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Logistics, considered a backbone of Vietnam’s economy, is among eight sectors prioritised by the national programme for digital transformation until 2025.

According to the Vietnam Logistics Business Association (VLA), the sector has grown 14-16 percent annually over recent years. It now gathers together some 3,000 domestic firms and 30 others offering transnational services.  Of those, 89 percent are domestic businesses and 10 percent are joint ventures while the number of foreign-funded companies represents just 1 percent of the total.

The VLA said the cost of logistics in Vietnam as a proportion of GDP is 18 percent, compared to 9-14 percent in developed countries. The high cost is attributable to limited sea port infrastructure and weak cost reduction efforts. Together with fierce competition, the digital economic boom, and pressure from the COVID-19 pandemic, these have made digitisation in the sector a must.

Vietnamese logistics companies offer between 2 and 17 services, mostly in transport, warehousing, and fast delivery. About half apply technology in their operations.

Nguyen Tuong, VLA Deputy General Secretary, said investment shortages from the very beginning, difficulties in choosing suitable technological applications, a sense of distrust in technology, and a fear of change are hindering the sector from pressing ahead with digital transformation.

Tran Thanh Hai, Deputy Director of the Agency of Foreign Trade at the Ministry of Industry and Trade, said transformation in this core sector would trigger a similar process in other parts of the supply chain.

Experts have said that smart logistics involve master plans and strategies with the involvement of cloud computing technology, adding that it will be conducive to improving customer services, information flows, and automation.

To reduce logistics costs, Nguyen Hoang Long, Deputy General Director of the Viettel Post Joint Stock Corporation, said the engagement of both the Government and enterprises is needed. While the Government should offer planning and assistance for the building of national logistics centres, as well as preferential land and port taxes, enterprises need to invest in better management and boosting connectivity within the sector, he said.

Administration reform and capital support are also necessary for logistics firms undertaking digital transformation, insiders have said./.

US removes anti-dumping duty on Minh Phu frozen shrimp

The Minh Phu Seafood Joint Stock Company announced on February 17 that US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has cancelled a decision issued on October 13, 2020 on the imposition of anti-dumping tariffs on the company’s frozen shrimp products exported to the US.

Its CEO Le Van Quang said the latest CBP decision allows Minh Phu to continue exporting frozen shrimp to the US without being subject to an anti-dumping duty imposed on shrimp from India or any other anti-dumping duties.

Minh Phu has also been refunded anti-dumping duties it temporarily paid under the October 13 decision, Quang added.

The CBP had applied the Enforce and Protect Act (EAPA) to conclude that frozen shrimp products exported by Minh Phu to the US should be subject to duties in accordance with the anti-dumping order imposed on shrimp from India. It said the company did not provide sufficient evidence as requested by the CBP to prove that it was not using shrimp originating from India for export to the US.

Minh Phu decided to send an administrative complaint to the CBP’s senior agency, because the decision ignored key evidence that it had an effective traceability system and was not using raw shrimp from India for exports to the US.

In fact, Minh Phu clearly demonstrated its separation and traceability method approved by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under the US Department of Commerce, based on its requirements for the Seafood Import Monitoring Programme.

Minh Phu successfully applied and effectively operated a high-tech shrimp farming model at its two farming areas of Minh Phu Kien Giang on 600 ha and Minh Phu Loc An on 300 ha. It has also been establishing a network of shrimp suppliers across the Mekong Delta and Vietnam’s south that use diverse models of sustainable shrimp farming./.

HCM City sees sharp fall in number of tourists

Ho Chi Minh City recorded 1,800 visitors booking hotel rooms during the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday from February 9 to 17, the municipal Department of Tourism reported after summarising figures from 22 of the 124 local 3 to 5-star hotels.

Tourists numbers were down sharply compared to Tet last year, primarily due to the COVID-19 outbreak right before the holiday.

Recognising that many people had decided not to return to their homeland because of the pandemic, many travel companies offered various short tours to nearby safe destinations.

Department Director Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa said it coordinated with accommodation providers to manage those coming from pandemic-hit regions while strictly implementing safety standards for COVID-19 prevention and control.

Providers were also asked to ensure guest safety by applying the Ministry of Health’s message featuring 5K (in Vietnamese) Khau trang (facemask)- (Khu khuan) disinfection- (Khoang cach) distance- (Khong tu tap) no gathering – (Khai bao y te) health declaration.

Analysts have forecast that fluctuations will be seen in the number of visitors to local accommodation providers this year, which are posting occupancy of less than 10 percent./.

Hapaco eyes investment in 4-trillion-VND wind power project

The Hapaco Group JSC is planning to invest 4 trillion VND (174.1 million USD) in a wind power project in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai.

The project is among those to be submitted for approval at the group’s annual shareholders’ meeting, which is slated for March 14.

The meeting will also discuss an investment in building a 23-ha care centre for the elderly in the northern city of Hai Phong’s Thuy Nguyen district as well as Hapaco’s new development orientations in social housing and guest worker services.

Hapaco (stock code HAP) was one of the first listed on Vietnam’s stock market. As of December 31 last year, its total asset exceeded more than 808 billion VND.

Last year, the group reeled in 335 billion VND in revenue, an annual decrease of 11 percent. Its after-tax profit, meanwhile, hit 34.3 billion VND, up 69 percent on-year./.

HCM City: Consumer prices see slight rise after Tet holiday

Consumer prices in Ho Chi Minh City showed slight fluctuations on February 16, or the fifth day of the new lunar year and the last day of the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, with most traders in wet markets resuming business.

It is noteworthy that prices of fresh vegetables and fruit increased remarkably compared to before Tet, as consumers tend to buy more of those goods after feasting during the holiday.

Reports of the Thu Duc wholesale market said supplies of vegetable, fruits and flower are abundant at stable prices.

Besides wet markets, most supermarkets, convenience stores and shopping centres in the city are scheduled to re-open on February 17, ensuring supplies of goods when residents return to the city after the holiday.

In the context of unpredictable developments of the COVID-19 pandemic in the city and the country, businesses in HCM City have stocked 57.5 million facemasks and 3.39 million bottles of hand sanitizer to meet epidemic prevention demands./.

Brand building – key to add value to business

Vietnam enterprises need greater efforts to build their brand names so as to better competitive edge amidst rapid integration, according to experts.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Trade Promotion Agency, although the number of businesses honoured with the Vietnam National Brand increased throughout years (from 30 in 2008 to 124 in 2020), it lagged behind expectations.

Deputy head of the agency Hoang Minh Chien said the Vietnam National Brand (Vietnam Value) Programme has raised awareness of many local firms and corporations of the important roles of brand name in improving value of their products and the businesses themselves.

It is difficult to develop Vietnam brand for specific products, he said, adding despite being the world’s leading agro-forestry-fisheries exporter, Vietnam lacks in branded products in its shipments.

Up to 80 percent of Vietnamese agricultural exports are yet to have brand name. Many exports in the nation’s “one-billion USD” club such as timber, rubber, pepper and cashew nuts have not their own brand names yet, according to agricultural specialist Hoang Trong Thuy.

Chairwoman of the Ngan Ha Science and Technoloy Company Limited Pham Thi Kim Loan said a good brand is developed from good-quality products as well as fine customer service and marketing strategies.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Advice Council to the Institute for Brand and Competitiveness Strategy Nguyen Quoc Thinh stressed that besides financial resources, businesses need dogged determination and in-depth knowledge of brand building.

Chien said the Ministry of Industry and Trade will accompany enterprises to develop and popularise their brand names, adding focus will be sharpened on raising public awareness of brand development, helping businesses to satisfy criteria of the Vietnam National Brand Programme, and introducing the brands to domestic consumers and international partners.

According to the Brand Finance, value of the Vietnam Nation Brand skyrocketed 175 percent from 141 billion USD in 2016 to 319 billion USD in 2020. The country also jumped 17 places from 2016 to 33rd in the list of the world’s 100 most valuable brands compiled by the UK consultancy./.

Ninh Binh strives to host 7 million visitors in 2021

Ninh Binh  has launched promotion activities on social networks, among other activities.It is also working with the provincial tourism association to mobilise travel agencies’ engagement in demand stimulus activities and increase service quality.

Ensuring related security and order, environmental sanitation, and COVID-19 prevention and control are also key tasks, noted the official.

According to statistics from the department, during the recent three-day New Year holiday, the province received more than 32,000 visitors. Most of them went to local renowned destinations like Trang An Landscape Complex – a world cultural and natural heritage site, Cuc Phuong national park, and Van Long submerged natural reserve.

In 2020 the province hosted 2.8 million tourists, equaling to just 37 percent of the 2019 figure. The reduction was largely due to the impact of the pandemic./.

Kien Giang promotes border trade infrastructure connectivity with Cambodia

The southern border province of Kien Giang has facilitated the implementation of a memorandum of understanding on border trade infrastructure development and connectivity between Vietnam and Cambodia.

Ha Tien city and Giang Thanh district have been asked to build a list of border trade infrastructure items, with priority given to connectivity with Cambodian localities, according to the Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chin.

Kien Giang has also supported trade promotion and the attraction of investments in border trade infrastructure construction.

Local competent agencies have taken measures to simplify administrative procedures in order to make it easier for traders and border residents in customs clearance.

