Tag: Vietnam

Vietnam looking to buy Russia virus vaccine

  HANOI, Vietnam (AFP) — Vietnam’s health ministry is looking to buy a bulk order of Russia’s coronavirus vaccine, state media said on Friday, despite global scepticism over its effectiveness and safety. The communist nation of 95 million people has been widely praised for its effective handling of the pandemic and went nearly 100 days without recording a locally transmitted infection until last month. But an outbreak in the beach resort of Danang has put […]

Vietnam records first virus death as pandemic rebounds

  HANOI, Vietnam (AFP) — Vietnam recorded its first coronavirus death on Friday as the pandemic rebounds in a country that had previously been praised for stubbing out the contagion. The patient, a 70-year-old man, died in the central city of Hoi An nearly three weeks after being admitted to hospital with serious underlying conditions, according to state media. The communist nation was applauded earlier this year for controlling COVID-19 with strict restrictions on movement, […]

Vietnam counts record number of cases as virus creeps back

HANOI, Vietnam (AFP) — Vietnam has recorded 45 new cases of COVID-19 — its highest single daily tally since the pandemic began — as an outbreak in the resort city of Danang erodes the country’s efforts to stay virus-free. The Communist state won praise for stubbing out the virus early with strict restrictions on movement, extensive quarantine measures and a robust track and trace regime. It had not recorded a locally transmitted infection for nearly […]

Vietnam detects first coronavirus case in nearly 100 days

HANOI, Vietnam (AFP) — Vietnam has detected its first locally-transmitted case of coronavirus in nearly 100 days, authorities said Saturday, in a country whose swift and full lockdown won praise for controlling the spread of the disease. “Patient 416” is a 57-year-old retired Vietnamese man in the southern city of Danang, and the first community transmission since April 16. Local health officials have tested 105 people who had been in close contact with him, the […]

Vietnam suspends wildlife trade as pandemic prods action

HANOI, Vietnam (AFP) — Vietnam, one of Asia’s biggest consumers of wildlife products, has suspended all imports of wild animal species “dead or alive” and vowed to “eliminate” illegal markets across the country. The directive signed by the leader of the Communist country follows an international scandal over the sale of wildlife, which has been blamed as the origin of the coronavirus pandemic in neighbouring China. It is a major victory for conservation groups who […]

Pentagon: China military exercises will ‘further destabilize’ S. China Sea

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The Pentagon said Thursday it was “concerned” about Chinese military exercises around a disputed archipelago in the South China Sea, noting the maneuvers will “further destabilize” the region. “The Department of Defense is concerned about the People’s Republic of China (PRC) decision to conduct military exercises around the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea on July 1-5,” the Pentagon said in a statement. The activities “further destabilize the situation” […]

Vietnam PM warns of economic calamity at ASEAN summit

HANOI, Vietnam (AFP) — Vietnam on Friday warned the virus pandemic had swept away years of economic gains as Southeast Asia leaders met online for a summit that will also be dominated by anxiety over Beijing’s moves in the flashpoint the South China Sea. The current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) also wants to use the summit to inject momentum into talks on a sprawling China-backed trade pact, the Regional Comprehensive […]

36th ASEAN Summit opens Friday; ASEAN leaders to attend historic summit online amid virus pandemic

  (Eagle News) — ASEAN Leaders are set to convene at the 36th ASEAN Summit via teleconference Friday, June 26, to “discuss how to further strengthen cooperation on public health emergencies and put in place a robust post-pandemic recovery plan.” The ASEAN Chair for this year is Prime Minister of Viet Nam, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, who will preside over the opening ceremony of the Summit. He will be joined by Leaders of other ASEAN Member […]

For the first time, Pres. Duterte welcomes 5 new ambassadors to the PHL through virtual ceremony

  (Eagle News) — In the first-ever virtual presentation of credentials ceremony, President Rodrigo Duterte welcomed five new ambassadors to the country on Friday, June 19. President Duterte affirmed the Philippines’ “friendly and cooperative” ties with the State of Palestine, New Zealand, Canada, Islamic Republic of Iran, and Socialist Republic of Viet Nam as he received the credentials of their respective ambassadors, hoping stronger ties with the countries or state they represent. Malacanang said that […]

Vietnam’s lychee crop not bearing fruit as prices slump

BAC GIANG, Vietnam (AFP) — Hundreds of lychee farmers sorted and graded huge piles of the tropical fruit at a busy wholesale market in northern Vietnam on Tuesday, but many bemoaned slumping prices as foreign traders were held up in quarantine. After mounting an aggressive response to the coronavirus pandemic, life in the country is back to relative normality and workers clustered together mask-free at dawn in Bac Giang province, their motorbikes fitted with baskets […]

Vietnam resumes rice exports to PH, other ASEAN countries amid virus crisis

  (Eagle News) — Starting this month, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam decided to resume rice exports to the Philippines and other members of ASEAN to help countries needing additional rice supplies amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Agriculture Secretary William Dar said this was a very welcome development. The Department of Agriculture said this would enable the region to maintain adequate food supply and cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. “We welcome the decision by Vietnam to […]

Vietnam kids back at school after 3-month virus break

HANOI, Vietnam (AFP) — Millions of schoolchildren in Vietnam returned to class on Monday after the country reported its 17th straight day of no domestically transmitted coronavirus infections. The decision to reopen schools came after the Southeast Asian nation eased social distancing measures at the end of April — with experts pointing to a decisive response involving mass quarantines and expansive contact tracing for its apparent success in containing the disease. At a school in […]