Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh has agreed to increase the frequency of commercial international flights, as well as removing the need for passengers to take rapid COVID-19 tests before and after their flight, as per new Government regulations.

Following this latest dispatch by the Government Office on January 28, passengers will not have to undergo rapid tests for SARS-CoV-2 before and after boarding the plane.

The destinations under consideration for more flights include Japan, the Republic of Korea and Taiwan (China). It is also expected that more locations in Europe and Oceania will be added to the pilot flight resumption programme starting in 2022 after nearly two years of border closures.

Diplomatic missions will work with the respective local authorities to resume regular international flights, aiming to remove quarantine requirements for Vietnamese people upon arrival to Singapore, Japan, and the RoK.

They are also required to issue guidelines for Vietnamese nationals who are denied entry to their destinations.

The Ministry of Health will review and issue detailed instructions on preventive and control measures against the Omicron variant for arrivals to Vietnam.

Party chief extends Tet wishes to leaders, former leaders, compatriots, soldiers nationwide

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong extended his best New Year wishes to leaders and former leaders of the Party, State, and Vietnam Fatherland Front, key officials of some centrally-run agencies and Hanoi, and compatriots, soldiers and overseas Vietnamese (OVs) at a get-together on January 29, or the 27th day of the last lunar month.

Also attending the get-together were former Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh, President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, former President Tran Duc Luong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue, and former NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung, among others.

Trong said that 2021 was the first year implementing the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress with many important events. In the context of difficulties and challenges caused by the COVID-19 pamdemic and natural disasters, but with efforts, will, bravery and creativity of the entire Party, people and army, Vietnam has overcome difficulties and challenges, and achieved many important and comprehensive results in all fields.

The Party chief noted that 2022 is the pivotal year to implement the Resolution as well as the 2021 – 2025 socio-economic development plan. The international and domestic situations have many opportunities and advantages, but also difficulties and challenges, thus requiring the entire Party, people and army to make every effort to realise the set goals to successfully complete this year’s tasks.

He stressed the need to strive to fulfil all socio-economic recovery and development tasks at the highest level; stabilise the macro-economy; address difficulties for production and business activities, develop the fields of culture, education - training, science - technology; protect the environment and adapt to climate change.

It is necessary to ensure social security and welfare, strengthen Party building and rectification, build a rule-of-law socialist state and a transparent and strong political system, Trong stated, proposing stepping up administrative reform, judicial reform, fostering the fight against corruption, negative phenomena and wastefulness, and ensuring national defence and security, and safeguarding sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He requested extra efforts to adapt flexibly and safely to and effective control the COVID-19 pandemic to facilitate rapid and sustainable socio-economic recovery and development. He expressed his hope for a new year with bigger successes and more rapid and sustainable development than in 2021.

Mr Universe Vietnam 2022 launched

The first Mr Universe Vietnam 2022 competition has been launched in HCM City.

Vietnamese men at home and abroad, aged 18 to 30, who are at least 1.75m tall are encouraged to join.

The selection round is scheduled to open in May in HCM City and Hanoi. The contestants will compete in the categories of traditional costumes, swimsuits, question-and-answer sessions and evening wear.

They will also take part in additional competitions highlighting their talent and charity work.

Ten finalists will compete for the crown. The organiser will present awards for Mr Talent, Mr Sports and Mr Charming Face.

The total in cash prizes is 3 billion VND (132,000 USD).

The winners will represent Vietnam in global competitions such as Mr World and Man of the Year.

The jury will include Mr International 2019 Trinh Bao, a fashion model and fitness trainer in Hai Phong and HCM City.

Four Consular Department officials suspended for bribery investigation

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on January 29 that it had issued a decision to suspend work of four officials of its Consular Department to serve the investigation into a case of taking bribes while licensing the firms that conducted repatriation flights for Vietnamese people.

Earlier, the Investigation Security Agency under the Ministry of Public Security prosecuted and detained the four individuals for the charge of “taking bribes” under Article 354 of the Penal Code. Decisions on the search of their workplace and residence were also made.

The four are Nguyen Thi Huong Lan, born in 1974, head of the Consular Department; Do Hoang Tung, born in 1980, deputy head of the department; Le Tuan Anh, born in 1982, chief of the department’s office; and Luu Tuan Dung, born in 1987, deputy head of the citizen protection desk at the department.

