Ho Chi Minh City's welfare centre on October 9 launched its app that facilitates philanthropists' assistance for needy people.

Using the app, people in need can send their requests for aid packages worth 300,000, 400,000 and 700,000 VND (13, 17.6, and 30.8 USD). After a seven-day process following the acceptance of the donors, the centre will present the gifts to the requesters.

The launch was part of a ceremony to kick off the city’s action month for the poor this year.

Speaking at the ceremony, Chairwoman of the municipal Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee To Thi Bich Chau highlighted the participation of the entire society, including organisations, businesses, and individuals, in charity work in the city.

She urged continued assistance to come in aid of the needy, orphans, and other disadvantaged groups in HCM City so that they can soon overcome their difficulties.

At the event, the committee raised more than 10 billion VND, while the centre received the donation of 15,000 welfare packages valued at 4.5 billion VND in total.

In the first nine months of this year, the city collected 115 billion VND for its fund for the poor and spent 113 billion VND on building and upgrading charity houses as well as grant scholarships and gifts for the group, among other activities./.

Hanoi police arrest Korean fugitive wanted by Interpol

The Hanoi Police announced on October 9 that they have handed over a fugitive convicted of fraud to Korean authorities.

Kim Juchan has been on Interpol’s wanted list for fraud charges. The man ran an illegal online sports betting website which was operating in the Republic of Korea from November 2011 to April 2015.

All the money transacted through the website amounted to KRW1.4 billion, equivalent to VND27 billion.

Interpol issued an international arrest warrant for the Korean man in November 2020.  

The Hanoi police sought whereabouts of the runaway man and found he was taking refuge in Cau Giay district. The Korean criminal was arrested shortly afterward.

NA Standing Committee's 4th session to open on October 11

The fourth session of the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee will be held in Hanoi from October 11 – 14, according to the office of the NA.

NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue will deliver the opening speech, with NA deputy chairmen taking turn to chair meetings during the session.

The committee is set to consider and comment on law-making work, socio-economic issues, state budget, supervision work, and preparation for the second sitting of the 15th NA.

It will give opinions on the Law amending and supplementing the Appendix-List of national statistical indicators of the Law on Statistics and a draft resolution on piloting a number of special mechanisms and policies for the development of Hai Phong, Nghe An, and Thua Thien-Hue.

Their discussion will also cover the reports on the management and use of the health insurance fund in 2020; results of the implementation of the socio-economic development plan and the state budget estimate in 2021; the socio-economic development plan for 2022; the economic restructuring plan for 2021-2025; among other matters./.

Agoda reveals post-pandemic travel trends in Vietnam

Up to 60 percent of the Vietnamese are optimistic that tourism will take off again in the next six months, according to the Welcome Back to Travel survey recently released by the online travel platform Agoda.

The survey polled more than 1,103 adults online from July 15-19.

Two out of five respondents said they expect restriction-free travel within Asia, and 38 percent anticipated all international destinations to see no restrictions in the next six months.

Women were more inclined to anticipate restriction-free domestic travel, with 63 percent as compared to 56 percent among men. Meanwhile, those aged 35-44, or 52 percent, did not expect domestic travel to resume in the next six months.

For travel in Asia, 40 percent of respondents expected to travel without restrictions. International travel with restrictions is predicted by 62 percent.

60 percent of Vietnamese forecast inbound tourism will revive in next six months (Photo: Agoda)

About inbound tourism, almost half of respondents did not expect inbound travel to resume in at least 12 months, or until 80 percent of the Vietnamese are vaccinated.

On the national scale, 21 percent forecast inbound travel would recover in the next 7-11 months from now. Those from the central city of Da Nang are the most optimistic, expecting that it will pick up in the next 4-6 months.

“Like many countries in this region, Vietnam relies heavily on tourism, so it’s great to see that with some safety protocols and measures in place, the public is optimistic that travel will rebound, in quarters rather than years”, said Errol Cooke, Vice President of Partner Services of Agoda./.

Vietnam attends pre-COP26 parliamentary meeting in Italy

A Vietnamese delegation head by Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Committee for External Relations Don Tuan Phong has attended a pre-COP26 parliamentary meeting held on October 8-9 in Rome, Italy.

Co-organised by the Italian Parliament and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the meeting takes place in preparation for the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26).

In his opening remarks, Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Luigi Di Maio affirmed the need for immediate joint actions in response to climate change and for a related global commitment.

He said the green transition will be more and more effective when commitments are made based on the principle of multilateralism and mutual benefit. Therefore, international forums will be an important opportunity for joint efforts to achieve specific agreements.

Hosted by Italy and the UK, the COP26 is scheduled to run in Glasgow, the UK from November 1 to 12. It brings together leaders from across the globe to advance climate action and promote implementation of the 2015 Paris Agreement, the world’s major legally-binding international treaty on climate change./.

HCM City to reopen schools for in-person learning next year

Schools in HCM City will reopen for in-person learning in the second semester of the academic year that begins in January amid declining COVID-19 infection cases and hospitalisations, according to the city’s Department of Education and Training.

Schools in the city have been fully online since the beginning of the new school year as part of an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19.

With more than 1.3 million students taking online classes, it is a tough task for the city’s educational sector, Nguyen Van Hieu, director of the department told a meeting on October 7.

The participation rate of online learning at primary education level stands at 97 percent, and 99 percent for secondary and high school education levels.

More than 30,000 students have not returned to the city after being sent back to their hometowns in different localities across the country after school closures.

Of that figure, more than 5,000 students have missed out on online learning due to lack of electronic devices, and the remaining 26,000 students have attended online classes.

More than 1,500 educational establishments in the city have been used as concentrated quarantine facilities and field hospitals. They will be closed in the middle of next month.

Schools will be sanitised and essential preparations will be made to ensure a clean and safe school environment prior to reopening.

The Can Gio district People’s Committee wants the department to reopen two schools in the island commune of Thanh An next week.

A total of 242 students in the first, second, sixth, ninth and 12th grades and 60 teachers are expected to attend in-person classes if the proposal is approved.

A total of 1.71 million students of all grades are studying at more than 2,400 schools in HCM City.

The first semester is slated to end by mid-January for secondary and high schools, and primary schools will complete their first semester one week later./.

NA Chairman meets voters in Hai Phong

National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue met voters in Tien Lang district, the northern city of Hai Phong via videoconference on October 9, ahead of the second session of the 15th legislature.

At the event, Hue informed voters about the outstanding results of the 15th NA’s first session, and preparations for the second one.

The top legislator said that at the upcoming session, the Government will make a report on the results of COVID-19 prevention and control over the past time and future solutions.