The province has effectively implemented cooperation agreements with Cambodian localities and joined hands with the Cambodian side in national defence as well as external affairs in border areas./.

Kien Giang moves to promote marine economic growth

The Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang has planned to further promote sustainable marine aquaculture in line with the “Strategy for the Sustainable Development of Vietnam’s Marine Economy by 2030 with a Vision to 2045”.

Local leaders said the province will fully tap its potential and advantages to promote marine aquaculture in a modern manner in connection with tourism development, while ensuring the environment and national defence and security at seas and islands.

The plan aims to contribute to accelerating the restructuring of agriculture, promoting marine economic growth, and improving competitiveness and local incomes.

It aims to have 7,500 farming cages by 2025, including 4,700 traditional fish cages, 1,900 hi-tech fish cages, and 900 cages for breeding other seafood.

The water surface areas for cage farming and mollusc farming are expected to reach 7,000 ha and 24,000 ha, respectively.

The farming yield is to reach 113,530 tonnes and be worth 7.54 trillion VND (327.6 million USD), including 29,870 tonnes from cage farming and 83,660 tonnes from mollusc cultivation. The sector is forecast to employ 18,510 workers.

According to the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, farming areas in Phu Quoc city, Kien Hai island district, the island commune of Tien Hai in Ha Tien city, and Son Hai and Hon Nghe in Kien Luong district will focus on farming groupers, cobias, yellow-fin pompanos, and seabass, as well as blue lobster, mantis shrimp, crab, and oysters for pearl farming.

Meanwhile, coastal areas in Ha Tien city and the districts of Kien Luong, Hon Dat, An Minh, and An Bien will develop zones for farming molluscs such as blood cockles, saltwater mussels, green mussels, and oysters.

Local authorities must also fully tap the potential and effectively use the sea for farming, towards promoting agricultural economic restructuring, increasing productivity and output, and ensuring food hygiene and safety.

The locality has worked hard to create more jobs and improve incomes in coastal communities and those on islands, cut inshore fishing activities, preserve the environment, and minimise activities that deplete natural aquatic resources.

It aims to develop marine farming at an industrial-scale using modern technologies that can produce a large volume of products for both export and domestic demand.

The province also attaches special importance to promoting links and cooperation in producing raw materials, processing and consuming aquatic products, ensuring food hygiene and safety, and protecting the environment, contributing to protecting and regenerating aquatic resources and preserving biodiversity.

It has synchronously implemented solutions on land and water surface areas for marine farming, and mechanisms and policies to boost production and attract investors to high-tech aquaculture.

The locality has also paid heed to applying credit and incentive policies to support aquaculture development and high-tech agriculture, as well as to improving the quality of human resources in the sector./.

Lao Cai aims to welcome 5 mln visitors this year

The northern province of Lao Cai, home to the popular holiday town of Sa Pa, has set a target of welcoming 5 million visitors this year and earning more than 696 million USD in tourism revenue.

The province will exert efforts to attract more domestic holidaymakers.

Sa Pa has long been among the country’s leading destinations. Of note, young people accounted for more than 70 percent of tourist arrivals to the town in 2020.

Lao Cai also aims to devise 130 new tourism products to meet demand from tourists and encourage them to return in the future.

Lao Cai’s tourism sector bore the brunt of the ill-effects of the pandemic and welcomed just 2.2 million visitors last year, down by more than half against 2019./.

Opportunities forecast for Vietnam’s economy in 2021: experts

Apart from challenges, many opportunities will be offered to the Vietnamese economy in 2021, experts have said.

Such agreements as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) to which Vietnam is a signatory will open up wide doors for the country to further integrate into the world.

Economist Nguyen Minh Phong forecast that Vietnam’s agriculture, industry, export-import, and the domestic financial, stock and real estate markets will grow further in the year.

Notably, with the current growth rate of the local processing sector, Vietnam would join the group of newly-emerging industrialised countries in the coming years.

Pham Dinh Thuy from the General Statistics Office said that the GDP growth target of 6.5 percent set by the Government is feasible in the normal situation. However, this would be a challenge for the country as 2021 is the first year of implementing the 2021-2025 socio-economic development plan.

The official pinned hope on the development of such sectors as food, garment-textile, wood processing, metal production, construction and electricity production.

To achieve the set economic targets, it is a must to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, he said, suggesting stepping up economic restructuring, churning out typical products, streamlining administrative procedures, improving the domestic investment environment, and improving the country’s competitiveness.

Thuy also highlighted the significance of trade promotion and foreign investment attraction, which, he said, needs specific plans.

Pham Viet Hoai, Chairman of Kym Viet JSC, said the application of digital technology would bring about positive results to any firm.

According to Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Duy Dong, after the PM adopted the national digital transformation programme, many sectors have reaped significant outcomes, benefiting people and the entire economy.

Digital transformation is vital as it helps enterprises improve their business governance and adapt to the latest changes in technology, market and consumer taste, he said./.

Exports from six ASEAN countries drop only 2.2 pct despite pandemic: JETRO

Exports from six Southeast Asian countries fell 2.2 percent in 2020 from a year earlier to a combined 1.35 trillion USD, a relatively marginal decline despite COVID-19, according to data from the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO).

Of the six, only Vietnam posted an increase in exports for the year, up 7 percent to 282.66 billion USD, with a 5.2 percent drop to Japan more than offset by a 25.7 percent rise to the US and an 18 percent expansion to China.

Meanwhile, the Philippines logged a 10.1 percent fall in exports last year, followed by a contraction of 6 percent in Thailand, 4.1 percent in Singapore and 2.6 percent each in Malaysia and Indonesia.

The combined trade surplus of the six ASEAN members more than triple to 133.66 billion USD, as easing energy prices and shrinking domestic demand led to steeper declines in imports than exports.

Thailand’s trade surplus surged 144.5 percent, compared with an increase of 83.5 percent for Vietnam, 43.9 percent for Singapore and 25.6 percent for Malaysia.

The Philippines narrowed its trade deficit by 46.3 percent to 21.84 billion USD. Indonesia chalked up a trade surplus of 21.74 billion USD, a turnaround from a deficit of 3.6 billion USD in 2019.

Singapore accounted for 27.4 percent of the six countries’ total trade by value in 2020, followed by Vietnam at 21.3 percent, Thailand at 17.1 percent, Malaysia at 16.5 percent, Indonesia at 11.9 percent and the Philippines at 5.8 percent./.

Central Da Nang city to build duty-free zone

Da Nang’s authorities are building a detailed plan for the city’s first international duty-free zone and smart urban area for investors, with construction set to commence soon as the Import-Export Pan Pacific Group (IPPG) has asked the city to allocate land for the project.

Director of the city’s Investment Promotion Agency Huynh Thi Lien Phuong told Vietnam News that the project had been finalising the city’s first international standard downtown duty-free zone and factory outlet centre.

Lien said the city would offer the best conditions for the investor to start the project.

She said the city also planned a downtown free-duty shop at the coastal crown plaza in Ngu Hanh Son District to seek investment.

In 2019, IPPG proposed the project with an investment of 434 million USD, but an appropriate land area was yet to be offered.

In 2018, chairman of the group, Jonathan Hanh Nguyen, urged the city to build a third terminal to ease congestion and design an international standard duty-free zone and recreational area to funnel tourism towards Hoi An, Hue and Da Nang.

He said Da Nang would be a new location for a luxury shopping centre for future development and investment attraction.

Da Nang has been designing the 1,100ha Hi-Tech Park as Vietnam’s ‘Silicon Valley’ to earn revenue of 1.5 billion USD each year with 25,000 jobs and a satellite city of 100,000 people after 2023.

The US-based aviation firm Universal Alloy Corporation (UAC) put the Sunshine Aerospace Components Factory into operation in the first phase in 2020.

The Republic of Korea’s LG Electronics also debuted its research and development (R&D) centre – the second in Vietnam – at the Da Nang Information Technology Park Tower

CMC Corporation, the second-largest information and communications technology (ICT) group in Vietnam, plans to build the Da Nang-based CMC creative space – a digital hub in the Asia-Pacific region – with an estimated investment of 522 million USD.

To date, Da Nang has 876 foreign direct investment projects worth a total of 3.52 billion USD./.

More trade remedy probes predicted for Vietnamese enterprises this year

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) is set to bolster action while Vietnamese enterprises have been recommended to gear up preparations as more trade remedy investigations are expected in 2021.

Vietnam’s participation in 14 free trade agreements (FTAs) has helped fuel its trading activities.

MoIT data shows that export turnover boomed from 15 billion USD in 2001 to nearly 100 billion USD in 2011 and then 281.5 billion USD in 2020. The figure is expected to rise 4-5 percent this year.

Sharing the same upward trend in exports, however, is the number of trade remedy cases instigated against Vietnamese goods.

Vietnamese exports, including major foreign currency earners like shrimp, tra fish, steel, and wooden products, have been subject to nearly 200 trade remedy cases so far.

The country has successfully dealt with about 43 percent of cases, thus ensuring the continued export of basa fish and shrimp to major markets like the US and the EU at zero percent or very low tariffs.

It has also launched 19 trade remedy probes itself into imported goods, including steel, chemicals, plastics, fertiliser, monosodium glutamate (MSG), and sugar.

Chu Thang Trung, Deputy Director of the MoIT’s Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam (TRAV), said trade remedies are appropriate policy tools that the WTO recognises and permits its members to use in international trade.