Local people surround the whale carcass.

Thanh Hoa: 10-tonne whale carcass buried

A whale carcass weighing more than 10 tonnes was found washed up on the shore of Tien Thang village of Quang Xuong district in the north central province of Thanh Hoa on January 27.

The carcass, about 7 metres in length, was in the process of decomposition, with its head detached.

Local fishermen brought the carcass for burial later on the day.

Vietnamese coastal residents believe whale is a sacred animal that helps fishermen at sea. Therefore, they often rescue the animal or bury the dead ones in a solemn ceremony.

Vietnam records 15,150 COVID-19 cases on January 29

Vietnam reported an additional 15,150 COVID-19 infections, including 50 imported cases, on January 29, according to the Ministry of Health.

The capital city of Hanoi continued to report the highest number of daily transmissions nationwide, with 2,806 cases. It was followed by Bac Ninh with 992 cases, Da Nang with 865, and Thanh Hoa with 732.

Total cases since the start of the pandemic now stand at 2,233,287, of which 2,226,343 are the result of the fourth wave that started in late April 2021.

The number of COVID-19 related fatalities announced on the day was 115.

The country’s COVID-19 death toll is now 37,547 cases, about 1.7 percent of the total infections.

There are 3,869 COVID-19 patients nationwide in serious condition, with 505 requiring invasive ventilation and 19 on life support.

Overseas Vietnamese returning home to celebrate Tet

Many flights have been organised to and from a number of countries thanks to the efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant agencies. This has met the need of many overseas Vietnamese to return home to welcome in the Lunar New Year.

Tet is Vietnam’s traditional holiday, celebrating the beginning of Spring. For many overseas Vietnamese, a traditional Tet family reunion is an integral part of their life.

Lunar new year get-togethers held for overseas Vietnamese

The Embassy of Vietnam in Ukraine on January 28 held a get-together for the Vietnamese community in the European couuntry on the threshold of the Tet (Lunar New Year) festival.
Addressing the event, Ambassador to Ukraine Nguyen Hong Thach extended his Tet wishes to the expatriates. 

In Malaysia, a liason board of OVs in Johor state arranged an event to make chung (square glutinous rice) cake, a traditional cake of Vietnamese people during Tet, on January 25-28.

The Vietnamese community in the Klang Valley comprising Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Putrajaya presented chung cakes and Tet gifts to 50 disadvantaged OVs in Selangor. Of note, they made cakes meeting ‘halal’ standards which can be served to Muslims.

Minister highlights importance of ensuring social security, safety for people

Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung has said that the socio-economic recovery programme set out by the Party and State is reachable if social welfare and safety of people are ensured.

According to the minister, Vietnam is persistently implementing the dual goals of both preventing and controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, and ensuring social security and economic development. The country has completed a project on restoring and developing the labour market, ensured social welfare, and esynchronously implemendt all policies related to the National Target Programme for the 2021 – 2025 period.

In 2021, the ministry focused on advising the Government to promulgate three basic groups of policies, on social support for social protection beneficiaries, for those who rendered services to the nation, and for workers and employers facing difficulties due to the pandemic, which, Dung said, are unprecedented policies issued with the most urgency and fastest possible conditions, but with the most transparent procedures.

The Government issued two resolutions to provide assistance for pandemic-affection people, which have to date benefitted over 44 million people with a total disbursed amount of 76 trillion VND (3.35 billion USD).

Vietnamese firms engage in Net Zero race

In the net zero race, those who respond with a rapid and comprehensive approach will gain the upper hand. The race is viewed as both a responsibility and challenge for businesses as first comers will be pioneers and gain a foothold amid changes in consumers’ behaviours, technologies and markets. 

GreenID Director Nguy Thi Khanh said her centre is working with relevant agencies to set up an alliance with a focus on achieving net zero. 

As Vietnam may need between 147 and 221 billion USD to realise the set target in the 2022-50 period, support from international organisations, private firms and stakeholders of the carbon market is vital.

Companies of all sectors in Vietnam hoping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions can join the alliance, she said, adding that it will support firms to find resources in terms of finance, technology and market as well as boost their prestige, brand and cooperation chances via a network of businesses and experts.