The NA will issue an overall strategy from the central to local level based on scientific data to offer scenarios and solutions to the pandemic, as well as look into a master plan on post-pandemic economic, social, educational, medical and cultural recovery.

In the near future, the NA Standing Committee will continue issuing policies to offer tax exemption, reduction and payment delay in support of residents and firms amid difficulties, he added.

Voters at the event also spoke highly of the Party and State’s sound leadership, the NA’s flexibility and responsibility, and the active involvement of the entire political system, agencies and localities in fulfilling the dual goals of fighting the pandemic, and restoring socio-economic development and ensuring national defence-security over the past time./. 

Deputy PM talks with voters in Ba Ria-Vung Tau

A delegation of National Assembly deputies from the southern province of Ba Ria – Vung Tau led by permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh met local voters online on October 8, ahead of the second session of the 15th legislature.

Speaking at the event, Minh informed voters about the country’s socio-economic performance in the past nine months, including the fight against COVID-19 pandemic.

He said Vietnam has so far basically controlled the pandemic, especially in southern localities like Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta provinces and Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

One of the measures that the Vietnamese Party, State and Government have paid due attention to is rapid COVID-19 vaccine coverage. Over 50 million doses of vaccines have to date arrived in Vietnam. Between now and the year’s end, Vietnam could have 40-60 million more doses to vaccinate about 80 percent of its population aged above 18, he said.

Ba Ria-Vung Tau also sent a proposal to the Government seeking the supply of more vaccnes to the locality. On September 29, it received some 300,000 doses from the Health Ministry, which are being given to residents.

Voters at the event suggested stepping up vaccination, expanding priority groups eligible for early vaccination, ensuring publicity and transparency in providing financial assistance for those hit by the pandemic, and delivering timely support for affected firms and business households.

Minh also pledged to report their aspirations to the legislature and Government, thus helping them achieve the set targets./. 

Party official meets voters in Tay Ninh

Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Information and Education Nguyen Trong Nghia met voters in the southern province of Tay Ninh on October 8, ahead of the second session of the 15th National Assembly.

Voters said amid the spread of the pandemic, localities remain passive while the implementation of COVID-19 prevention and control guidelines is asynchronous.

They suggested enhancing campaigns to raise public awareness of the danger of the pandemic, and pooling the involvement of various sectors in the supply of vaccines to residents.

According to them, unemployment is partly a result of the shortage of vaccines as firms only employ fully vaccinated workers.

Nghia, for his part, said suggestions at the event will be sent to departments and agencies.

He said the country is shifting to new normal, adapting to the pandemic safety, restoring production, and leaving no one behind.

He added that in several northern provinces, delegations of war veterans, women and youths have become a crucial force that came to each house to remind residents to follow pandemic prevention and control regulations./.  

Collectives, individuals honoured for supporting COVID-19 fight in HCM City

Organisations and individuals of working groups who have assisted the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in Ho Chi Minh City were honoured at a ceremony held by the municipal Party Committee, People’s Council, People’s Committee and the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Committee of the city on October 8.

Addressing the event, Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen appreciated the timely support of organisations and individuals, saying that during the most difficult time of the fight against COVID-19, the locality received valuable assistance of nearly 30,000 people nationwide.

These forces have worked closely with the Party Committee and people of HCM City in the fight, reducing the number of COVID-19 infections and fatalities, thereby helping the city gradually control the pandemic.

On behalf of the municipal Party Committee and people, Nen thanked the leadership and direction of the Party, State and VFF, the ministries of Health, Defence, and Public Security, religious organisations, domestic and international organisations, doctors, medical workers, and volunteers for their support for HCM City in recent times.

On the occasion, the Chairman of municipal People’s Committee presented certificates of merit to 55 organisations and bagdes of the city to 115 individuals for their contributions to the locality’s COVID-19 prevention and control./. 

Trio imprisoned for illegally bringing Chinese to Vietnam

The Hanoi People’s Court on October 8 gave imprisonment sentences to three persons for illegally bringing two Chinese to Vietnam amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The defendants are Truong Thi Quyen, 35, from the central province of Nghe An, who were sentenced to 30 months in prison; Nguyen Huu Trung, 32, from Hanoi with 15 months behind bar, and Nguyen Van Dung, 41, from Hanoi 12 months for “organising illegal immigration to Vietnam” in line with Clause 1, Article 348 of the 2015 Penal Code.

Quyen used to illegally bring Vietnamese to China, and Chinese to Vietnam.

On January 4, 2021, Quyen was hired by a person named Hung to carry two Chinese from Cao Bang to Hanoi. She agreed and contacted Trung to pick them up for a wage of 3.8 million VND (165 USD). Trung then successfully took them to Hanoi together with Dung.

A day later, Trung took them to a guest house. At the same time, the police conducted administrative inspection there and found out that the two Chinese had no personal papers.

The trio later were arrested.

In the case, Quyen earned 1.8 million VND, Trung 800,000 VND and Dung 2.5 million VND. The two Chinese were also deported. The police are also finding the identity of Hung./.  

Webinar seeks to attract Spanish tourists to Vietnam

A webinar was held on October 8 to discuss ways attracting Spanish tourists to Vietnam in new normal, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic is under control.

The event was organised by the Institute for Tourism Development Research (ITDR) under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT).

Speaking at the event, ITDR Deputy Director Do Thi Thanh Hoa said in recent years, over 20 million Spanish people have travelled abroad, or half of its population. However, their arrivals in Vietnam remain modest, reaching 70,000 – 80,000 from 2016-2019.

As the European country has controlled the pandemic, its people wish to resume travelling so that Spain will be a target market of Vietnam in the near future, she said.

Deputy head of the ITDR’s tourism market research and planning office Nguyen Quang Vinh said since 2018, Vietnam has unilaterally offered 15-day visa waiver to tourists from Western Europe including Spain.

In October 2018, the VNAT also held a programme to introduce Vietnam’s tourism in Spain’s capital city of Madrid.

He suggested learning about changes in travel trend among Spanish visitors following the pandemic to effectively attract them to the country.

According to the ITDR, the number of Spanish tourists to Vietnam rose continually from 2011-2019. They mostly like Vietnam’s traditional food and handicrafts.

Statistics from the VNAT showed that there are about 17,000 tour guides for foreign tourists nationwide, but only 1.6 percent of them speak Spanish, predominantly in major cities and provinces.

Experts proposed increasing visa exemption for Spanish visitors from 15 days to 30 days and increasing night tours to boost tourism receipts and prolong their stay./. 

Vietnam plans to resume domestic tourism activities soon

 

From November, localities that have controlled the Covid-19 pandemic will start welcoming back domestic holiday-makers.

This was announced at a conference held on October 5 by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, which saw the participation of tourism management agencies of provinces and cities nationwide.

