The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has proposed scrapping the 10,000 COVID-19 travel insurance required to enter Vietnam. 

The ministry said that treatment for COVID-19 infection is now much less expensive, and most cases do not require long-term hospitalisation.

Considering the situation and eased regulations in COVID-19 prevention and control, the mandatory travel insurance covering coronavirus treatment expenses was no longer necessary, said the proposal.

As per the current Law on Tourism, international tourists entering Vietnam still need travel insurance in case of accidents and illness, which does not include COVID-19 treatment. 

Vietnam has reopened its border for international tourism since March 15.

In April and May, requirements for medical declaration and COVID-19 tests have also been removed for international arrivals. 

Meanwhile, during the recent third meeting session of the National Assembly (NA), several delegates also suggested putting forward policies to support the recovering tourism industry.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung said that in the near future, the tourism sector would continue to submit proposals to the Government to address the issues on visas while also revamping its products, striving toward green tourism in accordance with the Visit Vietnam Year 2022. 

The whole industry will also continue to review and improve its human resources, upgrading and promoting destinations and digitalising tourism to achieve the goal of welcoming 5 million international arrivals to Vietnam this year. 

Vietnam attending 19th Shangri-La Dialogue

Defence Minister, Gen. Phan Van Giang is leading a Vietnamese delegation to the 19th Shangri-La Dialogue from June 10-12 in Singapore.

The Vietnamese delegation’s presence at the event reaffirms the country’s active and proactive role and high responsibility in regional and international issues, and demonstrates its goodwill to boost friendship and cooperation and to share experience with countries in addressing common security challenges.

General Giang is expected to deliver a speech at the dialogue, on the sidelines of which he will have bilateral meetings with several leaders of Defence Ministries and armies of other countries to discuss measures to intensify defence ties.

This year’s dialogue will focus on the main themes of next steps for the US’s Indo-Pacific strategy, managing geopolitical competition in a multipolar region, developing new forms of security cooperation, military modernisation and new defence capabilities, and climate change and green defence, among others.

Vietnam fulfils role as Chair of ASEAN Foundation’s Board of Trustees

Ambassador Nguyen Hai Bang, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to ASEAN, attended the 48th meeting of the Board of Trustees of the ASEAN Foundation (AF BOT 48) in Jakarta on June 9 which praised Vietnam’s successful chairmanship of the foundation in 2021.

The meeting, the first in 2022, recognised and appreciated the foundation’s activities from November 2021 to April 2022, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to cause many difficulties for its activities and programmes.

Delegates welcomed efforts of the foundation in organising activities to enhance public awareness of ASEAN and strengthen connectivity and coordination with the ASEAN Secretariat and partners.

They also exchanged views on existing issues as well as development orientations of the foundation in second half of 2022, including a plan to recruit its executive director for the 2023-2026 term.

In the time ahead, the foundation will focus on strategic goals of increasing the consciousness on the bloc, improving the organisation capacity, and seeking more funding to serve the bloc’s priorities in the fields of science technology, innovation, and young workforce development.

French paper spotlights Vietnam’s African swine fever vaccine

Vietnam will contribute to preventing a disease that is very destructive to livestock, said the French daily newspaper Le Figaro regarding the Southeast Asian nation’s announcement of becoming the first in the world to successfully research and produce an African swine fever vaccine and license it for commercial circulation.

In an article, it said when Vietnam first notified that it worked with US researchers to develop a vaccine against the disease, great hope was kindled in the animal husbandry sector in not only Vietnam but also the word.

On June 3, 2022, the Vietnamese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said the NAVET-ASFVAC vaccine produced by Vietnam’s Navetco National Veterinary JSC was the first in the world to have its commercial circulation authorised.

Five clinical trials were performed. Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien said that the vaccine is effective for six months. Its safety and effectiveness have also been confirmed by the US Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service.

An African swine fever outbreak was first detected in Vietnam in February 2019, and then spread nationwide, causing millions of pigs to be culled. The disease is harmless to humans, but leads to almost 100 percent mortality rate for infected pigs.