The alliance is scheduled to debut in the first quarter of this year and a survey on demand and capacity of firms regarding net zero will be carried out in March.

Vietnam, US enhance cooperation in climate change, environmental pollution

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MoNRE) and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) on January 28 inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aiming to address the complex challenges of climate change and environmental pollution.

The MoU was signed by Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Le Cong Thanh and the USAID’s Vietnam Mission Director Ann Marie Yastishock.

The USAID’s collaboration with the MoNRE will focus on air quality management; integrated water resource management and water security; conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity; ocean plastic, solid waste management and recycling; and reduction of emissions responsible for climate change.

Over the past five years, the USAID has been working closely with Vietnam to foster collective action by local actors to raise awareness of the causes and effects of environmental pollution challenges, and to increase knowledge of effective strategies for reducing environmental pollution.

Best conditions must be created for people to return to hometown for Tet: Official

Localities must create optimal conditions for people to return to their hometowns during the coming Tet (Lunar New Year) Festival, Minister - Chairman of the Government Office Tran Van Son said at a regular press conference of the Government on January 28.

Son said as the Prime Minister has ordered localities to not issue their own regulations for the returnees without approval of authorised agencies, they must strictly adhere to regulations of the Government and the Ministry of Health.

“The Government's viewpoint is to create the best conditions for people to return to their hometowns to welcome Tet and the PM has repeated the matter in meetings”, he stressed.

Inspections showed that the situations have been improved in localities, he said, urging them to continue staying vigilant against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Programme on socio-economic recovery, development set to be issued before Tet

A programme on socio-economic recovery and development is set to be issued before the Tet (Lunar New Year), which falls on February 1 this year, according to Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Duy Dong.

“The Ministry of Planning and Investment expects to submit the draft programme on socio-economic recovery and development to the Government today for consideration and issuance before the Lunar New Year,” Dong told a press conference of the Government on January 28.

The Government has assigned the Ministry of Planning and Investment to sketch out the programme, with total funding of about 350 trillion VND (15.45 billion USD).

The official said his ministry proposed synchronous solutions to implement the programme during the Government’s regular meeting that took place earlier the same day.

President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum to open on lunar year’s last day

The Mausoleum of President Ho Chi Minh will be open to the public on January 31 (the last day of the lunar year), the Management Board of the site has announced.

Time for people to pay tribute will be from 8am to 11.30am.

President Ho Chi Minh passed away on September 2, 1969. His body was embalmed and placed in a glass coffin inside the granite mausoleum.

The mausoleum has become an important landmark of the capital city and is integral to the political and social history of Vietnam.

Tet (Lunar New Year) is the largest and longest traditional festival of the Vietnamese people. This year's Tet falls on February 1.

Vietnam maintains socio-economic recovery in January: Official

The Government’s regular meeting on January 28 reviewed drastic and timely actions taken by the National Assembly, the Government and the Prime Minister, which have positively impacted socio-economic development in the first month of this year, heard a press conference later on the same day.

Minister-Chairman of the Government Office Tran Van Son told the press conference following the Cabinet meeting that Vietnam continued its socio-economic recovery trajectory in the month.

The Government, however, pointed out challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and regional and global uncertainties, which require ministries and agencies to stay vigilant, take prompt actions and make greater efforts to implement set tasks, solutions, programmes and plans to achieve the highest growth target and create a foundation and momentum for recovery and development in 2021-2025, he said.

PM Pham Minh Chinh asked ministries and agencies to quickly return to work right after the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday, which lasts from January 31 through February 4, and speed up the disbursement of public investments, according to the official.

Son attributed achievements recorded in January to the shift to safely and flexibly adapting to and effectively controlling the pandemic and the acceleration of the vaccine rollout, which have facilitated the resumption of socio-economic activities.

PM requests good preparations for all possible circumstances in 2022

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on January 28 ordered preparations in all aspects at a higher level than usual during the first Government regular meeting of 2022 as no one can forecast all possible unexpected developments and there may be more difficulties and challenges than advantages and opportunities.

PM Chinh stressed the need for extra efforts to ensure social welfare, as well as social order, safety and security during the Lunar New Year holiday, which will begin this weekend, with the focus on policy beneficiaries, poor households and those affected by natural disasters and the pandemic.