According to the tourism administration, domestic tours will be resumed in a safe roadmap and travelers are required to strictly comply will regulations on vaccination against COVID-19 and testing.

This month, many provinces and cities began organising training courses on COVID-19 prevention and control regulations, processes in welcoming and serving tourists, criteria for safe tourism services, as well as preparations for incidents and risks./.

Businesses donate 150,000 COVID-19 rapid test kits to Hai Duong

T&T Group and Saigon - Ha Noi Commercial Joint Stock Bank (SHB) have presented 150,000 COVID-19 rapid test kits to Hai Duong to aid the northern province’s pandemic prevention and control.

The SARS-CoV-2 BIOCREDIT COVID-19 Ag kits, produced by Rapigen Inc of the Republic of Korea, are worth nearly 7 billion VND (307,755 USD) in total.

At the handover ceremony on October 8, Nguyen Anh Tuan, deputy director of T&T Group, said via the donation, the company hopes to make its contribution to increasing the province's medical resources.

Earlier, the group offered Hai Duong a Realtime-PCR testing machine system worth nearly 5 billion VND as well as 700 gifts valued at 700 million VND to support the local poor and disadvantaged people affected by COVID-19.

Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Trieu The Hung thanked the two sponsors and affirmed that Hai Duong has worked to ensure pandemic prevention and control, and facilitate business operations during the fourth wave of COVD-19.

Attending the ceremony, General Secretary of the National Assembly (NA) and Chief of the NA Office Bui Van Cuong wished enterprises will continue standing side by side with the NA, Government and people in maintaining social welfare and preventing diseases./.

Religious volunteers join health workers in COVID-19 fight

The Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, the city Party Committee’s Mass Mobilisation Commission and municipal Religious Affairs Committee on October 8 held a send-off ceremony for 50 volunteers who are Buddhist dignitaries, monks, nuns and followers to join frontline forces in the fight against COVID-19 at the COVID-19 Intensive Care Hospital.

This is the ninth time the city has sent religious volunteers to support the frontline forces. 

Speaking at the ceremony, Phan Kieu Thanh Huong, vice chairwoman of the VFF Committee of HCM City thanked the volunteers for their willingness to support the city’s health sector in treatment for COVID-19 patients. Their contributions will help reduce the pains and create a motivation for patients to quickly recover, she said.

Since July 22, 605 religious volunteers have served at COVID-19 treatment hospitals in the city./. 

Da Lat gets 1st traffic signal, more planned

The mountainous Đà Lạt City in Lâm Đồng Province installed its first ever traffic signal at the Hoàng Văn Thụ - Trần Phú - Ba Tháng Hai intersection on October 5.

Seven more intersections are set to get signals this year.

Đà Lạt used to be referred to as “the city without traffic lights.”

In the early 20th century it only had around 90,000 people with narrow roads curving around mountains, precluding the need for traffic lights.

Now it is one of Việt Nam’s most popular tourist attractions, with frequent traffic jams during holidays.

Chinese man jailed for two years for faking Vietnamese identity

A Chinese national was jailed for two years for “fabricating an organisation’s document” under Article 341 of the 2015 Penal Code, the People’s Court of Hanoi ruled at a first-instance trial on October 8.

Li Ye Sheng, 50, will be deported from Vietnam after completing his prison sentence.

Li was found having illegal lived in Vietnam since early 2020 after local police inspected a house in Dai Mo Street in Hanoi’s Nam Tu Liem district, where he rented a room, last December. During the check, he presented identity documents in the name of Le Nghiep Sinh from Quang Ninh which were suspected as false papers, so he was taken into custody by the police.

The Chinese migrant later admitted to unlawfully enter Vietnam in February 2020. He was then employed by a Vietnamese company in Hanoi.

Wanting to live and work permanently in Vietnam, Li purchased a fraudulent ID card and driver’s licence from a person, whose identity remains unknown, on social network for 11.5 million VND (504.8 USD) in May 2020 and used them to fake his identity as a Vietnamese.

Li speaks Vietnamese so fluently that none of his acquaintances, including his landlord and co-workers, realized he is not Vietnamese./.

Da Nang to resume domestic flights and train from late October

In a further sign of relaxing COVID-19 restrictions around the country, the Đà Nẵng's People's Committee has agreed to resume domestic flights and train from the central city. 

As proposed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Việt Nam (CAAV), flights from Đà Nẵng to HCM City, Hà Nội, Đắk Lắk, Lâm Đồng, Khánh Hòa, Hải Phòng, Cần Thơ, Phú Quốc and Gia Lai will resume operation.

However, the plan to resume flights from the central city to Hà Nội and Hải Phòng may face delays as up to now, these two cities have turned down CAAV's proposal. 

The Đà Nẵng authorities also agreed to the Việt Nam Railway Authority's (VNRA) proposal to resume train routes from Đà Nẵng to HCM City and Hà Nội in late October. 

Providing key airlines such as Vietnam Airlines, Bamboo Airways, VietJetAir and Pacific Airlines can complete their post-COVID preventive measures in time, up to 43 daily flights could resume operation again.

According to the CAAV’s plan, HCM City and Hà Nội will be the most common routes with 26 flights a day, while flights to Đắk Lắk, Lâm Đồng, Khánh Hòa, Hải Phòng, Cần Thơ will be operating from one to three each day.

Đà Nẵng has, however, requested the CAAV reduce flights to HCM City and Hà Nội for the time being. 

The city also asked CAAV to allocate ‘rescue’ flights to bring residents of the central city that have been living in HCM City and southern provinces safely home from next week.

Following the VNRA’s plan, Đà Nẵng railway station will facilitate the resumption of the Hà Nội-HCM City routes that must pass through the city. The schedule includes SE3, SE4, SE5, SE6, SE7 and SE8 trains.  

Meanwhile, two trains from Đà Nẵng to HCM City, the SE21 and SE22, are expected to begin from October 15.    

Đà Nẵng, a tourism hub in central Việt Nam, will be promoting domestic travel tours from December, after resuming hospitality services for local people.

The city’s tourism promotion authorities said that at least 87 per cent of residents hope to engage with local tourism if COVID-19 is put under control by the central city.

Two newly opened destinations – the Đà Nẵng-Mikazuki Japanese Spa and Resort, a first five-star resort and entertainment centre in Đà Nẵng Bay, and the riverside Yên Retreat in rural Hòa Bắc Commune – hope to attract local people and domestic travellers in the post-pandemic era.

The city’s tourism department expects to welcome international tourists with vaccine passports from the second quarter of 2022.

Workers’ incomes reduce remarkably due to COVID-19 pandemic in Q3

Average monthly incomes of workers in most economic sectors in the third quarter declined compared to the previous quarter and the same period last year, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).

