Birthdays in january 17

The country’s trade turnover during January-February topped some US$95.81 billion, a year-on-year surge of 25.4%. Of the total, exports amounted to US$48.55 billion, a yearly hike of 23.2%, while imports were estimated at US$47.26 billion, or 25.9% higher than the same time last year.

Foreign-invested companies accounted for 76.4%, or US$37.07 billion, of Vietnam’s total export turnover. Meanwhile, the domestic sector shipped abroad US$11.48 billion worth of products.

There were nine commodities joining the billion-USD export club, including telephones and parts (US$9.3 billion, up 22.8% year-on-year); electronics, computers and parts (US$6.9 billion, up 27.3%); equipment, machines and parts (US$5.5 billion, up 72.6%); footwear (US$3.2 billion, up 15.4%); and wood and wooden products (US$2.4 billion, up 51%). They made up 73% of the country’s export turnover.

Vietnam also saw strong surge in shipments of several agricultural products, such as fruits and vegetables (US$610 million, rising 14.6%), rubber (US$516 million, increasing 109.7%), cashew (US$442 million, up 21.5%), and cassava (US$256 million, hiking 78.2%).

The US was Vietnam’s biggest importer as it splashed out US$14.2 billion on Vietnamese products, or 38.2% higher than the amount it spent the same time last year. China came second with US$8.5 billion, followed by the EU with 6.3 billion, ASEAN US$4.2 billion, the Republic of Korea US$3.4 billion, and Japan US$3.2 billion.

Meanwhile, the country spent big (US$47.26 billion) on imports, with foreign-invested sector purchasing US$31.64 billion worth of products from abroad for production, up 31.4%, while that of the domestic sector surged 16% to US$15.62 billion.

In the two-month period, China was the largest exporter of Vietnam, with revenue estimated at US$17.3 billion, up 85.7% year-on-year, followed by the Republic of Korea with US$8.4 billion, ASEAN US$5.6 billion, Japan US$3.1 billion, EU US$2.3 billion, and the US US$2.1 billion.

In a bid to support local firms in promoting production and exports, the Ministry of Industry and Trade said that it will work to capitalise on opportunities from the signed free trade agreements to seek measures for market development. Additionally, it will keep close watch on the global market to identify key export products, while paying due heed to penning measures for market development.

This is the highest February CPI growth recorded in the last eight years.

However, the index in the first two months decreased 0.14% year-on-year.

Compared to the previous month, an upturn was seen in the prices of ten out of 11 main groups of goods and services, with housing and construction materials taking the lead (4%). It was followed by food and catering services (1.61%); transport (1.55%); drinking and tobacco (0.9%); garment and textile, headwear and footwear (0.25%).

The price of education services remained stable compared to the previous month.

The GSO’s Price Statistics Department explained that the CPI in February saw a strong rise due to the higher demand for food and foodstuffs for the Lunar New Year (Tet) festival.

The prices of medicine and medical supplies in January-February increased by 0.88% compared to the same period last year, the price of gas in the month climbed 3.05% year-on-year.

There were a number of reasons for the decrease in CPI in the last two months. The petrol and oil prices decreased by 15.78% year-on-year while the electricity price in January fell by 16.88% over the same period last year, making the average electricity price in the first two months of 2021 down by 9.95%.

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for travel and tourism decreased compared to the same period last year. On average, in the last two months, the air ticket price dropped by 35.65%, train fares down 12.39%; and tour prices decreased by 4.99%.

At the same time, domestic gold price in February was up 0.25% over the previous month, while that of US dollar was around 23,145 VND per USD, down 0.17% month-on-month and 0.76% year-on-year.

GSO said the core inflation in February, which is CPI excluding grain food, fresh foodstuff, energy and the State-managed medical and educational services, increased by 0.48% from the previous month, and 0.79% compared to one year ago.

The two-month core inflation grew by 0.64% year-on-year.

The core inflation rates in February and the first two months of 2021 compared to the same periods last year were the lowest in the past five years.

