Vietnamplus

Inter-provincial passenger trains will be suspended for the 15-day period to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The Hanoi - HCM City train link will continue, with two trips a day at most. Waterway transport operators have also been asked to stop ferrying passengers to islands. … [Read more...] about Transport Ministry orders restrictions on passenger transport nationwide

Hanoi (VNA) - The Department of Immigration is shutting offices for the foreseeable future, but foreigners needing visa renewals should not be overly concerned. As the nation ‘stays at home’ to avoid the spread of COVID-19, the department office will close from April 2 until further notice, according to a source from the department. However, if a visa belonging to any foreigner staying in Vietnam right now expires while their offices are closed, the holder will not be penalised. Instead, visas can be renewed when the office reopens. No date for the reopening has been confirmed as it depends on the COVID-19 pandemic situation, the source said./. … [Read more...] about Foreigners not penalised for overstaying during national social distancing

Hanoi (VNA) – Russian radio Sputnik has lauded the Vietnamese Government’s prompt response to the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic, especially its decision to declare a nationwide epidemic and social-distancing order. The radio quoted experts as saying that the nationwide epidemic announcement at a time when the number of COVID-19 cases in Vietnam stands at only more than 200 has demonstrated the government’s timely reaction. The declaration has helped the government, agencies and people make preparedness for the disease combat, experts said, adding that the announcement at such an early date has also enabled the government to use strict quarantine measures in order to curb the spread of the pandemic.           Thanks to the decision, Vietnam has completely barred imported cases via roads, waterways, air and sea routes, the radio said. According to Sputnik, Vietnam has done well in the disease control, quarantine and … [Read more...] about Russian radio praises Vietnam’s COVID-19 prompt response

Hanoi (VNA) – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and authorities of Vietnam are willing to work closely with the Czech Embassy to support the country and handle issues related to its citizens who are staying in Vietnam amid the COVID-19 pandemic, said Deputy Foreign Minister To Anh Dung on April 1. During a Hanoi reception for Czech Ambassador to Vietnam Viteslav Grepl, he also affirmed that Vietnam will facilitate Czech citizens’ repatriation if they need, and proposed the Czech Government continue to create favourable conditions for the Vietnamese community in the European country with health care and epidemiological hygiene. The Vietnamese official appreciated the Chamber of Deputies (Lower House) of the Parliament of the Czech Republic for its approval of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) in late January, saying that the country was one of the first EU member nations to have ratified the agreement. Expressing his joy at the … [Read more...] about Vietnam, Czech Republic joining hands against COVID-19

Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam’s agriculture sector gained a trade surplus of nearly 2.9 billion USD in the first quarter of 2020, up 48.9 percent from a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. During the three-month period, the sector achieved a total trade value of approximately 15.2 billion USD from horticultural, forestry and aquatic products, with exports worth 9.06 billion USD, equal to the same period last year; and imports of about 6.2 billion USD, down 13.2 percent. Exports of key horticultural products declined 3.1 percent year-on-year to 4.2 billion USD. A similar trend was witnessed in exports of main forestry products (2.8 billion USD, down 16.13 percent), aquatic products (1.5 billion USD, 14 percent) and livestock products (109 million USD, 21.8 percent). However, several items maintained growth, including rice, cassava, and wood and timber products. The country exported 1.7 million tonnes of rice from January – March for … [Read more...] about QI agriculture posts nearly 49 percent growth in trade surplus