WTO figures show that more than 4,500 trade remedies have been applied by members since the organisation was established in 1995. Such measures are clearly not an abnormal phenomenon, Trung said.

Vietnam’s membership of many FTAs has sped up the removal of tariff barriers on its exports, giving its goods a greater degree of competitiveness in import markets. It has also put more pressure on producers in importing countries, forcing them to use legal trade policy tools to protect their interests, including trade remedies, the official added.

TRAV Director Le Trieu Dung said trade remedies are increasingly common and are legal measures permitted by the WTO to ensure fair competition between domestically-made goods and imported equivalents.

He pointed out that due to some countries’ trade protection policies and lingering difficulties in the global economy in 2021, the number of trade remedy investigations targeting both Vietnamese exports and imports into the country is predicted to remain high for the foreseeable future.

This will expose domestic manufacturers to new challenges, especially as key FTAs like the EU-Vietnam FTA (EVFTA), the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) will present fierce competition.

Therefore, he added, TRAV has recommended businesses equip themselves with knowledge on trade remedy regulations, particularly those of Vietnam and its export markets, while gearing up resources to cope with any trade remedies.

Pointing out certain shortcomings, experts have said the capacity of local businesses in regard to trade remedies remains modest, while there are ongoing problems in legal regulations and coordination among related agencies.

MoIT has developed a plan on improving the capacity of Vietnamese enterprises to handle trade defence measures now the country is party to many new-generation FTAs.

Experts also held, however, that enterprises themselves need to change their thinking and turn competitive pressure into momentum for reform, development, and product improvement.

Nguyen Thao Hien, Deputy Director of the MoIT’s European – American Market Department, said that to help reduce trade remedy cases, businesses should promote the manufacturing of goods for which domestic material supplies are at hand, as well as those with high added value and rich growth potential amid the pandemic, such as agricultural products, food, and medical equipment.

They must ensure strict quality control and update processing technology so as to raise the value of their products, she added.

Trade remedy investigations can be initiated by one or just a few foreign companies but they pose risks for entire sectors, analysts said, suggesting that Vietnamese firms stay updated with information and actively work with their business associations and State agencies on an effective response.

TRAV Director Dung said that this year, apart from plans on enhancing trade remedy-related capacity and coordination, the authority will also implement plans on building and operating an early warning system for trade remedies and overhaul rules of origin./.

Tens of wind power projects to be operational in Quang Tri

As many as 22 wind power projects with a combined capacity of 907 MW are set to be put into operation in the central province of Quang Tri by year end.

To meet the deadline, the locality has urged project investors to speed up the construction, while pushing ahead with the maintenance of National Highway 9 and other routes to facilitate project equipment transportation.

The local Department of Industry and Trade has also suggested the provincial People’s Committee instruct relevant agencies and units to swiftly remove bottlenecks to site clearance.

As of January, the Ministry of Industry and Trade had approved 31 wind power projects in Quang Tri to date, with an accumulative capacity of 1,177 MW, of which seven are under construction.

Earlier, Huong Linh 1 and 2 wind power projects in the province came into service, significantly contributing to local budget collection.

Apart from projects that had received the green light of the ministry, Quang Tri has tens of others that are under study with a total capacity exceeding 3,600 MW.

The locality has adopted various solutions to support businesses operating in energy in general and wind power in particular such as providing them with consultations in tax, insurance, contract, land and environment, and building the e-government.

Estimations by the ministry showed Vietnam would face a shortage of 6.6 billion kWh in 2021, 11.8 billion kWh in 2022 and 13 billion kWh in 2023. It would require a total investment of 130 billion USD in new power projects by 2030 to make up for the shortages, equivalent to 12 billion USD annually.

The country’s power demand was forecast to increase by 8.5 percent per year over the next five years and seven percent between 2026 and 2030.

Research showed Vietnam had the potential to develop around 8,000MW hydroelectricity from small plants, 20,000MW of wind power and 3,000MW of biomass power and 35,000MW of solar power by 2030./.

UKVFTA hoped to promote Vietnam’s exports

The UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA), which became effective on January 1, is expected to create a strong motivation pushing Vietnam forwards on the path of economic development and international integration.

According to Kenneth Atkinson, head of the British Business Group in Vietnam (Britcham), the deal will help strengthen trade and support employment, while promoting growth in both countries.

The erasing of 65 percent of the total tariff immediately after the deal takes effects and 99 percent of the tariff in 6-7 years will bring about practical benefits to British exporters of machineries, chemicals, and brandy, he held.

Along with the reduction of legal barriers as well as burden in administrative procedures in the two markets, the official said, highlighting that the UKVFTA will help observe the regulations and commitments that the two Governments and business communities have agreed on.

The deal will also ensure the increase in the trade by more than 3,000 UK businesses engaged in export activities to Vietnam, while meeting the demand for Vietnamese goods of UK customers, he said.

Atkinson asserted that the area of solar and wind power will receive priorities from the business communities and governments of both sides.

Experts held that Vietnamese products account for only 1 percent of the 700 billion USD import revenue of the UK, so Vietnam has high potential to provide more products to the promising market, including telephones, accessories, garment and textile products, footwear, seafood, wood and furniture, computers, cashew, and peppercorn.

The UK is currently the third largest trade partner of Vietnam in Europe.

Hoang Quang Phong, Vice President of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), said that the UKVFTA not only facilitates the trade of goods and services but also helps promote partnership in many other areas, including green growth and sustainable development.

As the UK has officially left the EU, which means the preferential policies that Vietnam enjoys thanks to the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) will not be applied in the UK anymore, the UKVFTA has eased concern of the business community about the interruption of trade with the European country, he added./.

Vietnam targets modernity-oriented agriculture: Minister

Vietnam will continue with the building of a modernity-oriented agriculture sector with complete value chains in 2021, according to Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong.

Cuong told the Vietnam News Agency (VNA)’s reporter that such production chains will be developed on the basis of three groups of major products – the club with export revenue of at least 1 billion USD, agricultural products that are of localities’ strength like longan in northern Hung Yen province and lychee in northern Bac Giang province, and “One Commune, One Product” (OCOP) goods.

Vietnam has paid attention to product quality during its international economic integration, Cuong said, stressing the significance of organic agriculture.

The sector will also take various solutions to call for the involvement of businesses, while promoting the linkages between them and farmers and cooperatives.

To attract more enterprises, the sector will further provide consultations for the Prime Minister in order to complete mechanisms and policies, as well as administrative reforms, he said.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) will also closely coordinate with localities to facilitate investment, the minister said, adding that greater efforts will be made to step up the formation of new-style cooperatives.

Cuong said the application of digital technology should be intensified in spheres, and the MARD will join hands with the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Information and Communications in this regard.

In another interview with the Dien dan Doanh nghiep (Business Forum) newspaper, Cuong said that 2020 was a year full of challenges and difficulties for Vietnam’s economy, including the agriculture sector, due to the COVID-19 crisis. The sector also had to face natural disasters, including unprecedented drought.

The growth and trade targets for the sector last year were also the highest ever, with exports set at over 41 billion USD.

However, Cuong noted, thanks to the efforts of the entire political system, ministries, sectors, localities, and economic elements, the agricultural sector managed to secure growth of about 2.65 percent and post export earnings of 41.25 billion USD, with nine groups of commodities enjoying shipments of over 10 billion USD.

The agriculture sector’s export target of 44 billion USD this year, set by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, is a high but feasible goal. Vietnam earned about 3.49 billion USD from exports of agricultural, forestry, and fisheries products in January, up 27.1 percent year-on-year, data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shows.

Under a plan recently approved by the PM, Vietnam expects the annual figure to reach some 60-62 billion USD by 2030./.

Thanh Hoa looks to develop tourism into spearhead economic sector

The north-central province of Thanh Hoa has set a target of turning tourism into a spearhead economic sector by 2030.

Amid the difficulties posed by COVID-19, the province welcomed 7.3 million visitors in 2020, earning 10.394 trillion VND (over 453.6 million USD), representing 65.5 percent and 50.7 percent of targets, respectively.

Thanh Hoa’s tourism sector has posted impressive growth in recent years.

But Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Van Thi said that its development is still not commensurate with potential.

Thanh Hoa lacks high-quality products to attract and meet the demand of international tourists, while its promotional activities remain ineffective and tourism human resources fail to meet requirements in the context of integration, he said.

According to Deputy General Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) Nguyen Thi Thanh Huong, Thanh Hoa needs to introduce changes to take its tourism industry forward.

It should propose that the Government allow it offer incentives for tourism investment, she said.

Attention should be paid to accelerating the implementation of priority strategies for tourism development and administrative reform, and supporting businesses towards attracting strategic investors in developing infrastructure facilities serving tourism development, especially transport infrastructure.

Thanh Hoa should also focus on enhancing its cooperation with other localities to create new tours, develop high-quality and competitive products, and promote digital transformation and the application of information technologies in tourism activities./.

Kien Giang eyes 60-100 million USD in FDI over next five years

The Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang has set its sights on pulling in 60-100 million USD worth of FDI over the next five years, according to Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chin.

It will focus its efforts on fulfilling plans on medium-term public investment and socio-economic development in 2021-2025, striving to attract 40 to 50 FDI projects with registered investment of 60-100 million USD in total, Chin said.