The average monthly income in the third quarter was 5.2 million VND (229 USD), down 847,000 VND compared to the previous quarter and 573,000 VND over the previous year.

Employees working in the service sector were most affected in terms of income with an average income of 6.2 million VND per month, down 13.5 percent compared to the previous quarter.

In the quarter, the Vietnamese labour market was seriously affected by the complicated development of the fourth wave of COVID-19 pandemic and prolonged social distancing.

The number of employed people decreased substantially during the reviewed quarter while the unemployment rate rose to a record level since the start of the pandemic.

Nguyen Thi Huong Director General of GSO, said attracting workers back to the labour market in the current context is quite a challenge for businesses and the Government.

It would be difficult for workers to go back to work as well as for businesses to recruit workers if the pandemic situation remains complicated in these localities, she said.

Facing this situation, the GSO proposed the Government take timely measures such as continuing the vaccination for dynamic labour markets that attract a large number of workers.

Localities should provide timely support to workers who are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic including those who had their work suspended or had their labour contracts terminated, she said.

It is necessary to care for people's health and living conditions, ensuring social security and welfare, especially the access to food, essential services, and health care services for local residents, Huong said./.

Int’l day for disaster risk reduction: cooperation to overcome dual challenges

The theme of the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction 2021 spotlights the importance of international cooperation to overcome the dual challenges of natural disasters and COVID-19 pandemic, according to deputy head of the Central Steering Committee for Natural Disaster Prevention and Control Tran Quang Hoai.

People around the world and in the ASEAN region in particular are facing the complicated developments of COVID-19, and extreme natural disasters, he said.

International cooperation to respond to natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic is the key to help countries overcome the pandemic to restore the economy and strengthen resilience to natural disasters, Hoai stressed.

Int’l day for disaster risk reduction: cooperation to overcome dual challenges hinh anh 2
The historic flooding in the central region in October 2020 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese Party and State leaders have implemented the policy of promoting vaccine diplomacy in order to increase the vaccination coverage in the community, he said.

During the historic flooding in the central region in October 2020, only a short time after Vietnam appealed for help, domestic and international organization and individuals donated over 25 million USD to support flood victims.

Beside direct cooperation, Vietnam’s partners in disaster prevention and control have also transferred techniques, science and technology, shared information and initiatives with Vietnam in disaster risk management, helping Vietnam strengthen its resilience to natural disasters and disease, he added.

October 13 was designated the International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction in 1989.

ASEAN also designates the same day to celebrate the ASEAN Day for Disaster Management (ADDM).

According to the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), this year's theme focuses on the global targets of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and promoting international cooperation to help developing countries mitigate disaster risks and losses through appropriate and sustainable support to implement country-level actions in order to realise the Sendai Framework’s targets by 2030./.

Coach Park protects his players, admits mistake after the China loss

Việt Nam national team manager Park Hang-seo admitted that his decision to introduce a young central defender into the World Cup qualifier against China was what caused the defeat.

Việt Nam lost 3-2 after their stirring comeback was foiled by goal deep into injury time on yesterday night in Dubai, the UAE.

In the 71st minute, with China leading 1-0, coach Park decided to change personnel.

Nguyễn Thanh Bình, a centre back who had played 15 minutes against Australia, was brought on to replace Bùi Tiến Dũng.

Bình struggled to pick up China's Wu Lei, and the La Liga player scored two goals after the substitution.

After the match, coach Park defended his players, saying that it was his mistake that had led to the defeat.

“My players did a great job, they didn’t give up despite being two goals behind,” Park said.

"We were so close, maybe it’s because I made the decision of changing the defence too quickly. I think it was my fault.”

Despite being two goals down, the Vietnamese side refused to lie down and substitute Hồ Tấn Tài pulled a goal back in the 80th minute.

Tài was played in thanks to a long pass from midfielder Nguyễn Hoàng Đức which beat the entire China defence. Tài controlled it with his right foot and fired it home with the left.

In the final minute of normal time, Linh got his reward for a night of hard graft by converting a smart pass from midfielder Nguyễn Quang Hải to level the score.

With five minutes added on, it seemed either team could have taken all three points, but it was to be the nominal home side that triumphed after Wu found room in the box after more brilliant movement in the 95th minute and glanced home a deep cross, condemning Việt Nam to defeat.

"The player's mistake is the responsibility of the coach," said the 64-year-old manager.

"Players need mistakes to grow up. I would say again that a player's mistake is my fault."

It’s not everyone’s fault

Despite what Park said, football expert Hà Quang Minh said that the loss is based on tactics and praised coach Park’s decision of replacing Vũ Văn Thanh with Hồ Tấn Tài.

“China was expected to be better than Việt Nam, but they entered the game without overwhelming impressions,” Minh wrote on his personal social media page.

“Individually, they are slightly better than us in terms of physicality and skill, but the gameplay is not better.

“The adjustments of coach Park even brought hope back to Việt Nam with the presence of Hồ Tấn Tài on the right wing creating a new fighting spirit which helped him shorten the score and put pressure back on China.

“That pressure really took shape with the return of Nguyễn Công Phượng, who quickly linked with Nguyễn Quang Hải to help Nguyễn Tiến Linh level the score in the last minutes.

“However, with that gameplay, we also faced many risks. This time, luck was not on our side.”

According to Minh, despite the defeat, the players did a great job and this will be a valuable lesson for them in the future.

“It's a real pity but that’s football and we have to accept it, and it's acceptable when the players have shown a true spirit of steel against a stronger opponent,” Minh wrote.

“The most important thing is, after this defeat, is what can they learn to be better in the future.”

The loss means coach Park hang-seo's men are still without a point in the third round of 2022 World Cup qualifying after three matches.

Việt Nam will next play Oman on October 12 while China will take on Saudi Arabia a day later.  

ASEAN highlights the urgency of fossil fuel reduction and low carbon economy development

The 8th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Minerals (AMMin 8) opened in the form of teleconference in Hà Nội on Friday, highlighting the urgency of developing the circular, low carbon economy and reducing the use of fossil fuels.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vietnamese Minister of National Resources and Environment Trần Hồng Hà said mineral resources have contributed to socio-economic development for a long time. However, the over-exploitation and unsustainable use of precious resources have changed the landscape of the earth, leading to serious challenges including environmental pollution, ecological collapse and climate crisis.

He said this is an opportunity for ASEAN’s mineral industry to transform its development path, focusing on mining and processing technology, and increasing values in line with such global trends as developing the circular, low carbon economy as well as reducing the use of fossil fuels.

"Towards the common goal of building a sustainable mineral industry, contributing to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, and addressing the challenges facing the global community, the ASEAN Community needs to strengthen cooperation and coordination,” he said.

