By staff writers – Translated by Uyen Phuong
Ho chi minh city
HCM City continues closure of discos, bars, karaoke parlors

HCM City (VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City will continue the closure of discos , bars , karaoke parlors to ensure safety amid COVID-19 pandemic, while other service business types will be resumed from March 9.
Under a dispatch issued by the Chairman of the city People’s Committee on March 8, the city leader asked heads of departments, sectors and agencies to localities to continue strictly implementing directions of the Prime Minister, the National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control as well as the Health Ministry and the city in pandemic prevention and control measures, including the “5K message”.
Locals are advised to strengthen COVID-19 prevention and control measures, especially in wearing facemask in public places, washing hands, and keeping safe distance.
The city leader asked the Department of Information and Communications to strengthen communications on measures to prevent the spreading of COVID-19, especially the “5K message” – khau trang (facemask), khu khuan (disinfection), khoang cach (distance), khong tu tap (no gathering) and khai bao y te (health declaration).
So far, HCM City has seen 210 COVID-19 infections, including 68 domestically-transmitted cases. The city has spent 26 days without any new infections./.
Vietnam records one more domestic Covid-19 case
The new case in Hai Duong is a person who has been quarantined since Feb. 14, following contact tracing protocol. The patient is being treated at a field hospital in the northern province.
Monday evening also saw 11 new imported cases who came to Vietnam from Taiwan, South Korea and the Philippines. They’d been quarantined upon arrival.
With the latest addition, the number of community transmissions confirmed since the country’s latest outbreak began on Jan. 28 is 893, led by Hai Duong with 709 cases, followed by Quang Ninh (61), Ho Chi Minh City (36) and Hanoi (35).
Vietnam has registered 2,524 Covid-19 cases so far, including 1,920 recoveries and 35 deaths.
On Monday, a total of 377 medical and other frontline workers in HCMC, Hanoi and Hai Duong received a dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine. None showed any adverse reactions as of that afternoon, according to the Health Ministry.
The National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Hanoi has so far vaccinated 66 people, the HCMC Hospital for Tropical Diseases, 104, and Hai Duong, 207.
Central Party Committee discusses whole-term working agenda, personnel work
In the morning, members of the committee discussed in groups the working agenda of the committee throughout the 13th tenure after listening to a proposal on the agenda, which was presented by Politburo member and permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Vo Van Thuong.
In the afternoon, they attended a plenary session to listen to the Politburo’s proposal on the completion of the nomination of candidates for a number of leadership positions in State agencies in the 14th tenure of the 2016-2021 term and the 15th tenure of the 2021-2026 term.
The plenum of the Party Central Committee is scheduled to conclude on March 9.
Vietnam provided with US$86.3 million to boost energy efficiency investments
The total support from GCF also includes a US$75 million guarantee. US$8.3 million from the grant will be used to build capacity in the private sector to identify, appraise and execute energy efficiency projects.
It will also provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the relevant authorities to further strengthen policy frameworks and regulations and create a helpful environment aimed at accelerating the energy efficiency market in Vietnam.
The remaining grant funds and guarantee will be used to establish a risk-share facility to provide partial credit guarantees to local banks who may risk potential default on loans for energy efficienct projects.
By reducing lending risks, the facility is expected to mobilize around US$250 million of commercial financing, to be provided to industrial enterprises and energy service companies at competitive terms and with low collateral requirements.
Scaling up energy efficiency is the single best and lowest cost option to achieve multiple goals at once: meeting energy demand, preventing pollution and reducing greenhouse gas emissions while also increasing industry competitiveness, Carolyn Turk, Country Director for Vietnam said.
In a context of limited public financing for energy, the risk-share facility is an innovative financial instrument in private sector investment financing for a greater uptake of industry-wide energy efficiency measures, she added.
The grant and guarantee are to be executed under the Vietnam Scaling up Energy Efficiency Project which aims to support Vietnam in achieving the energy efficiency targets set out in the Green Growth Strategy as well as emission reduction objectives pledged under the National Determined Contributions.
The World Bank’s Low Carbon Study estimates that Vietnam could save up to 11 GW of new generation capacity by 2030 if comprehensive demand-side energy efficiency investment takes place. The energy efficiency investment need for key industries in Vietnam has been estimated at around US$3.6 billion.
Entertainment News on March 8-14
EXHIBITION
Hanoi-Exhibition: Those who do not move, do not notice their chains

Opening (online launching): Mar 5
Hanoi-Online exhibition featuring shared culture of Vietnam, Australia

HCMC-Exhibitions: ‘Within / Between / Beneath / Upon’ & ‘Home: Looking inwards to the outer world’

HCMC-Exhibition: Art and Peace

Opening: Mar 10, 6 pm
HCMC-Saigon Interplay Exhibition

Until Mar 21, 8 am – 5 pm
The exhibition offers 22 different ideas presenting through different mediums including conceptual models, videos, photographs that provide a unique experience for visitors. Come and explore with us!
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CINEMA
Screening of seven French movies

Mar 1-Dec 31
Featuring seven classic and modern French movies.
The films will be screened in 10 cities and provinces nationwide, including Hanoi, Hai Phong, Thai Nguyen, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Lao Cai, Thua Thien-Hue, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Lat, and Can Tho.
Dtinews/Hanoigrapevines