It aims for local social investment to reach 48 trillion VND (2.07 billion USD) this year.

The province has been accelerating communications campaigns on its strengths, potential, and investment incentives to attract both domestic and foreign investors.

Priority is being given to numerous areas, including road infrastructure; river ports; sea ports; electricity; water supply; solid waste treatment; renewable energy; infrastructure development in industrial parks and clusters; fishing, aquaculture and fish processing; intensive farming and industrial agriculture; supporting industries; tourism; services; education; and high-quality healthcare.

It also wants to attract large-scale projects with advanced technologies in high-tech agriculture and food processing.

Cooperation with ministries and government agencies will be stepped up to take part in investment promotion events in major partners such as the Republic of Korea, Japan, Singapore, and the US, as well as those who are members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

The province will also increase dialogue with local businesses and investors to help them tackle any difficulties and create an open and fair business climate.

Kien Giang is calling for investment in 144 projects in priority fields. It has to date granted in-principle approval and investment licenses to 49 projects with total investment of 22.66 trillion VND.

The Mekong Delta province welcomed 206 projects during the 2016-20 period, including 22 foreign projects with nearly 133 trillion VND in total capital./.

Outlook positive for Vietnam’s retail market

Despite a raft of difficulties facing Vietnam’s retail market, economists and insiders are still optimistic about the outlook for the sector in the time ahead, according to the Vietnam Report JSC.

In a recent survey, Vietnam Report found that nearly 42 percent of Vietnamese retail companies have been seriously impacted by COVID-19, while half said the impact has not been too serious and 8 percent experienced only minor effects.

Many people have had to cut their spending after becoming jobless or having their wages reduced due to the pandemic. Retail companies, meanwhile, have had to face a shortage of capital and disrupted supply chains.

However, Vu Dang Vinh, General Director of Vietnam Report, said economists and insiders remain optimistic about the sector’s outlook.

In following COVID-19 prevention and control regulations, many consumers have opted for online shopping, convenience stores, shopping centres, and supermarkets, rather than traditional markets.

Vinh pointed to the increased popularity of multi-channel marketing, both online and in-person, while adding that thanks to quick changes, many retail businesses, including giants like Lotte Mart, have posted online sales growth of 100 to 200 percent, especially in Hanoi and HCM City.

Mergers and acquisitions (M&As) are also expected to boom in Vietnam’s retail market in the time ahead, he said, explaining that more than 60 percent of local retailers are of small and medium-size and have significant demand for capital, so are ready to enter into partnerships.

Analysts also said the mini-supermarket model has proven superior amid the pandemic, as it can limit large gatherings.

Retailers have therefore poured more investment into this model while introducing more changes to better meet customer demand./.

Tra Vinh-based business promotes coconut product export

An enterprise based in the Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh has been stepping up the export of coconut shell activated carbon and other coconut products as a way to benefit the company itself and local farmers.

Between January 1 and February 10, the Tra Bac Joint Stock Corporation (TRABACO) shipped more than 900 tonnes of coconut shell activated carbon to various markets, including the US, the UK, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Peru, Ecuador, Israel, and China.

General Director of the firm Huynh Khac Nhu said his company has inked a number of contracts with both new and existing partners since the year’s beginning, with 2,000 tonnes of coconut shell activated carbon to be delivered between now and June 2021.

TRABACO’s activated carbon, used for air purification, gold refining, electroplating, and odor control in different industries, meets environmental and health safety standards, thus winning over trust from many domestic and foreign businesses and consumers, he noted.

The product has been exported to more than 30 countries and territories in around the world.

Apart from coconut shell activated carbon, the company also produces and exports others made from coconut like coir carpets, dried coconut shreds, and frozen coconut milk.

To improve product quality and ensure stable material supply, it has contracted farmers to develop a 300ha organic coconut farming zone in Tieu Can district and partnered with a local agricultural cooperative in coconut purchase.

Nhu added these are initial steps in the firm’s plan to form a zone of clean material supply, which will help promote TRABACO’s product quality as well as income for farmers in Tra Vinh province./.

Source: VNA/VNN/VNS/SGGP/VOV/NDO/Dtinews/SGT/VIR

A patient has tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 again after being given the all-clear, the Hanoi Centre of Disease Control (CDC Hanoi) said on February 25.

The 48-year-old patient, who resides in Dich Vong ward in Cau Giay district, has been taken to the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases for further quarantine and treatment.

The case does not pose any risk of community transmission, Deputy Director of CDC Hanoi Khong Minh Tuan said.

Hanoi had reported 36 COVID-19 cases between January 27 and 12pm on February 25, according to the municipal Department of Health.

Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Chu Xuan Dung said relevant agencies have been asked to assess infection risks and put forward solutions to reach the “new normal”./.

Citizen protection provided to Vietnamese affected by record cold in Texas

The Vietnamese Consulate General in Texas and Vietnamese representative offices in the US are keeping a close watch on the record cold temperatures in Texas, have appointed staff on-duty around the clock, and are coordinating with host authorities to conduct necessary citizen protection measures, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang said on February 25.

Hang told reporters that a majority of the 300,000 or so Vietnamese people in Texas have been seriously affected by the record-breaking snow storm and cold spell, which cut power and water supplies.

According to official information from Texas authorities, four Vietnamese Americans were killed in a fire in the state, Hang said, adding that the Vietnamese Consulate General in Houston has contacted Vietnamese people and students in the local area to offer support.

People seeking help are advised to contact the citizen protection hotlines of the Vietnamese Embassy in the US and the Vietnamese Consulate General in Houston, or the Citizen Protection Call Centre of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Consular Department./.

Localities ordered to work harder on child education, protection

Localities ordered to work harder on child education and protection. – Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

The document states that 2021 is the first year of implementing the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress and many socio-economic development plans in various fields, including the national action programme for children for 2021 – 2030.

The MoLISA asked the People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities to build, promulgate, and organise the implementation of resolutions, programmes, schemes and plans of all sectors and localities, aiming to well perform the child care, education and protection in line with the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress; the Law on Children; resolutions, directives and decisions of the National Assembly (NA) and the Government; and programmes and projects on children in the 2021 – 2025 period, with a vision to 2030.

Accordingly, Party committees and local authorities at all levels were ordered to raise awareness and responsibility, especially of heads, in directing, managing and implementing the Party’s guidelines, and the State’s policies and laws on children’s rights; solving issues related to children, child right violations; and preventing and minimising children’s vulnerability to risks of harm and injury.

Localities need to ensure State management on children, human resources for the work, and allocate local budgets for implementing targets and solutions of the national action programme for children for 2021 – 2030, and local programmes and plans for children.

The People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities were asked to focus on improving and developing child protection service systems, maintaining and expanding models of child protection and care, regularly supervising the implementation of laws, policies, programmes, schemes and plans on children, developing database on children, collecting information and statistics on children, and connecting child database with relevant data systems.

Attention will be paid to promoting interdisciplinary coordination in implementing the child work, and solutions to ensure safe living environment, prevent child sexual abuse, exploitation and violence, and injury accidents, especially drowning./.

Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson: Vietnam appreciates WTO’s central role

Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman Le Thi Thu Hang has said as a responsible member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Vietnam supports the open, transparent and rules-based multilateral system and appreciates the WTO’s central role.

At the Foreign Ministry’s regular press conference held online on February 25, Hang said Vietnam congratulates Dr. Ngozi Okonjo – Iweala on becoming new General Director of the WTO.

With experience and knowledge on finance and trade, the new General Director will succeed in leading the WTO, thus making active contributions to the global trade system, she said.

She added that Vietnam will work closely with the General Director and other members to make effective contributions to the WTO’s activities, thus effectively stepping up its reform process.

About the UK Embassy’s warning on its facebook about the increasing number of attack cases against foreigners in Hanoi, the spokeswoman said the Foreign Ministry’s Consular Department discussed with the embassy in Hanoi to clarify the warning. The ministry also worked with the Vietnamese authorities to verify information and jointly dealt with the issue.

Vietnam always pays attention to ensuring security, social safety and order for domestic citizens as well as foreigners living, studying and working in the country, thus discovering and seriously punishing violators of legal regulations, she affirmed./.

13 Vietnamese COVID-19 patients in Cambodia in stable health conditions

Thirteen Vietnamese people in Cambodia infected by SARS-CoV-2 in the latest outbreak in the country are in stable health conditions, according to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang.

Hang said that Vietnamese representative offices in Cambodia have contacted local authorities and authorised offices to verify information about the cases and request attention and treatment for the patients to ensure the legitimate rights and interests of Vietnamese citizens.

Right after their infection was confirmed the Vietnamese patients were brought to hospitals of the Cambodian Health Ministry in Phnom Penh capital city and Kandal province for quarantine and treatment.Vietnamese representative offices in Cambodia have also contacted the Vietnamese community and the Khmer-Vietnam Association in Cambodia to get updated information, while stepping up communication activities to persuade Vietnamese people and businesses to strictly follow disease prevention and control regulations in the host country.

The citizen protection hotline of the Vietnamese Embassy in Cambodia and the citizen protection call centre of the Foreign Ministry’s Consular Department are ready to receive any information about cases in need, the spokesperson affirmed./.