“As an active and responsible member of the ASEAN Community, Việt Nam is ready to cooperate with other countries and partners to share scientific knowledge on minerals and new technologies in order to find new strategic minerals while creating structures with long-term values such as museums and geoparks," the minister said.

Cambodian Minister of Mines and Energy Suy Sem said the ASEAN Minerals Cooperation Action Plan (AMCAP-III) Phase 2 (2021-2025) focuses on investing at all stages of the mineral value chain towards sustainable mineral development in the region.

He suggested the bloc implement a regional capacity-building programme in mineral cooperation based on five main themes: estimation of reserve and resources, added value of minerals, green technology in mining as well as management of mine environment and mine recovery.

AMCAP III phase 2 needs to effectively apply the Minerals Information and Database (MID) in the ASOOM +3 platform to promote technical information exchange, experience sharing of the best practices in ASEAN Minerals Database and Information System development, scientific research, technology and geoscience development along with sustainable development of mineral resources.

They also shared the key results completed by the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Minerals (ASOMM) and the working group in 2020 and 2021 including the progress of cooperation with partners while recognising the importance of promoting stakeholders’ engagement in supporting the development of policies, objectives, principles and practices of sustainable mineral exploitation in ASEAN.

The representatives from ASEAN countries also issued a brief policy statement which entailed national priorities and interests for the development of the mining industry and adopted "Key recommendations on regional cooperation in minerals to respond to opportunities and requirements of a mineral-intensive future”.

The delegates also noted that the adoption of the ASEAN Agenda statement on mining will promote the implementation of comprehensive ASEAN mining cooperation towards a prosperous, green and sustainable ASEAN community and actively contribute to current global initiatives as well as enhance ASEAN's position in the world and the future of each member.

The ministers also discussed solutions and priority tasks for ASEAN 2021 and the development of the ASEAN Community, connectivity issues.

They also approved the ASEAN Minerals Cooperation Action Plan (AMCAP-III) phase 2: 2021-2025.

The AMMin 8 and related meetings were held via teleconference from Wednesday to Friday. The related meetings were the 21st Annual Senior Officials Meeting on Minerals (ASOMM 21) and the 14th ASOMM+3 Meeting.

The ASOMM offers a forum for ASEAN ministers to discuss measures to strengthen cooperation in mining within the ten-member grouping, specifically support for industrialisation programmes in each member country.  

Mai Vàng Awards seek nominations from readers

Readers across Việt Nam are encouraged to nominate artists and organisations who have made great contributions to the nation's cultural and arts activities in 2021 for the 27th annual Mai Vàng (Golden Ochna) Awards.

The awards, which were first organised by Người Lao Động (Labourer) newspaper in 1991, consist of 12 categories of pop and contemporary folk singers, song and music videos.

There are prizes for theatrical artist, comic actor, theatrical play, movie actor and actress, film, MC and TV programme as well.

People can nominate their favourite artists and art programmes at the newspaper’s website nld.com.vn, or the awards’ website at maivang.nld.com.vn, or at the awards’ Facebook fanpage by November 30.

The organisers have received several nominations for categories like contemporary folk singer and movie actor.

The nominations for contemporary folk singer include veteran singers such as People’s Artist Tạ Minh Tâm, Trọng Tấn and Anh Thơ, along with new faces like Nguyễn Khánh Ly and Hồng Duyên.

They have frequently performed on the music show “Ca Khúc Dân Gian Đương Đại” (Contemporary Folk Songs) launched by the Voice of Việt Nam radio station.

Some of them have performed for doctors and patients at COVID-19 treatment hospitals and quarantine centres in HCM City.

Young singer Nguyễn Khánh Ly impressed listeners with her debut album Lời Ru Cội Nguồn (Lullaby of the Origin) consisting of 12 contemporary folk songs.

Meanwhile, Hồng Duyên remixed folk songs from different regions of the country in different music genres like acoustic, jazz and semi-classic in her new album Duyên (Charm).

The nominations for movie actors include skilled actors like Thái Hoà, People’s Artist Trung Anh, and Meritorious Artist Võ Hoài Nam.

They have left a deep impression on TV audiences with emotional characters in drama series like Cây Táo Nở Hoa (When Apple Tree Blooms), Nhũng Ngày Không Quên (Unforgettable Days) and Hương Vị Tình Thân (Family Love).

Young actors like Trấn Thành, Mạnh Quân and Duy Hưng are also named in the nomination list.

The jury consisting of leading artists in different fields and cultural and social experts will choose five nominations for each category among readers’ nominations.

Readers can vote for the winners from December 8 to January 7.

This year, the organisers and jury will give three additional awards for artists who have contributed to community activities, an art performance to serve the community, and an art or literary work.

The awards ceremony is expected to take place on January 13 in HCM City, and be broadcast live on Việt Nam Television’s channel VTV9.  

UNESCO’s online filmmaking programme begins 

An online filmmaking course will begin this month, held by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in Việt Nam, in co-operation with Việt Nam Cinematography Association’s Centre for Assistance and Development of Movie Talents. 

The non-profit course, On the Real Film Lab, targets young filmmakers and students from art schools. 

It will offer basic knowledge, information and skills in different fields of filming, including directing, casting, shooting, and pre- and post-production. 

An overview on international film festivals, domestic and international cinema, and new filmmaking trends will be also included. 

Participants will receive trainning from dozens of talented film producers and directors, such as directors Pimpaka Towira of Thailand, Phạm Ngọc Lân and Trương Minh Quý of Việt Nam. 

Female director Bùi Kim Quy is also included. Quy sent her latest feature film, Miền Ký Ức (Memoryland), to compete in the New Currents Award at the 26th Busan International Film Festival 2021 in Korea this week.

Indipendent film director Pimpaka Towira has more than 15 years in the industry. She was programme director at the Bangkok International Film Festival in 2001, 2008 and 2009, and programme director at the Bangkok ASEAN festival from 2015 to 2017.

The course received one hundred film projects by many young filmmakers nationwide since its launch on September 6. 

Six projects were chosen. The project creators, Hải Nhất, Nguyễn Thị Xuân Trang, Đặng Thảo Nguyên, Nguyễn Lê Hoàng Phúc, Nguyễn Trung Nghĩa and Nguyễn Duy Anh, will begin their one-year training this month. 

The participants will have a chance to recieve two cash prizes worth US$1,000 each, two packages of camera and lighting equipment, and an audio post-production package from the course’s sponsors HK Film of HCM City and Wallsound of Bruxelles. 

“The course On the Real Film Lab is part of E-MOTIONS, a project that contributes to the promotion of networking and creative environment design for filmmakers by UNESCO and its partners with support from Japanese Trust Fund,” said Phạm Thị Thanh Hường, head of the office’s cultural department of UNESCO Office in Hà Nội. 

