HCM City moves to cope with Omicron variant as Tet nearing
Concerned about the Omicron variant, Ho Chi Minh City is boosting actions to keep COVID-19 under control as the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, the biggest traditional festival in Vietnam, is nearing.
A medical worker collects sample for COVID-19 testing from a resident in HCM City (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) -Concerned about the Omicron variant, Ho Chi Minh City is boosting actions tokeep COVID-19 under control as the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday, the biggesttraditional festival in Vietnam, is nearing.
To enter Vietnam, people currentlyhave to show a negative RT-PCR test result for SARS-CoV-2 within 72 hours priorto their arrival, along with a negative rapid test result before and after theirflights.
Besides this, thecity’s centre for disease control (HCDC) will conduct screening tests in theareas having many people from aboard or recording a sudden surge in COVID-19cases, and push ahead with other measures instructed by the Ministry of Health,HCDC Deputy Director Nguyen Hong Tam told a meeting on January 17.
Though the pandemic is beingput under control in HCM City, people returning to the city after Tet, whichfalls in the first week of February, still need to comply with the 5K principle(khau trang - wearing face masks, khu khuan - disinfection, khai bao - making healthdeclaration, khoang cach - keeping physical distance, khong tu tap - nogathering).
Only those with symptoms or suspected factors will undergo testing and quarantine whencoming back to the city, Tam said.
Nguyen Thi Huynh Mai, Chiefof the Office of the municipal Health Department, said as the Omicron variantposes a risk of COVID-19 resurgence, the department has asked local hospitalsto ready personnel for anti-pandemic activities within 24 hours once itreactivates temporary hospitals for COVID-19 treatment.
The city is providingtreatment for 3,631 patients at present, including 75 under 16. Among them,270 require mechanical ventilation and 17 others need life support (ECMO).
The daily numbers of hospitalisedcases and fatalities have been dropping gradually, from 275 cases and 19 deathson January 12 to 123 cases and 12 deaths on January 16, according to the HCMCity steering committee for COVID-19 fight and economic recovery./.
Treatment for COVID-19 patients, plan for the injection of third vaccine shots, and workforce supply following the Lunar New Year (Tet) festival were put under discussion during a periodic meeting in Ho Chi Minh City on January 10.
Ho Chi Minh City’s Department of Health has decided to stop the operations of four temporary COVID-19 treatment hospitals No. 3, No. 5, No. 10 and Cu Chi from January 19.
As Ho Chi Minh City has been a “green zone” for two straight weeks, local students will attend more in-person lessons while children from the preschool level to the 6th grade are expected to return to school after the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday.
Vietnam ranked among the top four countries and territories at the 2025 International Olympiad on Artificial Intelligence (IOAI), reaffirming its strong position in international academic competitions.
All 20 crew members aboard the Vietnamese oil tanker GT Unity were successfully rescued from a fire in the vessel’s engine room, thanks to the swift response of the Liberian-flagged ship Androusa and Vietnamese maritime rescue teams.
Describing Agent Orange as one of the most severe and enduring legacies of the war in Vietnam, Vietnam's former Honorary Consul to Belgium Joseph-Michel de Grand Ry warned that its impact – still affecting generations more than five decades later – could last another two to three decades.
Running from August 4 to September 2, under the hashtag #TuHaoVietNam, the campaign invites participants in two categories: “I Love My Country” video clips and “I Love My Country” check-in photos.
Decree No. 219/2025/ND-CP, which took effect on the issuance date, introduces amendments that integrate the procedure for reporting and explaining the demand for foreign workers into the process of submitting applications for work permits.
With a tight 13-month deadline, the move is under a strategic and urgent policy to bridge educational gaps, train the local workforce, and shore up territorial sovereignty in some of the country’s most remote areas.
The parade and personnel send-off ceremony will officially take place on August 10 at the area surrounding the Statue of King Ly Thai To and Dinh Tien Hoang street of Hoan Kiem ward, with the participation of nearly 3,000 officers, soldiers, and local residents.
According to national technical regulations, AIS installation is mandatory for boats carrying more than 50 passengers. However, operators of smaller vessels (under 50 seats) in Ha Long Bay have voluntarily committed to completing installation by the deadline to enhance operational safety.
The activities include a Vietnamese language teaching training course for overseas Vietnamese teachers from August 13 to 28 in Hanoi, Ninh Binh, and Thai Nguyen.
Specifically, the ships will carry out patrols from 7am to 6pm daily along the main tourist routes in Ha Long Bay, with one ship permanently stationed at Ti Top island. From 6pm to 7am the following day, the mobile vessels return to Tuan Chau island to maintain a 24/7 on-call duty shift, ensuring constant readiness.
The Ministry of Construction (MoC) plans to open to traffic 208km of expressways of six key projects by August 19, bringing the country’s total expressway network to 2,476km.
As of July 1, a two-tier local government model started in 34 provinces and cities, streamlining administration but creating a surplus of public properties. If not promptly addressed, these assets could become a financial burden.
Whether they grow up to become journalists, diplomats, or professionals in other fields, these children can one day become bridges of friendship and cooperation, telling new and inspiring stories of Vietnam – China relations, said Ambassador Pham Thanh Binh.
A 21-year-old Indian tourist was successfully resuscitated and treated by doctors at Hoan My Da Nang Hospital after a near-drowning incident left him in critical condition. After three days of intensive care, the man was discharged from the hospital and has since returned to India.
In an document issued on August 5, the PM emphasised the need to stablise living conditions for people hit by floods, landslides, and flash floods in late July and early August in northern and north-central provinces, especially Dien Bien, Son La, and Nghe An which suffered some of the worst damage.
Although millions of Vietnamese were affected by AO, only over 626,000 individuals, including war veterans and their children suffering from dioxin-related conditions, are currently receiving state benefits.
The team’s haul, including one Champion title, 10 golds, seven silvers, and four bronzes, surpassed expectations. Vietnam, competing since 2019, has secured over 200 AIMO medals, cementing its regional standing.
The guiding principle for revising the national energy master plan is that energy development must align with the country’s socio-economic development strategy. The energy system should be optimised as a whole, targeting sustainable and diverse development to ensure stable and adequate energy supply to meet national goals.
The Vietnam Disability Fashion Show 2025 aimed to honour the diverse beauty of individuals, promote humanistic values, and foster equality and social inclusion.
A medical worker collects sample for COVID-19 testing from a resident in HCM City (Photo: VNA) 