Hanoi to experience cold and rainy weather in coming days

Due to the impacts of cold air, it turns cold with rain at nights and early mornings in Hanoi and northern provinces from February 26.

Vietnam’s northern provinces, including Hanoi, will experience cold and rainy weather this weekends, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting (NCHMF).

In the first four days of this week, it has been sunny in the North and then scattered rains will occur due to the the arrival of the cold snap at the end of this week.

Due to the impacts of cold air, it turns cold with rain at nights and early mornings in Hanoi and northern provinces from February 26, the NCHMF said.

The temperature in Hanoi will fall below 25 degrees. In the highlands like Sapa town, which is 1,500 meters above sea level, the temperature can drop to 15 degrees Celsius.

Tomorrow, Hanoi will see moderate rain with temperatures ranging from 17 to 24 degrees Celsius, 4 degrees lower than a day earlier. Humidity reached 80%.

From February 27, Hanoi will continue to have light rain but sunny lunchtimes and afternoons. The highest temperatures will rise to 25 degrees, the center added.

From February 26 to 28, provinces in the Red river delta will all have rain with the highest temperatures being 25 degrees. The humidity level in the north will stay at 75-80%.

Vietnam to start covid-19 vaccination for health workers from March 1

Health workers in quarantine wards will be the first to receive Covid-19 vaccine shots for free from March 1, said Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long.

According to Minister Long, the country will receive 30 million doses supplied by COVAX Facility and the Ministry has negotiated to have all 30 million doses in 2021. He revealed Vietnam has ordered 30 million doses of vaccine from AstraZeneca and Pfizer respectively.

The Southeast Asian country has also ordered Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine. The manufacturer of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine announced that it will supply 60 million doses to Vietnam. Therefore, Vietnam will have around 90 million doses of vaccine this year.

He ensured that there will be enough vaccine for all Vietnamese residents and massive vaccination will be carried out as soon as possible.

The Ministry of Health has listed 11 groups of individuals including health workers, staff members of all-level steering committees for Covid-19 prevention and control, quarantine facilities, and reporters in virus-hit areas, diplomats, public security officers, teachers, people over 65 years old, and those with comorbidities who will be the first to receive Covid-19 vaccination next month.

Quang Ninh busts large scale coal theft

50 people have been detained in a massive coal theft in Quang Hanh Ward, Cam Pha City, Quang Ninh Province.

At 8.30 am on February 23, the police in Quang Ninh Province inspected and busted a large illegal coal mining case in the area managed by Ha Long Coal Company, a member of Vinacomin.

About 50 people, 54 vehicles, and 100,000 tonnes of coal that worth VND200bn (USD8.6m) have been seized. After searching the suspects’ houses and offices, the police also seized VND2.7bn and many documents.

Investigation shows that several private firms and individuals colluded with some employees of Ha Long Coal Company and Khe Sim Coal Company to fake a contract to carry rock and soil at the mine to illegally exploit the coal there. Based on the documents, the police in Quang Ninh will start the prosecution against 12 violators for violating regulations on research, exploration and exploitation of natural resources.

The investigation is being expanded.

New Zealand and Viet Nam boost agricultural cooperation

New Zealand and Việt Nam on Wednesday added a new link to their flourishing agriculture relationship by signing an Agriculture Cooperation Arrangement at the first New Zealand – Việt Nam Agricultural Dialogue.

The dialogue was held virtually by Chief Executive of the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries, Ray Smith, and Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) Lê Quốc Doanh.

At the dialogue, the two sides voiced their commitment to the two countries’ deepening agriculture and trade relationship.

Smith and Doanh affirmed that the Strategic Partnership, which was jointly announced by Prime Ministers in July last year, has created a solid foundation for increasing bilateral agricultural cooperation and connections between the two countries.

Speaking at the dialogue, Smith emphasised that this is a valuable opportunity to consider what both sides can do together as they build resilience and vitality back into their agriculture economies following COVID-19.

The Agriculture Cooperation Arrangement will enable both sides to advance their key agricultural interests in enhancing bilateral trade, reducing agricultural greenhouse gas emissions, promoting food safety, utilising agriculture research and technology, and in rural development.

Speaking at the ceremony, Doanh said that agriculture was critical to the economic wellbeing of our countries.

Both nations were strong agriculture producers and exporters, with complementary products, he said, adding that the establishment of the New Zealand – Việt Nam Agricultural Dialogue and the signing of the Agriculture Cooperation Arrangement would boost their connections, cooperation and two-way trade, in line with what the two Prime Ministers highlighted during last years’ Strategic Partnership dialogue.

The New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries is already supporting agriculture cooperation with MARD with activities in plant health, veterinary epidemiology and electronic certification. These activities complement New Zealand’s ongoing development programme, which has a number of agriculture projects including the premium fruit development project in Tiền Giang, the rural dam safety project in Central Việt Nam, and the safe vegetables project in Bình Định.

Smith said that New Zealand has developed one of the most efficient agriculture sectors in the world, with a reputation for cutting-edge research and technology, robust and safe agricultural practices, and delicious and high-quality products.

He expressed his hope that the newly signed cooperation arrangement will help build value and expand investment opportunities between the two countries:

“We recognise that increased trade is not just about exporting more products, it’s about an exchange of knowledge, expertise, technology, services, and investment. This two-way exchange benefits both of us,” he said.

He said New Zealand also looked forward to doing more to assist MARD’s greenhouse gas inventory capability through the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases.

The two leaders confirmed their shared commitment to finalising new fruit access for each other this year so consumers can enjoy New Zealand strawberries and squash in Việt Nam and Việt Nam’s limes and pomelos in New Zealand.

Việt Nam is New Zealands’s 14th largest trading partner, with two-way trade valued at NZD$2 billion, at year-end September 2020. While COVID-19 has posed some challenges, Việt Nam remains a promising market for New Zealand and vice versa due to robust demand for key agricultural products.

Movies releases postponed due to on-going Covid-19 outbreak

The release dates of various movies have been rescheduled due to the on-going Covid-19 outbreak.

On February 22, the producer of Thien Than Ho Menh (Guardian Angel) announced that the release date will be moved to April 9 instead of March 19. Because of Covid-19, all Tet movies this year were affected and other movies have also suffered. The producer said instead of releasing the movie in March, the new date would be in the lead to the start of summer movies.

Song Song (Glitch) starring actress Nha Phuong was also delayed to a yet-decided date.

“Public health is the utmost priority so we decided to move the release date as the situation is still complicated. We’ll announce the new release date as soon as possible,” CJ Entertainment wrote in their announcement.

Kieu, a movie funded, directed by and starring Mai Thu Huyen, is another movie that had its release date postponed.

The movie is supposed to be released in March but as of now, cinemas in HCM City are still closed as part of Covid-19 prevention efforts. Since the situation can be unpredictable, the film producer has not decided on a new date yet.

Four movies, FaceOff:48 Hours, The Royal Bride 5, The Adventures of Trang Ti and Old Father, that were scheduled during Tet have been badly impacted, and there’s still no announcement whether these movies will be re-released in the cinema again.

Border localities exert efforts in tackling illegal entry, exit

Localities have stayed vigilant and made constant efforts in preventing illegal entry and exit at border areas, in a bid to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Border guard forces of the Mekong Delta province of Long An arrested 14 people who were attempting to leave the country illegally on early February 24.

They admitted to trying to move abroad to find jobs. A task force at the Song Trang border post caught them red-handed in Hung Dien B commune of Long An’s Tan Hung district.

Border guard forces also reported the case to the district’s steering committee for COVID-19 prevention and control and joined hands with relevant agencies in further investigation.

Meanwhile, authorities of the south central coastal province of Binh Dinh have ordered relevant agencies to tighten inspection and observe COVID-19 preventive measures, carrying out the dual targets of maintaining socio-economic development and repelling the pandemic.

Although the locality has reported no COVID-19 cases so far, it receives a large number of vessels and travellers at seaports.

To fulfil set targets, an inter-sectoral delegation on COVID-19 prevention and control of the province has been set up, being tasked with rolling out preventive measures at Quy Nhon Port round the clock.

Since the start of this year, the border guard post at Quy Nhon Port and other agencies handled entry and exit procedures for 415 ships carrying 1,918 sailors, as well as examined 694,000 tonnes of freights going through the port./.

Vietnam works to ensure equal access to COVID-19 vaccines

Vietnam’s COVID-19 vaccination will be conducted in line with the Government’s resolution, thus ensuring equal access to the vaccines, heard a recent meeting between the Health Ministry and WHO and UNICEF representatives.

The meeting took place after the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines, jointly studied and produced by AstraZeneca pharmaceutical company and the UK’s Oxford University, arrived in Vietnam on February 24.

Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long expressed his thanked for efforts by the COVAX Facility programme to help Vietnam soon approach the vaccines.

Vietnam wishes to get quality vaccines at suitable prices and matching the country’s storage capacity, he said, pledging that his ministry will promptly deal with procedure-related issues to facilitate the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines under the COVAX Facility programme.

The ministry has assigned relevant agencies to put forth communication plans for the vaccination.

Representatives from the international organisations agreed on the need to mobilise the involvement of different economic sectors in the storage of certain vaccines like Pfizer that must be kept at minus 70 degree Celsius and can be refrigerated for only five days.

