Vietnamplus

The rapid expansion of foreign food and beverage (F&B) chains in Vietnam was making the domestic market more robust despite the trend of tightening spending in a global downturn.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, who is also Head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, chaired the committee's 20th meeting via teleconference with all 63 provinces and centrally-run cities of the country.

Airports in Vietnam served more than 45 million passengers in the first five months of this year, an increase of nearly 38% compared to the same period last year, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh extended congratulations to Buddhist dignitaries, monks, nuns and followers on the occasion of Lord Buddha's 2567th birthday (Vesak day), while visiting Quan Su Pagoda, the headquarters of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS), in Hanoi on June 2.

The Thai Ministry of Public Health has announced the number of dengue fever cases this year could reach a 3-year high, while instructing local agencies to cut down on the breeding cycle of mosquitoes, which are carriers of this disease.

Myanmar’s Central Committee on Prevention, Control and Treatment of COVID-19 on May 30 announced that the country will extend COVID-19 preventive measures until June 30.

Total revenue from retail sales of consumer goods and services in May was estimated at 519 trillion VND (22.09 billion USD), an increase of 1.5% over the previous month and 11.5% year on year thanks to the long holidays in the beginning of the month, according to the General Statistics Office (GSO).

Minister of Health Dao Hong Lan has said that Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh would chair a meeting of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control this weekend to deliberate the downgrading of COVID-19 from its current placement in Class A infectious diseases down to Class B.

Garuda Indonesia, the national flag carrier of Indonesia, and Singapore Airlines plan to enter into a joint venture (JV) to increase passenger capacity between the two countries as post-COVID tourism in Southeast Asia ramps up.

The management, use and payment of resources for COVID-19 prevention and control work have basically followed guidelines and policies, the National Assembly's supervisory team reported to the 15th National Assembly's plenary session on May 29 morning.

Continuing the ongoing fifth session, the 15th National Assembly will spend a whole day on May 29 to examine the mobilisation, management and use of resources for COVID-19 prevention and control, as well as the enforcement of laws and regulations regarding grassroots health care and preventive medicine.

Youngsters from the Vietnamese Embassy in Russia have joined an international student festival at the National University of Science and Technology (MISiS) in Moscow, Russia.

Indonesia will continue exporting some raw minerals in 2024 in the context that domestic companies are rushing to finish smelters to process the metal ore, said Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif.

Members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) must make greater efforts to improve the quality of life in the region to build a resilient community and achieve a faster recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, said a new report released by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Governor General of Canada Mary Simon has rejoiced at the development of the Vietnam-Canada relationship over the past time, noting the bilateral economic-trade ties have been still growing despite COVID-19 impacts.

Deputy Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Lien Huong affirmed Vietnam’s appreciation of the World Health Organisation (WHO)’s close technical partnership with its Government, while attending the 76th World Health Assembly (WHA76) in Geneva on May 23.

Vietnam is seeing a great opportunity to access the mRNA technology for vaccine production, said Patrick Haverman, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Vietnam, at a workshop held by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Health Strategy and Policy Institute (HSPI) under the Ministry of Health in Hanoi on May 22.

Vietnam recorded 1,222 new COVID-19 cases on May 22, up 300 cases from the previous day, according to the Ministry of Health.

People will continue benefiting from free COVID-19 vaccinations in 2023, and funding will come from the state budget, the COVID-19 Vaccine Fund, with sponsorship from domestic and foreign organisations and individuals, along with other legal sources.

The Government Office has issued an official document on COVID-19 prevention and control in the new context, mentioning the possibility of announcing the end of the pandemic.