Lao province looks to enhance cooperation with Da Nang

Secretary of the Party Committee and Governor of Sekong province of Laos Leklay Sivilay has suggested enhancing cooperation with central Da Nang city of Vietnam, especially promoting the export of agricultural products between the two localities that has been interrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

During a working session with Da Nang’s officials on June 9, Leklay highly appreciated cooperation and support of the Vietnamese city for Sekong in the fields of construction, education and healthcare, revealing that the Lao province plans to organise a trade fair in July and will invite a number of Vietnamese localities to participate in.

He expressed his hope that the Da Nang authorities will create favourable conditions for Sekong’s coal products to be transported smoothly through Vietnam's border gates, including those in Quang Nam and Da Nang.

The Lao official also called on investors in Da Nang to visit and seek investment opportunities in Sekong province.

The city will continue to promote cooperation and strengthen the relationship between the two localities, he said, adding that a delegation of Da Nang will visit and work with Sekong in July.

In 2016, the authorities of Da Nang and Sekong signed memoranda of understanding on cooperation, and support projects in economic development, education and training, agriculture, transport and human resources development in the  2018-2022 period. The two sides have also exchanged high-ranking delegations and visits in recent years.

More effort needed on plastic ocean waste

Waste classification at home is essential to reducing plastic waste, according to an official from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

The statement was made by Dr Nguyen My Hang, Deputy Director of the Department of Science, Technology and International Cooperation at the Vietnam Administration of Seas, at a conference held in Hanoi on June 8.

The meeting was organised by the US Embassy in Vietnam to discuss efforts and measures to reduce ocean plastic waste, marking World Ocean Day (June 8).

Answering audience inquiries, Hang said classifying waste at the sources was one of the much-needed behaviours to reduce plastic waste, which will help manage plastic waste in the ocean.  

However, classification methods need to be thought out carefully, and people should be given detailed instructions on how to do it, she added.

A “Sea Week” campaign will be launched on June 11 in the south-central province of Phu Yen to mark World Ocean Day, and various activities will also be held to raise environmental awareness, Hang added.

Projects that were implemented in Vietnam to manage plastic ocean waste were presented at the conference by representatives from the National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

NA Chairman asks for positive and clear changes in issues raised in Q&A session

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue proposed the Government, administrations at all levels and sectors to synchronously deploy solutions in order to perform better and create positive and clear changes in issues questioned by legislators during the question-and-answer (Q&A) session of the 15th legislature's third sitting.

Speaking at the end of the Q&A session on June 9, Hue affirmed that the session took place in a democratic and frank atmosphere, attracting attention from people and voters nationwide.

During the event, three ministers and the Governor of the State Bank of Vietnam answered questions raised by lawmakers and Deputy Prime Ministers and other ministers cleared up related issues.

Permanent Deputy PM Pham Binh Minh, on behalf of the Government, clarified issues under the general responsibility of the Government, and directly answered questions from NA deputies.

NA deputies raised questions for Cabinet members specialising in agriculture, finance - banking, and transport, with concise, specific and clear contents, closely following aspirations of voters and people.

The Permanent Deputy PM, Deputy PMs and all the ministers who answered questions at the session firmly understand the current situation of the industries and fields they are in charge of, Hue said.

Association of Asia-Pacific Peace Operations Training Centres meeting concludes

The Annual General Meeting and Workshop of the Association of Asia-Pacific Peace Operations Training Centres (AAPTC), which was held in a hybrid format, wrapped up on June 9.

This is the first time Vietnam has hosted the event and assumed the role of Chairmanship of AAPTC.

Themed “Indo-Pacific Actions Supporting United Nations Action-for-Peace Initiative (A4P) Improving Performance in Peace Operations”, the four-day event achieved all the goals and requirements as planned.

The Secretariat of AAPTC is committed to supporting Australia - the rotating President of the association in 2023, to ensure the most favourable conditions for AAPTC’s activities.