Professor Nhan has written an article giving his assessment on the third wave of coronavirus in Vietnam. Nhan Dan Online introduces the full-text of the article as follows.

On January 27, the third wave of COVID-19 infections in Vietnam began, when two cases of community infection were found in the two northern neighbouring provinces of Hai Duong and Quang Ninh. On January 28, there were 91 more cases of community infection, and a day later, 61 more were found. Subsequently, local infections spread to 11 other provinces and cities and on February 17, the total number of COVID-19 infections being treated in hospitals was 710. After February 17, the number of infected cases began to decrease gradually, although it saw some fluctuation. Because the level of infection in Vietnam is very low globally speaking and from its experience in responding to the second wave of infections in Vietnam (from July 27 to September 23, 2020), when the number of patients treated in hospitals reached its peak, the infection trend will gradually decrease and this wave of the coronavirus will end in about 60 days. However, in order to predict the development of the third infection wave in Vietnam, it is necessary to analyse the evolution of COVID-19 in the provinces and cities with the largest number of community infection in Hai Duong, Quang Ninh, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

1. COVID-19 evolution in Hai Duong

The development of the COVID-19 infections in Hai Duong, relative to the number of infected cases being treated in hospitals, reflects two trends. One is infection in the community. As infections increase, the number of patients going to hospitals will increase as well as the number of people being treated, and vice versa. Second is the effectiveness of the treatment of infected cases in hospitals. If the treatment is highly effective, the number of patients discharged will be high, thus reducing the number of remaining individuals undergoing treatment. The risk of infection to the community will decrease and vice versa.

With a population of 1.9 million, Hai Duong’s safety threshold is 19 COVID-19 patients being treated in hospitals (equivalent to 10 infected per 1 million people). On the first day of the new outbreak, only five in Hai Duong were being treated, but by the second day, 77 more were being treated in hospitals, 8.5 times higher than the epidemic safety threshold. That means the level of community infection in Hai Duong on January 28 was far too high.

By February 18, the total number of infected cases being treated was 497, equal to 26 times the safe level and meaning the epidemic had peaked. After that, the number of patients tended to decrease. In the coming days, there may be new cases of infections in the community in Hai Duong. However, if Hai Duong drastically implements measures that help decrease the number of patients on a downward trend as at its current level, combined with adjustments until the number of patients being treated are at a lower level than the safety threshold (19 patients), it can be predicted that the COVID-19 outbreak in Hai Duong will end at the end of March.

Within 23 days, from January 27 to February 18 (the epidemic peak), the average increase of patients treated was 21.4 a day. In Da Nang, the epicentre of Vietnam’s second wave of COVID-19 infection last year, the average rate of increase was 14.6 per day. However, from these two figures, it is nonsense to conclude that the outbreak in Hai Duong is spreading more rapidly, 1.5 times faster (21.4 compared to 14.6) than Da Nang. The population of Hai Duong and Da Nang are different, so it is impossible to compare the average rate of increase in the number of COVID-19 patients being treated in the two localities.

To compare the rate of COVID-19 infection in two countries or two localities, it is necessary to refer to the infection rate per 1 million people. If taking the number of infections being treated in the US with a population of 331 million on December 27, 2020 at 7.68 million, compared with the figure in Belgium with a population of 11.5 million at 575,408, it is incorrect to say that the US has a higher rate of COVID-19 infection than Belgium. Per 1 million people, the US has 23,208 COVID-19 patients currently being treated, and the figure for Belgium is 49,778. That is, the intensity of the epidemic in Belgium is twice as high as that of the US.

Hai Duong’s population is 1.9 million, and per 1 million people, the average increase in the number of COVID-19 patients receiving treatment, from the start of the third wave to the time the epidemic reached its peaks, was 11.26 per day per 1 million people (21.4 infections per day from a total of 1.9 million people), that is, out of 1 million people in Hai Duong, on average there was 11.26 additional infections each day. Da Nang’s population is 1.14 million, so the average increase in the of COVID-19 patients receiving treatment was 12.8/day/1 million people (14.6/day/1.14 million) during the second wave, higher than Hai Duong (11.26/day/1 million people) in this third wave. If one does not include the number of recovered cases during the outbreak, the average infection per 1 million people per day in Hai Duong was 13.4 new cases, while in Da Nang it was 14.8 new cases a day. That means the rate of epidemic spread in Da Nang was higher than in Hai Duong.