“Through our course, we hope young filmmakers will have a chance to explore their creativity.” 

To discover the course On the Real Film Lab, visit https://bit.ly/OntheReelFilmLab. 

Old couple cook meals for the poor

Nguyễn Thị My, a 70-year-old woman, from Bình Thạnh District, HCM City, gets up very early to prepare vegetarian meals for people in difficult circumstances. 

She and her husband have undertaken this charity work for many years but have been really busy for more than a week.

At 3am every morning, while everyone is still asleep, she gets up and starts preparing 100 free vegetarian meals.

After cooking, her husband, 85, helps her put the rice in boxes and put them on a table in front of their house for people to pick up.

The meals are ready to serve from 9am to 1pm. 

Recently, volunteers from the local youth union have offered to help the old couple cooking meals. 

"They are old so we want to help them. We cook together and deliver meals to needy people. We feel very happy and will continue to do this work," Nguyễn Đức Chung, a member of the Youth Union in Bình Thạnh District, told online newspaper Zing news.

On Monday, the city's Red Cross asked her to cook 150 meals for people who were getting ready to return home to the Mekong Delta.

"Young people help us a lot. We could not cook 150 meals without their support," My said.

My said that three years ago, she lived in Cần Thơ Province.

Her children sent her money to go to HCM City for medical treatment for her back. 

After the examination, she decided not to have surgery and instead poured the money into charity work.

"I also decided to live in HCM City with my husband in a rented house and sold some traditional cakes at home to earn a living here," My said.

Then she switched to selling vegetarian meals and began her charity work by offering free meals to people in difficulties.

During social distancing, she used her own money to cook vegetarian meals for the poor and only stopped cooking when the city was under lockdown.

"This work is so hard. You can't do it if you're not dedicated to your work. Sometimes I am tired but always try to do it because I think many people need my meals," said My. 

Their landlord has also helped the old couple by not taking rent for more than four months.

"Even though it's a free meal but I always have to put my heart into it and cook it well."

Last week, her children urged her to return home in Cần Thơ Province as the city eased lockdown.

She packed up all her belongings to get ready to go home and she also has no money left for the charity work.

But she was unable to return home because many people know about her charity work and they bring rice, vegetables and necessities to support her cooking.

"Many people support me. They bring rice and other food to my house. They hope I can cook more meals for more people in need. I will stay here and continue my work. I can't betray everyone's trust," said My. 

Hà Nội developing high-tech agriculture to adapt to climate change

Hà Nội has given priority to long-term, high-tech agriculture in order to adapt to climate change.

Director of the Hà Nội Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chu Phú Mỹ, said that in order to cope with climate change, the department has directed localities to promote the use of new varieties with high yields and quality, short-growing periods, and adapting to local weather and farming conditions.

The city's goal is to increase the value of high-tech agricultural products by 70 per cent from now to 2025.

Head of the Economic Office of Chương Mỹ District, Trần Thị Thu Hằng, said that many agricultural production models applying science and technology have been developing well in the area over recent years.

Advanced technology including automatic watering, temperature and light-adjusting systems equipped in vegetable, flowers and fruit tree-growing models helped ensure the best growth conditions; and farmers selecting and creating high-yield and quality varieties.

Safe and organic vegetable growing models in greenhouses using hydroponics have been gradually becoming more common.

Hoàng Văn Thám, Director of Chúc Sơn Safe Vegetable Cooperative, said the cooperative was the first in Chương Mỹ District to co-ordinate with scientists to install smart weather-monitoring stations.

With a coverage radius of 15km, the weather-monitoring station can accurately predict temperature, wind speed, and rainfall, to serve as a basis for farmers to develop long-term vegetable-and-fruit caring plans. 

Chúc Sơn Co-operative has invested in installing 10 cameras connected to computers and smartphones to help the Board of Directorate easily manage the production areas.

Thanks to the high-tech production, it can collect nearly two tonnes of safe vegetables and fruit every day, regardless of weather conditions.

Hoàng Văn Thám said the cooperative was supplying safe vegetables to four hospitals, two supermarkets, and 15 convenience stores under affiliated contracts with stable prices.

Farmers in Đan Phượng and Ba Vì districts were also actively introducing new quality vegetable varieties, combining high-tech application into production.

It was opening a new direction for local agricultural production, said Nguyễn Đắc Thức, Deputy Director of Thuần Mỹ Agricultural Cooperative, Ba Vì District.

He said he and members have learned about technology through newspapers, books, successful farms, and searched for new fruit varieties that can adapt to climate change.

Thuận Mỹ Agricultural Cooperative planted a trial of grape crops on a 700sq.m area in March 2020. To enhance growth, the co-operative has invested in building a nylon roof and automatic watering system.

Black-grape plants have developed well, with few pests and diseases, a high yield, and farmers can harvest two crops per year in May - June and October - November.

The outlying districts also paid special attention to rice, one of the crops with a large area of nearly 160,000 ha/year, ensuring that production must adapt to climate change, saving water, soil protection, and pest-and disease prevention.

Head of the Economic Department of Thạch Thất District, Hoàng Chí Lượng, said that the district was applying a model of using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to spray pesticides on rice fields.

"It will bring many economic benefits, as well as health and environmental protection," he said.

Director of Hà Nội Agricultural Extension Centre, Vũ Thị Hương, said UAVs have been applied by localities very quickly.

Hương said: "The application of scientific and technological advances to agricultural production, including the use of UAVs, has contributed to accelerating the modernisation of agriculture."

With its active application of science and technical advances to change the agricultural production process, the city is expected to become the science-and-technology centre in agricultural production of the country.

Hà Nội will review, adjust and promulgate policies to encourage agricultural development, especially those involved in high-tech agricultural production with adaptation to climate change, according to the Director of the Hà Nội Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chu Phú Mỹ.

The city's agricultural sector was actively searching for new varieties that can adapt to climate conditions, supporting infrastructure investment for high-tech agricultural production associated with product consumption links.  

HCM City Party’s Committee gives thank to frontline forces

The HCM City Party’s Committee yesterday honoured medical workers and students, armed forces personnel, and religious volunteers who have helped the city deal with the fourth wave of COVID-19 in the past 100 days.

Speaking at a ceremony on Friday, Nguyễn Văn Nên, Secretary of the city Party's Committee, said: “Frontline forces and volunteers have had great contributions in controlling the pandemic in the city.”

Their contribution and sacrifice played a very important role in helping the city achieve good results in pandemic prevention and control, reduce fatalities, and prepare for “new normal” life, he said.

