Flawed means

The Hanoitimes – One third of provinces bordering with Cambodia have tightened entry procedures on people coming from this country.

Vietnam has toughened up control over unlawful immigration in the region bordering with Cambodia after people returning from the neighboring country found infected with Covid-19.

Authorities in Dong Thap raise warning alert against Covid-19 following imported threat. Photo: VGP

A number of southern provinces bordering with Cambodia like Dong Thap, An Giang, and Kien Giang have asked its border guards to keep vigilance on the movements in boundary areas after Dong Thap detected two cases between February 26 and 28.

The southern provinces are under threat of local transmission as Vietnamese nationals attempt to return their home country after the pandemic has broken out in Cambodia since February 20, according to Doan Tan Buu, deputy chairman of the Dong Thap People’s Committee.

It means that the region is in danger of imported coronavirus infections, leaving the localities under high alert and requiring them to closely follow the 5K (in Vietnamese) measures namely masking, disinfection, distance, no gathering, and health declaration.

Following the community transmission, local governments require all returnees from Cambodia to go to concentrated quarantine centers, make health declaration, and be available for testing.

After the local authorities confirmed two people who are Vietnamese nationals returning from Cambodia, Dong Thap has suspended entertainment activities and festivals and closed schools in some districts.

An Giang’s forces boost border patrols. Photo: Tran Ngoc/Thanh Nien

Meanwhile, An Giang has raised its coronavirus alert to the highest level, setting up 176 checkpoints and 11 mobile teams against Covid-19 and intensifying border patrols.

The Military Command in Kien Giang has toughened management in quarantine centers that accommodate Vietnamese people coming from Cambodia.

Given threat of imported Covid infection, different localities across Vietnam have laid a close eye on illegal immigrants. As a result, police in Nghe An, Danang, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc, Soc Trang, and Tra Vinh have arrested dozens of Chinese outlawed immigrants.

The Hanoitimes – The Hanoi Party Committee has urged the people and authorities of Hanoi to strengthen measures to prevent the Covid-19 pandemic in the capital city.

The Health Ministry confirmed four more Covid-19 cases in Hanoi on February 1, while the Covid-19 threat advisory was elevated.

The latest patients are two women residing in Nam Tu Liem and Cau Giay districts of Hanoi and a couple living in Me Linh district.

All of them got infected with the new coronavirus after having contact with people who were later confirmed Covid-19 infections in the northern province of Hai Duong, the biggest cluster of Covid-19 in Vietnam with 188 cases confirmed since Covid-19.

The new patients have raised Hanoi’s caseload of the Covid-19 resurgence to 19 and 242 nationwide.

Hanoi turns on high alert on Covid-19 prevention. Photo: Kinhtedothi.vn

The Hanoi Party Committee has urged the people and authorities of Hanoi to strengthen measures to prevent the Covid-19 pandemic in the capital city.

The whole city must review and tighten the anti-epidemic measures, especially in medical establishments, schools, industrial parks, factories, and areas of public gatherings.

Relevant agencies were urged to review procedures related to concentrated quarantine, as all citizens returning from abroad must be quarantined for two weeks and could only leave the facilities if they test negative for Covid-19 twice.

People are urged to further comply with Covid-19 prevention regulations and conduct precautionary measures of quick testing, contact tracing, masking up in public places, and washing hands.

The city’s agencies have to continue disseminating the “5K” message of the Ministry of Health since, they said, the good observance of the 5K is a “steel shield” to protect people from the Covid-19 pandemic. 5K means ” Khau trang ” (face mask) – ” Khu khuan ” (disinfection) – ” Khoang cach ” (distance) – ” Khong tu tap ” (no gatherings) – ” Khai bao y te ” (health declaration).

Besides, localities in Hanoi must tighten supervision of people arriving from abroad and the pandemic-hit areas, enforce Covid-19 prevention regulations at concentrated quarantine facilities.

Especially, the city’s Department of Health needs to keep close watch on the pandemic evolution by imposing five step protocol namely preventing, detecting, quarantining, zoning, and stamping out the outbreaks.

In addition, Hanoi authorities need to provide accurate, timely and transparent information for people; prevent and enforce regulations on fake news that causes confusion in public as well as actively detect and handle illegal entry.

Localities in Hanoi must proactively put in place the pandemic prevention and control measures, applying social distance or isolation based on the level of Covid-19 risk for each area in the locality.

The Hanoitimes – 145 hotels in Vietnam signed up as isolation centers for the coronavirus-infected people.

According to the General Department of Tourism, as of March 22, up to 145 hotels across the country have volunteered to host quarantined people.

A receptionist is guiding the guests to fill out the medical declaration form.

Hotels mobilized to serve as mass quarantine facilities are two- to five-star ones in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Danang, Quang Ninh and Dong Nai. These accommodation facilities pledged to quote prices of their services.

This list of the paid quarantine centers will be reported by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control to select and turn them into isolation facilities.