The meeting approved important documents, including a joint declaration, a joint communiqué and AAPTC’s amended and supplemented Charter.

At the closing ceremony, Vietnam handed over the flag of the Chairmanship of the AAPTC to Australia.

Vietnam supports peace, stability, cooperation and development on Korean Peninsula

Spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang has reaffirmed Vietnam's consistent stance of supporting peace, stability, cooperation and development on the Korean Peninsula.

While responding to a reporter's query about Vietnam's view on the peace process on the Korean Peninsula at the ministry’s regular press conference in Hanoi on June 9, Hang stated that Vietnam backed parties involved to show goodwill, promote dialogue, and make joint efforts for the goal of denuclearisation and building a lasting peace on the peninsula.

With that spirit, and as a country having a traditional friendly relationship with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and a strategic cooperative partner with the Republic of Korea (RoK), within its capability, Vietnam has been and will continue to make active contributions to promoting dialogue, cooperation and reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula, for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world, the spokeswoman said.

Great progress seen in Vietnam-Hong Kong (China) relations: Spokeswoman

The relationship between Vietnam and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (China) has witnessed major strides over the years, with cooperation in economy, trade, investment and tourism a bright spot, Spokeswoman of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang told a press conference on June 9.

She noted that despite the COVID-19 pandemic last year, trade between the two sides has maintained its growth, with total import-export revenue reaching 13.6 billion USD, up 18 percent year-on-year.

Hong Kong is now Vietnam’s fifth biggest investor, while Vietnam is the seventh largest trade partner and the second biggest in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Hang added.

Highlighting the fruitful development of people-to-people exchanges between the two sides before the pandemic, Hang said about 20 flights were operated between Vietnam and Hong Kong each day.

According to the spokeswoman, more than 50,000 tourists from Hong Kong visited Vietnam in 2019.

Australian Ambassador honoured with insignia for environment cause

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Tran Hong Ha presented the "For the Cause of Natural Resources and Environment" insignia to Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Robyn Mudie in recognition of her contribution to the sector at a ceremony held in Hanoi on June 9.

Speaking at the event, Minister Ha thanked the Australian Embassy in Vietnam and Ambassador Mudie for their support to the country in the field of natural resources and environment, including a training course on the carbon market that will be held in the near future to help Vietnam to fulfil its commitment to be carbon neutral by 2050 as committed at the 26th United Nations  Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26).

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) highly appreciates the support of Australian volunteers to the ministry in the fields of policy and law development, biodiversity and climate change.

Ha expressed his belief that cooperation and friendship between Vietnam, the MONRE and the Government and people of Australia will become more sustainable, and collaboration in the field of natural resources and environment will continue to develop and bring more fruitful results.

For her part, Mudie said that the Australian Embassy in Vietnam and the MONRE have worked closely towards common goals in the field of natural resources and the environment. The two sides submitted to the Prime Ministers of the two countries to issue a joint statement on practical actions to respond to climate change on November 1, 2021 at COP26.

Vietnam supports ILO efforts to address future work challenges

Vietnam remains fully committed to joining hands with other member countries of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in order to tackle challenges relating to the future of work, says Labour Minister Dao Ngoc Dung.

Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Dung was speaking on June 8 at the 110th session of the International Labour Conference which is taking place in Geneva (Switzerland) from May 27 to June 11.

He welcomed the theme of the plenary session that is ‘decent work and the social and solidarity economy’ and voiced his strong support for the ILO’s initiatives and plans of actions aimed at realizing the theme.

According to the minister, promoting social justice and decent work for all is also a priority goal that the government of Vietnam strives to pursue and achieve. Amidst the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, he said along with pandemic control measures introduced, the National Assembly and Government have issued and implemented many social security policies, helping the economy weather the crisis and gather steam.

In the first quarter of 2022, he said Vietnam secured GDP growth of 5.03%, while the labour market recovered, with the unemployment rate in working age at only 2.46%.