This has been the biggest vaccination campaign in Vietnam so far, with more than 100 million doses, Long said, informing that the ministry has promptly charted scenarios and mobilised the participation of all units both and outside the medical sector in this campaign.

The participants also stressed the significance of supervising and assessing the body’s reactions to the vaccine.

A plane carrying the first batch of 117,600 doses of COVID-19 vaccine landed at Tan Son Nhat airport, Ho Chi Minh City, on February 24.

Deputy Health Minister Truong Quoc Cuong highlighted the significance of the vaccine delivery at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic is erupting in Hai Duong, Hai Phong and Quang Ninh.

With the delivery, Vietnam has become one of the first countries in Asia to access a prestigious vaccine in the world.

Result from clinical trials showed that 22 days after the first shot, AstraZeneca vaccine could fully protect people from serious illness, hospitalisation and death caused by the novel coronavirus. Within 90 days, the vaccine’s potency could reach 76 percent.

Analyses showed that the vaccine could reduce infection risk by two thirds for cases without symptoms./.

Community-based COVID-19 prevention teams work hard during pandemic

Three times a day, members of COVID-19 prevention teams in Cẩm Giàng District visit every house in every hamlet to check people’s temperature and record those who have symptoms of fevers or coughs to timely detect suspected COVID-19 cases.

The members, who are mostly hamlet officers or volunteers, also tell people about COVID-19 prevention and control measures as well as the latest policies of central and local governments to tackle the disease.

Cẩm Giàng District in the northern province of Hải Dương is now under lockdown for having had more than 60 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Other COVID-19 hot spots in the province are Kinh Môn, Nam Sách and Kim Thành districts and Hải Dương and Chi Linh cities. Within a month time, more than 600 locally-transmitted infections have been reported in the province.

Trần Như Dương, Deputy Director National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, who led the institute’s task force sent to Hải Dương Province, said timely detecting people with typical symptoms of COVID-19 would help a lot in curbing infections and treating patients.

“The establishment of COVID-19 prevention teams based every hamlet is an effective strategical measure for the virus-hit area,” Dương said.

Phạm Xuân Thăng, the secretariat of the provincial Party Committee, asked for improved performance of community-based COVID-19 prevention teams.

He said that the teams were the expanded hands of authorities and the healthcare system, reaching every household and individual.

In Cẩm Giang District alone, 764 community-based COVID-19 prevention teams have been set up with the participation of 1,537 members.

Nguyễn Văn Khoái, head of Đào Xá Hamlet, said the hamlet had five COVID-19 prevention teams to cover 420 households.

“In the rain or under the heat, three times a day, we visit every household in the hamlet,” Khoái said.

He said that in some cases, the teams found some residents with a fever and cough, so they were instructed to submit health declarations and get tested for SARS-CoV-2.

Khoái said those who were found not following disease prevention and control measures would be named via the hamlet’s loudspeaker.

Nguyễn Văn Hùng, 70 years old, of Đào Xá Commune, said thanks to members of the hamlet’s COVID-19 prevention team, he now remembered disease prevention and control measures.

“We are now not taking morning exercises in public places. We also store food for a few days to limit going out,” he said.

Nguyễn Quang Huy, a member of the COVID-19 prevention team of Thu Lãng Hamlet in Ngọc Liên Commune, Cẩm Giàng District, said when families were set to have dinner, they still did their job – calling on every house, recording people’s temperature, asking about their health conditions and reminding them about preventive measures.

The hamlet was home to many workers working in industrial zones, so Huy’s team made a separate list to monitor them easily, he said.

He said that people were willing to co-operate with the teams and some residents had reported those with health problems or who had violated disease prevention and control regulations.

Head of Cẩm Giàng District Party Committee’s Publicity Committee Nguyễn Văn Công said the COVID-19 prevention team members were enthusiastic people.

“Whenever being informed about people with health problems in their neighbourhood, they are willing to go to offer help for both the locals and health officers,” he said.

The teams helped inspect and recommend fines of more than VNĐ92 million to those who violated disease prevention and control regulations in the district, Công said, adding that common violations included not wearing face masks, doing exercises outdoors or littering used face masks.

Celebration of International Women’s Day at IDECAF

The French Institute in HCM City will host a series of activities to celebrate International Women’s Day held at the Institute of Cultural Exchange with France (IDECAF) on March 8.

The celebration will open with a photo exhibition featuring portraits of Vietnamese women taken by 15 young artists who participated in a photography workshop hosted by the French Institute in Huế and Đà Nẵng in January. The photos can be seen until April 9.

A talk show about gender equality will be organised featuring speakers of Julia Levivier, head of the French NGO organisation Planète Enfants & Développement (PE&D) in Việt Nam, psychologist Lý Thị Mai, and Lê Thị Hồng Ánh, head of Human Resources of Sanofi Vietnam.

The show will be hosted by Trần Anh Đào, economist, lecturer and researcher at the University of Rouen in France, and the Research Institute on Contemporary Southeast Asia. It will be presented in both Vietnamese and French.

The event will end with a screening of French documentary Des Femmes Et Des Hommes (Women And Men) by female director Frédérique Bedos with Vietnamese subtitles.

The celebration will begin at  5:45pm at 31 Thái Văn Lung Street in District 1.

Quảng Nam and Đà Nẵng to revive Cổ Cò River

Quảng Nam Province and Đà Nẵng City authorities have started dredging the Cổ Cò River to revive the waterway and promote tourism water traffic between Hội An and Đà Nẵng.

The project will cost VNĐ1.336 trillion (US$58 million).

Chairman of the People’s Committee of central Quảng Nam Province Lê Trí Thanh said the two localities had agreed to the project on a 28km section of the Cổ Cò River from 2019, but work was delayed by the COVID-19 and land clearance till late 2020.

He said reviving the river would help boost tourism links and the tourism property market as well as offer a new tourism route between the two parts of central Việt Nam.

The Cổ Cò River, which was known as the Lộ Giang River in the 16th century, was a major water route connecting the Thu Bồn River in Quảng Nam Province and the Hàn River in Đà Nẵng.

It also served as a trading route from the former busy trading port of Hội An and Đà Nẵng from previous centuries, but the river was encroached by rising sand and water flow change in the 18th century.

The dredging plan was initiated by the two localities in 1994 but the project only commenced construction in 2019.

Đà Nẵng started building a 3.6km concrete dyke system in late 2020 and cleared land for building infrastructure facilities including a boat dock and river cross bridges. The city said it would finish dredging a 7km river section in June this year.

Meanwhile, Quảng Nam commenced the 19km river section earlier this month.

The project aims to expand inner waterway services between the two tourism hubs, which have largely been neglected due to the use of roads.

The tourism waterway project will include 50-seat boats, bridges, wharves and recreational centres.

The launch of the project will also help ease traffic between Hội An – a UNESCO world heritage site – and Đà Nẵng.

In the past, Đà Nẵng and Quảng Nam Province inked an agreement on integrated management of the Vu Gia-Thu Bồn river basin and Quảng Nam-Đà Nẵng coastline with support from the World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), Japanese International Co-operation Agency (JICA), International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Institute for Social and Environmental Transition-International (ISET-International).

Social distancing order removed in Gia Lai’s four localities

The Central Highlands province of Gia Lai will remove social distancing order at the stroke of February 25 in four localities reporting no new COVID-19 cases in the last 14 days, according to its announcement issued on on February 24.

They include Ayun Pa township and the districts of Ia Pa, Phu Thien and Krong Pa.

Students of the province are set to return to school on March 1 while socio-economic activities will resume in the new circumstance.

Gia Lai had logged no COVID-19 infections as of 5 pm on February 24, marking two weeks without new cases.

The province had tested 50,127 people, of which 27 were positive for the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19, while 783 are waiting for results.

Seven patients were given the all-clear. Most of those under treatment are in stable conditions, as three of them have tested negative thrice, 7 twice and 4 once.

Gia Lai has to date completed contact tracing in searching for F1 and F2 cases. Local people are asked to strictly follow the Ministry of Health’s 5K message: khau trang (facemask), khu khuan (disinfection), khoang cach (distance), khong tu tap (no gathering) and khai bao y te (health declaration)./.

13 COVID-19 patients recover in Hai Duong province

Thirteen patients in a COVID-19 treatment hospital in Hai Duong province, the country’s current largest coronavirus hotspot, were given the all-clear on February 24.

The patients, who were treated at the COVID-19 hospital set up within the campus of the Hai Duong Medical Technical University in Hai Duong city, will undergo 14-day home quarantine under the supervision of local authorities and test for the coronavirus before the end of the quarantine.

The total number of recovered patients in the province now reaches 225.

According to the provincial Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, over the past 24 hours to 16:00 on February 24, Hai Duong had reported 11 cases, raising its count to 636.

The province has collected nearly 300,000 samples for COVID-19 testing so far. It plans to conduct large-scale testing for the novel coronavirus, using Realtime-PCR technology, from February 24.

The move aims to measure the spread of COVID-19 in the province to help it respond better to the disease while identifying safe areas to boost economic recovery.

People targeted by the testing are divided into three groups: the high-risk group who are people from Chi Linh and Hai Duong cities, and Kim Thanh and Cam Giang districts; the medium-risk including people from the districts of Kinh Mon, Nam Sach and Binh Giang; and the low-risk comprising those from Ninh Giang, Thanh Ha, Tu Ky, Gia Loc and Thanh Mien.

