quoc Co and Giang Quoc Nghiep broke their own world record by doing a head-to-head balancing act and climbing 100 stairs of the Girona Cathedral in Catalonia, Spain on December 23.

The duo originally set a world record in 2016 when they climbed 90 stairs of the cathedral in 52 seconds.

Guinness World Records proposed adding 10 more steps this time and the Vietnamese duo agreed to take on the new challenge.

Both artists left Vietnam for Spain on December 17 and spent several days training before the contest.

Strict COVID-19 prevention measures adopted by the Spanish Government, including the closure of fitness clubs, affected their training. The two artists had to train and perform in freezing temperatures.

But their efforts paid off when the artists finished climbing up 100 steps in 53 seconds.

Conference seeks to help firms following pandemic

A conference seeking measures and policies in support of small and medium-sized enterprises following COVID-19 pandemic was held in the northern province of Thai Binh on December 24.

The event was co-hosted by the Vietnam Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, the Government’s Advisory Council for Administrative Procedure Reform, the US Agency for International Development (USAID), and the provincial Association of Small and Medium Enterprises.

Data from the General Department of Statistics showed that in ten months of this year, over 97,000 firms suspended operations and withdrew from the market. The World Bank said over 1.4 million workers nationwide became unemployed and 1.3 million were forced to return home due to unemployment.

Sustainable livelihoods needed for forest conservation

A webinar held on December 24 pointed out the need to develop sustainable livelihoods for residents in the buffer zones of nature reserves and national parks so as to help with forest conservation.

During 2016 - 2020, about 1,100 hamlets and villages in the buffer zones of nature reserves nationwide were assisted with about 43.8 billion VND (1.9 million USD) in total, including 41.8 billion VND from the State budget and 2 billion VND from other sources. The aid was spent mainly on developing infrastructure such as roads, community houses, and clean water supply facilities, according to the reserves’ management boards.

Workshop spotlights Imperial Archives of Nguyen Dynasty

The State Records and Archives Department of Vietnam on December 23 hosted a workshop on studies, preservation and promotion of Imperial Archives of the Nguyen Dynasty, a world documentary heritage recognized by UNESCO.

During the hybrid event, local and foreign scholars and researchers proposed new ways for better preserving and promoting the values of the archives.

They suggested Vietnam accelerates the introduction of the digital version of the UNESCO-recognised archives and others to the public, potentially through virtual reading rooms, and 2D and 3D virtual exhibitions. Diverse communications channels must be employed to promote the documentary heritage, for examples via social media or at school.

Nguyen Dynasty’s Imperial Archives are administrative archives of the Nguyen Dynasty, the last feudal dynasty of Vietnam and in region which lasted from 1802 to 1945. It received the world documentary heritage status in 2017.

Media agencies praised for contributions to national development

Press agencies have played a significant role in popularising several of the nation’s major issues, thereby serving as a reliable forum for local people.

Tran Thanh Lam, deputy head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education, said this on December 24 as the National Press Conference opened in Hanoi.

The event has been designed to review the performance of the press circle this year, along with devising tasks for next year.

According to a report presented by Lam, as of November 30 the country had 816 media agencies made up of 40,000 employees, 17,161 of whom have been granted press cards.

The past year has seen press agencies cover a broad array of major events such as the 13th National Party Congress, the elections of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and all-level People’s Councils for the 2021 to 2026 period, and high-level diplomatic activities, among other things. 

Many agencies have embarked on digital transformation, utilized artificial intelligence (AI), reformed operations, and devised new press business models to diversify their sources of income.

Miss World Vietnam 2022 pageant launched

The Miss World Vietnam 2022 pageant officially got underway with a press conference held by Sen Vang Entertainment Company in Ho Chi Minh City on December 22 to launch the contest.

For the first time in its history, this year’s contest will be open to contestants who have previously undergone aesthetic surgery.

Preliminary rounds are set to be held in Hanoi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City, and the semi-final round involving 60 contestants is set to take place in March and April next year.

The leading 40 contestants will subsequently be selected for the final round to be held in Vung Tau city in May 2022.