He assigned the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs to continue reviewing, issuing and implementing policies to support people, employees and employers affected by the pandemic.

Ministries, sectors and localities were requested to accelerate the disbursement of public investment from the beginning of this year, promote the simplification of administrative procedures, and work to address bottlenecks related to institutions in production and business.

He requested local authorities to strictly implement regulations on the management of people's movement during the Tet holidays in accordance with the direction of the Government and the Prime Minister.

For the socio-economic recovery and development programme, the PM proposed ministries and sectors continue to contribute ideas to improving the programme on the basis of closely following the conclusions of the Politburo and the Resolution of the National Assembly, and implementing the functions, tasks and powers of the Government, ministries, sectors and agencies so as to achieve quick recovery and economic development.

Peach blossom gardens in Ha Tinh crowed ahead of Tet

Favourable weather and soil conditions give central Ha Tinh province the opportunity to grow peach blossoms. Many localities in the province have developed large-scale peach blossom villages, bringing in a source of income for growers whenever Tet comes around.

Peach blossom gardens in Kim Son village in Luu Vinh Son commune are now blooming. Traders are busy transporting peach trees to neighbouring areas and other localities.

At this time, many peach villages in Cam Hung commune, Cam Xuyen district, and Co Dam commune, Nghi Xuan district, are busy welcoming traders and buyers picking up peach blossoms for the Tet holiday.

Hanoi’s Old Quarter hosts traditional Tet activities

An array of cultural activities highlighting characteristics of the traditional Tet (Lunar New Year) festival kicked off at Hanoi’s Old Quarter on January 28 - the 26th day of the last lunar month.

A ceremony to plant Neu (a tall bamboo pole with red garment strips used to ward off evil spirits during the lunar New Year) was re-enacted on the day.

The activities comprise musical programmes, an event to make chung (square glutinous rice) cake and three thematic installation art exhibitions.

The activities will be arranged until February 15, or the 15th day of the first lunar month which is "Tet Nguyen tieu" (First Full Moon Festival), with COVID-19 prevention and control measures being in place.

They can be watched at the Facebook page ‘Pho co Ha Noi’ (Hanoi Old Quarter) and website hoankiem360.vn.

Experts warn about consequences of prolonged school shutdowns

Most localities nationwide are planning to resume in-person learning after the Lunar New Year holiday, a necessary move to avoid consequences of prolonged school shutdowns which would affect an entire generation for many decades to come, many experts said.

Simone Vis, Chief of Education at UNICEF Vietnam, said the COVID-19 pandemic has led to learning disruptions around the globe, causing the worst educational crisis in history. The pandemic and school closures have not only harmed children’s health and mental safety, increased domestic violence and child labour but also substantially affected students’ learning.

Dr. Hoang Trung Hoc, head of the psychology - education faculty at the National Academy of Education Management, cited a study of over 20,000 students nationwide after six months of online learning as revealing that 65.1 percent of them show symptoms of stress at different levels, from mild, moderate, to severe and very severe.

Echoing the view, Dang Tu An, Director of the Vietnam Innovation of General Education Foundation, said apart from low educational effectiveness, online learning has also made students unable to practice face-to-face communication and lose connectivity with their friends, teachers, and society, resulting in tiredness and stress for both teachers and students, as well as parents.

Vietnam improves quality of ethnic minority language teaching

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has signed a decision approving a programme on increasing the quality of teaching ethnic minority languages in the general education curricula in the 2021-2030 period.

Accordingly, the programme aims to complete the compilation of textbooks and instructional materials at the primary school level for eight ethnic minority languages that have been issued subject curricula, namely Bahnar, Cham, Ede, Khmer, Jrai, Mnong, Mong and Thai by 2025; and ensure the sufficient supply of compiled textbooks and instructional materials.

At least one subject of a written ethnic minority language will be put up for teaching in the general education curriculum, and the programme also strives for enough teachers of ethnic minority languages, 45 percent of whom have standard qualifications and 100 percent of educational administrators involved in teaching ethnic minority languages receiving training.

The application of information technology in ethnic minority language teaching will be promoted, and disseminations intensified to raise awareness of the importance of the teaching.