Nên on behalf of the city’s Party’s Committee and people expressed gratitude for nearly 30,000 individuals and organisations who have sacrificed to support the country’s pandemic hotspot and the city’s frontline forces.

He also gave thanks to the Central government, other provinces and cities, and religious organisations, who have provided assistance and aid to the city.

The Party’s Committee awarded a certificate of merit to 55 organisations and medals for 119 individuals at the ceremony.

On behalf of the honoured organisations and individuals, Nguyễn Vân Giang, deputy head of the Military Medical Department under the Ministry of National Defence’s General Department of Logistics, said: “HCM City and Southern provinces have controlled the fourth wave of the pandemic. And I’m so proud that the military and armed forces have contributed to the victory.”

Giang added there would be still more difficulties and challenges in pandemic prevention and control, but the military and other forces have always stood by the city to take care of COVID-19 patients and support field hospitals and intensive care units.

The attendees, at the beginning of the ceremony, paid tribute to people who have died from COVID-19 as well as heroic medical workers and frontline responders who lost their lives in the line of duty.

The city was the hardest hit in the country, with over 402,200 COVID-19 cases and 15,520 deaths confirmed to date. 

As of October 8, the city had given more than 7 million first vaccine shots and nearly 4.9 million second shots. 

Collaboration put into place to welcome migrant workers home

It is common to see people flocking to their hometowns on public holidays or maybe for Tết celebrations to welcome the new year.

Sometimes a trip home can be just to relax and catch up with family and old friends.

But over the past few days, the tens of thousands of people leaving HCM City are just desperate to leave the southern hub after months locked in due to strict social distancing regulations. 

Now restrictions have been lifted, it's no time for a holiday, just time for a much-needed change of scenery and a chance to live in their own homes without worrying about mounting costs. 

But there are concerns with such large numbers of people congregating at checkpoints, often in crowds. COVID is still a huge threat, and those making the journey are urged to do so safely.  

Congestion on many of the major highways is also a cause for concern, and one group of around 200 people needed police assistance after heavy rain flooded roads in central provinces. 

But many migrant workers who lost jobs when HCM City 'closed down' have no money to make ends meet in urban areas. This is their only option in the hope they can earn a wage after more than 100 days of social distancing.

They took any means of transport they have to make the journey home.

They rode bicycles or motorbikes for more than 1,000km from southern localities to head to northern mountainous areas.

For those who lost everything including their modes of transport, they were forced to walk the great distance on foot.

Close-up photos on social media over the past days revealed how exhausted the migrants, with piles of belongings on their vehicles, actually were.

A man lying on a motorbike using the opportunity to get some much-needed sleep while waiting at a checkpoint; a family of four on an outdated motorbike fleeing HCM City or the smile of an eight-month pregnant woman who finally reached her destination with her husband.

What will be waiting for them in their hometowns after they return? Can they continue to survive?

They don’t know.

But whatever lies ahead, it has to be better than the lives they've led recently.

Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) predicted that the mass exodus would cause a number of problems including a labour shortage in southern localities and an increasing unemployment rate in localities when migrant workers return.

The ongoing mass exodus has pushed many local businesses in the south to the verge of bankruptcy due to a lack of labourers.

Lê Minh Tấn, director of HCM City Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, said in five months of social distancing between May and September, about 500,000 labourers left jobs and 1.7 million others had work contracts suspended without pay.

According to HCM City’s Centre of Forecasting Manpower Needs and Labour Market Information, the labour recruitment demand of local businesses will increase in the fourth quarter of this year with between 42,000 and 56,000 workers needed.

Bình Dương Province’s authorities forecast the locality will lack up to 50,000 labourers when local businesses resume operations.

In the latest document sent by VGCL to local labour confederations on Thursday evening, the VGCL said southern localities need to call on workers to go back to work and at the same time ensure competitive salaries to attract labourers.

The VGCL also proposed organising vehicles to take workers back or offer travel expenses and other fees to encourage labourers to return to businesses.

Acts of kindness

On the way home, there have been many acts of kindness.

Hà Nội police have guided migrants who drove thousands of kilometres from the south, passing through the capital city on their way to northern mountainous localities.

Buses of Hanoi Transport Services Corporation which have remained static in the two months of social distancing have been mobilised to take nearly 2,000 migrant workers and their families home.

We have also seen voluntary groups offer free meals and drinks to returnees stuck in traffic jams or help those in trouble fix their vehicles.

Local authorities of provinces and cities have different policies towards the returnees, depending on the capacity of quarantine sites and the priority of each locality.

Joint efforts by southern localities to welcome returnees home are a positive sign and worth recognition.

The Mekong Delta province of Long An was the first southern locality to make the move, contacting authorities of the returnees’ to ensure safe passage.

Long An’s authorities will be in charge of checking documents, test results and vaccination certificates before migrant workers leave the province. Authorities of provinces where workers arrive will collaborate to welcome and take them to quarantine sites as required.

Long An’s plan has eased congestion, limited the risk of infection and also shows a humanitarian act to support those who want to go home.

Other provinces like Phú Yên, Nghệ An, Bà Rịa-Vũng Tàu, An Giang and Cà Mau have also arranged vehicles or mobilised forces to welcome workers home ensuring safety and avoiding congestion.

At the COVID meeting with local authorities nationwide in early October, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính asked HCM City and southern localities who have a large number of migrant workers to organise transportation in order to take migrant workers home safely.

“If residents really wish to return for various reasons, local authorities must work together to organise transportation, ensure pandemic and traffic safety, and not cause public inconvenience,” he said.

The PM’s direction has clearly shown Việt Nam’s motto of ‘not leaving anyone behind’ in any situation.

In a timely move, Deputy PM Vũ Đức Đam on Thursday sent a dispatch urging local authorities to persuade residents to stay while providing support for them and resuming safe production and trade.

For those wishing to return to their hometowns, localities must inform authorities of their destinations to organise the transportation, especially for the elderly, pregnant women and children.

The Deputy PM also urged destination localities to receive the returnees and implement pandemic prevention and control measures in line with regulations.

Earlier Phạm Đức Hải, vice chairman of HCM City Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control, said the city’s High Command would work with relevant agencies to organise trips for those who want to return, giving priority to the elderly, pregnant women, sick people and children.

Those who wish to go home can contact authorities of their residential quarters, wards or towns where they register for temporary residence or call hotlines 069.652.401 and 02866.822.000 for support.

Like the pandemic prevention and control work, managing the flow of people heading home is apparently the job of not any single locality but needs smooth collaboration of all, and must satisfy public wishes while at the same time keep the pandemic under control.

None of this can be achieved without the cooperation of those making the journey, and the thousands of officials and volunteers who are with them every step of the way. 