The sub-contests will be livestreamed on the organisers’ fanpage, giving contestants the chance to showcase their strengths. Both judges and audiences will select the winners through each activity.

The contest’s winner is set to receive a cash prize totaling VND300 million, whilst the first and second runners-up will be awarded VND150 million and VND100 million, respectively.

HCM City to finish third Covid-19 vaccine shot before Tet

HCM City has planned to finish the third Covid-19 vaccine booster dose for people aged 18 and over before the Lunar Tet New Year Holiday.

The Ministry of Health has shortened the waiting time for the third Covid-19 vaccine shot from six months to three. Following this, the HCM City Department of Health has instructed localities to speed up the third Covid-19 vaccine jab.

The vaccination priority will be given to people aged 50 and older, medical workers, people directly involved in collecting samples for Covid-19 testing and treating Covid-19 patients and frontline forces working against the pandemic.

The city is making a list of people who are eligible for the third jab. By December 23, around 88.7% people in HCM City had been fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

HCM City seeks Govt help to obtain oxygen for COVID treatment

HCM City wants the Government to help increase the supply of liquid oxygen to treat COVID-19 patients since it is unable to procure enough for its hospitals.

At the peak of the pandemic, the city had 11 suppliers with a capacity of around 842 tonnes of liquid oxygen per day, but only needed 380 tonnes.

However, most of them, based in the city or nearby provinces, are now producing industrial oxygen mainly for steel manufacturers, with several stopping production of medical oxygen. Only five businesses still supplying the city and only around 150 tonnes.

Due to the rising number of COVID patients, its medical facilities need around 170 tonnes a day now, and the demand is expected to rise to 350 tonnes in the near future. Since the start of December several hospitals have been struggling to source oxygen.

According to the People’s Committee, the total capacity of the remaining producers is around 542 tonnes, and so demand for medical oxygen can be met if they reduce supply to industrial users.

CAAV orders daily airport disinfection

The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV) has asked local airports to disinfect their terminals everyday, while ordering air carriers to sterilize their aircraft to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

The disinfection must comply with the international regulations of the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the Airports Council International (ACI) and the Vietnamese Ministry of Health’s regulations.

Disinfectants used at airports must also meet the standards and regulations of WHO, ICAO, IATA, ACI and the Ministry of Health, the local media reported.

Over 24,000 vulnerable people in HCMC remain unvaccinated against Covid

Some 15 days after reviewing the number of people in high-risk groups and those vaccinated, HCMC found over 24,400 people in the groups unvaccinated against Covid-19. The healthcare centers in districts are convincing these people to get vaccinated.

As for people finding it difficult to travel to vaccination sites, medical workers will come to their homes to give the shots, according to the HCMC Department of Health.

The city is speeding up the vaccination drive for people in high-risk groups to reduce Covid deaths which have shown signs of picking up. The drive will last until December 31.

As of December 22, the city had made a list of 584,000 people in high-risk groups such as people aged over 65 or with underlying illnesses, with over 3,900 of them infected with Covid-19.

VABA proposes to allow online medical declaration certificates for passengers

The Vietnam Aviation Business Association (VABA) has proposed to allow medical declaration, receiving certification online, fulfilling procedures on app or website; and connect and share data with airlines. This aims to simplify procedures and effectively fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

VABA has sent the proposal of removing difficulties in the process of welcoming international visitors from January 1 to the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Transport and embassies.

Accordingly, the ministries, agencies and embassies need to pay attention to directing and giving instructions on how to declare and receive negative PCR record certificates to reduce inconveniences for passengers and overseas Vietnamese.

Currently, many domestic commercial flights are set to operate to serve for travel demand of passengers on the Tet holiday in addition to the reopening of regular international flights from January 1 which would easily gather crowded people. Therefore, VABA proposed to soon issue implementation guidelines and coordination procedures to successfully resume regular international commercial flights.

Ca Mau holds press brief on fallen unfinished bridge collapses

The Department of Transport in the Mekong Delta Province of Ca Mau yesterday coordinated with the provincial Department of Information and Communications to hold a press conference to inform about the collapse of the unfinished Cai Doi Vam bridge. 