Hai Duong now has six labs for COVID-19 testing using Realtime-PCR, located in the provincial Centre for Disease Control, General Hospital, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Children’s Hospital, Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Hospital, and the Hospital of Hai Duong Medical Technical University.

The province is now capable of collecting 50,000 to 60,000 samples and processing as much as 8,500 individual test samples on a daily basis. The results normally come out after 24 hours./.

Voters’ confidence – important criteria for NA, People’s Council candidates

Voters’ confidence is an important measurement of eligibility during the selection of candidates for the upcoming elections of the 15th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels, according to Ngo Sach Thuc, Vice President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee.

Thuc said a joint resolution of the NA Standing Committee, the Presidium of the VFF Central Committee and the Government stipulates that the credit of candidates is among major criteria to take into account in sorting out the candidates. Those who have low level of credit at their residential areas and workplace will be expelled, he said.

“We find that the negotiation process has been implemented in a tighter manner. Thanks to the high responsibility of agencies, organisations and individuals, candidates who fail to meet the requirements of eligibility have been detected. Meanwhile, the issues on nationality, income and asset are also focused in evaluating the eligibility, with clearer regulations, stated Thuc.

He underlined the major new feature of the upcoming general elections is the specification of relevant legal regulations, such as the regulation requiring that a candidate must win the confidence of over 50 percent of voters in his residential area.

A candidate to the NA must have at least 10 meetings with voters, while candidates to the People’s Council at all levels should have at least five, so that people will have chances to get better understanding about them, he said.

Thuc said that the VFF is currently working hard for the preparations to perform its supervision role in the upcoming elections, which are slated for May this year.

In order to prepare for the election of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels in the 2021-2026 tenure, the VFF has recently held an online training conference on the supervision and inspection of the elections, he said.

The VFF is responsible in engaging in this process to ensure that the elections take place in a democratic, fair and successful manner, he said, stressing that this is one of the important tasks of the VFF in the building of the administration.

The affairs that the VFF engages in include popularizing and guiding election contents, holding three rounds of negotiation to introduce nominees, and organising election campaigns of candidates as well as supervising the elections, he said.

Thuc said that the purpose of the supervision is to promote the role of the VFF and its member organisations as well as the people, helping to make sure that the elections are implemented in line with law, creating an excited atmosphere and promoting the active involvement of the people in building the administration./.

Quang Ninh to spend 500 billion VND buying COVID-19 vaccines

The northern province of Quang Ninh will spend at least 500 billion VND (21.7 million USD) on purchasing COVID-19 vaccines, targeting mass vaccinations as soon as possible.

Local authorities announced the information during a meeting between the cabinet, the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, and localities on February 24.

Quang Ninh recently issued a resolution stipulating urgent tasks and solutions in the COVID-19 fight.

It will cut 10 percent from regular spending and increase budget contingency to a maximum of 4 percent per total budget spending in order to provide the resources to fight COVID-19 and other diseases and respond to natural disasters and emergencies.

As of February 24, Quang Ninh had reported 61 COVID-19 cases.

Local departments, agencies, and localities have been urged to remain vigilant and take measures seriously, synchronously, and effectively to prevent the spread of the pandemic.

At a meeting on February 23, the standing board of the provincial Party Committee decided to provide 4 billion VND to the neighbouring province of Hai Duong, which is now grappling with COVID-19 clusters./.

Nearly 21,000 flights operated during Tet holiday season

Vietnamese airlines operated 20,944 flights during the Tet holiday season from January 19 to February 18, when travel demand rose sharply, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam (CAAV).

The figure represented a month-on-month increase of 7.4 percent.

Vietjet Air conducted the highest number of flights among domestic carriers, with 7,881. It was followed by national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines (6,725), Bamboo Airways (4,008), Jetstar Pacific (1,640), Vasco (518), and Vietravel Air (172).

Overall on-time performance (OTP) reached 94.6 percent during the period, a year-on-year rise of 9.3 percentage points.

Despite the impact of COVID-19, the Hanoi-HCM City route remained one of the world’s busiest domestic routes.

It is ranked second globally, with 1.085 million passengers in February, just behind the Jeju-Seoul Gimpo route in the Republic of Korea, according to a report released in February by OAG, a global travel data provider headquartered in the UK.

Ensuring the safety of flights, passengers, airport staff, and crew members remains the top priority of the airlines.

The traditional Tet holiday took place from February 10 to 16./.

Campaign gets underway ahead of Earth Hour 2021

A countdown has been launched for Earth Hour 2021 due to take place on March 27 to encourage local people to turn off lights in support of nature, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The Ministry requests that cities and provinces co-operate with each other in order to hold activities in response to this year’s Earth Hour campaign.

All residents and various organisations are also being encouraged to participate in the nationwide event to turn off all lights between 20:30 p.m. to 21:30 p.m. as a way of highlighting the cause of environmental protection.

As part of the event, the country will launch activities in response to Earth Hour, with co-ordination from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, along with support from the Electricity of Vietnam (EVN).

Vietnam first joined the Earth Hour campaign in 2009 as part of efforts to meet its commitments to reducing 8% of greenhouse emissions by 2030 in response to global climate change.

Earth Hour is a worldwide movement organised by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). It has been described as the largest global grassroots movement for environmental causes, with the involvement of roughly 7,000 cities across 172 countries and territories.

Internationals highlight Vietnam’s strategies for successful response to COVID-19

Vietnam was ranked second for successfully handling the COVID-19 pandemic, and its contact tracing was so good it barely had to lock down, says a headline on the US-based Business Insider.

The newspaper quotes a report published by thinktank The Lowy Institute in January as saying Vietnam was ranked second, behind New Zealand, out of 98 countries in their response to COVID-19.

Kamal Malhotra, a United Nations resident coordinator in Vietnam, said the country’s success in handling the virus came down to three things: contact tracing, strategic testing, and clear messaging.

“Instead of testing everyone, they tested those identified in contact tracing. The borders were shut down and everyone who came into the country was quarantined in government facilities — for free.”

Credendo Group’s offices in Germany and Austria have published a study to evaluate the level of risk in Vietnam, which emphasised that the Southeast Asian country is continuing its successful economic story after its good performance in controlling the COVID-19 pandemic.

The article quoted the latest country study of Credendo, saying that Vietnam has been one of the few highly resilient countries during the unprecedented COVID-19 shock.

Khanh Hoa reclaims 10,000m2 of leased sea surface for public use

The government of Khanh Hoa Province has reclaimed 10,000 square meters of the sea surface in Nha Trang City, which was previously leased to businesses, for public use, said Nguyen Tan Tuan, chairman of the province, on February 24.

The 10,000 square meters of sea surface is located in the Bai Duong area in the eastern part of Tran Phu Street in Loc Tho Ward. The south-central province had earlier leased the water area to the Sovico Khanh Hoa Company to serve the tourists of the Ana Mandara Resort, reported Thanh Nien Online.

As of now, the province has no intention of extending the lease contract and the company is also willing to return the property. Thus, the province took it back and handed it over to the authorities of Loc Tho Ward to manage it as a public beach.

The Ana Mandara Resort was built in 1995, covering an area of 26,000 square meters, with its lease term having expired. The provincial government had handed over the area to an investor at the Bai Dai area to develop a new project. Once the first phase of the Ana Mandara Cam Ranh project reaches completion by the end of this year, the Ana Mandara Resort will have to be relocated.

Transport Dept. proposes banning rudimentary vehicles in HCMC after 2025

The HCMC Department of Transport has written to the city’s government proposing to restrict three-wheeler and rudimentary vehicles from entering downtown HCMC and to eliminate these vehicles from the streets after 2025.

The department suggested the municipal government limit the use of these vehicles in two phases, reported VnExpress news site.

From now until 2022, all three-wheeler and non-motor vehicles are banned from entering the inner-city areas which are confined by the following roads: Hai Ba Trung – Ton Duc Thang – Ham Nghi – Pham Ngu Lao – Nguyen Thi Nghia – Cach Mang Thang Tam – Dien Bien Phu – Hai Ba Trung.

Besides this, these vehicles are not allowed to enter some routes such as Phan Dinh Giot, Truong Son, Nam Ky Khoi Nghia and Vo Van Kiet.

Also, between 5:00 and 13:00 and 16:00 and 22:00, the vehicles are banned from entering the inner-city locations confined by streets such as National Highway No.1, Hanoi Highway, Mai Chi Tho, Dong Van Cong, Vo Chi Cong, Phu My Bridge and Nguyen Van Linh.

The department also suggested that the vehicles should be banned from travelling on eight streets including National Highways 1, 1K, 13, 50, 22 and the Hanoi Highway between 6:00 and 8:00 and 16:00 and 19:00.

In the 2022-2025 period, the streets limiting the entry of these vehicles will remain unchanged, but the restriction time should be extended. From 2025 onward, these vehicles should be completely banned, said the department.

HCMC sends enlistment invitation to nearly 4,000 young people this year

The Ho Chi Minh City Military Services Council informed that nearly 4,000 young adults in the age group of 18 to 25 were sent enlistment invitations this year.

Accordingly, around 41.95 percent of the enlistees hold intermediate level, college and university degrees and 2.5 percent of them are party members.

