Covid curbs send american family packing

Ministry orders to strengthen epidemic prevention to curb Covid resurgence Accordingly, the Ministry of Health stated that although the Covid-19 epidemic is basically under control nationwide, there has been an increase in cases of the disease, hospitalizations and severe cases in recent times along with the appearance of new sub-variants of Omicron such as BA.4, BA.5 which spread faster than previous variants. Therefore, the Ministry of Health requested departments of health to advise municipal and provincial people's committees to continue directing the effective implementation of the Government's Resolution 38/NQ-CP promulgating the Covid-19 epidemic prevention and control program to strengthen epidemic prevention and control measures, to achieve the goal of disease control, to prevent the outbreaks. Moreover, administrations are proactive and ready for possible outbreaks of Covid-19. In particular, the Ministry of Health requested related agencies and localities to … [Read more...] about Ministry orders to strengthen epidemic prevention to curb Covid resurgence

China's Hainan, an island province dependent on tourism, locked down more areas on Monday, state media reported, as it battles its worst COVID-19 outbreak after seeing very few cases the past two years compared with many other regions in the country. The island in the East Vietnam Sea, which recorded just two local symptomatic COVID-19 cases last year, has reported more than 1,400 domestically transmitted infections this month, including 982 symptomatic ones. Although that is small by global standards, it is the province's biggest outbreak since the virus was first reported in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019. The sharp increase in cases comes amid a pick-up in interest in tourism after China slightly eased curbs aimed at domestic travel, accounting for the shorter incubation period of the Omicron variant, which facilitates a shorter quarantine time. However, the curbs in Hainan, in line with China's "dynamic COVID-zero" policy that aims to stamp out outbreaks as … [Read more...] about China’s Hainan expands COVID-19 lockdowns to quell outbreak

Lam Son, a Hanoian, first learned about the nomadic lifestyle after watching American movies depicting mobile homes parked in the middle of vast valleys. This was the source of inspiration for the Vietnamese YouTuber to set out on his first road trip in a mobile home with his family a couple of years ago. Son converted his old Mercedes Sprinter into a mobile home fully equipped with essential items for long-haul road trips. “This was originally a van. When traveling, my family members sit in the driver’s cabin full of safety equipment. We only use the renovated part on the back of the vehicle at rest stops or campgrounds,” the 35-year-old said. Since he renovated his first mobile home, the Son family has traveled to many parts of Vietnam on the vehicle, bringing exhilarating experiences to their two children. He expects the road trips will make their childhood more colorful and help them unplug from screens to fully experience van life. Lam Son's children view … [Read more...] about American movies inspire Vietnamese family to take memorable van life road trips

Topping this year's list is Sheraton Saigon Hotel & Towers on the iconic Dong Khoi Street, formerly known as Rue Catinat and made famous by Graham Greene’s novel "The Quiet American." The hotel features 485 rooms and suites that offer views of Dong Khoi, one of the city's busiest tourist streets lined with an array of shopping centers, restaurants and hotels. "It has an unbeatable location in the center of the city. We loved that we could walk everywhere to all the trendy bars, restaurants and tourist attractions," a reader commented. A night's stay costs from VND3.45 million ($148). Capella Hanoi, which opened in 2021 amid the Covid pandemic, came second on the list. Standing on Le Phung Hieu Street in Hanoi's Old Quarter, just a few steps from the Hanoi Opera House, the hotel has 47 rooms and suites, each individually styled with operatic artifacts and … [Read more...] about American readers reveal Vietnam’s 10 best city hotels

The island in the South China Sea recorded just two positive symptomatic Covid-19 cases in the whole of last year. Fast forward to this month, however, and the number of cases has suddenly soared, prompting a lockdown in the city of Sanya and leaving tens of thousands of tourists like Yang stuck on the island. Sanya, the island's main tourist hub, imposed a lockdown on Saturday and restricted transport links to try to stem the outbreak, even as some 80,000 visitors were enjoying its beaches at peak season. Many are now stuck inside hotels until next Saturday, if not longer. Yang, along with her husband and child, are staying at a four-star hotel paid out of their own pocket. The family is eating pot noodles every day to avoid spending more on food. "This is the worst holiday of my life," Yang, who is in her 40s and lives in Jiangxi province in southern China, told Reuters on Sunday. Sanya reported 689 symptomatic and 282 asymptomatic cases between Aug. 1 and Aug. 7. Other … [Read more...] about Covid lockdown turns Chinese tourist hotspot Sanya into nightmare for stranded tourists

Deputy Secretary of HCMC Party Committee Nguyen Ho Hai offers incense to commemorate Covid-19 victims. Speaking at the ceremony, Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of District 11 Dao Thanh Long said that the event aimed at paying tribute and expressing deep respect to people, officers and soldiers who have died from the pandemic. During the Covid-19 pandemic, thousands of officers, soldiers and medical staff rushed into Covid-19 hit areas. A lot of doctors, soldiers and volunteers got infectious with SARS-CoV-2 and died of the disease leaving the loss to their families, friends and teammates. District 11 confirmed more than 459 deaths related to Covid-19. The pandemic has left hundreds of elderly without shelter and over 80 children are orphaned after their parents died from the pandemic. Business communities, sponsors, religious establishments, officers, soldiers and people in District 11 have donated billions of Vietnamese dong to raise fund for free … [Read more...] about District 11 commemorates Covid-19 victims