2. Evolution of COVID-19 in Quang Ninh

On January 27, Quang Ninh had only one new case of community infection, but a day later, 12 more were confirmed, higher than the safety threshold of 11. That is, after only two days since the new outbreak began in the community, Quang Ninh was already considered an epidemic hotspot. On February 11, the epidemic reached its peak with 59 infected people being treated, 5.17 times higher than the safety level (compared to Hai Duong, the epidemic prevalence rate was much lower, because the number of people being treated in Hai Duong at the time of the new pandemic wave’s peak was at 497 people, 26 times more than the safety threshold). After February 11, the number of patients being treated in Quang Ninh tended to decrease gradually. If Quang Ninh continues to maintain its prevention measures, with adjustments as needed, until the number of patients being treated is lower than the epidemic safety threshold (11 patients receiving treatment), the outbreak in Quang Ninh should end in early March.

3. Infection evolution in Ho Chi Minh City

With a population of more than 9 million, Ho Chi Minh City’s pandemic safety threshold is 90 COVID-19 patients being treated in hospitals. According to statistics, this number increased sharply after February 7, when infections were discovered among the cargo handling staff at Tan Son Nhat Airport. However, the number of patients being treated never exceeded 50 and the outbreak peaked on February 13 with 48 patients being treated. That means, Ho Chi Minh City had no serious outbreak announced. The rate of patients receiving treatment per 1 million people when the outbreak reached its peak was 5.33, equal to 2% of Hai Duong’s level at the peak (261 patients per 1 million people). 12 days have passed (since February 11) and Ho Chi Minh City has not recorded any new cases of community infection. It is forecast that in the last week of February there will be more recovered patients discharged and by the end of February, the number of patients being treated will be at the same level as prior to February 7 (no more than 15).

4. Evolution of COVID-19 infection in Hanoi

Because of its position near Hai Duong, two days after the first infections detected in Hai Duong (January 27), Hanoi also recorded its first community infections and new cases increased gradually, peaking on February 15 with 36 patients undergoing treatment. Hanoi’s epidemic safety threshold is 80 COVID-19 patients, so there was no widespread transmission in the capital city. The percentage of patients being treated per 1 million people in Hanoi at this time is 4.5, lower than in Ho Chi Minh City (5.33) and equal to 1.7% of Hai Duong when the outbreak reached its peak (261 per 1 million people). It is forecast that in early March, the number of infections being treated in Hanoi will decrease to the level prior to January 29 (no more than 10 patients).

5. General assessment

Firstly, the third wave of COVID-19 infections in Vietnam originated from two localities with community infections, Hai Duong and Quang Ninh, discovered on January 27, then spread to 11 other provinces and cities. As of February 23, 811 cases of infection had been detected, of which 627 were in Hai Duong (accounting for 77.3% of the total), 61 in Quang Ninh (7.5%), 36 in Ho Chi Minh City (4.4%), 35 in Hanoi (4.3%), 27 in Gia Lai (3.3%), six in Binh Duong, five cases in Bac Ninh, Hai Phong with four, Dien Bien three, Hoa Binh with two, Bac Giang with two, Hung Yen with two and Ha Giang two. The two localities with the highest rates of infection per 1 million people were Hai Duong with 330 infections per 1 million people and Quang Ninh with 53.5 per 1 million people. They are also considered the two localities with widespread COVID-19. The rest, though recording infections at different rates were practically not seeing widespread transmission, as infections were always below epidemic safety levels in each respective locality (10 patients treated per 1 million people).