Vietnam to play Thailand at AFF U19 Youth Championship

The Vietnam U19 side have been drawn in Group A alongside Thailand, Myanmar, Brunei, the Philippines, and host country Indonesia at the 2022 ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) U19 Youth Championship.

Elsewhere, Group B features the likes of Malaysia, Laos, Timor Leste, Cambodia, and Singapore.

The 2022 AFF U19 Youth Championship is scheduled to get underway in Indonesia from July 2 to July 15.

Head coach Dinh The Nam has called up 24 players for training at the Vietnam youth football training centre since June 6 in order to prepare for the tournament.

In another development, the draw for the 2022 AFF U16 Championship also took place on June 9.

The Vietnam team led by coach Nguyen Quoc Tuan have been placed into Group A together with Singapore, the Philippines, and hosts Indonesia.

Thailand, Timor Leste, Laos, and Brunei make up Group B. Meanwhile, Group C consists of Malaysia, Australia, Myanmar, and Cambodia.

The 2022 AFF U16 Championship is due to take place in Indonesia between July 31 and August 13.

Vietnam to play Saudi Arabia at 2022 AFC U23 Asian Cup quarter-finals

Vietnam are scheduled to play Saudi Arabia at the 2022 AFC U23 Asian Cup quarter-finals on June 12 after the latter stunned the United Arab Emirates 2-0 on June 9 evening, staying atop Group D.

Earlier, Vietnam trounced Malaysia 2-0 on June 8 to finish second in Group C and cruise to the quarter-finals.

Saudi Arabia are about 30 notches ahead of Vietnam in the FIFA rankings and are considered one of the top teams in Asia. Their national team outplayed Vietnam in both home and away matches as part of the third qualifying round of the 2022 World Cup last year.

The Saudi Arabia U23 side will enter the quarter-final clash with Vietnam without captain Saud Abdulhamid who scored a goal in their 2-0 win over the UAE in the last Group D match. The centre-back captain will be sidelined after receiving his second yellow card in the UAE match.

Similarly, midfielder Ibrahim Mahnashi will also miss the Vietnam clash as he had already received two yellow cards.

Meanwhile, defender Tien Long suffered an injury and left the field in the Vietnam vs Malaysia match on June 8. It is not clear whether he will recover in time for the upcoming quarter-finals.

The Saudi Arabia vs Vietnam match is scheduled to take place at 23:00 (Vietnam time) on June 12.

Artist's mystic works unite humanity and nature

Acclaimed artist Đinh Thị Thắm Poong is showing her new works at an exhibition in Hà Nội.

Born to an ethnic family in the northwest mountainous Lai Châu Province, Thắm Poong is influenced by her Mường and White Thái heritage.

She graduated in sculpture from the Việt Nam Fine Arts University and has received several prizes for her artworks from the culture ministry.

Since her first solo exhibition in 1997, she has become popular with the public for her paintings depicting the daily life of ethnic groups on traditional handmade dó (poonah) paper.

In this exhibition entitled Vàng và Bóng Tối (Gold in the Darkness), she introduces paintings which have matured and taken on a deep symbolism utilising a surreal response to mankind’s connection to the universe.

The palette is rich with soft, warm tones and earthy natural pigments that emerge from the depths of the Hồng (Red) River’s rich alluvial soil, highlighted with extensive use of gold leaf and vivid geometric patterns, according to Suzanne Lecht, the exhibition curator.

The exhibition runs until August 6 at Art Việt Nam Gallery, No 2, Lane 66, Yên Lạc Street, Hà Nội.  

Schools asked to strictly implement tuition fees regulations

The Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) has asked schools to strictly follow regulations on receipts for the school year 2022-23, which will begin in September.

In a letter sent to ministries, ministerial organisations, provincial and municipal people’s committees, and schools, the MoET said as the economy has begun to recover after the COVID-19 pandemic, management authorities must ensure schools have reasonable tuition fees and proper plans for any fee increases.