On March 20, the Ministry of Health issued instructions under which if a person wishes undergo the mandatory quarantine at a hotel, he/she needs pay room charges and other services. The quarantine period is 14 days from entry or final contact with people suspected of contracting the coronavirus.

Hotels used for isolation will not serve other purposes and ensure essential living conditions such as electricity, water, sanitation, bathroom, ventilation, as well as being safe and convenient for accessing.

They are required to set up checkpoints, security teams and hang the warning sign “Authorized personnel only”. Unauthorized people are prohibited from entering the hotel.

The hotels have to establish disinfection point for means of transport at the hotel entrance. All vehicles entering and leaving the hotel should be disinfected.

The area for isolated people needs to be separated from other functional areas such as reception, living, kitchen, dining room and bars entrance of unauthorized people.

At the same time, the hotel are asked to erect fences to control people entering and leaving the quarantine area.

Hotel staff will be trained to serve isolated people who have wear facial masks and are asked to refrain from talking.

The localities are responsible for assisting and monitoring the quarantine at the hotel. Those who do not comply with the quarantine regulations will be handled.

On March 5, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism asked 25 localities to select tourist accommodation establishments for paid quarantine.

The Hanoitimes – Chu Dau Ceramic is an ancient ceramic line in Vietnam, originating from as early as the 12th century.

Recognizing Chu Dau Ceramic Village as a top 5 tourism attraction in Nam Sach district of Hai Duong province, a ceremony was held on December 17 to announce Decision No.3009/QD-UBND and attach a signpost for the site in Thai Tan commune.

Chu Dau officially becomes a tourism attraction. Photo: Chi Cuong

Chu Dau Ceramic is an ancient ceramic line in Vietnam, originating from as early as the 12th century but fully developing in the 14-15th centuries. With this long history, Chu Dau Ceramic plays an important role in the history of the country’s handicrafts and is currently being preserved and promoted by Chu Dau Ceramic JSC – a member of BRG Group.

According to many documents, the first female entrepreneur in Vietnamese history was Bui Thi Hy – the grandmother of Chu Dau Ceramic. From seeing her signature on a Hoa Lam ceramic pot displayed at the Topkapi Saray Museum in Istanbul, Turkey, it was established that the ancient Chu Dau Ceramic was discovered during the 1980s.

Madame Nguyen Thi Nga, chairwoman of BRG Group, is among people preserving and developing Chu Dau ceramics. Photo: Chi Cuong

Recognizing the meaning and value of Chu Dau Ceramic, in 2001, Hanoi Trade JSC (Hapro), a member of BRG Group, decided to establish Chu Dau Ceramic JSC with the mission of restoring the lost ancient art as well as building Chu Dau into a high-class ceramic brand consumed at home and abroad, together with promoting the village as a traditional tourism site.

Along with current focus on restoring and making efforts to develop the ancient ceramic, Chu Dau Ceramic JSC has made significant contributions to the construction of the ceramic village. After nearly 20 years of development, the company has restored hundreds of ancient designs and achieved success in developing new and valuable ceramic products which satisfy customers.

Under the development orientation of BRG Group and the business network throughout the country, Chu Dau ceramic products including spiritual items, daily consumption items, and gifts are trusted and loved by Vietnamese consumers.

Chu Dau artisans. Photo: Chi Cuong

Along with Hapro’s strength in the import-export business across over 70 countries and territories, in addition to Chu Dau Ceramic pieces displayed and preserved in 46 famous museums in the likes of Tokyo and Istanbul, Chu Dau ceramic articles have been exported to more than 30 countries and territories worldwide. Besides that, the products are selected to be gifts for the leaders of foreign countries during important diplomatic events, which has contributed to bringing the Vietnamese culture to the world.

Further to the success and development of Chu Dau Ceramic under the leadership of BRG Group, on 9th September 2019, the company was honored with a world record for a dish with 1,000 versions of the Vietnamese word for “dragon” written in calligraphy style under ceramic glaze. The dish not only honors the talents of Chu Dau artists but also glorifies the Vietnamese ceramics profession which was found worthy of 10 golden words presented by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc: “Chu Dau Ceramic – Vietnamese national character, shining over five continents.”

In recent years, the Chu Dau showroom and workshop have become an attractive destination for tourists. As a result, the Hai Duong People’s Committee issued the decision to declare the village as among the most valuable tourism sites of the province.

Recently, Chu Dau village has attracted over 500 local laborers, with turnover estimated at VND400 billion annually. In addition, Chu Dau also has developed other trade and service sectors, making a positive contribution to restructuring the local economy.

Being recognized as a top tourism destination is great encouragement to Chu Dau Ceramic JSC, Hapro, and BRG Group in the restoring of the ancient Chu Dau ceramic style as well as the ceramic village itself. In addition, it also draws attraction from tourists as well as financiers wishing to invest in tourism activities in both Nam Sach district and Hai Duong province as a whole.