Holiday lottery tickets

The Hanoitimes – The fact that nearly 19,800 enterprises temporarily suspended operation in the first two months of 2021, up 60.5% year-on-year, has also contributed to a decline in tax revenue.

Vietnam’s tax revenue in the first two months of 2021 is estimated at VND246.4 trillion (US$10.7 billion), representing a decline of 1.4% year-on-year.

Tax officers instruct locals to declare tax. Photo: Ha Lam

Upon breaking down, revenue from crude oil dropped by 53.3% year-on-year to VND4.9 trillion (US$212.63 million), equivalent to 21.1% of the yearly estimate, while domestic revenue reached VND241.55 trillion (US$10.47 billion), or 22.1% of the estimate.

“The figure remained a positive note taking into consideration a week-long Tet holiday in February causing production paralysis and a Covid-19 outbreak in a number of provinces/cities,” Director of the General Department of Taxation Cao Anh Tuan revealed the figure at a meeting on March 3, noting trade, transportation and tourism have all been impacted as a result.

According to Tuan, the fact that nearly 19,800 enterprises temporarily suspended operation in the first two months of 2021, up 60.5% year-on-year, has also contributed to a decline in tax revenue.

Among measures to mitigate negative impacts on the state budget, tax authorities have been focusing on recovering tax arrears, reaching VND5.11 trillion (US$221.7 million) as of February 28, or 17% of the target.

“Total tax arrears as of February 28 declined by 10.4% year-on-year,” Tuan added.

Tuan expected the serious Covid-19 situation globally would continue to impact the local economy and subsequently tax revenue in 2021.

“The taxation department aims to realize government’s supporting program in an effective and timely manner to support the business community affected by the pandemic, so that they could recover from a difficult period and return to operation,” Tuan stressed.

Tuan requested tax departments at various levels to step up efforts in recovering tax arrears and reduce the rate of unpaid tax accordingly, while tightening supervision over online businesses to ensure greater efficiency in tax collection.

Despite the severe Covid-19 crisis, Vietnam’s tax revenue last year reached VND1,278 trillion (US$55.37 billion), 2% higher than the yearly estimate or an increase of VND24.34 trillion (US$1.05 billion).

The Hanoitimes – Vietnamese air carriers have listed new domestic airfares which are higher than the fares applied during the social distancing period.

In the midst of the second social distancing period against the Covid-19 pandemic, Vietnamese airlines have quoted new domestic airfares that are three to five times higher than the fares applied since the beginning of the social distancing period, but still remain below the regulated ceiling price.

Source: Vietnam Airlines

Prices on the Ho Chi Minh City – Hanoi route range from VND3.6 million to VND6.7 million for Vietnam Airlines economy class, from VND1.7 million to VND2.9 million for Bamboo Airways’, from VND1.8 million to VND2.1 million for Vietjet Air’s.

Fares of the Ho Chi Minh City – Hanoi route

Source: Bamboo Airways

Why high airfares?

The prices of domestic flights vary, depending on the time of purchase, Tran Trung Kien, a Thu Duc district-based ticket agent in Ho Chi Minh City told VnExpress . “Travel demand will increase as the social distancing will soon end and in anticipation of the coming public holidays (Reunification day of April 30 and May Day). Supply shortage drives airfares up,” Kien was quoted as saying.

Some airlines explained that travel demand between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City is high even during the time of social distancing. Meanwhile, in compliance with the social distancing measures against Covid-19, flights are operated at half capacity with seating arrangement of just two passengers in one row to ensure a safe distance.

According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV), the Hanoi – Ho Chi Minh City route has been reopened but operated at the frequency of 5-6% below the pre-pandemic capacity. The agent also told local media that though domestic airfares are rising, they are still below the regulated ceiling.

Nguyen Xuan Thuy, a local transport insider, told Kinh te & Do thi that the airlines have heavily suffered from the Covid-19 pandemic and higher air fares are intended to offset the losses. However, as the Covid-19 pandemic is negatively affecting all people and every industry, “I suggest the transport ministry and airlines explain this increase more reasonably,” he was quoted as saying.

Due to the pandemic, 98% of airplanes have been grounded, local airlines could see a decline in revenue of up to VND65 trillion (US$2.7billion), much higher than the VND30 trillion (US$1.27 billion) previously estimated by the CAAV.

After three weeks of social distancing, domestic airlines have struggled with financial woes, according to Saigon Times . The airlines’ cash flow has been imbalanced in the first four months of this year, which makes it hard for them to recover faster. Cash flow from airfares and fuel cost reduction has not covered the fixed costs of the airlines.