Hai Duong and Quang Ninh accounted for 84.8% of the total number of community infections as of February 23. Eight provinces and cities with the number of people infected at six or below have a total of 25 cases, equalling 3.08% of the whole country’s total infections. The remaining 50 provinces and cities have had no community infection, accounting for 79% of the total number of provinces and cities nationwide. Vietnam is experiencing its third wave of COVID-19 infections, but there is no large-scale epidemic prevalence, only the two provinces of Hai Duong and Quang Ninh have seen widespread outbreaks.

Secondly, with the efforts and determination of 13 provinces and cities, the active support of the health sector across the country, the clear and concise direction of the Government, and collective experience against outbreaks in the previous two waves, the third wave is likely to be terminated by the end of March, that is, after about 60 days (January 27 – March 27), like the two waves before (first wave: 58 days, second wave: 59 days).

It is expected that in Ho Chi Minh City, by the end of February, the situation will return to normal, and in Hanoi and Quang Ninh in early March, while Hai Duong should do so by the end of March. Exports, business operations, transport and entertainment activities can resume in a new normal state in accordance with the above forecasted timelines.

Thirdly, the risk of a new wave of COVID-19 infections still exists, if Vietnam does not promptly and strictly control entry into the country, including both official and illegal cases, to eliminate and minimise the risk of entries bringing infections into the community.

The industrial production in February this year is estimated to decrease compared to the previous month and the same period last year because the number of working days of February this year is up to eight days less, and the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic at some localities.

However, as industrial production posted good growth of 22.5 percent in January this year compared to January last year, the IIP in the first two months of this year still increased by 7.4 percent compared to the same period last year.

Specifically, the IIP in February is estimated to decline by 21.1 percent compared to the previous month and 7.2 percent year-on-year. Of which, the mining industry dropped by 18.5 percent and decrease 23 percent; the processing and manufacturing industry sank 23.1 percent and 5.8 percent; the electricity generation and distribution retreated 9.8 percent and 2.3 percent; the water supply, waste and wastewater management, and treatment decreased 8.7 percent and increased 0.1 percent.

In the first two months of this year, the IIP is estimated to surge 7.4 percent compared to the same period last year. Of which, the processing and manufacturing industry rose by 10.4 percent while it increased 7.1 percent in the same period last year, contributing 8 percentage points to the general growth; the electricity generation and distribution added up 4.3 percent while it surged by 7 percent in the same period last year, contributing 0.7 percentage points; the water supply, waste and wastewater management, and treatment mounted 4.8 percent while it emerged 4.6 percent in the same period last year, contributing 0.4 percentage points; the mining industry alone fell by 11 percent while it dropped 2.7 percent in the same period last year, reducing 1.7 percentage points in the general growth.

By Anh Phuong – Translated by Gia Bao

Authorities in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap have taken prompt and assertive measures to contain the risk of COVID-19 spread from two border jumpers recently.

On the afternoon of February 23, two Vietnamese women left Phnom Penh and entered Vietnamese illegally via an illicit racket’s service.

By 9:00 pm the same day, they had made it to Sa Rai Town, located in Tan Hong District, Dong Thap, and stayed at a local hotel.

The two border jumpers were unaware they had been detected by local residents, who later reported the case to police’s quick response team.

Officers arrived at the hotel within the next hour, but only one of the two women was at the venue.

She was brought to a collective quarantine facility and was confirmed as the country’s COVID-19 patient No. 2,424 on February 26.

Meanwhile, the other woman had already got on a long-haul coach to travel to Ho Chi Minh City.

The coach operator was quickly informed of the case, and the driver was directed to turn the vehicle around.

She was then taken to a centralized quarantine center and had her samples collected for COVID-19 testing.

Her test result came back negative for the novel coronavirus.

A quick response team for COVID-19 prevention and control holds a meeting in Dong Thap Province, Vietnam. Photo: Thai Thuan / Tuoi Tre

“Thanks to the rapid response, the two women had not been able to travel to other places, while the number of their direct contacts was limited,” said Doan Tan Buu, vice-chairman of the Dong Thap People’s Committee, who is also deputy head of the provincial steering committee for COVID-19 prevention and control.