The construction of the VND70 billion (US$3,072,933) bridge under construction in Ca Mau started in September 2019. The project is expected to be put into use before the 2022 Lunar New Year.

However, at 8:30 a.m. on December 21, the contractor used a machine to monitor discovering that the T7 pillar had subsided 3.2cm. At this time, the bridge deck and railing appeared many cracks from 3-4 cm wide. At 11:45 a.m. on the same day, the boat's span, 33m long, fell into the river and the T7 pillar sank about 6.3m. No casualties or damage to vehicles were reported. The preliminary loss is estimated at more than VND2 billion.

Director of Ca Mau Department of Transport Ho Hoan Tat said that the provincial People's Committee directed to set up an investigation team for the construction incidents.

Nguyen Hue Flower Street 2022 pays gratitude to people, frontline forces

The HCMC’s Flower Street 2022 running on a 600-meter long section on Nguyen Hue Street in District 1 revealed its theme of “Homeland spring with the human warmth” aiming at paying gratitude to Vietnamese people across the country, especially healthcare workers and other forces on the front lines of the battle against the Covid-19 pandemic.

The 2022 Lunar New Year is the year of Tiger that is chosen as sacred animal of Nguyen Hue Flower Street in this year. A couple of tigers measured three meters long and seven meters high of each will be placed in front of the entry gate while a tiger measured 10 meters long and 4.6 meters high will appear in the exit gate. A large number of flower pots will be placed along the street.

The organization board has built four pandemic response plans in accordance with the city’s four Covid-19 alert levels and prevention and control measures of the disease.

The much awaited annual flower show is planned to be held from January 29 - February 4, 2022 (the 27th day of the last month – 4th day of the first month of the lunar calendar).

Hanoi accelerates renovation of old apartment buildings by Q3 of 2023 

The plan is considered a breakthrough in improving people’s living standard in the capital city.
The Hanoi People's Committee has just issued a decision on speeding up the comprehensive renovation of old apartment buildings in the capital city.

The municipal government will release an inspection plan this month with a view to completing the inspection of all decayed apartment buildings in the city by the third quarter of 2023.

In early December 2021, Hanoi issued a detailed plan to renovate and rebuild old apartments in the city with specific solutions applied for apartment blocks covering over 2 hectares and those of less than 2 hectares. The plan also contemplates the consolidation scheme for old independent and single apartment buildings for on-site resettlement.

Currently, Hanoi has around 1,600 old apartment buildings which were built from 1960 to 1999. The renovation was set out 20 years ago, but only 19 old buildings have been renovated and built anew so far (accounting for 1.2%).

Contemporary tuong play to be performed 

Inspired by the Vietnamese classic opera called Son Hau (Behind the Mountain), a musical theater performance entitled “Coi Thinh Khong” (Quiescent Space) will be perform at 7.30p.m on December 29 at the Center for Art & Culture, No 22 Hang Buom Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.

Tuong is a form of Vietnamese theatre based on folk performances and written literature. Though its origin is still a subject of controversy, some argue that tuong emerged around the 13th and 14th centuries and reached its peak in the 18th and 19th centuries when the Nguyen Dynasty regarded it as the national theatre.

National housing development strategy passed

Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh has recently signed Decision 2161/QD-TTg approving the National Housing Development Strategy in the 2021-2030 period with a vision towards 2045. 

The strategy sets specific targets that by 2025, the average housing floor area per person will reach 27sq.m with 28sq.m in urban areas and 26sq.m in rural areas.  

By 2030, the rate of permanent housing nationwide will reach 85-90%, of which the rate is 100% in urban areas and 75-80% in rural areas. Up to 90% of houses nationwide will have synchronous systems of electri city and water supply, and wastewater drainage which are connected to regional technical infrastructure system. 

The strategy also targets to develop social houses for low-income people in urban areas, for workers at industrial parks, and for public servants and soldiers. 

Poor households in rural areas, ethnic minority and mountainous areas will get support from local budget, loans at preferential interest rates to increase their housing areas and build houses. 

Source: SGGP/VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/ND

VIETNAM NEWS HEADLINES DECEMBER 24

Health ministry distributes 200,000 tablets of antiviral drug in Hanoi