The MoET's request is expected to ease difficulties for students and their parents, contributing to price stabilisation and ensuring social security.

The ministry also requires schools to have supportive policies related to tuition fees and textbooks for students, especially the ones in poor, remote, and mountainous areas.

Management agencies must improve inspection, and are responsible for explaining to students and the community about tuition fee levels, and avoiding overcharging fees, especially at the beginning of the school year.

As for textbooks, teaching aids, and equipment, localities must put information on their prices in public.

Metro line No 2 Ben Thanh-Tham Luong to be delayed

The HCM City People’s Committee has proposed to delay the start of the metro line No 2 between Bến Thành-Tham Lương until the end of 2025 or the beginning of 2026.

The delay is due to problems in the project’s consulting contract.

In a report to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the municipal People’s Committee said that the contract was signed in 2012 between the HCM City Management Authority of Urban Railway (MAUR) and the Metro Team Line consulting consortium with two phases. Phase A included foundation designing, estimating the bidding package, making documents, and evaluating the bids. Phase B is construction supervision.

Because of the long process of adjustment, the contract was suspended to provide phase A services in October 2018. Besides, due to changes in work scale, the MAUR announced the end of phase B in 2018.

In 2019, the MAUR asked the Metro Team Line to complete the remaining work of phase A. However, after two-year negotiation, no consensus was reached.

New southern ring road construction to start next year

Construction of the first phase of Ring Road No 4 through five southern localities, including HCM City, will start next year and be completed in 2028, according to the city Department of Transport.

The road, nearly 200km long, is expected to boost linkages between the city, the provinces of Bình Dương, Đồng Nai, Long An, and Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu, and generally the Southern Key Economic Region.

It will have four lanes in the first phase, to be widened to six or eight in the second.

It will begin at the planned Biên Hòa - Vũng Tàu Expressway in Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu Province’s Phú Mỹ Town and end at Tân Cảng - Hiệp Phước Port in HCM City’s Nhà Bè District.

Approved more than 10 years ago it is estimated to cost around VNĐ100 trillion (US$4.4 billion).

In September last year the Government instructed the five localities to carry out the work on the road.

The highway will run 18km, 49km, 17km, 71km, and 45km in Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu, Bình Dương, HCM City, Long An, and Đồng Nai respectively.

Dak Lak girl infected with Whitmore's disease

A nine-year-old girl in the central highlands province of Dak Lak has been infected with Whitmore's disease.

Director of Dak Lak Provincial Health Department, Nay Phi La, announced on Wednesday that the girl came from Ia Lop Commune, Ea Sup District.

According to the girl's mother, she started showing symptoms of high fever and enlarged parotid glands 10 days ago and the conditions had not improved after taking medicine prescribed by some local clinics.

The patient was taken to the Central Highlands Regional General Hospital on June 4 with a high fever of 39 degrees Celsius and enlarged parotid glands. There was pus in her jaw and she could not open her mouth normally.

She tested positive for Burkholderia Pseudomallei, the bacteria that causes Whitmore’s disease, which can infect both humans and animals.

Doctors have removed the abscess in her parotid glands, but she still suffers from constant high fever and diarrhoea.

First children’s Ao Dai festival to be held in Viet Tri

The first-ever children’s Ao Dai festival will be held this June in Viet Tri City, Phu Tho Province, to promote Ao Dai as a symbol connecting Vietnamese generations.

The event has been organised by KV Entertainment Company in coordination with Viet Tri City’s Centre for Culture and Information.

The opening ceremony will take place on a 100-m long stage at Van Lang Park on June 11.

Huy Lio, the general director of the event, revealed that 100 kid models will join Miss Vietnam Tourism Global 2021 Ly Kim Thao and winner of Mister Vietnam Fitness Model 2019 Dat Kyo on the catwalk at the opening ceremony.

The festival will include a contest titled ‘Ambassador of Vietnamese children’s Ao Dai’, which seeks outstanding faces to promote Ao Dai to international friends, and a show introducing Ao Dai collections by talented designers such as David Minh Duc, Nguyen Linh Phuong and Ta Linh Nhan.