“The risk of the virus spread was therefore minimized.”

The province has established many quick response teams consisting of police officers and health workers to fight against the pandemic.

Aside from the effort of these quick response teams, which work around the clock, local residents also play a very important role in rapidly detecting border jumpers and containing COVID-19 transmission in the community, Buu stated.

Vietnam has recorded 2,423 COVID-19 cases as of Sunday morning, with 1,844 recoveries and 35 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health.

A total of 837 community-based infections have been reported in the country since January 27, most in Hai Duong Province in the northern region.

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The Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee has unveiled its plan to incorporate 12- to 17-seater minibuses into its public transport system in a proposal submitted to Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

It is expected to help turn more motorbike drivers to public commuting, which would in turn alleviates the pressure on Ho Chi Minh City’s overloaded urban transport.

In the proposal, the People’s Committee stated that bus route coverage in urban Ho Chi Minh City only fared 1km/sqkm, which is much lower than the standard of 2.5 km/sqkm.

The city’s bus fleet consists of 2,322 vehicles on 137 routes, the majority of which are 41-60 seaters designed to operate on streets at least 10 meters wide.

However, among the city’s nearly 5,000 streets, 3,450 are less than seven meters wide, which makes it impossible for the majority of public buses to reach.

This is also considered the underpinning of the sub-par bus coverage in Ho Chi Minh, which put off many potential customers as they have to travel great lengths to use the bus system.

Considering the situation, the introduction of light buses is essential for Ho Chi Minh City’s smart city initiative, according to the proposal.

In its bid to solve the issue, the proposal envisions 20 new minibus routes to connect areas of the city with the forthcoming metro line No. 1, which runs from Ben Thanh Market in District 1 to Suoi Tien Theme Park in Thu Duc City, as well as 10 routes using light buses to plug passengers into BRT route No. 1 in the 2021-2022 phase.

As per current regulations, bus routes must employ vehicles with 17 seats or more, with areas for both sitting and standing passengers, with one exception that vehicles of 12-17 seats can operate on routes that cross narrow streets or bridges in more than half of their journeys.

Considering this, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee is asking for permission from the prime minister to use light buses of 12 to 17 seats to boost coverage of the public bus system and help bring bus routes within reach of all city dwellers.

More choices

Le Trung Tinh, chairman of the Inter-Province and Tourism Passenger Transport Association, said that Ho Chi Minh City first proposed a light bus system in 2020, with six routes to cover new residential areas inaccessible by the city’s public commuting system.

As per the plan, the routes would have their fare set VND10,000-40,000 (US$0.43-1.73) per trip.

Vehicle cost would be covered by investors, while a partner will manage routes and customers via a dedicated ride-hailing application, where passengers could book tickets and track their bus in real-time.

However, the Ministry of Transport rejected the plan on the basis of Decree 10/2020, which requires that public buses have 17 seats or more.

This decree was also used to justify the rejection of Hanoi’s minibus proposal in 2018.

Vu Anh Tuan, director of the Vietnam-Germany Transportation Research Center, also deemed the introduction of minibuses requisite to Ho Chi Minh City as its road network consists of mostly small lanes that impede the entry of bigger vehicles and thwart the development of the public transportation system.

Meanwhile, minibuses will be able to navigate these streets and bring new customers who seek an intermediary means of transport to reach BRT and metro routes.

According to Tuan, Ho Chi Minh City is currently home to over 10 million citizens, which translates to roughly 30 million trips within the city per day given the average of three travels per person on any day.

In reality, the city’s bus system can only handle one million trips per day, or three percent of the approximated demand, while that number is expected to be 15 percent by 2025 and 30 percent by 2030, according to objectives set by city officials.

In order to reach these goals, the bus fleet in the city must be tripled, even quadrupled, Tuan remarked.

“Operational effectiveness will not be raised if only big buses are added to the fleet and put on routes with low demand,” he said.

“Minibuses, once introduced, will provide customers with more traveling choices.”

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