Vietnam News Today (Jul. 31): Foreign Arrivals Surge Over Seven-month Period

A health worker prepares to administer Covid-19 vaccine. Photo: VNA

Vietnam logs 1,670 Covid-19 cases on July 30

A total 1,670 Covid-19 cases were logged on July 30, raising the national caseload to 10,778,154, according to the Ministry of Health.

A total 7,974 Covid-19 patients were given the all clear on the day, bringing the number of recoveries so far to 9,905,519. There are 42 patients in serious conditions needing breathing support, cited VNA.

No death from Covid-19 was recorded in the past 24 hours. The total fatalities stood at 43,093.

On July 29, 641,639 doses of vaccines were administered, raising the total number of doses of Covid-19 vaccines injected to 245,398,698.

Foreign arrivals surge over seven-month period

International visitors to the country reached 954,600 during the opening seven months of the year, representing a 10-fold increase compared to the same period from last year, according to figures revealed by the General Statistics Office (GSO).

July alone saw foreign arrivals to the nation reach 352,600, an increase of 49% over the previous month and 47.2 times higher compared to the same period from last year due to the country reopening to international tourism.

Of the figure, passengers arriving by air reached 831,000 arrivals, thereby accounting for nearly 87.1% of the number of international visitors to the nation, a 13.5 fold-rise compared to the number of international visitors from the same period last year.

Photo: VOV

Visitors arriving via road routes reached 123,300 arrivals, duly accounting for 12.9% and marking a 3.6-fold rise, while 257 tourists arrive in the nation by sea, accounting for 0.03% and representing an increase of 8.9%, according to VOV.

Throughout the reviewed period, the Republic of Korea (RoK) was the country with the largest number of tourists at over 196,000 arrivals, accounting for 22.19% of the total.

The US ranked second with more than 102,000 visitors, making up 11.6% of the total number of tourists to Vietnam, while Cambodia was in third position with 60,000 visitors, accounting for 6.84%.

According to booking data compiled by the RoK’s Yellow Balloon Travel Co., Ltd, Da Nang was the most chosen tourist destination in June with the number of bookings rising by roughly 3,000% compared to May.

Yellow Balloon attributed this rise to factors which make tourists want to choose Da Nang for vacation, including numerous entertainment sites, low cost, reasonable travel schedule, and availability of direct flights.

New buses to be powered by electricity, green energy from 2025

Vietnam hopes 100% of new buses will use electricity or green energy from 2025, which is part of the transport sector’s action plan on green energy transition to reduce carbon and methane emissions.

The action plan, approved by Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh, also targets that from 2030, at least half of all vehicles and all new taxis will be powered by electricity or green energy. By 2050, 100% of buses and taxis will use these types of energy.

The plan also looks to raise the rate of commuters carried by public transport to 45% – 50% in Hanoi, 25% in Ho Chi Minh City, 25% – 35% in Da Nang city, 20% in Can Tho city, 10% – 15% in Hai Phong city from 2025. The figure in these provincial-level cities is targeted at at least 40% by 2050.

The action plan’s overall goal is to develop a green transport system towards net zero emissions by 2050 as Vietnam committed to at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26).

An electric bus and some electric cars of Vinfast. Source: Vinfast

The objective for 2030 is to improve energy use efficiency and boost the use of electricity and green energy in the fields that are ready in terms of technology, regulations and resources to help carry out the commitments in the Nationally Determined Contribution and reduce methane emissions, reported VNA.

From now to 2050, the transport sector will reasonably develop means of transport and strongly convert all vehicles, transport equipment and infrastructure into electric and green energy-powered vehicles towards net zero emissions.

For road transport, during 2022 – 2030, the plan looks to promote the production, assembly, import and use of electric vehicles, expand the use of biofuel E5 to all road vehicles, develop charging systems, and encourage both existing and new coach stations and rest areas to adopt green practices.

For rail transport, Vietnam will pilot the use of vehicles fueled by electricity or green energy, build electrified railways, gradually replace old vehicles with the those that use electricity or green energy, and facilitate the application of loading equipment that uses these types of energy at train stations.

For inland waterway transport, the country is set to encourage the building, import and use of electric or green energy-powered vehicles, design criteria for green ports and shipping routes to create investment incentives in this field, and consider turning some routes of waterway transport into green alternatives.

Vietnam keen to boost defense, security ties with US, UN

A delegation of the National Assembly’s Committee for National Defense and Security paid a working visit to the United States and the United Nations from July 26 to July 30.

The delegation, led by Chairman of the committee Maj. Gen. Le Tan Toi, held talks with Chairman Adam Smith and Ranking Member Mike Rogers of the US House of Representatives’ Armed Services Committee.

The delegation had meetings with the assistants to President Pro Tempore of the Senate and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations Patrick Leahy, Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee Jack Reed, and Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee Jim Inhofe.

In his speech, Toi affirmed that Vietnam consistently regards the US as a leading partner and greatly values the US’s support for an independent and prosperous Vietnam.

At the meeting between the Vietnamese delegation and the US House of Representatives’ Armed Services Committee. Photo: VNA

Vietnam always desires to develop the comprehensive partnership with the US in an increasingly substantive, stable, and long-term manner on the basis of respect for each other’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political regimes.

The US officials highlighted the Southeast Asian nation as an important partner of their country, and that the US parliament strongly supports the two countries’ relations and hopes bilateral ties will record new strides, cited VOV.

They pledged to continue supporting Vietnam’s economic development and enhance defence and security cooperation, with a major focus on helping Vietnam address war consequences, including environmental remediation of dioxin contamination and unexploded ordnance clearance, assist the disabled, search for Vietnamese soldiers’ remains, and improve maritime capacity.

The US side also showed their readiness to assist Vietnam in UN peacekeeping operations and other fields that suit both sides’ conditions and demand.

The Vietnamese and US officials also discussed a score of measures for further reinforcing parliamentary ties, shared information and experience in legislative and supervisory activities and transnational crime fight, and exchanged views on international and regional issues of shared concern.

At the meeting with UN Under-Secretary-General for Operational Support Atul Khare, Toi thanked his host and the UN for actively assisting Vietnam to engage in UN peacekeeping operations and improve the country’s stature and capacity in the settlement of international affairs.

He called on the UN and the Under-Secretary-General to continue helping Vietnam contribute more to the UN’s noble goal of resolving conflicts and maintaining peace and stability for all people around the world.

The official asked the UN to create conditions for Vietnam to further take part in peacekeeping operations, help with training for Vietnamese forces, and pay attention to compensation for Vietnam’s contributions and losses when performing peacekeeping duties. He also suggested stronger trilateral cooperation and that the UN consider organising training courses for countries’ peacekeeping forces in Vietnam.

For his part, Khare was appreciative of Vietnam’s active support, participation and contributions to UN peacekeeping operations, affirming continued assistance for the country in training.

He said he hopes that Vietnam will share its experience in training peacekeeping personnel with other countries, especially those in its region.

Vietnamese photographer wins first prize at international photography award

A photo titled “Matrix of boats” taken by Vietnamese photographer Cao Nguyen Vu took the first place title at the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum international photography award (HIPA).

The photo shows boats anchored in the central province of Quang Ngai as they seek shelter from typhoon No. 9 in 2020, reported VOV.

A shot taken by Cao Nguyen Vu captures hundreds of fishing boats anchored in Quang Ngai Province. Photo: Hamdan International Photography Awards

The 38-year-old photographer came first in the nature’s general colour category, thereby receiving a cash prize totaling US$15,000.

The annual photo contest HIPA was first held back in 2011 with total prizes of up to US$400,000. The winner of the grand prize was awarded US$120,000.