The festival’s activities will be updated on the KV 360 YouTube channel and the Facebook page of HAPPY LIFE Academy.

Binh Phuoc releases two rare pygmy slow lorises back to wild

The Forest Protection Division of Dong Phu District, Binh Phuoc Province has just released two pygmy slow lorises (Nycticebus pygmaeus), classified as endangered species at risk of extinction in Vietnam and the world, the Vietnam Red List of threatened species back to the wild forest on June 9.

Earlier, over two months ago, the staff of An Phuoc Prison Camp, An Thai Commune, Phu Giao District, Binh Duong Province found two rare animals with the weight of 500 grams each during their patrol. After that, they were handed over to the Forest Protection Division of Dong Phu District for healthcare.

The pygmy slow lorises, known as the scientific name of Nycticebus pygmaeus, are a precious and ancient species in the group of primates, belonging to Group IB of the endangered and rare wild animals that need to be protected.

Cooperation Agreement on establishment of Viet Nam-Australia Center inked

A Cooperation Agreement on the implementation of the project "Establishment and Capacity Building for the Viet Nam–Australia Center" was signed in Ha Noi on June 8.

Vice President of Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics Duong Trung Y and Australian Ambassador to Viet Nam Robyn Mudie sign the Cooperation Agreement to implement the project "Establishment and Capacity Building for the Viet Nam–Australia Centre", Ha Noi, June 8, 2022

The Viet Nam–Australia Center (VAC) is established under an agreement between the Vietnamese and Australian Prime Ministers in August 2019.

The center aims to contribute to capacity building for Vietnamese leaders and managers to meet the country's integration and development demands, as well as promoting a close, positive and enduring cooperation relationship between Viet Nam and Australia in a new context.

Vietnamese swimmers to compete at 19th FINA World Championships in Hungary

Nine outstanding swimmers of Vietnam will attend the 19th edition of the FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungapy from June 18 to July 3.

Among the swimmers are Nguyen Huy Hoang and Tran Hung Nguyen who won five and four gold medals, respectively, at the recently-ended Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31).

Competitions include swimming, artistic swimming, diving, open water and water polo.

After the tournament, Hoang, Nguyen, Tran Thanh Bao and Nguyen Quang Thuan will stay in Hungary to have training until September 11.

Ministry plans e-employment records for working-age people

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) is planning to issue electronic employment records for people of the working age, 15 and above, when they engage in the labour market.

The ministry has assigned its Department of Employment to develop the record which will serve as a labour database connected with the national database, on the basis of which authorities can easily carry out training, labour assistance, and supply - demand balancing policies.

Director of the department Vu Trong Binh said this kind of record will contain information on the entire working process, capacity, and mobility of all workers in the market. Information will be transformed into QR codes which employers can scan to learn about their employees.

He noted the COVID-19 pandemic has posed many challenges, forcing labour management to change to make adaptation. E-employment records will help enhance transparency in the labour market, including labour recruitment and contracts, as well as in authorities’ management activities.

Besides, workers’ information will be updated on the system, enabling businesses to find labour supply and job seekers to access suitable employers.

Basing on these data, State agencies also can make forecasts about the labour market so as to draft socio-economic development plans while educational - training programmes can be aligned with the market’s demand, according to Binh.

350-kilo bomb found in Nghe An river

A bomb weighing nearly 350 kilos dating back to the American War has been found in the Lam River in the central province of Nghe An.

Nghe An Provincial Military Command announced on June 9 that they had just recovered a bomb from the bed of the Lam River in Thanh Chuong Town.

According to a report from local authorities, the bomb with its detonator intact was found by a group of five fishermen who were diving in the river. The bomb was 1.2 metres long and nearly 350 kilos in weight.

"After recovering it from the river, we safely detonated it the same day," the local military command said.

Source: VNA/SGT/VNS/VOV/Dtinews/SGGP/VGP/Hanoitimes