Quartet scroll exhibition underway at National Fine Art Museum

An exhibition of four-scroll woodblock prints called “Colours of Spring” is underway at the Vietnam National Fine Arts Museum at 66 Nguyen Thai Hoc street, Hanoi.

Running through the end of February, the exhibition features a collection of 20 quartet prints of different topics, including The Four Seasons Quartet, The Goddess Quartet, The Eight Immortals Quartet, and Historical and Illustrative Quartet.

These series provide vivid insights into the ancestors’ conception of time and daily life, said Nguyen Anh Minh, Director of the Vietnam National Fine Art Museum.

Over 989 tonnes of rice given to Quang Ngai for Tet, between-crop period

Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai has recently signed a decision assigning the Finance Ministry to  provide more than 989 tonnes of rice sourced from the national reserve for the central province of Quang Ngai on the occasion of the Lunar New Year (Tet) festival  and the between-crop period in early 2022.

Accordingly, the locality will receive over 711 tonnes of rice for Tet, and nearly 278 tonnes for the early 2022 between-crop period.

Penalties upheld for members of so-called ‘Bao Sach’ group

The People’s Court of Can Tho city on January 27 upheld the prison sentences for Truong Chau Huu Danh and other members of the so-called “Bao Sach” (clean journalism) group.

The five defendants were found guilty of “abusing the rights to freedom and democracy to violate the interests of the State, the rights and legitimate interests of organisations and individuals” under Clause 2 of Article 331 of the 2015 Penal Code (revised and supplemented in 2017).

At the appeal trial, the court upheld the prison term of four years and six months for Truong Chau Huu Danh (born in 1982, living in Long An province), three years each for Doan Kien Giang (born in 1985, Ho Chi Minh City) and Le The Thang (born in 1982, Hanoi), and two years each for Nguyen Thanh Nha (born in 1980, HCM City) and Nguyen Phuoc Trung Bao (born in 1982, Da Nang city).

They were also banned from journalism practice for three years after their jail terms finish.

According to the jury, the defendants posted many articles on the Facebook fanpages named “Bao Sach” and “Lam Bao Sach” (doing clean journalism), a Youtube channel named “BS Channel”, and their personal Facebook pages with content causing “non-material” damage, affecting the prestige and honour of the organisations and individuals assigned with management tasks, and undermining people’s trust in the Party and State.

In addition, they worked in journalism but took advantage of the job to commit wrongdoings, so the additional penalty of prohibiting them from journalism practice doesn’t run counter to legal regulations, the jury concluded.

HCM City to conduct COVID-19 vaccination throughout Tet

Ho Chi Minh City is set to conduct COVID-19 vaccination throughout the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, which will last for nine days starting this weekend, according to its Department of Health.

The city has yet to cover all residents with COVID-19 vaccines since there is not any guidance on inoculation for children aged under 12, so it theoretically hasn’t achieved herd immunity, Nguyen Thi Huynh Mai, Chief of the municipal Health Department’s Office, told a press meeting on January 27.

Vietnam Airlines helps carry needy workers home for Tet

Vietnam Airlines will transport free of charge 540 disadvantaged workers back to their hometowns on January 27 and 28 for welcoming the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday – the longest and most important traditional festival in Vietnam.

The flights, using Airbus A321 aircraft, depart from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, Vinh, and Da Nang.

They are part of a Tet programme co-organised by the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union (HCYU) Central Committee and Pepsi, a brand of the Suntory PepsiCo Vietnam Beverage company.

The Bring Tet Home programme has presented 540 return air tickets, 325 train tickets, and 3,105 coach tickets along with Tet gifts to 3,970 needy students and workers to support their journeys home.

The Tet holiday will last from January 31 through February 4.

Social, health insurance books, gifts presented to needy people

Nearly 600 social insurance books, more than 10,000 health insurance cards, and over 3,000 gifts worth more than 5.9 billion VND (260,600 USD) in total have been granted to disadvantaged people across 63 provinces and cities nationwide as part of the Vietnam Social Security’s Lunar New Year charity programme.

Most of the gifts were handed over to patients at hospitals and students at ethnic boarding schools.

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

VIETNAM NEWS HEADLINES JANUARY 26

Ministries asked to use only one medical declaration app to prevent traffic jam