Thousands flee north in an attempt to get home after months of lockdown in south provinces

Thousands of migrants are making the long, perilous journey north back to their home towns and villages, after months of unemployment and lockdown in the southern provinces. Volunteers, students and philanthropists in the central provinces are doing their bit to help. 

Food, water, safety helmets, petrol, motorbike repair services and first aid have been prepared for the columns of people passing through Đà Nẵng over the past several days. Almost all are migrant workers from the north heading home after months of lockdown in southern provinces.  

At least 1,000 people passed through the Hải Vân Tunnel early on October 7, after the longest road tunnel in South-East Asia opened at midnight, following the request of the central city’s committee. It is estimated that 10,000 people passed through the central provinces between October 2-6.  

Trần Phong, a volunteer from Đà Nẵng, said local people had prepared instant noodles, soup, helmets for kids and petrol for motorbikes. Students from Đông Á University were providing mechanical repairs, as almost all motorbikes were in a state of disrepair after the long road from HCM City, Đồng Nai and Bình Dương.

Phong said that most of those fleeing back to their hometowns had been unemployed for months, trapped due to social distancing regulations in the south of the country.  

He said some families even carried newborn babies. For most, many more days riding lay ahead before they reached their home towns and villages in the northern provinces. 

Nguyễn Thế Thịnh, who joined the voluntary mission, said members of Pickup Truck Đà Nẵng Club (PDC), a group of pickup truck lovers in Đà Nẵng City, distributed gasoline from tanks, as well as food, water and other necessaries to those fleeing through Đà Nẵng. 

Tropical low pressure has impacted weather conditions in the central region. Raincoats and hot soups were prepared at home by volunteers to help those in need, Thịnh said.

On October 4, over 3,000 people stopped on the Hải Vân Pass, exceeding the 1,000 food portions and 1,200 water bottles prepared by volunteers.

Doãn Phương Nam, a student from Đông Á University in Đà Nẵng, said the university’s 12-member SOS Group have been on duty on the Hải Vân Pass since October 2, providing maintenance services to those that need it. Most families are riding old, worn-out motorcycles, many using portable headlamps in place of broken headlights.

Over the past few days they have helped over 1,000 people.

Volunteers and local people in Quảng Ngãi city took an exhausted 35-week pregnant woman to the provincial obstetrics and paediatrics hospital on Wednesday night. The pregnant woman is safe in hospital and waiting to give birth, a local volunteer said.

The provincial people’s committee has opened a quarantine centre in Quảng Phú to give those passing through a safe place to sleep for the night. The province has also provided VNĐ100 million in funds to help support migrant workers during their travel through Quảng Ngãi.

Traffic police in Thừa Thiên Huế met a caravan of migrants at the north entrance of the Hải Vân Pass and escorted them through the province.

Quảng Bình province plans to transport 2,800 of its residents living in southern provinces home by train. Quảng Nam, Đà Nẵng, Phú Yên, Bình Định, Thừa Thiên Huế and Quảng Ngãi have also done the same, using train, planes and coaches to return their residents.

Although the road is long and dangerous, the support of volunteers and donors along the way makes the plight of those trying to get home just a little bit less dangerous.  

HCM City wants delivery workers to be tested every three days

The HCM City Department of Industry and Trade has instructed delivery companies to continue pooled sample testing of their drivers using rapid antigen tests every one to three days though the city reopened on October 1 and allows people to travel without carrying permits or test results.

It had instructed the companies to test their delivery workers themselves from September 24, giving them testing kits they will require until September 30.

The workers need to submit their test results for their companies to upload in the city’s shared database.

They also have to comply with regulations for delivery workers, which include getting at least one vaccine dose, having the necessary papers and QR codes for easy identification on the street and registering with the Department of Industry and Trade.

Several delivery services such as Gojek and Baemin are covering their employees’ testing expenses, setting up sites around the city to distribute free test kits to them.

Some others are helping them register at testing facilities and offering financial support.

Grab is giving free testing kits to shippers who can meet its weekly delivery quota starting from October 10, besides cash support of up to VNĐ300,000 (US$13.17) per week to cover testing fees for those who complete their registered work hours.

Delivery businesses are hoping the testing frequency will be relaxed depending on the pandemic and vaccination status in various locations.

Gojek said having delivery workers go through such frequent testing hampers the city’s supply chain, wastes resources since all of them have got at least one vaccine shot, and places a large burden of expense.

HCM City has been Việt Nam's COVID-19 epicentre since late April with more than 405,000 cases, but its number of daily cases has dropped to below 2,000 in the last few days. 

Party chief meets Hanoi voters ahead 15th NA’s second session

Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong on October 9 met voters in Hanoi’s districts of Ba Dinh, Dong Da and Hai Ba Trung, both online and offline, in preparation for the second session of the 15th National Assembly.

At the event, voters voiced their opinions about the fight against the pandemic, social welfare for residents, measures to remove difficulties faced by enterprises, and revising policies for socio-economic development.

In response, the Party leader said the country’s important activities were still held despite the COVID-19 pandemic. The entire people upheld the tradition of patriotism, solidarity and mutual support.

As the pandemic remains complicated, he stressed the need for staying vigilant and focusing on economic development, maintaining political security, social safety and order.

He urged voters and people to continue grasping the situation and offering timely suggestions to the Party and State, thus helping officials fulfill their assigned tasks.

The leader informed that the upcoming nationwide conference disseminating the Resolution adopted by the fourth plenum of the 13th Party Central Committee will focus on socio-economic development, building and rectification of the Party and the entire political system, and the fight against corruption and negative phenomena.

In the end, he also affirmed his absolute trust on the leaders and people of Hanoi. With their heroic tradition, he believed that the capital city will become an example for other localities across the country to follow./.

Quang Binh assists COVID-19 fight in Laos

The People's Committee of the central Quang Binh province on October 8 held a meeting with a local working delegation which will set off for Laos’ Khammouane province to aid its COVID-19 prevention and control on October 11.

The group, including members directly taking part in COVID-19 testing and other management and treatment works in Khammouane as well as sharing pandemic-prevention experience with their Lao peers, will work in the neighbouring country for 15 days.

Headed by deputy director of the provincial Department of External Affairs Nguyen Thanh Xuan, the delegation gathers personnel from Quang Binh’s center for disease control, Military Command, and Border Guard Command.

According to the centre, the group will bring two RT-PCR testing systems, biological products for 15,000 single test samples, and 1,000 hand tests, and other modern medical equipment to support the Lao province.

Speaking at the meeting, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committtee Tran Thang stressed that the sending of the delegation aims to promote the sense of responsibility, mutual support, solidarity, and friendship between Vietnam and Laos.

A representative of the delegation stated that they will make efforts to complete their mission in line with regulations on COVID-19 prevention and control./.

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