The figures were informed at the meeting of the Ho Chi Minh City Military Services Council under the witness of Major General Nguyen Van Nam, Member of the Standing Board of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, Standing Deputy Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Military Services Council on February 25.

In order to ensure strict implementation of the Covid-19 pandemic prevention and control measures, most of enlistees will be taken samples for SARS-CoV-2 testing before the enlistee handover ceremonies on March 3.

Major General Nguyen Van Nam praised activities and practical programs of the party committees and authorities at all levels for recruitment such as granting saving books and gifts to recruited soldiers, supporting enlistees’ families with difficult circumstances with the total funds of nearly VND6 million (US$260) a person.

Amidst the current complicated Covid-19 pandemic situation, the enlistee reception and handover ceremonies in localities are recommended to take place quickly with athe maximum time of 20 minutes as well as minimize their relatives in seeing off ceremonies, emphasized Mr. Nam.

Can Gio sea reclamation project comprises financial, economic subdivisions

The People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City has just approved the detailed plan of 1/500 proportion for four financial and economic subdivisions of A, B, C and D covering on a total area of 2,870 hectares of Can Gio sea reclamation tourist urban area, aiming to turn Can Gio into a sustainable eco-urban area.

Accordingly, subdivision C has a scale of 303.47hectares of land, which will become a financial, economic, commercial and service center with harbors, luxury resorts, villas, skyscrapers. This area will have an estimated population of about 26,300 people.

In addition, theme park, golf course, luxury resorts, townhouses, villas, apartments, commercial services, offices, hotels will be built in 771.05- hectare subdivision A with the maximum population of 65,113 people.

Meanwhile, subdivision B will have residential areas, tourism resorts, service facilities, urban green tree spaces and key technical infrastructure area on 586.88 hectares with a capacity of accommodating around 71,300 people.

Spreading over nearly 450 hectares, subdivision D will become a center for commercial, luxury resort, modern urban area with many townhouses and villas.

Can Gio sea reclamation tourist urban area project covering 2,870 hectares is invested by Can Gio Tourist Urban Joint Stock Company (CTC). After coming into operation, the urban area is expected to serve more than 228,000 residents and welcome nearly 9 million visitors per year.

The project was officially begun construction in 2007, and until now, the investor has completed the first phase with an area of 908 hectares and the second phase is being implemented with a total area of over 1,577 hectares.

The project has a total investment capital of VND217,054 billion (US$9.4 million) after expansion adjustment from 600 hectares to 2,870 hectares.

Source: VNA/VNS/VOV/VIR/SGT/Nhan Dan/Hanoitimes

Party, State leader sends message to 75th UNGA session’s High-level General Debate

Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong on September 25 (Vietnam time) sent an important message to the High-level General Debate of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly, which is taking place from September 22-29 in New York, USA.

In his message, the Vietnamese Party and State leader welcomed the theme of the session: “The Future We Want, the UN We Need: Reaffirming our Collective Commitment to Multilateralism – confronting COVID-19 through effective multilateral action”.

On behalf of the Vietnamese people, he took the occasion to express the deepest gratitude to countries and international friends for their generous support towards Vietnam’s past righteous struggle for national independence and present national development.

He also briefed the attendants on Vietnam’s remarkable achievements after thirty-five years of Doi Moi reform, while affirming that Vietnam will work harder to contribute to peace, friendship and cooperation in the region and the work, particularly when the country is assuming the dual role of non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and rotating Chair of ASEAN in 2020.

Hanoi has new Chairman

Former Minister of Science and Technology Chu Ngoc Anh is elected as new chairman of Hanoi.

Vice Secretary of Hanoi’s Party Committee Chu Ngoc Anh was elected Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee for the 2016-2021 tenure with 95 out of 96 votes at the 16th session of the 15th Hanoi People’s Council on September 25.

In assuming his new position, Anh vowed to, together with People’s Committee staff, promote the spirit of solidarity and consensus and direct municipal authorities to continue following instructions of the municipal Party Committee and People’s Council.

Attention will be given to main missions to achieve comprehensive and sustainable development targets, promote the values of the capital city, and increase the city’s position and role, he added.

Earlier at the session, members of Hanoi People’s Council voted and agreed to dismiss Nguyen Duc Chung from the post as the municipal People’s Committee chair. On August 11, Chung was suspended from work under Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s decision, which said that the suspension has been made to serve the investigation into Chung’s involvement in some legal cases.

Vietnam enjoys US$3.78 billion in exports to EU since bilateral FTA taking effect

NDO – Vietnam enjoyed exports worth US$3.78 billion to the European Union (EU) in only one month since the EU – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) took effect at the beginning of August.

The latest statistics from the General Department of Vietnam Customs showed that by the end of August, total export turnover from Vietnam to the EU had reached US$25.92 billion. In August alone, the figure reached US$3.78 billion.

Compared with the average of the first seven months this year, the export value to the EU in August was about US$600 million higher, thanks to the positive effects of the EVFTA.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the effective EVFTA has created a great opportunity for Vietnam’s exports, helping to diversify markets and products for Vietnam export activities, with some key Vietnamese products enjoying high tax cuts, such as agricultural products, fish, furniture, textiles, footwear and electronics. The EU has been the third largest market for Vietnamese exports for the past eight months.

Vietnam’s first commercial flight lands in Hanoi since border closure

Passengers perform entry procedures at the Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on September 25.

Operated by national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines, a return commercial flight from Seoul, the Republic of Korea (RoK), landed at Hanoi’s Noi Bai International Airport at noon on September 25, marking a milestone in the restoration of the country’s air transport after months of disruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Using an Airbus A350 airliner, flight No VN417 took off from Incheon International Airport in the RoK, bringing back about 100 passengers, mostly returning Vietnamese and Korean investors and experts.

Earlier in the morning, the outbound flight carried 164 passengers from Hanoi to Seoul.

The RoK is among the six destinations in Asia with which the Vietnamese Government has decided to resume international flights since the country sealed off its borders on March 22. The other destinations include Japan, China, Taiwan (China), Laos and Cambodia, which have the COVID-19 situation well under control.

Vietnam wins gold at 32nd International Olympiad in Informatics

All four candidates of the Vietnamese team participating in the 32nd International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) competition, which was held online on September 13-23, seized medals, including one gold medal, two silvers and one bronze.

The gold medal went to Bui Hong Duc, a 12th grader at the High School for Gifted Students under Hanoi National University. Duc was also the youngest member of the Vietnamese team, having also won a gold medal at the competition in 2019.

Vu Hoang Kien, a 12th grader, and Le Quang Huy, a 11th grader, from the High School for Gifted Students under Hanoi National University won silver medals at the competition. The bronze medal belonged to Tran Quang Thanh, a 12th grader at the High School for Gifted Students under the Hanoi National University of Education.

MIC introduces Vietnamese virtual assistant platform

MIC introduces Vietnamese virtual assistant platform

The Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) on September 25 introduced a Vietnamese virtual assistant platform as developed by the Army Telecommunication Industry Corporation (Viettel).

Named the Viettel Cyberbot, the platform applies artificial intelligence technology (AI) in order to be able to understand the message customers want to convey and automatically improve the system continuously from real situations.

The virtual assistant has outstanding ability in language processing and can help Callbot’s voice reach a natural level, similar to 95% that of a real human voice. The platform also helps businesses build an automatic switchboard system through interacting with customers by message (Chatbot) or by voice (Callbot).

The distinctive feature of Viettel Cyberbot is the combination of speech processing technologies with Vietnamese natural language processing technology at the same time.

Video-making programme launched to advertise Vietnam’s land and people

Facebook, in partnership with popular Vietnamese artists, launched a video-making programme to advertise Vietnam’s land and people.

Entitled ‘Video for Vietnam’, the programme will run from September 20 to October 15, encouraging participants to film short videos on three topics of Vietnamese cuisine (indigenous meals and specialties), people (cultures of ethnic groups, and Vietnamese personalities), and land (natural landscapes across the country).

The videos should be made public on the entrant’s personal Facebook and Instagram accounts with the hashtag #VideoforVietNamChallenge.

The best entries will be screened at a closing ceremony which will be livestreamed on October 15.

Vietnam among best holiday destinations for 2021: CNTraveller

Vietnam ranks 13th among CNTraveller’s 21 best holiday destinations for 2021. (Photo: CNTraveller)

Vietnam’s effective control of COVID-19 has impressed prestigious US travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler (CNTraveler), as the magazine has listed the Southeast Asian country as among the best holiday destinations after the pandemic ends and for 2021 in its latest US and UK publications,.

Meanwhile, CNTraveller (CNTraveler’s publication in the UK) ranked Vietnam at 13th among its selection of the 21 best holiday destinations for 2021.

Some attractive points of Vietnamese tourism were highlighted in the CNTraveller article, such as high-end resorts, the North-South railway and community-based tourism.

AFC endorses full membership of Elite Youth Scheme to VFF

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has conferred the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) with full membership status in the AFC Elite Youth Scheme.

The AFC has also given the three-star status to the PVF Football Academy.

The AFC Elite Youth Scheme is an integral part of AFC’s Vision and Mission that is to improve playing standards and increase the possibility of success at the top level.

The development of aspiring young talents is at the core of these objectives, and AFC recognises and supports the Member Associations (MAs) in their efforts to further develop their elite youth programmes, including the grading of academies, in line with the criteria set by AFC.