In order for airlines to overcome the crisis, it is necessary to quickly issue policies on exemption and reduction of state-controlled aviation services (plane parking fees and screening fees, among others), environmental protection taxes for shipping companies, including airlines, to lower costs for air carriers, Saigon Times wrote.

In addition, the government should also refund value-added tax (VAT) in 2020 for industries directly affected by the pandemic such as aviation and tourism so that the enterprises can cover their operating costs.

The Hanoitimes – According to the survey, 52% of Vietnamese travelers have already considered booking somewhere to stay in order to work from a different destination, while 57% would be willing to quarantine if they could work remotely.

A recently survey conducted by Booking.com showed that workcation looks set to form a key part of people future travels, at least for the next couple of years.

‘Workation’, as the word suggests, is ‘Work’ + ‘Vacation’ and involves working away from office, blending leisure with business. While not a completely new concept, it seems to garner the attention of travelers worldwide since the outbreak of Covid-19 last year that meant working from home was the new normal.

Post Covid-19 pandemic: Remote working is becoming a likely long-term reality as health and safety is a top priority. Photo: Booking.com.

According to the survey, 52% of Vietnamese travelers have already considered booking somewhere to stay in order to work from a different destination, while 57% would be willing to quarantine if they could work remotely.

“Remote working is becoming a likely long-term reality as health and safety is a top priority in the current environment,” Anthony Lu, Regional Director, Vietnam at Booking.com said.

He also predicts that instead of hotel, more work-friendly  accommodation alternatives, like homes and apartments will be on high demand by for both business and leisure travelers who are looking to work remotely.

In addition, more and more travelers think that having relaxing  while during a business trip is an essential, especially on the “new normal” of working  after Covid-19 pandemic.

Accordingly, 58% of Vietnamese travelers on the survey said they would take the opportunity to extend any business trip so that they could schedule some leisure time. Many are also likely to add a week or two to their holiday in order to work remotely.

More comfortable workspaces with fewer interruptions give individuals more time to focus and be more productive in their work, while also travelling and unwinding to improve their wellbeing. Photo: Booking.com.

Although working from one’s own home has its perks in the coming time, people still want to book somewhere to stay for a welcome change of scenery.

Laptops become the newest travel necessity of 2021, with 61% agreeing that due to the increase in working from home and reliance on technology, business travel will be considered less essential than before. Instead, “workation” may become more prevalent and preferable.

These travelers are mostly looking for accommodation that has home office facilities, fast WiFi and most importantly, a spectacular view or cozy area to help make the workday fly by. Good health and safety precautions at each destination is again a top priority. It is tough to focus on work if our mind is caught up with safety or security concerns around the property.

“There is always a way to jazz up work and yet achieve your travel passion, now more than ever. Travelers could now set themselves free from the long-working time of nine hours for five consecutive days at the office because they can work from anywhere,” experts from Booking.com said.

The Hanoitimes – People who returned from China will be quarantined for 14 days before coming home.

Vietnam will repatriate its citizens from China on fears of worse situation of novel coronavirus (nCoV)-caused epidemic that has killed 426 people and caused 20,626 infections in China.

On February 2, Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to work with the Chinese side to bring Vietnamese nationals back to the country through border gates and airports.

Some airlines are allowed to resume flights to China to bring Vietnamese citizens back to the country. Photo: VNA

They will return to the home country through border gates in the northern provinces namely Huu Nghi in Lang Son province, Lao Cai in Lao Cai province, Mong Cai in Quang Ninh province, Tay Trang in Dien Bien, and Thanh Thuy in Ha Giang.

A number of others will fly to airports across the country, including Van Don in Quang Ninh and some small aviation terminals in the central and southern regions, except international ones.

Since February 1, the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAA) has halted all flights between Vietnam and China. However, some domestic airlines need to resume several flights to bring Vietnamese citizens back to the country. All flights after the government ban must get approval from different agencies.

In another move, the Ministry of Transport has worked with Chinese agencies to halt the operations of transnational railway route Gia Lam – Nanning – Beijing in the next few days.

So far, Vietnam Railway Corporation has stopped selling tickets of the daily railway route which carries average 130 passengers per day.

Railway stations of the transnational route have been sterilized while railway stewards, porters, and passengers are all required medical quarantine before entering Vietnam.

Two Chinese nationals who were infected nCoV (the first coronavirus infections found in Vietnam) was passengers of SE5 railway route from Nha Trang to Saigon on January 19. The railway steward serving two Chinese passengers has been quarantined.